We got to share in a special time with our best friends. Jamie & Adam graduated from Corban College So Proud! =)

TICKLE TIME!!!!!!

{Everyone Meet "Butsy". This is Eden's dolly and  we've no idea as to why her name is Butsy.}

{E really loves this doll.}

{She can't miss story time!}

{And of course she joins in on diaper changes - and sometimes gets her own diaper}

Well
It's official. 
I accepted the position that I was offered. 
Now I  just have a giant ball of knots in my belly I have to work through.
Thankfully it's a low part time and I'll still be able to teach dance and still be able to spend two full days plus weekends with my girl. 


{on another note}


Today has been a thinking day. 
My brain has been busy.
I can't stop thinking about the future.
Children, work, finances, a house, bills, blah blah blah blah blah ....
Why is it that we as humans have such a difficult time with trust?

 Through our relationship Evan and I have talked a lot about what role we want to play in the lives of those around us. We decided early on that we want to be available for those that truly need help. We've made hospitality a priority and feel that it's so important to exude the love that Christ encourages us to. 


Evan's job at the GRM has given us a great opportunity to be involved in people's lives. We are blessed by them and their amazing personalities. But I think the sweetest and toughest opportunity the Lord has given us is our newly acquired friendship in Maddy and her Mommy. 


Maddy is a sweet girl that is only 7 weeks younger than Eden. We had the privilege of taking Maddy and her Mommy into our home for about two weeks in late January. They were removing themselves from a risky situation and needed a safe place to be. 

Maddy's mommy has lived a life worthy of a Lifetime made-for-TV movie. My heart hurts when I hear the things that this young girl has been through. She's hardened to the world around her and that breaks my heart even more. My prayer is that through the relationship we build she'll be able to open up a little more and that the Lord would be able to do a work in her life. 


Having Maddy in our life has been a blessing. We've been able to watch her so that her mommy can take care of life situations and it's been so fun. We've gotten a brief glimpse into life with twins (holy moses! =]) 

Eden's REALLY into kissing =)

And they love playing together. Good sharing skills going on here!

I feel like the Lord has given us the opportunity to be a safe place for both Maddy and her mommy to be.
With that comes a lot of responsibility in being a good example of Christ. We're excited for this challenge. 


God is good and his blessings are many.


For His Glory and our Good.

Boy, oh boy... this babe of mine is becoming quite the talker.












She's beginning the "parrot" stage. Not quite to the point of repeating our words but she's definitely mimicking our syllables. It's an exciting stage because it means she's this much closer to communicating with us with words. But at the same time it scares me. Soon she'll begin to understand the ugliness that this world has to offer. She'll begin to be hurt with words and have the ability to hurt others. I know it's all a part of life but I worry.


I guess for now I'll enjoy the mimicking.


She thinks that she's a Bald Eagle right now.

The lady Eagle at Wildlife Images that taught Eden how to Squawk...




E with Daddy at Wildlife Images...


Whenever the lady Eagle made her screech sound, E chirped in with her mimic.






She hasn't stopped since. :)


It's the childish innocence that I see in her that I love.
Don't get me wrong, she definitely has her sinful nature but she hasn't quite learned to manipulate it to it's full potential. She gives the best hugs and loves I've ever had. And she brings our family such joy.


I mean really... how can you not smile at this???

Now that its 11:15 and I'm just sitting on the edge of my bed reflecting in the day... all I can think is "whew!"
A lot happened! Three meals (which never happens), a job application :), three letters of recommendation, lots of phone calls, hip hop class, two doses of antibiotics for the sicky, budgeting (yuck), a shower, and freshly shaven legs(ahhhh :]).... oh and did I mention six -count em... 6 poppy diapers :)
All day I felt overwhelmed. On edge. I'm trying to work through my thoughts and figure out what it is that gets to me so easily. I still can't quite figure it out. I admit, I let a lot of of little things distort my way if thinking and I forget the Lord's promises to us. I put unimportant things at the center of my focus and I lose sight of the big picture. Because at the end of the day, I'm a redeemed child of the Living God, a wife, and a mother. Nothing else really matters.
At the end of the day, this is what matters.

Why is this promise so difficult to hold onto?

Hello, my name is Jessi and I have a worry problem.
-insert "Hello Jessi" here ;-)

Here's the deal... God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans for a hope and a future."
This verse is so etched in my mind that it makes me crazy.
Crazy to think that the God of the universe has, not a slight inkling, but FULL knowledge of every aspect of my life. He knew me before time began and amidst my depravity and lack of trust, by His Grace He chose me.
Again, I find myself asking "WHY?!" But in a much different light.

My prayer today is that I would see His blessing in the good and bad and that I would find peace through the stormy weather.

For Your Glory and our good, Lord. Help my unbelief.

Lately things are happening and all I can say is "Why?!"

And mostly "Why all at once?!" 

Why does it have to be so hard to be away from friends? Why does it always seem that when one good thing happens a million "bad" things happen. 

Why, when I'm worried most about income and finding a job or staying home and trying to make money at home, does our rent get raised? 
Why, when I finally humble myself to look for assistance financially because we are just barely getting by, do we get denied that assistance. 

The Lord is doing something in my my life and all I can do right now is ask, "WHY?!"

And He reminds me...
For His Glory and Our Good. 

"It's hard to find hope in the unseen, but I have peace in knowing it will find me."