Your Questions Answered....FINALLY!

Catharine asked: What's something you and your husband do to spend time together?

Our very favorite thing to do together is to try new recipes. We both love to cook, well, and love to eat ;) We are kind of home-bodies (him more than me), but when we do go out we like to go shopping, out to eat, go to baseball games. We don't make date night a real priority, but I think we probably should start doing that. I would love to hear some of the things you other couples out there do together!

Breck asked: What's the one thing you enjoy most about yourself?

This is a hard question to answer. I could easily list the things I don't like about myself. Ha! Something I do like though is that I think I am a compassionate person and care deeply for others.

Alisa asked: If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Hmmm...gosh! There are *so* many places I would love to visit. I think I would pick Africa. The first part of the trip would be a really awesome vacation with safaris and amazing food and learning about the culture. The second part of the trip would be visiting a refugee camp, helping out and learning about the people there, adopting 6 or 8 of the kids and then probably ending up staying there because I am too in love with the people to leave. LOL. Yeah, that's why I don't visit Africa...because I truly am scared that we would end up never coming back.

Matt asked: What do you pray God accomplishes through you by working with the DC Youth AND why are you in the lead?

As for the first question: I am praying that God uses me to really show the high school girls that living passionately for Christ is what is going to help them have a full, happy, healthy life. I think sometimes in high school it is so hard to see outside of yourself and what you want and the activities you're in and the boys/girls that you like and the popularity contests in order to see that walking with the Lord truly will bring you the most joy (at least I know it was for me). I'm praying that I can make some real relationships with the girls and help them grow in their walk.

I have no doubt that they are going to teach/help me way more than I ever will them!

As for the second question: I think this is referring to the little contest of who would have the most questions from blog readers . I won. By a long shot. Guess I won *that* popularity contest. hehe... ;)

Melissa asked: What are some of the biggest challenges and biggest blessings of being a mommy?

Oh, I could write a whole blog post on each of these separately! I will give you my top 3 of each.

Challenges:
1. Discipline. Justin and I think it's *so* important for both of us to be on the same page, so we are constantly changing our "strategies" and re-evaluating how things are working with her. Love and Logic is our main foundation and it has worked well so far!
2. Not feeling like a failure. I often feel like I'm not being the best mom I could be.
3. Chloe's picky eating. The child has about 10 things she will eat and it drives me NUTS! I think we are quickly approaching the time where I tell her she eats what we eat or she doesn't eat. That should be fun! *rolls eyes*

Blessings:
1. Pure love. The moment I saw Chloe I never imagined I could love someone like that. In return, she loves us without reservation.
2. Joy and Happiness. I guess that's two, but they kind of go hand in hand. Being a mom brings me so much joy and happiness. I just don't really see the need in staying angry anymore when there is so much awesome life to live.
3. Getting to be silly. Chloe and I have dance parties just about every day. It's fun to just be silly and act like a kid and having a child gives you a perfect excuse to do that!! :)

Jennifer asked: What is something you want to do before you die, your bucket list?

Oh, I have lots of things. Here are a couple silly ones: Get a tattoo, skydive, and be on The Amazing Race :)

Thank you guys for participating! This was fun :)

Q & A

I feel like I haven't had much to write about lately (or things just aren't coming out the way I would like), so I thought this would be fun!

Ask me anything you want and I will answer the questions in the next few days.

Fire away!!

Thankful.

Do you ever just get completely overwhelmed with thankfulness? Like to the point where it brings you to your knees? It has been happening to me daily for about a month. For some reason, 2010 has had a beginning unlike any other year in my life.

They say your relationship with God has valleys and mountains and 2009 was definitely a valley for me (with a few minutes of mountains). At one point in 2009, I honestly told God that if He was trying to teach me a lesson through my infertility, He had completely missed His chance. I had been open to His lesson for several months and still no baby, so I told Him I was done with being okay with Him trying to teach me something. I didn't want to have anything to do with his lesson! How stupid. I have since completely fallen on my knees in forgiveness over ever telling Him something so dumb. I don't think God works like that and honestly even though I had said that I completely surrendered, it wasn't true. So, when I was thinking about my goals and what I wanted for 2010, my main goal was completely surrendering to God and what he wants for my life.

Our pastor is teaching out of Ephesians right now and for a couple of weeks we heard about how we are God's masterpiece, made to reflect the artist's heart. Suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks. This life really, REALLY, really is not about me. It has nothing to do with me except for my life to reflect Christ. It seems like a concept we should get from the very beginning of making the decision to be a God-follower, but apparently I'm slow :) When I started realizing that this is all about God's plan for my life (which is the PERFECT plan), the ideas for my life and our family's are quickly falling away. I'm digging into the Word like I never have before to get to know God better, so I can reflect Him and His love most accurately. Most of all though, I am more thankful than I have ever been in my life.

When I look around I can't even believe I was having such a pity party day after day. I have so much to be thankful for. A husband who loves the Lord, loves me intensely, works so hard for us. A little girl who is the light of my life, who brings me joy every day. A family who is so close to each other that outsiders think we're weird. A house with more than we ever need. Clothes in my closet. Food in my pantry. A church that lights my heart on fire. A Lord who is in control and loves me more than I could ever imagine. Friends who really know me and love me anyway. The list could go on and on and on. It makes me want to just curl up in a ball and cry to think that I was dwelling on what I didn't have when all of this was around me the whole time.

One very practical way this new thinking has affected me is shown in a conversation Justin and I had the other night. Justin had mentioned that he would really like to get a new table for our house. A bar height table. We have always loved higher tables and it *would* look really nice in our dining room. As he was saying that, all I could think was, "But we have a table. I would much rather buy a table for someone else who needs it." That's not to bash Justin because he wanted something new (lol!) or to say I'm some saint (because heaven knows I'm not!!). It's just crazy how your thinking changes when you realize how much you love God, all that He has given you and how much God wants you to love those around you.

2010 is going to be a good year for so many reasons. But most of all because God hasn't missed His chance with me :)

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

I can't believe you're 3 today. You're no longer a baby. It seems like just yesterday that your daddy and I were at the hospital, pacing the halls, waiting for your arrival. The moment I saw your face I was instantly more in love with a human being than I ever thought possible. My heart became 100 times bigger. You were just perfect with your dark hair and chubby cheeks. It was absolutely one of the best days of my life.

I never could have imagined the joy and fun you would bring into our lives.

You have such a little sense of humor and say some of the funniest things I have ever heard. You're bossy. You love others deeply even at your young age. You're smart. You love to sing and be sung to. Your favorite song to sing is Mr. Golden Sun. You are an extremely picky eater. Your favorite foods are peanut butter and jelly, chicken mcnuggets, pancakes and macaroni and cheese. You obey so well and are easily disciplined. Your giggle is contagious and my favorite sound in the entire world. You speak way beyond your years. You love to be independent. One of my favorite things you say is 'yesternight', which basically refers to any time before right now. You love to snuggle...on your terms. It's mandatory that anytime Rocky goes outside he must first go through your legs and then out the door. You're sweet and kind. You're dramatic. You sometimes wrap your arms around me and daddy and say, "my favorite people".

You make me want to be a better mommy and woman. Your life has brought your daddy and me closer together and more in love. You set a good example of what real love looks like. I could not imagine a life without you. You bring bright beautiful colors into my world.

My beautiful, kind, funny, smart, loving, independent, sweet, darling Chloe....I love you more than measly words can say. I love you to the ends of the earth. I love you to the depths of the sea.

My sweet girl...I love you 'to the moon and back'.

Happy Birthday baby girl. Your daddy and I are so proud of you already!

Haiti

Last night as I was falling asleep, all I could think about was Haiti and the horrific things they are enduring.

My thoughts went immediately to the mothers. Some mothers wondering whether their children are alive or dead. Some wondering how they will feed their children or where they might get clean water. Some writhing in pain from the news that their child was taken away from them too soon. Sweet children without their mommies. I can't even imagine. The thoughts make me literally sick to my stomach.

As I laid in my warm bed, in my warm house, that is literally 50x (if not more) the size of any Haitian's shack, God broke my heart in half for His people. Tears streamed down my face. I tried to hold back the sobs as to not wake up Justin. I begged God to give the people of Haiti peace and comfort, to remind them that He's there, to move in the hearts of His people that are more fortunate to give what they can (or even beyond) and to pray.

We will be making a donation to Compassion International's disaster relief program today. It's the very least we can do. I feel very helpless, but just $35 can give one family food and water for the week. Praise Jesus!!

If I'm being honest, I think we, as Christians, have no other choice but to help.

Top 10 for 2010!

I have been thinking about my list of goals for 2010 for several weeks. Things I really want to work on, change, and implement this year. Here is what I have come up with:

1. Get involved in a ministry that makes my heart sing. This is really important to me this year. I have a few ideas of where I would like to get involved, so I'm gonna start checking into volunteer opportunities.

2. Get my house and life more organized. This is *always* a yearly goal for me and for some reason it's just so hard for me. I am really great at planning but really bad at executing. I'm a work in progress, I suppose. Baby steps.

3. Read through the bible. I got a "daily" bible in The Message translation (I have to say, it's really weird reading this translation when I'm so used to NIV. It's going to take some getting used to!) and I'm really excited about getting all the way through the bible this year. My mom is doing the same thing (although a different reading plan), so I'm hoping we can keep each other accountable!

4. Memorize 24 Bible verses. Beth Moore did this during 2009 on her blog. I'm just a year late :) I will pick a new verse on the 1st and 15th of each month. Here is my first one: "Let the morning bring word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8). I have a little note card book that I'm putting my verses in so that I can keep them with me and meditate on them whenever (in the car, waiting in line at the store, etc.). If anyone wants to do this with me, let me know :)

5. Complete doula certification. I am going to training at the end of April (it was suppose to be in February, but it had to be pushed back because of lack of participants, which I was sooo bummed about!). This is my dream job and I'm so excited!! :)

6. Lose 15 pounds by the end of April. 'Nuff said.

7. Paint out bedrooms and bathrooms. It's killing me that our bedrooms are still beige. I have a few ideas of colors. Chloe's room is up first -- poor girl...what princess wants to live in a BEIGE castle?

8. Stop "actively" trying for another baby. This is a huge one for me this year. We've decided to let God completely decide what is going on with our family. No more stressing. I'm so over it!! If we get pregnant this year, I will of course be thrilled, but its definitely not in our plans.

9. Be wise with our money. We don't have a ton of debt, but we really want to completely knock it out in the next couple of years. In order to do that, we need to be even more diligent than we've already been about spending our money wisely.

10. Be more intentional about loving others. 'Cuz that's really what it's all about, right? ;)

So, what are your goals for this year?

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