Clear View

We once again have a clear view of a birds nest through our door window. You couldn't ask for a better nature lesson for us to monitor. I just hope this one has a better outcome than the last one. The birds thankfully re cooperate or forget about the disaster last year and rebuild in our same door hanger. (Yes, I know its most likely not the same birds!) That's a lesson for us all!

Nature is just so beautiful...

The egg/s have hatched now as of yesterday!

To the right of the nest is one furry bird with a yellow peak. Not sure if other egg is just shell or another bird but today we couldn't see it anymore. We are being cautious to not disturb them!

Hope to have our Easter pictures up soon! But don't hold your breath!

THe StOrY

I have been wanting to post about this for over a year and a half. Little did I know, God had more to add to the story; more than I ever could have imagined. In fact, it probably really wouldn't have been a story if I had had it my way. But I loooove the story now. Oh, the lessons God has taught me over the last year and a half.

To start, I have Poly cystic Ovary Syndrome which basically means your ovaries produce cysts instead of doing what they are supposed to do. I was diagnosed just before becoming pregnant with Garyn. I started a medicine to just regulate my cycle and stop the cysts. After being told all the infertility issues that typically go along with it, Tyler and I decided to not prevent and became pregnant with Garyn a month after starting the medicine. Needless to say, we were a little shocked and wasn't expecting it to be so easy!

Fast forward 2 years or so......we decided to start trying for number 2. Quickly, we saw those infertility problems we thought weren't going to effect us. God, as well, showed us we were not in control. When a year passed, we started some fertility drugs. At the same time, God continually reminded us that He was going to bless us on His time. One particular sermon a few months ago, showed us that God can choose to eliminate all other possibilities for something to happen other than himself to receive full glory. After church, we both said that could be what God was doing with us. The doctors were telling me they didn't understand why the fertility medicines weren't making me ovulate {I say doctors because 3 months into the fertility drugs my main doctor sent me to a fertility doctor} Out of the seven months I took the fertility drugs that are supposed to make you ovulate, I only ovulated twice.

By the time, I took the medicine the seventh time, I was frustrated, hurt, depressed at times, and feeling God didn't want me to take the medicine anymore. I was putting too much faith in the medicine and not enough in Him. Even though, I knew God was ultimately the decider, I just felt the medicine should at least make me ovulate and was mad at when it didn't. My Honduras trip was the beginning of an eye opening experience God was about to take me through.

To make a long story (and a little-too-much-information-story) short: when I arrived in Honduras, I realized I needed my medicine while also discovering I once again was not pregnant (it was not a daily med, just certain days of the month). Unlike normal, I wasn't upset; didn't cry or get mad. I felt at peace. I can't explain it but I trully felt God take the burden off my heart and allowed me to let it go. I also took it as a sign that God obviously didn't want me to take the medicine. There was no way to call Tyler, no way to go to Walgreens......no way I was going to be able to take the medicine that month. The whole week, I felt comforted the few times I thought about it that no matter what happened, I was going to be just fine. In fact, being there with all the orphans made me feel so selfish for being caught up in my own misery the months prior.

A month later, I took a test and was completely shocked! Although, I felt God had intervened in me not taking the medicine; I thought that was the lesson to be learned. Trust God and start being content in His will. However, I was blessed in the process with a positive test. Four positives actually! I had taken so many that showed negative, that I just couldn't believe I finally had a positive!

Tyler and I had said the whole month, "Wouldn't it be crazy if this were the month I got pregnant?" We knew God would want us to tell the story to never forget what He had done for us. And it's not crazy, it's God. He can do anything, even after the doctors are speechless and don't know why the medicines aren't working. Even after you have spent 19 months trying to get pregnant with no reaults. ( I know so many more have tried much longer than this, and I feel for them or you. ) Now, He has all the glory for this child growing inside me. He eliminated any other possible reason for me to become pregnant.

So I tell you this story with great excitement and great praise to God. I hope you can see what He has taught us and apply it to your own circumstances that you may be facing. It has been a journey for sure, but I would rather not have it be any other way than God's way.

Today, I am 9 weeks & 2 days and was able to see the baby's heart beat and even movement! I realize I have a long way to go (31 weeks to be exact) but I feel God will help me through the next chapters of this story. I just have to remember this journey!

And Jesus looking on them said, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Mark 10:27

Got fruit?

My garden has come along and produced some fruit for me. Although, I have learned some lessons from it this year.

If you remember, Tyler really didn't want me to do one this year mainly because he didn't want to work at getting the soil ready, plant, and then it all die because I am not the best gardener. I was determined though, and set out to find a closer spot to the house and a smaller one. I attempted to use some concrete borders we already had to make a raised bed. He helped me get the soil in it and weed killer. Then I planted.

I had six plants (squash, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers and 2 tomato plants).

Well I had a couple squash sprout then some cucumber. And I had one pepper spring forth.

But then the tomato plants grew and grew. Along with some type of bugs, the tomato plants killed off the other plants! I am getting 2-3 tomatoes a week from the massive things. Pretty much every green limb you see stems fro the 2 tomato plants. I still have some pepper buds but everything else has died off.

{notice, too, that my concrete borders are pitiful now}

This is the brown remains of the squash and cucumber plants.

So I have learned lessons this year. Not just physical gardening lessons but spiritual ones, too.

1. The garden was too small or I was trying to fit too much in. (I am wondering why I planted 2 tomato plants since I am the only one that eats them......?)

2. Stake, Stake, Stake!!

3. Need some type of bug killer

4. Weed preventer and wet newspaper work great! (that was my biggest problem last year)

5. Space things out better

Now spiritually, I can't help but notice how these lessons can apply.

1. How often do we try to fit too much into one day or our schedules. For me, I tend to half do things and forget the important aspects cause I have so much I want to do or have planned.

2. We all need support; God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and great family and friends are the best support. I often think I can do everything on my own and then get overwhelmed and accomplish very little.

3. Bugs = Satan in my gardening parable. Satan so often kills every lead we make in trying to serve Christ because we let him. Tyler and I frequently talk about how we feel attacked just when we are trying to focus on being a better Christian.

4. Pertaining to #3, we need to prevent and prepare for those attacks Satan uses. Reading the word; focusing on listening and praying to God; "weeding" out the unimportant events we fill our lives with; taking steps of faith instead of hiding in fear.........These are all ways to be one step ahead of Satan and be walking with God instead.

5. Space things out better---that is an understatement for me. I want everything done now, just so I can plan something to do next week. When in reality, God wants us to worry about today only. I need to be conscience of how much I am trying to fit into my daily life.

Jesus says, "I am the true vine, My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit." John 15:1-2, 5, 8

I want to bear fruit, not be taken away. Pruning is ok, we all need it. I have already been pruning at myself. The lessons God has taught me (as stated above) have helped me to inventory whether or not I am bearing fruit. Some things in my inventory do nothing to bear fruit for God's kingdom. I aim to weed those out so that the branches I do have that have potential to bear fruit can produce.

So, Got fruit??

Princess Warrior

I am doing Beth Moore's "Esther" Bible study right now, whoever knew you could stretch the story of Esther out over 10 weeks and learn so much about your faith and God!

Beth Moore is amazing at bringing the Bible to life, God truly gave her this gift for Christians to have a deeper knowledge of the Bible. I feel just simply reading the Bible is no longer sufficient, every word of the Bible has been planned out by God to mean so much more than the face value. This is now my second study of Beth Moore's and I love the work she does researching and bringing forth a different light to the Bible. I know there are other great studies and Christian writers out there, I am just partial to her right now.

Beth Moore is not tyring to start a women's revolution, but the study exemplifies the characteristics Christian women need.

to be brave and confident
to be humble
to spend as much time on your inner beauty as your outer
to be courageous
to trust in God's plan for you

The Bible states it best in Proverbs 31:10-31. This verse has been brought out to me twice already this week....I think God is showing me how to live in this world as a Christian through these words...

Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trust her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life........

She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.....

She extends her hands to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out to the needy....

Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her;
"Many daughters have done well,
But you exceed them all."
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

The Hebrew word for virtuous is valor and brave pertaining to a warrior.


So Princess Warrior..........that's what I believe I will be once this study is over if I truly put the effort into letting it resonate in me. Our study group has taken on this term, as it isn't something Beth Moore has necessarily focused on, its just what we aspire to be. We may even make some t-shirts proclaiming our new confidence and bravery.

Careful to Obey

I really quickly wanted to share my lesson of the day.....



I have been reading in Deuteronomy and today Deuteronomy 6 spoke to me. I have written it down in my little journal book and even went online to read more into it.



Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength Deuteronomy 6:5

(We sing this in the 5-6 yr old class I teach at church, so I can't help but sing it every time I hear it & do the signs I know for it)



These commandments (10 commandments) that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you lie down and when you walk along the road. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on your door frames of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

So I have heard/ read this many of times but one thing that stuck out to me this time was the "tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads". I mean what actually does that mean? I almost said "ahh, forget it move along" but then I thought about Beth Moore and how her Hebrew translations are always so great. But to much avail, I was unable to find anything much online.....I haven't ever tried to do something like this before. However, I did find that the Jews of that time took those words literally and actually tied small scrolls of the verses to their hands and foreheads. Jesus later rebuked this practice. The verses, according to commentaries, are symbolic for the importance to follow God's commandments and allow that obedience to be visible to others. Have them upon your hearts and impress them on your children. Keep them at the forefront of your mind.

The next thing that stood out was :

In the future when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?" tell him:...........The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive.....And if we are careful to obey that will be our righteousness. Deuteronomy 6:20-25

Man, that was really what I needed to hear. We are in the future and asking this exact question all the time! I am always praying and studying on being a good example for Garyn. To hear those direct words from God through Moses, only helps me to know the direction and words to teach him about God. God is teaching me, His child. It will be our righteousness....basically our reputation, our justification, our faith and obedience that pleases God. I also like to think God is telling me I am doing His work through raising Garyn...sometimes I feel void in the serving department because I don't do many missions, I don't teach a bible study, I don't go out and spread the word enough. You know, not feeling like I am helping to spread the glory of God. But this is something He is calling me to do!

So Garyn is up from his nap now and I really need to play and do laundry (yes, probably at the same time) Tyler is still not home.....long story. But here are some pics of Garyn disobeying today:

I had a plant to die and the pot is still in the hallway with dirt in it. Which equals....

This is the 2ND time Garyn has done this....He knows not to do it and ran as soon as I found him in the act. I guess he thought Elmo would take the blame. I wonder, too, if he planned on filling the dump truck....So I grabbed the camera (so that I could show daddy) after I saw Garyn already up in the rocker watching his video, acting like he had done nothing wrong...
With that face how can you be mad! I can only hope God feels the same after we repent and ask forgiveness.

( He did this in the middle of me doing my hair...I know you girls will be looking at my frizz)

P.S. I have not been to seminary or anything so take my words for whatever they are worth to you. I just hope it will inspire someone to be careful to obey