The Big Reveal

We had a wonderful ultrasound today!  The baby looks great and is growing as expected.  Watch this short clip and see what we are having:

(Drum Roll... and Baby Young 3.0 is...)



I don't care who you are, that's just awesome.  To see a forming baby move in the womb with the naked eye?  If I needed convincing that there is a Creator God who is intricately involved in every aspect of life, that would be enough.

Thanks for sharing in our excitement!

Thinking in 140 Characters or Less

I've been mentally 'status updating' a lot this week. I don't know if social media has made us more or less creative, but maybe it's made me at least succinct.  

We have no obligations with Winter Break.  It's so nice not to rush out the door.  Since we are together a bit more, here's what I've noticed.

Pithy Observations on Life

1. Any day you can spend a majority of your morning in a bathrobe is a good one.

2. My daughter is an Eddie Haskell.

3.  Sarah has discovered Barbie.  And beaten her up, chewed her poms poms, and eaten her shoes.

4.  Any electronic device with a slot is a piggy bank for children.

5.  I realized like my kids.  (I love them, but I like them, too.)


I hope this has left you edified and uplifted. You're welcome. ;)

My trip to Siestaville

Life doesn't stop even when you take a break, and I've been running since returning from my weekend in Houston two weeks ago. I promised you some highlights, and here they are:

1) I am competent! I'm used to having someone to watch out for me, for which I am very grateful, but it is a nice feeling to navigate traveling solo.

2) Food. Anything you don't cook yourself is automatically delicious. Airport pizza, hotel omelets, and a fancy South American lunch were equally delicious.

3. Sister time. Nat and I got our nails done, tersely navigated the confusing streets of suburban Houston, and quizzed each other on our memory verses. We wore our matching tees and boas. We were together for 48 solid hours and we enjoyed it!

4. Meeting Siestas. Siesta really means sister in our blog community. About 900 ladies attended the celebration for learning 24 verses. The celebration was put on by Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries. We met new friends in the mall, hotel, and airport. Siestas know siestas.

5. Beth!!! Her teaching did not disappoint. She is 'just darling' to echo her praise for others. I think she is so effective because she really loves others. You can't fake that. She taught from 2 John and her charge to us was to TAKE BACK any God-given ground that we have lost to the enemy. I can't capture all the wisdom she shared on this little summary, but she is the real deal. (And she, like many of the siestas, had the cutest outfit.)

Here are a few snapshots:

Claymation Realization

I was watching a claymation movie, The Miracle Maker, as I did a last ditch clean-up before Christmas Eve.  I put it on for the kids, but kept stopping the vacuum and getting pulled into the story.  The movie tells the story of Jesus' life.  In one portion of the movie,  the narrative flashes back to the time Jesus was tempted during his 40 day fast.  The movie illustrates the devil taking Christ up to look down at the earthly splendor that could be his if he denied God. For every twisted Scripture the devil used, Jesus rebutted.

This came to me as clear as day, so I know I didn't think it up on my own:

If the SON OF GOD  used Scripture to fight against fear and temptation, who am i not to?

Making Scripture a more active part of my life is the first real New Year's resolution/goal I've ever kept.  I posted 24 Scriptures last year in an effort to memorize Scripture.  I will be reciting 10 in a few weeks as part of the Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration in Houston, TX.

The Scriptures I recorded and recited this year are a record of my year.  I have hidden them in my heart and spoke them out.  I have USED them!

I participated in this group not because of my spiritual maturity, but because I NEEDED to.  I continue to need a renewed mind and a steadfast spirit.  When I recite those verses it in a few weeks, it won't be an exercise in piety.  I will be an exercise of pure joy!  God's Word is powerful.  It has fought many battles for me in 2011.

I look forward to sharing all about my Siesta trip!

One Last Look

January:  We celebrate Sarah's first birthday with a Princess Belle party.  There were costume changes, photo montage, and lots of performance by Sarah.  She reaches out and hugs a new baby doll to the delight of her devoted subjects.

February:  We have the kids' pictures made and enjoy a pancake Valentine's Day.

March:  As a devotee of The Pioneer Woman, we make the trip to Atlanta for me to attend her book signing.  It is great fun.  I am slowly becoming an author-groupie.  I really, really want to attend signings for Mary Kay Andrews (Southern chick-lit) and Jon Acuff (Christian author/blogger).

April: Lots of Easter fun with egg hunts, coloring eggs, and pretty Spring clothes.

May: Jeremiah has his preschool program and turns 3.  We take his to the Go Fish! attraction in town and he talks about fish for the rest of the summer.

June:  We play in the sandbox and inflatable pool a lot.  We also go to the "Fried Green Tomato" movie festival and check out the small town of Juliette, where it was filmed.  We swim at Lake Tobesofkee a few times.

July:  Our summer bible study is in full swing.  We attend our town's Fourth of July concert.  Hardcore potty training ramps up.

August:  The kids start back at Sonshine Preschool.  Sarah starts Parent's Morning Out and Jay attends 3 mornings in his class.  I have Tuesday mornings to myself.  Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

September:  Activities!!!  MOPS resumes, as does Ladies' Bible Study.  We are on-the-go this fall. I begin practicing with our Christmas choir.  We join my parents on a vacation to Hilton Head-- it is perfect in the off season.

October:  We hit the fair and ride the Agri-Lift!  Sarah and Jay meet their little cousin, Eli and we have a successful outing Trick-or-Treating.

November:  I host the Thanksgiving meal and live to tell of it.  We have a mini-Christmas with Aunt Natalie and Uncle James and buy our first live tree.

December:  I sing in the Christmas program.  It is a big commitment of time, but such a personal blessing.  Singing just fills my heart and makes me plain, ol' happy.  We enjoy Alex's swanky (for us) company party (and grandparent-provided childcare!) and then the no-holds-barred, Oprah-would-be-proud, family Christmas in North Georgia.  I don't even take pictures, because a new-to-the-fold photographer captures it perfectly.  I manage to pull off a clean and decorated house for our MOPS party. Alex and I are able to attend a Christmas Eve service in my parents' town. We spend Christmas Day with my parents and the spoiling continues.  Sarah chews on her new baby carriage.  Jeremiah holds onto his Dinosaur Train car for dear life.  It is a good Christmas.

It was a good year.  God demonstrated his faithfulness in the seen and unseen.  I am trusting Him for big things in 2012, things that only He can do! 

Happy New Year!