Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Waiting...

This post is long...but it's good!

I've blogged about our church and how much we love it. I've blogged about our small group family and how we can't live without them. But, rarely do I blog about the actual sermons. Most weeks I sit in church and take small notes here and there. I get what I need out of the teaching and then head home. There are times when I don't feel like I got anything out of the teaching and my mind is just on autopilot. Ashley often says "maybe the teaching wasn't meant to reach you, but it was meant to reach the person next to you." So, I wait. I wait for the teaching that will reach me. Wait for something to be said that makes my ears perk up and my brain turn off. I got that teaching yesterday (Sunday)!

I was putting off going to church. Ashish didn't have to be at work until 12 so I didn't want to leave for church while he was still home. The weekends that he works, we have very little family time so I was trying to soak it all up. I had so many "reasons" why I shouldn't go. I had so many more reasons why I should. I promised myself that we were going to attend the 6pm service, no matter what!

Jordan and I made it to church with 8 minutes to spare. I got him squared away in the Children's Church and took my usual seat. Worship started and I was immediately drawn in. Our worship music is more contemporary and I prefer something a little bit more gospel but I always stand and worship. There are several songs that the band plays that I really like. "The Great I Am" is one of them. As soon as the instruments started playing, I knew the song was for me. Before they got to the chorus my hands were up in the air and my eyes were closed. I was soaking it all in. Even when I opened my eyes, my arms were still in the air. It was like God was holding them up for me. Tears started flowing. I needed that. I needed to have my feet held to the fire and just surrender myself.

Once worship was over and the tears were wiped away, the teaching started. Kevin Queen, who is the pastor at one of our other campuses was teaching today. His first statement out of the gate was "let's talk about waiting." I literally said aloud "really, God?" Most of you know that Ashish and I have been "waiting" for a second pregnancy. "Waiting" for that plus sign, or the blue lines, or the pink lines, heck, we don't care what the lines look like as long as it means that we are pregnant. We've been "waiting" for a year.

Kevin went on to talk about the things that many people are waiting for...engagements, marriages, babies, promotions, etc. Then he says, "believe it or not, there are several women waiting for their second pregnancy." WAIT...WHAT?!? God was using Kevin to speak to me. Secondary infertility is talked about even less than general infertility. Most people think that if you can have one baby, it should be easy for you to have another. Not the case. I'm not going to bust out the statistics of it all but just know that secondary infertility is just as common as primary infertility, it's just not talked about as much.

"Most people want God's resources but they don't want God's timing." So true. At the end of the day, a year is not a long time to wait for God's blessings. Ashish's mom waited 20 yrs for him. A friend waited 4 yrs for her first child. Humans are impatient by nature but modern medicine has made this worse. We want instant gratification. I know I do. I went into this "trying" phase thinking that it would be easy. Again...not the case. Waiting has been hard, not just on me, but on Ashish too. There have been lots of prayers prayed, tears shed, and we won't even talk about the cost of pregnancy tests.  When all is said and done, I know that any and all of God's blessings are worth the wait. I AM sure of this, but, until then...I will be waiting!
 

Monday, November 26, 2012

Thanksgiving

Long story short...my Thanksgiving was amazing. Something about being in a room full of people that I love and that love us just makes my heart happy. Ashish and I are very blessed to be able to have both sets of parents around for the holidays.

 Instead of doing a lengthy recap, I thought I'd show you some of the pictures!

Everyone that came

My parents and brother

Ashton! He reminds me so much of Jordan when he was a baby!

Me and Christa

Zavion and Christa

There are no words.



As you can  see, I didn't take any pictures of the food. Why? Because we ate it all! Well, not all of it but by the time it was all ready, we started digging in. It was good. Trust me...my hips don't lie!

After everyone left we put up our Christmas tree. We didn't decorate it because Ashish was working for the next three days but we at least got to put it up! A snapped a couple of pics of Ashish and Jordan!





And that was our Thanksgiving, in a nutshell! I hope everyone had a great holiday!
 

Monday, November 19, 2012

A Few Things...

Hey ladies! To say that I've been busy would be an understatement. Between Ashish's new work schedule, visits from friends, and prepping for the holidays, blogging has been put on the back burner. I'd like to say that I'll get better but I don't see that happening until after the New Year. Until then, I'll pop in and out and update you ladies on a few things that are going on...


Weekends
My weekends are jam packed until after the New Year. Typically, I don't like to be that busy and it kinda stresses me out but this is my favorite time of year. We're taking Jordan (along our friends and their kids) to see the Magical Nights of Night at the lake, we have a fancy Christmas party to attend, we're going to see Cirque de Soleil for a friend's birthday, and that is just the beginning. The next month is going to be CRAZY...but I kinda love it!

Favorite Things
So, one of the things that I'm doing within the next month is hosting a Favorite Things Party. Have you ever been to a Favorite Things Party? I have! It's awesome...believe me! I evited some of my girlfriends and I think there is going to be a good turnout! I'll take lots of pictures and blog about it! I promise!

Thanksgiving
I hosted Thanksgiving last year for the first time. My immediate family is rather small so we gladly invite friends to come join us for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, I'm hosting again! What started out as a small dinner (my in-laws, my parents, my brother and SIL, and us) has now turned into a full on dinner. I am expecting around 18 people. My insides are jumping for joy. Although I can't see myself having 5 kids, I totally want "5 kid" like holidays! Here's a picture from last year's Thanksgiving dinner!

Random
Speaking of Thanksgiving...I am a holiday hater. I don't hate the holidays, I LOVE them! What I hate is when stores and people rush the holidays! Kohl's has had their Christmas stuff out since Labor Day and started playing Christmas music the day after Halloween. Can't we have Thanksgiving first? I will say, however, that I have completed all most of my Christmas shopping for Jordan and all of the kids that we have to buy presents for. This is by no means rushing the holiday, it's preparing for the hit that my wallet is going to take.


That's all that I have for today! We took Christmas pictures over the weekend so I'm sure that I'll be back soon to brag about how cute Jordan is!

 

Friday, November 02, 2012

Friday's Letters

Dear Blog...I know, it's been a while, I apologize. Dear Blog Friends...I'm sorry that I've been updating you on my life but I sure have been stalking read all about yours! Dear Jordan...you gave your mommy a run for her money last week, please don't make it a habit, you will not win. Dear Ashish...thank you for being you. That's all! Dear Jennifer...I am so glad that you are back home! Me and Hurricane Sandy were going to have to exchange words if you were trapped in NY for another day. Dear Hurricane Sandy...you are a mean mean woman. Dear Hurricane Victims...my heart and prayers go out to you. I can't begin to imagine what it's like to have to start from scratch. Dear Friend...you know who you are (actually this can pertain to several of my awesome friends) thank you for always being encouraging. I don't think that I say it enough but you are amazing! Dear God...thank you for continuing to surround me with amazing friends and family!
 
 
Have a great weekend!