God's Plan

I love my Tuesdays. Why? Because of how I have devoted time set apart to study the Word of God and grow in my walk with the Lord. Every Tuesday morning I take part in an incredible bible study that is through Bible Study Fellowship. We are studying the life of Moses and I am loving every second of it. I am challenged and am learning new things every time. One of my biggest struggles is learning it, but not always applying it. I am challenged in this season, more than ever, to live what I am learning.

Then, on Tuesday night, I meet with some incredible girls for an "accountability" time. This is such a refreshing time for me to just sit and talk about our lives and be there for each other. It is so important to have a community of people around you that is there for you. There have been times in my life when I did not have this, and I struggled with certain things. Sometimes we have International Bible Study where we include our dear, dear friend Becca who is in Mexico.

The Lord has been teaching me so many things lately, and I want to use this blog to share just a few of those things. May those that read this be blessed and challenged to change what the Lord lays on their heart. May I live what I write.

Something that I have learned through the life of Moses and all God did throughout His time:

God's plan always happens.

Is anyone else a control freak or is it just me? I try to tame it down by saying, "I am just really organized" or "I just like to have a plan." But the reality is, I want something to happen and I think I have the power to get it to go this way or that way. The reality is, I AM NOT IN CHARGE. God does not need my help in controlling things. He has things under control.

I do not know what is going on in your life, but please know that God's plan always happens. It always happens in His timing. He is sovereign. He is in control of everything.

An important question we need to ask is, "What am I trying to control that God is controlling?" Is it in a relationship? Is it in a certain situation? I have definitely had to give God something I was trying to control. It is hard to trust in the unknown, but it is so humbling to look back and completely see the hand of God over every detail.

When I was in college, I was in one of my classes listening as my professor lectured over the course material. In the midst of her lecture, she said the MOST PROFOUND thing that has stuck with me forever:

Life is lived forward, but understood backward.

God sees this bigger picture that at times, we do not comprehend. We can not see it all. We are just living life and asking the hard questions and struggling to find answers. Sometimes we "feel" God and other times we think He has left us. The truth is, He has NEVER and will NEVER leave us. He is there leading us through situations. We have got to trust Him. There will come a time when you look back and say, "wow, that was totally God."

Whatever you are facing today, may you sense the presence of the living God that is leading you whether you feel it or not. May you have the faith to trust in the midst of unknown circumstances. May we acknowledge that God's plan always happens. Period.

We are having a GIRL!!

Today we had our Complete Ultrasound at 18 weeks. Colby and I were SO excited to find out what we were having. The baby was on her tummy the entire time and it was almost impossible to tell. Finally she rolled over on her back, but she was a modest little baby- her legs were totally together and she was not moving them apart- once again, making it almost impossible to tell. Finally the woman had me roll over on my side causing the baby to move her legs so we could tell if it was a boy or a girl. And we got this picture: It has been a great day! I have Bible Study every Tuesday morning, so I went to that after the doctors appointment. Then I ran a few errands and had coffee with some great girls.

Every Tuesday night I meet with three of my greatest friends. We have a little "Accountability group" and just talk about life. When I showed up at dinner, there was a cute little gift bag from Baby Gap. I could not believe it! It was the SWEETEST thing EVER! They got me the cutest newborn onesie and the cutest newborn socks! They also got me an "It's a Girl" ribbon for my scrapbook! I have been scrapbooking this journey so far! It will be perfect in there! Thank you SO much girls for being SO thoughtful! I appreciate the sweet gift! Adelyn will LOVE it!

Wedding Weekend

This weekend was ah-mazing! I say that because I got to attend a wedding and not coordinate it. Life is good.

Colby's cousin, Andy, got married on Saturday. We left town on Friday and drove to Kansas so we could make it to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. It was great to take off work a couple of days and enjoy a weekend away.

The wedding was perfect! Yes, there were times it was hard to not get up and start coordinate things, but everything went so well. The wedding and reception was outside on the bride's family's ranch. It was beautiful! The reception was in a tent and looked gorgeous all lit up with the white lights!

Here are a few pictures from the wedding:

Colby's family (totally candid shot by the way) Me with Colby's sister and sister-in-law

Colby was an usher in the wedding. Here he is ushering his grandma.

Here we are in the tent at the reception.

Colby and I with the sweet couple, Emily and Andy (She was SUCH a gorgeous bride!!)

It was such a great time. The whole weekend was great with his family. It was great sleeping in and not doing anything. Now, it is hard to get back in the swing of things. I've got laundry to do, grocery shopping to accomplish, etc. And I have a baby doctor's appointment tomorrow! Can't wait!

Hope your weekend went well!

Frequently Asked Questions about my Pregnancy

1. How did you find out? What made you took a test, etc?
Well, first off, Colby and I were trying. I remember the day I took the test like it was yesterday. It was Saturday July 12. I had a wedding that day that did not get over until midnight. By Saturday, I was 4 days late. (you know what I'm talking about). This is weird for me. Colby was out of town. To give me peace of mind, I decided to take a test to confirm thoughts I was having. At 12:30 in the morning, after my wedding got over, I went to Wal-Mart neighborhood market. I go in for one thing: a pregnancy test. Talk about a little awkward checking out at 12:30am with one thing in hand. It doesn't help that I look like I am in high school. I made sure to show the check-out lady my wedding band. haha!

I drove home, nervous. Why do I get nervous to take a test? I don't know. I take the test, lay it flat (like the instructions say to), and then I shut the door. I waited. And waited. And waited. I was too nervous too look. I think, in my head, I knew it was going to say no and that made me sad, since we were trying. Finally, I decide to open the door and look at it: two lines!! WHAT??? Okay, now I am freaking out in a really good- kind- of- happy way. The worst part is: I CAN NOT TELL ANYONE. Colby is out of town and I am not telling someone before my husband. And I am NOT telling my husband over the phone. This kind of thing has to happen in person. Ahhhh......

The answer:

2. How did you tell Colby?
Colby was in Colorado at Young Life Camp whenever I found out. He was scheduled to arrive home the next day, PRAISE THE LORD!! Usually when he goes out of town, I like to get him a little "Welcome Home" gift. Usually it is a video game, or a movie or something small. So I put together a little "Welcome Home" gift for him when he got home! Little did he know what was in it! haha!

He opened the card first. On the front of the card it said "I missed you so much Colby. I am so glad you are home. Also, I wanted to tell you that...."----And then he opened up the card and it said that "YOU ARE A DAD-TO-BE." (I found this ribbon thing that said Dad-to-be on it. And I taped two positive pregnancy tests to it... HAHA I needed some proof, ya know?)

Then he opened up the gift and I had two items in there for him:

He could not believe it! It was definitely not what he was expecting to open up in the bag! To make a long story short, it was hard for us to really believe we were pregnant. I even went and took a blood test that said positive! It still does not seem real and I am almost 4 months pregnant. I am not showing at all as of today. I am still running and working out like usual. Not much had changed. I am feeling fine! We are so excited!
3. How did you tell other people?
We kept a secret for 5 weeks. We decided to NOT tell anyone until we went to the doctor at our 8 week appointment. We just wanted to make sure everything was good and healthy, etc. However, we did tell Colby's ENTIRE family when we were all together at the lake on family vacation.

We told everyone around August 15th. There are SOO many stories I would love to share, but I am sure no one else cares about how I told people! haha. So many sweet memories!

My parents anniversary was right around the time we started telling people. So I told them I had an anniversary present for them! I got my mom and dad two onesies: one that said "I love grandma" and the other that said "I love grandpa." They loved it!
To tell my brother and sister-in-law, I had my three neices over that day and I sent them home in t-shirts I made for them that said " I "heart" My Cousin." I told them they were going to have a new baby cousin soon! Now, every time they see me they put their head on my belly and say "Hi baby cousin!"
My best friend Becca!!! This deserves a post all by itself. I will try to be short even though we had such a fun time together after I told her!

First, I had planned this super cute, creative way to tell her, but to make a long story short, we were just talking on the couch and I JUST HAD TO TELL HER! I could not wait any longer. When I told her she did NOT believe me. I am pretty sure I had to show her proof that I really was. haha. After about 30 minutes of denial and unbelief, she got really excited, and was ready to celebrate!! She said, "what is a fun way to celebrate that someone is pregnant? Let's eat!" haha! She asked if I had any cravings, which I didn't at that time. So we just had a day of eating. You think I am kidding? I will show you pictures:

First, we went to Tims to get a Dr. Pepper. Can I get an amen? I have no idea what makes their Dr. Pepper so much better, but it is the bomb!

Then we went to Taco Bell and got a Cheesy Gordita Crunch. yumm... This was our "appetizer" I guess you could say.

Then we went to Taco Bueno and got mexi-dips-n-chips. For the record, I can eat mexi-dips-n-chips any day of the week and be perfectly content with it!

Then we went to Losta Noodles to get Pesto Pasta which is so delicious. By this time, I am feeling pretty full. But, oh the memories!

After Lotsa-Noodles, we went to Barnes and Noble and checked out books in this section: Had to check the baby names books!

Then we did something we have NEVER done before as best friends. We went shopping at a maternity store!! haha, how things are changing!! I tried on a few things just for kicks. And I tried on the "belly" that is in the dressing room. Here is a preview of what I might look like in a few months...

4. Have you been sick? Any cravings?
I have not really been sick at all. There were a few times I felt nauseaus, but nothing horrible at all. Sometimes, there would be certain smells that would make me sick. As far as cravings go, it depends on the day. There was a week I was craving Egg McMuffin Sandwiches. There was another week I was craving fried rice. Pretty weird.

5. Do you want a boy or a girl?
The obvious answer is, "I just want a healthy baby." Which is totally, 100% true. If you asked me a few weeks ago, I was pretty dead set on a girl. I wanted a girl more than anything. Now, however, I am really wanting a boy. haha. As for Colby, he wants a boy! I think it is going to be a win-win.

6. Do you have any names picked out?
We did have names picked out, but recently they have been changing. I think we are set on the girls name. But the boys name is in the air.
Girl: Adelyn Faith (middle name might change) (Sounds like Madeline without the "M")
Boy: Braylon Maverick (Colby IS OBSESSED with Maverick. There is a good chance this could be his first name, however, we are always talking about different names).

7. When are you due?
We are having a Spring Break baby! March 19 is the current due date!

8. When do you find out if it is a boy or girl?
We find out on Tuesday October 21st! CAN NOT WAIT!

9. Have you started decorating a nursery, buying things, etc?
Nope. We are waiting to find out what we are having before we do anything. We have bought ONE onesie and that is it. We just bought it this week actually. And it looks unisex so it would work either way! I can't wait to start filling up his/her closet with cute clothes and diapers and baby stuff!!

Thank you for all of those that are on this journey with us! It is so exciting and we feel so blessed to have you guys around us, supporting us, and being there for us!