Aunt LaLa

Merry Christmas! I love Christmas ❤️ In honor of CHRISTMAS I'm going to tell my sweet girls birth story Last night I was reminded that a new baby holds so much joy. Hope. Love. A baby reminds me that thousands of years ago my savior was born in Bethlehem. He had a mommy and a daddy that kissed all over his face. Smelled his sweet breathe.  Held him close. That precious baby was going to grow and be the Lord over us all. Oh my heart. So, I was scheduled for cesarean at exactly 38 weeks pregnant. I was scared. Scared of pain. Scared of something going wrong. Scared of the impact on my baby boy being away from me for several days. But, as much as I was grateful for my baby girl, I was DONE being pregnant. So done. This pregnancy was so hard, harder than Ethan's. My emotions, my body were kaput. Four years + my age + life= one tired/hormonal/physically exhausted momma The night before we were to be at the hospital I ate ...

I turned 32. As I do every year I look forward to my birthday. And I ponder. I think about my life the past year and if I have changed. Am I going into the new year different than the last? Have you noticed that I have an analytical mind? (smile) As I have gotten older, one question in particular has gotten louder in my head... Am I making a difference? If you hang around here you know Jesus is my number one passion. Followed by my husband and sweet little boy. But I am more than just a wife or a mother. I have to check in with myself every now and then to make sure that I'm being Mindful and doing what God has called me to do as my own person. Part of my calling is to be a wife, and a mother, but it is also a call to be in the ministry and to grow the kingdom of God. I want to make a difference. I want to have the kind of Legacy that when people look back on my life after I'm gone that they think "wow, God really showed in her ...

Today I celebrate an answered prayer.  I started to pray for my future spouse at fourteen. That may seem young to you and it was young.  But from a very young age (obviously)  I dreamed of my prince Charming...to feel those butterflies that all those romantic movies gave me with a real person.  As I grew older I desperately wanted someone to love me...  I wanted someone who would take care of me, who loved me for me. Not what I could give them.  I wrote about how Josh and I met and you can read all that HERE Today it has been nine years that I said 'I do' to the Love of my life.  We had a whirlwind romance and it swept us up and carried us quickly to the alter Four months actually from our first date we were on our honeymoon.  I know that there were naysayers, and I know that some had doubts.  That is okay.  Because Josh and I knew we were meant...

That is our Ethan! Oh my heart! He is weighing 3.1 lbs, looks great! So does mommy! Just please keep praying for us. Love  Aunt LaLa

As your reading this I am at the doctors waiting to be seen to find out if our little one is a boy or girl! I am amazed that we are at this point already! We will be at the half way mark on Monday - 20 weeks!! I will be posting the gender on my facebook personal and blog page on Saturday evening. This is a joyous day to celebrate a miracle. God has blessed us with a miracle... you do realize that? Even on this joyous day, my heart aches. Two years ago today we lost a baby we were not even aware of we had, Hope . My heart bleeds for those who still are in trenches of infertility. My heart bleeds for our loss... Yet , I weep at the love and grace of God. Who would have ever imagined two years ago that I would be feeling the anticipation of seeing my little one in my womb? Not me. Not Josh. I sit here crying over our loss and our blessing! Talk about conflicting emotions. Losing Hope was the darkest place I have ever walked. The deepest pain I have ever felt... Yet as I...

 Baby L at 8 weeks. Was not expecting another ultrasound. Was so excited to hear that heart beat again! 176 BPM! Strong baby! We are 9 weeks today and Baby L graduated to a Fetus today! Baby L is a size of a grape. Before your pregnant you hear all kinds of stories and advice.  I'm only about 4 weeks away from the second trimester and honestly I cannot wait!  The dangers go drastically down in the second trimester and that is really what I get mainly worried and upset about.  I have not really felt like sharing, I guess not knowing where to even start. In early January I was feeling awful. I was so emotional. I knew something was wrong with me. Honestly I was so worried. My anxiety was crazy, I was overwhelmed. All I could do was sleep. I did not know what was going on. I noticed some changes in my body. I actually made an appointment to talk with someone, that is how worried I was.  Well in December I was late, and purchases a che...

First off, thank you for the prayers and encouraging words. My FIL is doing well. Went home from the hospital yesterday afternoon. After several Dr. appointments today he is doing and everything is routine.  I've spent a lot of time watching the clock this past week. Having to be here - there - everywhere.  I'm so thankful that God touched my body so that I was able to help my family. Because Lord knows I could have not done it with out him. J has had to work almost everyday and I knew it was going to be hard for him not to be with his parents during all this.  The day of the surgery was very difficult. When my FIL made it out we just all felt such a relief. I was happy to see his ol' onery self :) Day 2 in hospital. Josh stayed by his side everyday after work. He loves his dad. Seeing him after surgery jolted us a bit, seeing someone you love on a ventilator is tough. I have to say I've been disappointing in people. I know people fail, but this...

I will be going to GA for a VERY short trip to see my sister and nephew! I can not wait! Pictures will be posted :) I haven't seen them in 10 months! 10!! That seems like such a big number... because it is. Now that we have a second car I don't have to wait until J can be off! I will be seeing my best bud too and who doesn't get excited when they get to see their best friend! And... I'm getting hair make over by my beauitful cousin! She is awesome with hair let me tell you! I can't wait to see what her creativity comes up with :) I heard the news last week that Google Reader will be GONE in June. I was pretty miffed about this. Most of my readers follow me on Google Friend Connect. I'm not really clear after researching if that will remain... anyhow if it does not you can follow  me on Bloglovin ... Blogloving is also letting you transfer all your google reader feed to your account on there. THANK YOU BLOGLOVIN! >>>> Click here to follow m...

I love my husband... His heart is one the biggest, loving, compassionate, and forgiving hearts I know. I am not afraid to admit that something I work on is being high strung (if you ever meet my dad you will know I come by it honestly...giggle.  I do work hard on not being so demanding of MY way. I really do.Since January my education has been a little more taxing... grief has shown its ugly head... and changing to a more demanding job has really made my stress of perfection rise fairly quickly. Usually there is lots of apologizing on my part. And on Josh's. But this is about my weak areas  not his. So because of my stress I usually feel the same things: 1. distance from Josh 2. very sensitive 3. then I cry Here is the reason of this post... Lastnight I was  feeling all 3 of these things and when I get stressed all I can see is EVERYTHING that needs to get done. -Group project -4 blog post for class -7 pg paper -living room -laundry -bedroom So th...

God is faithful in the small and big things.  His love is everlasting.  His peace surpasses all understanding.  His mercy and grace are unending... Oh how I love Jesus! This is on my heart this morning. God has been so faithful to me. Sometimes I forget how much he loves me. I was reminded again Tuesday night at my monthly ladies group meeting (SafeHearts). A sister was sharing her heart. Which sounded alot like mine... Shame - Beacause I've made a mistake Guilt - for failing Heartbreak- because I can't get it right Heartache - because I'm grieving so hard (This is my heart not hers) Having feeling s and emotions are fine. Its OK that I am griev ing . God built ou r minds , bodies, and gave us these emotions. He created me this way.  However there is a slight problem... it s when these stru gg les become your focus and not God. When all you can do is concentrate on the heartache or struggle. I believe we go through seasons of when ...

Remember when I said that I had been contacted by a website to be a contributor blogger? Well the website was launched today!!  I have been following Fawn over at Happy Wives Club for some time now and love what she is doing! I actually wrote a post about her website HERE . Fawn contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in being a contributor to the website.... of course I said YES!! You can find my first post on their website HERE ! Go check it out please! And leave me a comment, share the page. I'm so excited to be apart of this movement because ... I'm a Happy Wife! I love being married and feel blessed to be apart of this great group of wives :) Go check out the new website and enter in a AWESOME giveaway! When I say awesome I really mean it! :) Just click the button below... Staying Hopeful, Aunt LaLa