Psalm 67

I love the Psalms. Psalm 23 has always been one of my favorite passages. I have been slowly making my way through the Psalms as I've been trying to make my way through the Old Testament, and I found this sweet, simple prayer in Psalm 67:1, but I'll post the whole Psalm, because it's short, and all of it's great!

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

1May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
Selah
2that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

6The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

FA LA LA LA LA LA.... LA LA LA LA LA

Shopping. Done! Work. Almost Done! Baking. Never Done! You know what's sweet about the Christmas season? There are millions, or I guess more like, billions, of people rejoicing over Jesus! This week at work we have been listening to The River, the local radio station that play Christmas music 24/7, and it makes me giggle when I think of how many other people are listening to it, and singing or enjoying songs that are celebrating Jesus. It reminded me to pray for all those listening who might not fully understand what they're listening to or why these Christmas songs make their hearts stir. I hope they hear some of those words, and begin to think "oh, that's what I'm singing about?" And the sweet little children who love to sing along, may God plant those seeds deep in their sweet little spirits! Rejoice! Rejoice!

I think I could spend hours reading these verses over and over.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Baby Will!

Bo & I had the greatest Christmas present ever! We got to meet our baby boy on the 16th. He's really cute. The nurses were ooing and aahhing over his sweet little cheeks and nose. Perhaps I should stop here, and state that this was only an ultrasound! haha He was moving a lot! His teeny arms and lips were moving up and down. I think he's going to be a talker - like his Dad of course!

Technology is amazing I must say. I always thought this kind of thing would weird me out (and some of the skeletal looking shots did), but for the most part I just stared at the screen in awe. This experience to the Christmas magic of the season to a new level. Will's Grandma's, and Grandpa (Popo?) were there to participate in the fun. It was sweet to see what a blessing it was for them, since this was their very first ultrasound experience also. You can check out pics of our little monkey below. :)

Christmas-time is Here!

love Christmas! Since we are receiving are first snow of the season I was inspired to express my yuletide joy! :) Plus I thought I should post some pics of Bo's and my holiday festivities thus far. Bo and I always have fun on our day of decorating. We set the mood with some Christmas music, hot cocoa, and goodies of some sort! It was also fun to have our housemate, Stacy, help us decorate this year! The more the merrier!! Now that we actually have our very own home to decorate, Bo is actually out today hanging lights around the house. He is even feeling so adventurous as to try to line the peaks of our house, which are not really easily "accessible." So let's hope and pray that he doesn't fall of the roof. :) (As I sit inside snuggled up on couch, blogging, and watching Barefoot Contessa)

Next, we made our annual trek to Frankenmuth. It was a lot of fun, as my mom & dad, brother & his girlfriend, accompanied us this year! We stayed at the Bavarian Inn Lodge, which was a really fun place to stay, and a recommendation if you have kiddos! Every year we manage to get some crazy pics, so I posted some of those below! I really think my dad missed his calling as a lion tamer! He would have been great! haha





Last but not least... We went to the Christmas tree lighting in downtown BG! It was a fun little festive treat for the community. They also had carriage rides, but I was too pooped to wait in line.

Pumpkin Carving!

Bo did a great job carving our pumpkin today! I helped for a little bit, but there was only so much carving we could do at the same time. However, I did get to spend some quality time (like an hour) which I haven't done in a really long time, especially since I've been pregnant. I finished the last 22 chapters of Job, and am excited to keep plugging through the Old Testament.

I am excited for the holiday's, and for Bo & I to have trick-or-treaters for the first time this year!! We really are enjoying our new home, and as fun as it is getting our pumpkin ready for Halloween, I am even more excited about decorating for Christmas!!! Yes, I know, it's too early, and Bo has been trying to get me to stop talking about Christmas already, but I can't help it! :)

Baby Kessler's First "Public" Appearance

Bo & I had our first Dr. appointment yesterday, which featured our first sighting of our baby! :) It was really amazing, and sweet. We had been trying to get pregnant for a little over a year, and are so greatful for this precious gift that God has blessed us with! It was totally worth the wait! God's faithfulness never ceases to amaze me. God truely does provide peace, and I know Bo and I are both so greatful for God's leading and sustenance during that time.

Enjoy the pic of our little peanut!

New Layout, New Member of our Family!

I can finally blog about it... Bo & I are going to have a baby!!! Yay! The baby should arrive around April 29th-ish, according to WebMD. I don't go to the Dr. for a couple of weeks. We are so excited!!

Home Sweet Home

Bo & I moved into our first house on Saturday!! I am so humbled and blessed by our family and friends who helped us move! My parents and brother have made numerous trips to BG to help us tear down wallpaper, paint, and hook up appliances - their help has been appreciated beyond words! I watched in awe as the truck parade carried our stuff from Summit to Fairview - it was really a sweet moment. I am continually convinced that God made us needy of other people. Life would be really hard and dull without our family and friends.

Bo & I are so thankful that God has allowed us to be part of such a sweet community.

Top 10 Vacation Moments Thus Far

1. The Word
2. Sweet hours of prayer
3. Laying on the beach and counting the stars with my hubby
4. Fondue Night
5. The Word
6. Wet flip-flop racing with Bo
7. Game night every night
8. Shopping!
9. The Pool! Especially all the kiddos at the pool - they are hilarious to listen and watch.
10. Did I mention The Word?

Hilton Head '09!

Vacation has arrived! Bo & I closed on our house on Thursday, and left Friday right after work with my brother, and drove 13 hours to the beach! Good food, good fellowship, relaxation, A LOT of laughter, some good competition, and last but certainly not least, sweet sweet time with My Lord.

I have always loved the ocean. I almost felt overwhelmed as we walked along the shore yesterday. Bo & I spend some time on the beach last night, looking at the moon and stars. We got our own little personal fireworks show from people playing with their 4th of July goodies. Bo & I were reflecting on what we had studied during our quiet times, and the 2 books I dove into, and both of us were just feeling amazed by the God we serve. He really is worth giving our whole lives to. I've really been experiencing God's peace, and know that I can only have true peace through Him.

I don't know what it is about being out in nature, but I meet with God deeply when I am breathing in His creation. God's sweet and tender whispers are as overwhelming as the vastness of the ocean. They take my breath away. I am thankful that God, in all His grace and mercy, not only gives us joy in all things, but woo's our hearts and satisfies our innermost desires.

Wrestling with God - Literally?

Jacob wrestled with God - literally, physically. Are you kidding me? I have been studying the Bible with 2 amazing women who are reading through Genesis for the first time. We've been amazed at the insestry, deceit, and sin of the Old Testament accounts. Jacob manipulated his way into God's blessing, but God blessed him anways. God's grace and mercy is really obnoxious. His love for His people, truely unconditional. Although God's heart is grieved and saddened when we are disobedient and sin, but he is never taken by surprise and He's never disappointed. God knows we're going to fail, He knew it before "the beginning."

One of the names of God is El Roi (pronounced: El Roy) - The God who sees me. God knows us. God knew Jacob, and how he was going to gain the blessing. So why did God enter into a physical wrestling match with Jacob?? How does that come about? And it lasted to daybreak... God inflicted a supernatural blow to Jacob's hip. It's hard to fathom.

I love that God always gives me new things to think about and presses my belief's.

Late Night Ponderings on Eternity

It's 12:30 a.m., and that's pretty late in my world! :) I have been wrestling with God lately, and I found some sweet Scripture to ponder to get out of my self-focused rut, and onto the sweet final dance of redemption.

Revelation 22:1-5 is titled "The River of Life," which alone gives me chills, and if that's not enough... the very next heading is "Jesus is Coming!" Yippy! Or more like Hallelujah!!! The nations will be healed, sin will be gone, we will worship God - face to face! Sign me up for my forehead tattoo!! haha :)

Last summer my eyes were opened and my heart deeply broken for those who worship other gods. The reality that people do have a desire to worship something bigger than themselves, yet follow after something other than the God who is real, who answers prayer, and gives life. One day "every knee will bow and tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord," and I want to help people find the King of Kings, who will reign forever, and who's light will illuminate the land for all of eternity.

The River of Life
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

TGIF!!!!!

This week has been absolutely crazy at work! We are getting ready to add another companies accounting work to ours, and they are about the same size as our company. We have doubled the size of our accounting department to accomodate, but between training 2 newbies, and trying to stay on top of my work, the days have been flying by! It's one of those things that I love because my adrenaline is pumping all day, which isn't typical for the accounting profession :) haha




Anywho, Bo & I had a lot of fun last night at a party our friends had called "The JASCARS!" Our friends Josh Coy and Amy Seiffert turn 30 within a couple of months of each other, and they threw this formal party for people to submit 5 minute or less films, in hopes of receiving a JASCAR award at the end of the night. Bo & I went to Goodwill on Wednesday to find some formal getup to wear, which was a lot of fun because we were trying on crazy clothes in the middle of the store.

Josh and Amy introducing the videos.

Bo & I outside the Cla-zel.

Me taking pictures of myself in the car on the way home, and almost causing an accident because the flash was so bright! haha

My Man! Isn't he handsome? I love him! :)

See more pics at www.picasaweb.google.com/ErinKessler246

We are Homeowners! (Almost/Kind of)

Bo & I are in the process of buying a house!!! We are so excited!! We even did some "Big Trash" raiding and got some gems to help fill our new home. God has really worked out all of the details, and given us peace throughout this process. We are still leaning on Him to keep working out the details with the home inspection, loan, and all that fun stuff. It really has been a great process and we are having so much fun planning and dreaming of the things that will happen in our home. I have posted some pics below!

The Conrad Family

For those of you who don't know, my maiden name is Conrad. I think we are a pretty flippin sweet family! :) hehe I mean, how can we not be from the pics below.

The Conrad Ladies - My momma, Roxanne & sister, Shauna

The whole fam, minus my brother-in-law.

Pics are Up!

I finally uploaded my pictures on my Picasa site - http://picasaweb.google.com/ErinKessler246

As depressing as the prolonged winter was getting, I had some great times this Winter. Bo & I did a lot of traveling because his older brother, Scott, and my older sister, Shauna, both turned 30 this year. We had suprise parties in Columbus and Cleveland with a week of each other, but we had a blast celebrating with them!

Bo & I celebrated our 3rd anniversary by spending a weekend in Perrysburg at the Hilton Garden Inn, and dinner at The Melting Pot in Toledo. It's an awesome fondue restaurant! It's a really fun environment to spend a couple of hours (that's right - a couple) enjoying a 4-course meal, and fellowship with my man. Unfortunately, I got a really bad cold and just laid in bed all day Saturday, but at least we had cable tv at the hotel! :) haha

Another fun adventure I had was a "Girls Night Out," which was a Christmas present for my friend Molly, or Mols... :) We had a sweet time catching up, praying for one another, laughing, crying, and encouraging one another. Maybe it will become a little tradition!

Well, after a debrief of winter, I am already loving Spring, and have been getting my butt outside and exercising! I love how God stirs our hearts, and blesses us by bringing color back into the world!

The Sun'll Come Out.....

at 6 PM tonight, and then probably not again for a few days... blah! I have been finding myself having the same conversations, or introductions, with people "this weather is so crappy; it's so nasty outside," I think those paint the picture enough. So today, I was thinking "it really doesn't make me feel any better to complain, so why don't I start being more positive, appreciative, and thankful for the weather, or whatever the circumstance." My grumbling and complaining does not move me towards Christ, and it doesn't even make me feel better!

Goal for this week: When I roll into work, the post office, the bank, etc. my conversations will be filled with thanksigiving and cheer!

The Buffer Zone

So, I didn't really watch Seinfeld growing up. I think my family did, or at least my brother, but I don't think I was reallly into it (and I was usually too busy playing sports). Anywho. I am watching an episode and Jerry & Kramer are at the movies. Jerry makes Kramer move over a seat, so there's a space in between them, and it's called the "buffer zone." So I was telling Bo how my best friend Sarah, and I, had a "buffer zone" at the movies when we were little, but big enough to go to movies by ourselves. Our "buffer zone" was a spare seat for a pretend boyfriends! haha Now... why the boyfriends couldn't sit on the outsides I don't know, but we needed a sit in between.

Good Times, Great People

I hosted my first Tastefully Simple party today, and it turned out great! There was a perfect number of people to fit in our quaint living/dining room area, lots of yummy food to pass, and old friends amongst new. It truely was a splendid time. Although it is funny when your "world's collide." Bo & I always talk about that about weddings. It's like you want everyone to meet everyone, and tell them all about what you love about "these people," and your history with them. Now, after the fact, I should have just done an introduction for everyone, and shared what I love about them! :) Maybe next time! Or maybe I'll blog it and then they all can read it! Ha!

Christmas Present, Future, and Past

Another Christmas, and another year has come and passed. I love Christmas. I love the tree's, the lights, the excitement of presents - giving & getting. Now it is all over, but the fun is still lingering. I got a Wii for my birthday, and some games for Christmas (Guitar Hero World Tour & Wii Fit), which has been keeping Bo & I quite entertained during the time off we have had for the holidays. God bless GreenLine (where I work)! They have us Thursday & Friday of the last 2 weeks off, and it has been fabulous. It was great to be able to spend more time at home over Christmas, and Bo & I have had a lot of fun hanging out over my little New Year's break. We have seen 2 movies - The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons, and Marley & Me. Both are good, but Mom - you can't watch Marley and Me! I have spent hours at Panera the last few days reading, and chatting with my husband. I had fun taking random pictures of Bo & I in the car as we were shopping around on Friday - pictures can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/ErinKessler246

So, I thought I would blog about my Christmas revelation, instead of putting off & never getting around to it. One Sunday morning while I was praying with some others before our church service started, I felt led to pray for what was the upcoming holiday season. I prayed that instead of parents trying to lure their children into "being a good girl or boy" to please Santa, what if children learned about the amazing gift of grace and forgiveness that Jesus bore into the world. I am not criticizing or saying it's wrong to use some seasonal motivation for the childrens, because I am not a parent and will probably do the same thing! :) This was just something that clicked in my heart this season.