It's exhausting being the photographer and the subject, but Bo & I had fun taking our family prego pics! We are so excited to meet Will, but we are enjoying our last days of "freedom" too! I'm not to the point yet where I'm "done" being pregnant. Praise the Lord it's been a pretty good ride after I got through that 1st trimester.
April 1st is a significant day in my life, and not just because I enjoy playing practical jokes on people - especially my boss. It's hard to believe, but 9 years ago (I was 18, yikes!) and I was baptized. Now, I had had a relationship with Jesus for approximately 13-14 years prior to this, and even began really pursuing an intentional relationship with God a year or so prior to this. However, making the decision to be baptized took a lot of thought and consideration. I knew I would be leaving for college in a few short months - I would be on my own. More independent. I knew this would set the precedent for what type's of choices I would make over the next 1-4 years. So I prayed about it, talked about with a couple other friends who decided they were going to be baptized, and we did it together! :) It was a sweet day - a Sunday, rainy (I think), and how appropriate - the earth was being cleansed too! :)
God really took hold of my life at this point in time. I knew that He was always to be most important, and that I wanted to live my life, and make decisions around Him and what He would want. Don't get me wrong... I screwed up a lot after this! But God really did become the central part of my life at this point, and I would never go back. Walking with God is hard, but so sweet, and always worth it. His faithfulness will never cease to amaze me. His grace & mercy will never cease to bring me to my knees. His love is what gives me life. It truly is a "Good Friday!" I fought to be joyous and celebratory today while at work, where it is easy to give way to the bitterness and cynicism.
- A thankful, humble servant
I found this magazine I liked when I was in Barnes & Noble one day - Light & Delish. I also just found that you can get all these recipes free online at delish.com... It met the "I should have most of these ingredients in my cupboard" criteria (and they looked healthy)! I've actually made like 3 things out of it already, and have loved them, but here is a quick & easy, do-it-yourself granola recipe.
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. honey
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 lg. egg
2 c. old-fashioned oats, uncooked
3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1/2 c. toasted wheat germ
1/2 c. raisins
3/4 tsp. salt
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13" by 9" metal baking pan with nonstick foil (if not using nonstick, lightly grease foil). 2. In 2-cup liquid measuring cup, stir oil, honey, vanilla, and egg until mixed. In large bowl, with fork, mix oats, flour, sugar, almonds, wheat germ, raisins, and salt until combined. With rubber spatula, stir honey mixture into oat mixture until blended; scrape into prepared pan. With wet hand, pat oat mixtutre evenly into pan. 3. Bake 30-35 minutes or until pale golden around edges. Cool Completely in pan on wire rack, about 1 hour. 4. When cool, transfer using foil to cutting board. Cut lengthwise into 4 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 6 pieces. Store in tightly sealed container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.
Oat and Almond Breakfast Bars
Posted using ShareThis
Bo & I celebrated our 4 year anniversary with a surprise date, and a trip to Columbus this weekend. Bo picked me up from work on the 4th, took me to Pizza Papalis, and then to see Nemo on Ice!!!! I was truely surprised, and we had a great time.
Some days it's hard to believe we've been married a whopping 4 years, and other days it seems like we've been together forever! Our wedding day was so sweet, and we are so thankful and blessed for what a beautiful day God gave us.
I can't believe that Baby Will will be here in just a few months!!! I have really love being pregnant, and Bo & I have had a lot of fun preparing for becoming parents. We have our birthing classes this weekend, so I'm sure I will have some great stories to share from that experience!! haha
On Sunday we went and took a tour of the maternity ward in the hospital, and it was really nice!! There's even a pull-out couch for dad. So we just continue to pray for the baby's development, and a "smooth" delivery.
I keep hearing about this advertisement on K-Love about a non-profit organization that is helping girls are being trafficked in northwest Ohio. I must confess I don't know a lot about this subject, but it has tugged at my heart for a few years, since I saw a Law & Order SVU episode. It's funny how God works... I also soon after discovered an amazing Christian artist, Natalie Grant, who also began wanting to help women in this, because she too saw the Law & Order episode.
So I decided to check out this website, and to begin asking God how I can help and be more aware. If I am not aware, I can't pray... and that's at least a place to start.
If you are interested in learing more too, check out http://thedaughterproject.org/
Our poverty and wretchedness, when felt, powerfully plead in our behalf at the throne of grace. The best self-preservation is to commit ourselves to God's keeping. I am one whom thou favourest, hast set apart for thyself, and made partaker of sanctifying grace. It is a great encouragement to prayer, to feel that we have received the converting grace of God, have learned to trust in him, and to be his servants. We may expect comfort from God, when we keep up our communion with God.
God's goodness appears in two things, in giving and forgiving. Whatever others do, let us call upon God, and commit our case to him; we shall not seek in vain. (Ps 86:8-17)
