A NEW CHAPTER

So today Carter and I are leaving Gabe with a sweet new friend from our church here in Norman, and we are venturing our way up to Edmond for an interview.

About 6 months ago we began the process of adopting a baby. When we started we were in the International program, but a couple months later I had a miscarriage and the Lord used that time in our lives to change some things for us. So a couple months later, we pulled out of the International program and are now trying to decide what Domestic program we want to go with.

Today we have an interview with a very small agency in Edmond and on Thursday evening we have an orientation with a fairly large agency in OKC. We started the process of our home-study about two weeks ago, and are currently trying to complete all of that paperwork. We couldn't be more thrilled about what the Lord is doing in our lives and the new chapter that is opening up for us.

Please pray with us and for us, that the Lord opens and closes doors that are obvious for us to follow and that we are obedient in every step of this journey! Also I would ask you to pray for this baby that is waiting for us, whether it be born already or yet to be born...that he/she would be kept safe from harm and from the reality that this world has become; and pray for the birth mother that the Lord would bless her for making the most difficult decision a mother could ever make and that she would practice good choices while carrying her baby!

I know that that was a lot! I appreciate all of you...and love you!

ZUMBA!!

So about a month ago I finally took the plunge and joined the gym!

And I am so so glad that I did! I am more than ready ( like 5 months ago ready) to loose the rest of this pregnant weight, which I am afraid I can't really say that now considering my boy is 14 months old!

I have been going about 4 or 5 times a week and have really been enjoying my time there, I feel so good by the time I am done, and do not know why I didn't start this sooner! I take Gabe to the nursery, he doesn't love it when I drop him off but by the time I pick him up he always has a smile on his face and is playing with the other kids; plus there is one lady who is always there during the week and she loves on Gabe, so I trust that he will be fine!

Last Monday a friend and I went to a Zumba class there. Have any of you ever done one of these classes? Well if you have not let me just tell you it was SO MUCH FUN! I felt like I was 20, in college, and dancing with my girls. I loved it, i was not any good at it, but I loved it :)

I am getting ready to go right now and I am meeting a few of my friends there, and it is silly how excited I am to work out...ha!

SOOO if you have a Zumba class near you... do it!!

Litany of Humility

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me , O Jesus.

From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, O Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.

Charity

"Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth, bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (I Cor. 13:4-7)

To have charity is to love God above all things for Himself and be ready to renounce all created things rather than offend Him by serious sin. (Matt. 22:36-40)

This has become an almost daily prayer for Carter and I. When we are reading it together I am afraid; I know that by speaking the words out loud I am admitting that I am ready for these things to be truth in my life, and what a life change that would be!!!

God may I be humble and prepare me to live only for You and die to myself...

Heaven to Me

My family went to Florida this past week and a half!

It was a wonderful trip and Gabriel loved the beach and the water!

Here is my and my little man enjoying the amazing weather!

Carter and Gabe one night on the beach...
Our little family

I am in love with this little boy!
And what I would like to think Heaven looks like!

Birthdays and friends

So we moved to Norman almost 3 months ago...that seems unreal!

Well we have met some wonderful friends while living here!

Our neighbors are fabulous people and they have a 2 year old named Arya, he and Gabe love playing together and almost every evening you can find our two families sitting in our front yards spending time playing with our boys and enjoying each others company!

Below is a picture of Arya's mom, Manjew. She loves Gabriel and Gabe loves her, anytime he sees her he reaches for her...i love it!

Well my big boy turned ONE a couple of weeks ago!

I can not believe how fast the time has gone by. He is getting so big so fast! He is crawling ALL over the place, up stairs, into the bathtub, out the back door! We are having so much fun!

Here are a few pictures of Gabes birthday party!

Here he is tuckered out and ready for a nap with my mom
Here he is trying on his new sun glasses:)

I mean no one ever say that my boy doesnt get excited about food...just like his momma:)

We are so excited for the summer and loving this beautiful weather that we have been having!

Carter is officially done with work for the next 2 months so we are looking forward to being  able to spend more time with each other and just enjoy our family!

We leave for florida next week and can not wait!

I hope that all of you are having a wonderful summer so far!

perspective

Carter and I found out that we were pregnant a couple of weeks ago.  While we were pretty shocked we were also SO SO very excited!

Well yesterday I found out that I miscarried. I don't really know how to articulate the way that I was or am feeling, it was a sadness that can not be comforted, it just has to take its course. I felt, and still feel sad, confused, disappointed, and anxious.  My heart hurts for this baby that Carter, Gabriel, and I will never know until we get to Heaven. It really just puts things into perspective for us.

So please excuse me if I am a little somber, somewhat not fun, and not very talkative for the next few days.  I just need to be sad....

Like Mother Like Son

So it turns out that my son and I both like to scrunch our noses in pictures.

It is a horrible habit that I picked up years ago and I am currently trying to loose!

BUT now my sweet Gabriel does it to! So maybe I will hold on to that habit for just a while longer:)
These pictures are for shan's project!! Can't wait to see you next week and take pictures with the four of us!