Each Day of the Year

I heard on the radio the other day that in the Bible, it says "Do not fear" 365 times.
That's one for each day of the year.

Good Reads: Part 2

I am very aware that when you give birth to a child, they do not come with an instruction book, titled "All About Me!"  
A couple of weeks ago, Jerod and I went to Barnes and Noble in search of a baby book for some advice.  Instead of getting the book I came for, I left with "The Duggars: 20 and Counting!"  When I showed it to Jerod he said, get it... she's done it 18 times and she's a Christian.  
I finished the book this past Monday night and will say that it was full of great advice.  No, we don't plan on having 18 kids, but I have always been interested in how they do it!  Really, my one child is a nap in a hammock under a shade tree compared to their crew!  
One piece of advice that I thought was really great (and unusual for this day) is that they don't borrow money for anything.  If they want something, they save up the money for it, ensuring that they don't go into debt.  (This principle reminded me of book The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, but that's a whole nother post!)  The Duggar family sticks to this principle from the verse in the Bible "Owe no man anything, but to love one another."  -Romans 13:8  Great advice if you ask me! 
I was really impressed how the kids are all so helpful to each other and to their parents.  They do everything together, from cleaning the house, schoolwork, fixing meals to even building their 7,000 square foot house (which is paid for!)  
This was a really great book to read since I didn't have to "think" so much! :)  Scattered throughout the book are family recipes, interesting facts and answers to emails they have received.  It was great to learn about a family that loves the Lord and each other!

Also, on Monday morning on the Today show, they announced that the oldest son and his wife are having a baby girl!  I thought this was a creative idea.... cutting a cake and the inside frosting color tells you what you're going to have!  
Later that night, I checked out Gabriel and Carlie's photography blog.  They are a husband and wife team out of southern California.  Check out their exciting video.... IT'S. THE. BEST! :)

Easter means...

Easter is such a wonderful holiday in my book!  Remembering that Jesus Christ went to the cross and died for YOU and for ME!  The great thing is that He rose again... which is Easter day!  

Jerod, myself and Nathan spent the morning at church and the afternoon with family.  It was a great day!  This evening I got on my wonderful friend Maureen's blog and saw that she spent Easter at THE EMPTY TOMB in Israel!  Now, that would be a great way to celebrate Easter! :)  Thanks for sharing Mo! 

Seafood, Suntans and a Banana Split

There are always those moments that redefine our lives.  For me, traveling to Brasil, my dad's death, and the pregnancy and birth of my son Nathan have had a large impact on how I view life and how I live.  And now I would have to add going to the Branson Victory Campaign to that list.  

I first heard about Kenneth and Gloria Copeland when I was younger but really started to listen to them when Jerod and I started dating and even more so right after my dad died.  I know many people (Christians included) who don't like to listen to t.v. ministers or view them as the "name it and claim it" bunch.  But I don't see them like that, I see them as taking the Bible for what it is and living life as it should be.  If we're supposed to "Be Like Christ", then why are we sick in bed, worried about how we're supposed to get the bills paid and spend too much time wondering what to make for supper?  And I know I am guilty of all.

During the 3 days of listening to Kenneth and Gloria last month, I prayed that the Lord would show me areas that I needed to change that might be putting a hold on His blessings for me.  Very clearly, He showed me 2 things that I needed to do with our finances.  One of those things was pay money to someone that I owed.  Now, this individual had not been asking me for the money, nor do I think they even had expected its coming.  But the Holy Spirit had been reminding me of it for some time (like for 2 1/2 years) but I hadn't followed through with it.  So when Jerod and I arrived home, I sent the money off to that person.  I also acted on the other thing that needed changing and when the time is right, I will share that story also.  

Since I have obeyed, blessings have been coming in...  

Jerod and I went out for lunch a couple weeks ago and we just happened to run into my Uncle and my cousins wife.  I hadn't seen them for about a year now.  It was a nice surprise to the day and Jerod and I joined them at their table.  It was good to visit with them and they were glad to see Nathan.  They finished before us and went on their way.  When Jerod and I were ready to go, the waitress informed us that our bill had been taken care of.  :)  (Thank you Uncle Steve!)

A couple weekends ago, I found out there was free tanning for the weekend at the place I've gone to.  So I went, wanting to get a little color added to this pasty skin that had only seen light from the computer screen this past summer!  While I was waiting I signed up for their prizes, not know what they were.  A week and a half after that, I got a phone call saying that I had won free tanning for a year!

One of my favorite foods is ice cream and I am so glad to know that Frosties opened yesterday!! :)  For some reason I had been thinking about a banana split 2 weeks ago and how good it would taste.  (Yes, I'm one of those that dreams about food!)  Last Saturday, Jerod and I had a late supper after watching Mariah's dance competition.  We ended up stopping at Culver's on the way home.  They have some of the BEST ice cream and we decided to get some after our meal.  Well while we're eating, one of the workers walks up to us and asked it we'd like a free banana split since they had made an extra one!  Of course, I put my not-even-close-to-being-done hamburger down and dove into the split!  

I'm thankful that I decided to obey the Lord this time instead of put it off.  And I know that this is just the beginning of more blessings to come!  And so I'm asking you, are there things that you know you should be doing but are not?  

Perfectionism Leads To Procrastination

I heard this from David Jay during the Free To Succeed tour stop in Kansas City last August.   For me, this is so true, especially with this blog!  I would prefer to have things perfect.  I honestly don't even like my blog, I think the style of it is boring and that makes ME not even want to visit it!  Somethings wrong with that picture, right? 

So, it's time for a makeover!  Nikki from Expressive Style Graphics is working on the new and improved for Him photography blog as I type! :)  Be sure to stop back again soon to check it out! 

Today

Quite a bit of time has gone by since my last post.  The days are so much different here at home, but in a good way!  Nathan is growing so fast!  He was 5 weeks old yesterday!  I told Jerod that if i was still at my old job, i would be going back to work in a week... I'm thankful that I don't have to leave Nathan and that I can stay home with him!

The first few weeks were spent getting caught up on rest!  I know what they mean know when they say, "Sleep when your baby sleeps!" :)  I'm at the point when I'm starting to get into a routine.  Spending time with the Lord, working out and working on the photography business are all priorities that I want to keep up on.  

Last week, Jerod and I went to Branson Missouri to hear Kenneth and Gloria Copeland andKeith Moore.  We had such a good time, it was nice to get away for a while.  The messages were just what we needed to hear also!  And I also met some wonderful ladies in the nursing room of all places! :)  It's neat to see other mothers interact with their babies!  We were also blessed with 2 days with temps in the 80's!  That really made me ready for spring!  It's coming!!

Here's a picture of Nathan... I love his eyes!

Answered Prayer: Canon 5D Mark II

On December 5th, Christian Photo in Des Moines was having Canon Days.  I took the day off of work and met Elly and we both headed over there.  I really wanted to see the new Canon 5D and also shoot with a couple of lenses to see which ones I'd really like to have.  Well, I loved the camera and had them put my name down on the waiting list... added to the others.  A few days later, I contacted Samys Camera in CA to see if I could get a camera body quicker.  I was told that they already had a shipment come in, sold out and those on the waiting list probably wouldn't see theirs until Feb. or March 2009.  So I decided to pray and believe that I would have one by the end of January.  Why?  Because the baby is due then and I wanted to give my mom my Rebel to take on her trip to Israel in early February.  

It's easy to trust in the Lord in the good times, but your faith is tested in the hard times.  This past week there were a few things that were bothering me.  I prayed about them and the Lord answered both of those prayers, one Friday and the other one this morning.  There's one more prayer that's in the process of being answered.  It's kind of a big one, but I remember that I have a big God!  So as I was thinking about this about 2 hours ago, and reminding myself that "...my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus", the phone rang.  It was Christian Photo calling to say they received a 5D this morning in and they were wondering if I wanted it.  Eight days after I looked at it.  It just amazes me how much the Lord looks out for us.  He knows the desires of our hearts!  I have been believing and sowing for a new camera and now it's here!  Thank you Jesus!  And to top it all off, there is a very dear individual who is purchasing it for me!  Wow.  God is good!