Our Sweet Zeke

Psalm 127:3 says: Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward!

Oh, how true that rings in my soul. My sweet pumpkin turned 1 just a week ago!

What a gift! God is so good.

I cannot put into words all the joy contained in my heart from this one precious gift. I can express that God has done so much good in A and I's life because of Zeke. Starting from the first moment we saw him up to this very day.

The picture above is Zeke's first hours. I was induced one week early because my blood pressure kept going up. I think it was white coat syndrome! But I had to trust God that the doctors knew what they were doing. I was nervous and had asked many to pray. Zeke is our first baby so of course I had no clue what to expect in child birth! I was so worried that I was going to have an anxiety attack or something! No wonder God asks us to cast all of our anxieties on Him, there is no way we can handle life on our own. The proof is in the pudding as they say, my mom said I was the most calm person she has ever seen in labor-now that is all God!!

Right after Zeke was born they were working on him, he had a good cry but the nurse later explained it was almost as if he had a look on his face like he was drowning! He had swallowed fluid on his way out, so therefore was not able to breathe so well. He was taken to the NICU right away and hooked up too all those tubes you see.

Zeke's full name is Ezekiel Charles Rex. Ezekiel is a biblical name that means "strength of God". Before Zeke was born A and I listened to John Piper talk about how you should really pray about what you name your children. How amazing that God put that talk in our midst! Ezekiel was and is the perfect name for him. We really needed God's strength those first days, and so did Zeke. And once again for the millionth plus time God was faithful!

We still need God's strength daily. Being young parents is a hard task, and definitely one we cannot do on our own. Zeke's name is always a great reminder of this! God has so kindly taught us about His fatherhood and ho much He loves us through Zeke. When I think of how much I love Zeke, I am overwhelmed that God loves us so much more than even that!!

Isn't it crazy how deep our need is to have parental love. How deeply our lives are affected by it-or the lack thereof. Nobody has the "perfect" parent. Nor do A or I think we will attain this status. Some of us don't even have living parents, or ones who are present in our lives. That is why I stand in further amazement of God's Fatherly role in my life and His desires to fufill a maternal role as well. We all have this need and it can truly be met by God alone. Have you rested in your Heavenly Fathers arms lately? Experienced the love He has for you as His child? Did you know He desires to be your Father, a perfect Father?! Ask Him, He will show you His faithful love. Look to the Cross where Jesus hung, stripped and naked, and beaten to bring us to our Heavenly Father.

Oh thank you Lord for all your wondrous gifts.

One Heck of A Honey

I have been meaning to talk to you all about someone. This someone is my main man, my honey, my sweetie!

He is one amazing man. And a lot of you would agree. He loves God. He cares for people that most people would never take the time to get to know. He is so friendly, kind, giving, loving, and puts pretty much everyone else before himself!

He is an amazing husband. He takes time to listen, and really cares about what is going on in my life. He makes sure that he is leading me closer to God. He reminds me many times how special I am to him. He works so hard so that I can stay home and be with Zeke. I don't think I can say enough to express what a wonderful man he really is.

He is an amazing dad. He loves to spend time with his "bug". He takes time to feed him almost every morning and considers this their "special" time. He reads to Zeke about Jesus, always telling him about the truth of life. He loves to take Zeke for walks and get out and about with him, and me. There is nothing better than seeing the look on Zeke's face than when his daddy walks through the door after being at work all day.

He is an amazing photographer. This is a recent hobby for him, and quickly turning into more. I will stop going on and on and let the pictures do the talking.

Sweet Etsy

These are just a few of my sweet sister's creations from her etsy shop.

Dress up!

Sweet sparrows.

Wooden pendant.

Amazing flowers!

Fun posts!

There is a bit of everything on her site! Did i mention she also has hair accessories?

She is just pretty much amazing!

(and very affordable)

All Over the Place

Well! If you do read my blog-many apologies for not updating in a long while:)! I have been all over the place- physically and mentally!!

All of the siblings between my mom and step-dad gathered together to celebrate my grandpa's 90th birthday!! Wowsers- some cupcake pics to come from the party (as soon as my sister emails them to me!). Anyhow, we had such a great time honoring this great man! He is such a hard worker-still working part-time-and a gentle and loving man. It was really great to be with family, esp. those that live far away.

Mentally I am all over the place too! I have just finished "weening" Zeke. Wow-I never knew how far out of whack my hormones were going to be. And to top it off we just moved into a new place, only a few buildings down, but a ton of work none the less! Oh and did I mention Zeke is teething-never any fun-for he or I!

So my mind is all over the place. My highs are high and my lows are really low. I have been begging Jesus to be my strength. I am finding my bearings in Him. It is not easy. I have to return to Him many times, a humbling thing for someone who tries to be so self-reliant. I am so glad that Jesus' grace is sufficient for me, I am so glad that when I am weak He is strong. No matter how I "feel".

Sweet Jesus-please be my strength today. Help me to trust You, Your help, and Your words. Help me to rest in You as I go about my day today. Please be my peace and help me keep my eyes fixed on You. You are so good to me. Teach me in these times. I love you so very much. Amen.

2 Samuel 22:31 This God— his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 31:2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

My Little Bug!

Zeke is our little boy! It is hard to believe he is already 8 months old!!
He is such a joy and always happy. God is teaching me so much about who He is through Zeke!
I think I hear him waking up from his nap, so more on that later.....

Ask Ask Ask!

"The ability of God is beyond our prayers, beyond our largest prayers! I have been thinking of some of the petitions that have entered into my supplication innumerable times. What have I asked for? I have asked for a cupful, and the ocean remains! I have asked for a sunbeam, and the sun abides! My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father's giving: it is beyond that we can ask." --J. H. Jowett

Set My Love Upon Him

I remember a time where I could not wait to get alone with Jesus. Do you remember such a time? Or perhaps you have never felt that way at all. At that time it was not on my check list to have a quiet time, or I wasn't just reading the bible to find out how I could prove someone wrong, or to get more head knowledge. I was turning to the Bible to be alone with Jesus. To hear His voice through God's word. He would tell me such sweet things. Things that penetrated deep into my heart that fanned the flame of my love for Him. I have really been missing that time in my life and have been praying for more of it. And getting angry at God when it does not "just happen" when I want it to. As He and I have been talking He has shown me something. Psalm 91.14-16 says: 14 ,"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

I looked up that meaning of love and it is as follows- in hebrew:chahaq (pronounced khaw-shaw) to cling, that is to join, (figuratively) to love, delight in, to desire, set in love. I was so convicted! Here I am complaining to God because I don't "feel Him", yet am I setting out to cling to Him? His word? Sure I know there are times when you cannot sense God, times where He is building our character to trust in Him when we do not sense nor see Him at work. But I do believe as His word tells us that we can seek Him and He will be found. And as it is stated by Hosea- The Lord delights in our loyalty rather than our sacrifice.

So I find my self questioning my tantrum. Where are you Lord!!! Why can't I feel You right now!! Show up!!! And He, in His kindness asks, "Have you held fast to me in love"? Ouch. My time spent with Him ebs and flows. And usually I am begging for things and then reading the Bible to check it off of my list. Double ouch. Oh Lord thank You for reminding me of the times You helped me cling to you in love by showing me the wonder of Your Word. There are so many gems in his word. So many places in scripture that set my heart in a place where I cannot help but to delight in Him. I so badly want to open up His Word and soak up those places. Places that feel like they were written only to me. Places where I get lost in His love for me, and the amazing wonder of who He is. This is a place where I learn how to hold fast to Him in love. I am able to do this because He first loved me. I praise Him because I know He will continue to love me!

This is not just for me though! It is for you too! Do you hear Him calling you by your name, to come sit in the quite place with Him? Not so He can tell you how bad you have been. No, He wants to call you in His kindness to come be alone with Him. To sit and ponder on His word, so your heart can be refreshed and you love for Him renewed. I love the King James version of this verse : Because he has set His love upon Me. Go. Go to Him. Set your love upon Him now. Let His gentle Spirit lead you back to a place where you long to be alone with Him. Not for any other reason than you just love to be with Him.

Here are a few verses that ignite this love in me for Him!

Job 37:1-13 "At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place. (2) Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. (3) Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth. (4) After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. (5) God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. (6) For to the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth,' likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. (7) He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it. (8) Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens. (9) From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds. (10) By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. (11) He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. (12) They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. (13) Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.

Psa 3:3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Psa 18:10 He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.

Psa 18:18-19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. (19) He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

Psa 18:35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.

Psa 30:5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Jer 33:8-9 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. (9) And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.

Isa 40:11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Isa 42:6 "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, Isa 43:1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isa 43:4-5 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you...

Isa 43:13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.