See ya later, 2012.

Well my friends, another year has come and gone. And what a year it's been!!! I accomplished 2 things that thus far in life (besides getting married) I am the most proud of and have proved to be life changing!

15 days after welcoming 2012, we saw two little lines appear on a stick and our lives forever changed! I guess you could say 2012 was the year of Gage. We found out we were expecting, experienced our first pregnancy, endured an all natural labor and delivery, and excitedly became parents on September 5th, 2012.

In the midst of all that, I graduated nursing school. I got my first job at NARMC and loved it. Then, life threw another curve ball as I took a leap and went into the mental health field where I now work at Arkansas Counseling using my RN degree. It's been a roller coaster, but I love where I'm at now.

Those 2 short paragraphs entailed so much work.... and there were times I didn't think I'd make it through either one of them, but I am SO glad I stuck with it because both experiences have made me stronger and molded me into the person I am as I happily start a new year!

2012 also held a really tough experience for me, one I'd dreaded since I was a little girl. I lost my Granny.... It was really unexpectd and sudden. And it hurt my heart more than I can explain. I'll forever have a part of my heart that is empty, because only she could fill it. I could go on and on about how precious she was.... I am just so thankful that when I close my eyes I can still see her playing her guitar and singing loud hymns of praise in church. I can hear her praying and when she didn't have any words left, especially as she got older, she would just repeat "Jesus" over and over. He was so dear to her. She knew all she had to do was speak His name.... Little did she know, she taught me so many life lessons just by living.

I feel like this year has brought so much change. I feel like it was a huge turning point in my life- it has molded me into a new person! I'm now a mom! My priorities have changed and I think, slowly but surely, I'm becoming a much less self-consumed, selfish person. My prayer is that someday I will be as selfless as my Granny, Meemaw, and Mom.... and have servant hearts like them! I hope that's something I'll grow into as God continues to change my heart.

Ok, now on to lighter things!

As I type I'm in my new fuzzy robe that I've been living in the past few days. Hair in a messy bun. No makeup. Thank goodness, I've actually showered today. So what I'm getting at is my resolution for this upcoming year:

To feel good about myself again.

Now, that may entail a lot more than the superficial things like fitting into my jeans again and losing the rest of this baby weight-- even though that is a HUGE part of it. It's being a better friend, learning how to balance ME time, HUBBY time, and MOMMY time, and spending more time daily with God.

I have a lot to work on, but I feel so ready to tackle this new year as a new woman!! :)

Day 4: Husband

Ok, so obviously I'm not going to be able to do this in consectutive days! Finding time to sit down on the computer each down is hard, so I'm just going to post the days as I'm able to. But by george, I'm going to finish this! :) The days I have been able to do this and focus on praying for Ryan really has been a blessing.

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"God has been doing some good things in my heart as I've put much time and focus on the spiritual well-being of my husband. Anyone else?

Today, let's focus on our husbands as just that, a husband. If you are not yet married, pray for your guy as he steps into the role of husband. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. Your husband, my husband, is the leader. Already. It's settled. You don't have to negotiate it or loose sleep over it, they are the head of the home. Christ appointed them to that role.

In thinking about praying for this role, it was hard for me to stripe this roll from the other rolls he fulfills. Yet, it is the one role that is solely created for me. Funny, isn't it?

Our focus:

• Encourage him in his leadership of me, his wife.
• Continue to develop him into a man that always makes marriage a priority.
• Give him a deep love for me, his spouse.
• Give him new revelation into Your heart for marriage.
• Guard his eyes from Satan's attempts to steal his affection from me.
• May he be a model of submission as he submits to the Lord.
• Give him wisdom in leadership."

Ryan is hands down my best friend. How God chose me fit to be his wife, who knows. But I am so glad that he is my husband!

Day Three: Job

Since we all know you can't pray on the weekends (totally kidding) I started back up today on Day 3 of Taking Your Man to Jesus. We had a crazy busy weekend, so I'm sorry for the two days I skipped over!!

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"Whatever it is that he does to 'bring home the bacon,' let's ask that Jesus meet him there today.

We all know our husband's jobs well, so spend some time today personalizing your prayer in the way your husband needs them most. Try to take yourself out of the prayers. Don't pray for what you would be pleased to see happen, but rather things that would bring growth to your dude.

Our focus:

• May his workplace be/become a place where he has freedom show his creativity and use his gifts.
• That he would gain encouragement, specifically today, from his co-workers.
• That he would be effective.
• A thankful heart for a job that provides.
• Give clarity to any callings that the Lord may be placing in his heart.
• Professional growth.

Take a few extra moments to thank Jesus for giving your husband a job. For those of you who have the joy of staying at home with your kids make sure you have your heart right. Rather than comparing your life to the lives of others or wishing you had more to "show" for your life or sulking in the career you used to have, give thanks for a man who works so hard so that you can be a full-time mommy.

Let us all make a noticeable effort today to show our gratitude for our husbands when he enters the doors of his home at five or six or seven o'clock in the evening.

One of the most applicable pieces of advice I have ever heard is this:

When your husband comes home from a long day at work, you and all of your children should go to the door to greet him, showing him how thankful you are that he has come home to you. A man who comes home with no one to greet him, feels as though no one notices his presence. If his presence is not noticed, he will start to pull away. Make a conscious effort to greet your husband today. And have your children or pets or make believe friends do the same thing. It will make him feel loved. That is our goal!"

 

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If I could only tell you how appropriate "Job" is for today. Ryan has been under so much stress related to his job. God is bigger than any problems we face, and I know that He will deliver my sweet husband from the stress & worries of owning his own business. I am also going to try all this week to greet Ryan at the door with Gage when he comes home- I want him to know that he is loved and appreciated and that we are so happy "Daddy" is home!!!

 

Day Two: Worship

Worship, as you know, is a matter of the heart.
So, let's begin by praying for his heart.

I know what it feels like to have a heavy or burdened or uneasy heart. Don't you? Let's come together against this for our guys.

 

Our focus:

• Take the burdens from the heart of my husband.
• Replace them with FREEDOM.
• In that freedom, begin to teach my husband what it truly means to worship You in spirit and in truth.
• Come and meet my husband where he is.
• Allow him to find rest in his home and in his current circumstances.
• Begin to lay new words and encouragement on the heart of my husband.
• Develop him into a man who is capable of being in a CONSTANT SPIRIT of worship.

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I have to admit, I haven't prayed specifically for this in the life of my husband before, but how important is this!?! I know that Ryan carries so many responsibilities on his shoulders, and often needs to experience the freedom of the Lord. WOW, I feel blessed by getting to pray this for my husband today. I pray that he feels the Lord gently nudging him to let go of the burdens on his heart and begin to simply WORSHIP...

 

 

 

Taking Your Man to Jesus- Day One: Leader

I saw a fellow blogger, Meagan, do this last year on her blog & was really intrigued by it. 10 days devoted to prayer for your husband. Hmmmm, when was the last time I really prayed for my husband? And God knows he has so much on his shoulders! When she went through it again this year, I wanted to join in & am just now getting around to focusing my heart on the idea of it! So here it goes, LADIES PLEASE JOIN ME! (and thank you Meagan for sharing and inviting me and others to join in as well!)

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"disclaimer: Before I begin, I want to let you know that I will, most often, be referring to that special man in your life as "husband." If the guy you are praying for is not your husband, please still participate and know that when I say husband I actually mean: husband, fiance, boyfriend or future husband...I am sure many women are married to men who are not Christ followers. Rather than comparing your husband to any other man, use this as a time to focus on all that God HAS given to you through your spouse. Pray for him intently and intensely.

Let's begin by praying for our husbands as leaders.

All of our men are leaders in one way or another and most of them lead in multiple areas. They are all the leaders in our relationships and homes. Many of them lead multiple people in their place of work. And whether you realize it or not, many of your husband's friends look to your husband as a leader in their friendship. For those of you who have been in leadership roles yourselves, you know the burden and pressure that can come from such roles. Recognize that your husband is a leader to many people, even in situations that you may be unaware of. Let's ask the Lord to bless them in this role, to teach them through leadership and to use them to influence others.

Our focus is that God would:

• Increase his wisdom in making decisions for those he leads.
• Give him confidence as a leader.
• Call him to step out in his role and calling.
• Give him influence in the lives of others.
• Allow him to view his leadership as a way to lead as the Lord has led him.
• Teach him as he leads others.
• Give him a teachable spirit.
• Impress on his heart how to be the spiritual leader of his home.

Use the next twenty-four hours to focus on your husband's roles in leadership. Take him before the Lord, specifically as a leader.

 

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I am so excited to begin this today! I know that I am guilty of not praying near enough for Ryan, the leader of our home. He needs my support & encouragement to daily rise up and take on all the responsibilities of being a leader. He owns his own business, supports our family financially, leads us spiritually, and works with children in Awanas at church; so I know that he needs to be lifted up in this area!! Naturally, when I begin to pray about this I start to focus on what I could do as a wife to help him, encourage him, etc... but instead I want these 10 days to focus only on TAKING MY MAN TO JESUS and asking God to do a work in His life- a work that only He can do.

3 Months

Gage,

This month has been the most fun of all. You have got such a little personality!

You continue to be a morning baby. We love to watch you wake up- as soon as your eyes open you are all smiles! Momma likes to flirt with you- you are such a flirt and kind of bashful when I say "Heeeeeeeeeeeeey Gage". It's so cute.

You love to talk to Daddy & lately have been his boy. You started out just being able to pick my voice out from all the rest, but now you can spot Daddy as soon as he comes in the room! He will do this thing where he talks to you nonstop just rambling on and you join right in- cooing and talking your little head off too! It melts my heart. It also melts my heart when I see your Daddy look at you with such love.

You have started playing a lot this month. You love to play on your playmat and will just stare at the little birdies hanging above you. You like to listen to the Baby Einstein channel on Pandora while you play. Your favorite song is No More Monkeys and you love for Momma to dance around to it and get you all excited! You have started noticing the TV and when you are at Gram's house you love to watch Mickey Mouse's Christmas Sing-Along and here at home you sometimes will watch about 10 minutes of Veggie Tales. You LOVE for us (especially Daddy) to read you books! It would crack us up so much when you first started paying such attention to the pages when you were just a little over 2 months old. You could be fussy & we would sit you in our laps with some books and it usually cheered you up! You focus on the colorful pages & love to listen to our voices tell the story!

You still love bathtime. You now sit down in the water in your little tub and have learned how to splash with your legs. You kick and kick... and usually get mad when we have to get you out. I love to lather you up in baby lotion, and then we go rock you to sleep. We still swaddle you from the waist down and you still have to have your favorite white noise. We have the bedtime routine down! Daddy gets all your stuff ready and Momma rocks you to sleep. We usually sing lullabys and hymns. You love it.

You are filling out SO much! You are our little "Chunky Monkey" and we love to kiss your soft skin that's getting more and more little rolls :)

We like to take walks and put you in your carrier. You love it too! You seem to really like the fresh air and seeing new sights. Speaking of new sights, you have began to notice your weenie dog Jack. Before you wouldn't even look at him.

You like to chew on your hands now. It cracks us up! When your paci falls out you can push it back in with your little fists. So funny!

Our favorite thing is to try to get you to say "Oh"... You have said it perfectly before and we laugh so hard! When we say "ooooohhhhh" to you, you try so hard to say it it's so funny!!!

You have also learned to throw fits. You can throw a good one too, if I do say so myself. You get bright red and gag you cry so hard. You stiffen up like a board! At first we didn't know what to do, but we've figured out that it either means you are really tired or you are missing me. It's happened the most when you are with your grandparents and Momma is at work or on a date with Daddy. Let's just say you are getting pretty attached to me.... and I'm not going to lie, I love it! I don't like that you get upset when I'm not with you (because it makes it harder to go to work 2 days a week) but I love that we are forming a bond. We are buddies. And Momma misses you super bad those 2 days as well, baby.

You are so beautiful. Your lashes are so long and dark and your Daddy and I just stare at you... we have said that we could never have imagined you to be as perfect as you are.

What a fun month! We love you more than words can say.
Love,
Momma & Daddy