An Amazing Gift

Over the past couple of weeks God has been convicting me and encouraging me in my prayer life, and I just have to share what I have learned and what God has taught me! I have been reading the book "The Power of a Praying Wife" by Stormie OMartian, and I highly recommend it to all wives! God has been working in me through different difficult situations we've been going through, and how thankful I am for trials because of how God works in my life through them. They are hard, frustrating, and very discouraging, but so worth the growth spiritually. Ecclesiastes 7:3 says "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better". Trials teach us to rely upon God, instead of ourselves, which is something I've always struggled with. I try to do things in my own strength, and when things don't go as planned, I get down and frustrated and discouraged. So why do I complain when I can pray? Why be discouraged when I can pray? Prayer is an amazing tool God has given me to alter and change our life situations for the better! So why wouldn't I? I find myself praying about anything and everything now, even little, seemingly insignificant things. Mostly, I need to pray for my husband and child. For Jon as he leads our family and the youthgroup and is a leader in our church. And for my baby girl that she will grow up to love the Lord with all her heart, realize her need for Him, and live a fulfilled and joyful life serving Him and doing His will! This is our families greatest defense against the devil! The power of prayer is amazing to me! I need to pray instead of compaining or becoming discouraged or feeling sorry for myself, so that I don't grow bitter. What a gift prayer is to us; that we can have fellowship and spill out our hearts to our Heavenly Father and Creator, who in turn hears them, and changes our lives!

So far in 2011...

Christmas is over, decorations are put away, and the house is re-organized and ready for this new year! 2011 has gotten off to a crazy start so far, which is why I am just now getting around to this...blogging is pretty far down on my priority list right now!
But here is a little update on what's going on out here in the woods of Indiana and what's in store for this year!

Emmy tried cereal and some vegetables for the first time!

This is the main reason why her Mommy hasn't had a chance to blog...hehe...we like to make messes and take our time eating our food, but it's so much fun to try all these new flavors! She is going to be an eater like her Mommy and Grammy we think! ; )

Here she is enjoying her new highchair which we jokingly call "Emmy's throne" : )

Emmy is also becoming quite the active baby rolling all over the place, kicking, scooting, and waving.

Here she is waving at the camera. So cute. I think she is beginning to recognize the camera since it's always in her face these days!

It is amazing to me how fast a tiny baby can develope, grow, and change in just a few short months! It seems like everyday I'm watching her learn something new. We are thanking God for her health and that she is a thriving, happy little baby girl!

So there's the "Emmy Update"! Besides keeping up with her, we will be taking a few trips to see family in Florida and Missouri for family reunions this summer, celebrating Emmy's first birthday, doing 3 different camps with our teenagers, one in which Jon and I will be doing out here at our place in the fall, and have 19 different youth activities planned. We look so forward to seeing God continue to work in the youthgroup at Calvary and show Himself to us in mighty ways as we seek to grow closer to Him this year through all He has called us to do!

Here's to a new year!