20 Months Old

It kills me that in only 4 months Nathaniel will be turning 2!  Craziness!!  I took Nathaniel to take pictures by a fabulous photographer name Lerin.  She has taken his 9 month, 12 month and now 20 month's pictures and she does a fantasic job!!

At 20 months Nathaniel does a little more than he did last month!  Everything is the same except he talks a lot more than he did!  Can't wait for the sentences to start pouring out!

Something Blue

Today I hosted a bridal shower for my lovely Sister-in-Love Breanna.  The three other bridesmaids help host as well and boy did we have a blast!  I totally stole the theme from one of my favorite blogs, Hostess with the Mostess.  I had a fabulously fun time planning it and decorating the house.  I'm a little tired of making poms, but they looked great!  Breanna was truly blessed by every one's generosity.  We prayed together and played together too!  We made cocktail rings and had a fun photo shoot session too!

The bridesmaids and the bride!  I can't remember who took this picture but boy they are FIRED!!

I had a fun time making these poms!

The table spread

Breanna's wedding shoes

Cinnamon cupcakes

Pastry Puffs

This is the best wedding cookie ever! It is a getaway car with cans on the back!

These took me forever to make but so worth it!

This my veil, tiara, and my sash I wore on my wedding day.  I had Breanna wear my tiara during the shower.  It was sweet!

PHOTO BOOTH FUN!!!!!

Breanna getting ready to open her gifts!

The shower was a blast and we ended it with a sweet prayer for Breanna's and Glen's future life together.    Many Blessing!!

A Wedding To Go To!

My wonderful Sister-In-Love got engaged last month and is getting married in November.  I am SO EXCITED for her and thankful that God has brought her along side a man who loves the Lord and is truly seeking His will for both of their lives. 

Breanna absolutely is head over heals in love with this man!  His name is Glenn and is a good ole' guy.  He is very traditional and conservative which is a great complement to her personality too. 

Lesh took their engagement photos last Sunday and here is just one sneak peak.  I am praying that they continue to seek the Lord with all of their heart and keep God in the center of their marriage.  When you have a commitment to the Lord, your commitment to your spouse is cemented.

Breanna and Glenn, I love you both and know God has your lives in His hands, which is the best place to be!

Obedience

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

John 14:21

Nathaniel is now 19 months and has been participating in time out.  Why, you ask?  We were eating popcorn and I was letting him get the popcorn out of the bag himself and he kept trying to grab the bag away from me and I told him no and that mommy needed to hold the bag so that it wouldn't spill.  After I told him no, he yanked the bag hard and took it from me and as I went to grab it back from him, he looked at me and dumped the whole bag of popcorn onto the floor.  Of course he made a big mess and on to time out he went.

After the time out was over I hugged him and explained to him why it was important he obey and then he gave me a kiss on the cheek.  That was the sweetest thing ever! 

Then later I opened my Bible up and God showed me a few verses on obedience and I thought oh!!  That whole discipline thing with Nathaniel was God's way of flipping the mirror on me!  Hmm, Lord, you are so creative in teaching us lessons. 

I was having a rough day with my thoughts about food and not wanting to obey Him.  God was trying to hold the popcorn bag for me and I essentially yanked it from his hands and dumped it all over the floor.  After my time out in God's word he showed me that he loved me no matter what and that it is so much better when we obey.

 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.

 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.

 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

Psalm 119:33-35

It says when we obey and allow him to direct us we will find delight!  His word brings me endless delight, not the food in my pantry or in my fridge.

I think the next time I discipline Nathaniel I'll be looking to see how God could be using it for me too.

Youtube Video Contest

As many of you know, I entered a Youtube Video contest to win a free iPad. If you've got the time, please help me out by viewing my video a time or three!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYj7vd6G1mM

Thanks!
Lesh

A Long Journey

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5

 

A few posts ago I mentioned God giving me a spiritual makeover and helping me to realize the cause of my being overweight.  I have taken a few steps to help with losing the weight.  I joined WW and also marathon training group.  That's right...  I am currently training to run a half marathon!  I train 4 days a week and do weight lifting 2 days a week.

Lesh and I have several friends who have completed marathons and we have gone to their races to cheer them on and have enjoyed it so much.  Lesh ran the last five miles of the full marathon with our friend Garth and it inspired him to train for the race this year.  So I decided I would train for the half.  Crazy!!

If you have never gone to a marathon as a spectator/cheerleader I urge you to go!  It is an amazing atmosphere and inspiring seeing all those thousands of people pushing thier bodies past their physical limit.  I remember seeing people crying as they crossed the finish line.  Wow.

So since I have been watching what I'm eating, running and trying to give my overeating urges to God, I have lost 17 lbs.!  I know that God has been my rock and my comfort.  I am learning to lean on him to comfort me and not food.  I am by no means perfect and never will be.  My whole life I have used food to make me feel better.  How many of us when we have a bad day crave chocolate?  Ice cream? Why do you think "Comfort Food"  has that name?  In my case I've overdone it on comfort food. 

I'm excited to share this LONG journey with you for a couple of reasons.  One is that you can help hold me accoutable.  Two because I believe we should share the great things that God does in our lives to encourage others who may be going through the same journey.  It will take me over a year most likely to get to my "healthy" weight and I know I will only achieve that goal if I continue to allow God to help me through this journey.

Have you ever tried to lose weight before?  It is plain hard work.  I'm not complaining, I'm just saying it's a lot of work.  Have you seen Biggest Loser?  Yikes!  You have to exercise lots of will power which I call "God Power."  And you have to physically push your body into uncomfortable situations.  I do have to say that I thoroughly love the feeling I get after I finish running.  I get a great sense of accomplishment and I praise God for helping me get through the run. 

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 139:14.
I praise you because I'm fearfully and wonderfully made.  Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Do you know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made?  No matter if you are overweight or don't think of yourself as beautiful, You are God's creation and ALL His works are wonderful!  When I'm having a bad day I say this verse to myself in the mirror to help me remember that I am a daughter of the Most High.

I plan on continuing to share my journey with you and if you think about it say a prayer for me that I will continue to let God have control and that I would seek him for all of my comfort.

Thanks so much!!

Always, Sometimes, Never

3 of my blogger friends had this as their title so I decided to join the game!

I ALWAYS

kiss my husband before he leaves for work

snuggle with my baby boy when he wakes up

wear my hair in a bun to go to sleep

I SOMETIMES

go back for seconds

don't wear makeup to the grocery store

a little afraid of being alone

I NEVER

turn down ice cream

enjoy doing laundry

been to Disney...I know so sad!

Love you Friends!