God Moves

The morning of Sunday, June 7, 2009 I experienced such an amazing act of God!!

I've been contemplating this post since then and I'm certain I will not be able to describe it adequately!!

Are you not just so thankful God moves, shows Himself in a mighty way, and gives us the privilege of praying!

The Young family are dear, precious friends of Bryan and I. We worked with Jeron & Kristine a few years while he was college minister. Now he is the Youth Pastor at our church and does a fabulous job. Kristine is a very close friend of mine. She is such a servant and has such a loving, unselfish heart. Both of our families are so busy and we don't see each other as much but we truly cherish every opportunity we have to see each other. Jeron's parents, Mike & Carla, are like another set of parents to us. And at the same time, they are close friends as well. Mike & Carla have prayed for us and for establishing our family for several years now. I know beyond a shadow of doubt when she says she prays, she is. They are such encouragers!! We love them!!

Jeron & Kristine began trying to conceive approximately 9-12 months before Bryan and I. I think it had been about 5 years give or take a little. They have had quite a struggle. They were our partners in infertility. We shared the same thoughts and concerns. Last October, Kristine told me she was expecting!!!!!! Oh, I remember that evening so vividly. I cried ridiculously on the phone for joy for my friends!!! And on June 7, 2009 at 4:01 am...............

Nathan Isaac Young was born!!!

Kristine's birthing/labor experience was long. She went into the hospital on Friday night. I could not get my friend off my mind. I am so sorry for the long weekend the Youngs had but I'm so grateful for it. God used this weekend to rekindle my heart for Him. I was more in awe of God and His powers. I just cannot describe what it is like to see God perform such a great act...going from being told you have unexplainable infertility to actually giving birth!! I was humbled He gave me the privilege of praying for them. I was ecstatic I could walk along side my friends in prayer. The greatest blessing I think at times I can experience through my friends is having a glimpse of their pregnancy journey and then being a part of their children's lives.

God kept bringing Kristine, little Nathan, and the Youngs to my mind throughout Saturday and into Sunday. It was consuming!!! I woke up early Saturday morning around 3:30 am and just got up. I couldn't sleep. I prayed in the living room and read in Psalms. I had a lot to do on Saturday but I remember praying in the car and before I went to bed. It was such a strange feeling. I remember feeling like my mind was in a state of prayer all day. Then at 1:00 am Sunday morning I got a text message from Mimi and she said Nathan's head was sideways. I sat up in bed and prayed some more for my friends and asking God to protect Nathan. I could not go back to sleep so I got up around 2:30/3:00 and set up a camp out on my couch. I got on my knees, face down and prayed so hard for them, asking God to move this delivery along. Mimi had told me the Dr was going to let Kristine push again. I was hungry and started to make some guacamole (yes at 3:15 in the morning. I was hungry!!!). Then, I got the TEXT!!!!!!!! I was praising God in my kitchen with guacamole at 4:30 in the morning. Can it get any better than that!!!! It was such a great way to begin Sunday morning worship!!!!!

The Youngs...All 6 of them!!! Hayden, Mike, Kristine, Nathan, Jeron, & Carla!!!

I rushed to the hospital last Monday evening to see Nathan. I told his parents it was for my own selfish reasons. I could not get them out of my mind. I had to see them soon so I could move my mind onto other things!!! I was blessed to also see Mimi and Poppy too!!


Doesn't he have the most adorable face!!!! Oh, I love him!!!

This next picture is by far one of my favorites. These grandparents have waited many years for this grand baby and you can see absolute bliss and joy unspeakable on their faces....

God Moves!!!!!

Kristine and I had talked in the past how nice it would be to have children at the same time. I refuse to let the fact I do not have a child bring me down. I will not let it quench the joy and awe I have of God...will not let it. Many of us have shed buckets of tears but it is truly out of joy and admiration of God. God has made Himself so evident the past few weeks!! God's timing is not my timing. I have accepted the journey He has placed us on, however rocky the road may seem at times. He has chosen us to walk this path. Last week, I was able to share a smiggin of my experience and what I learned to another young lady who may have some difficulty conceiving. I'm grateful God gave me the opportunity to minister and encourage. Do I always walk the journey correctly? No! I trip many many times and often find myself walking backwards. God just has to turn me around and get me started again!!!

I've listened to these three songs throughout the past few weeks. They minister in a BIG way!!

We sang the Revelation Song the Sunday Nathan was born. I feel sorry for the people in front of me. I'm sure the sound they heard was scary!!!

Kristine and Carla encourage me with HOPE and I love Hope Now by Addison Road. Everything for Bryan and I rides on HOPE and FATIH.

Then this Sunday evening at church, the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children Choir sang "Orphans of God". I hope you take a 4 minutes to watch this video until the end:

I'm telling ya, God has used His written Word and music to soothe my heart and rejuvenate my spirit!!!

Granny's & Little Sweethearts

We ended our 3 day weekend (5/30 - 6/1) with a trip to Granny's. And Whitney and the children joined us on their way back home from Texas. It was fun sitting back and enjoying the family that I love so much. I loved watching Granny with Jesse.

Granny with Katie and Jesse -- June 1, 2009

I cannot relate to the feelings some of you have as mothers; watching your little babies grow up before your very eyes and how fast so many things happen. I can only understand just a smiggin as a relative of some very adorable children. Jesse is crawling now!! I realized watching him at Granny's that now a part of his "babyhood" is past and will be no more!! I nearly cried! Oh, how do you mother's do it!!!

Watch this small video clip (If you're on FB you may have already watched it). His antics are priceless! Warms my heart I tell you!! The voice in the background is his momma, Whitney!

This next picture reminds of his daddy when Eric gets annoyed after extensive photo taking!! :-)

This coffee table has made it through 1 generation of grandchildren and now many great-grandchildren. Jesse was trying to crawl through it to the other side!!

I am blessed!!!

Awesome Hotel !!!

During our Texas trip, Bryan and I really wanted to set aside some time for just the 2 of us. We hadn't had a chance to really do much together for the past several months and we wanted to slip away and enjoy the completion of his Master's degree and then the completion of the huge lists of house projects we had finished. He has really been working hard!!! So we decided to get a hotel room for Saturday night. Our goal was to stay somewhere we normally wouldn't stay at. We are not too particular on hotel rooms. We like them clean, comfortable, and affordable. But on this particular night, we were willing to go a little out there. Bryan got online and found absolutely the coolest hotel I have stayed at thus far:

The NYLO in Frisco, Texas.

It was very contemporary with a NY Loft Style. The walls were solid cement!! Bryan was amazed and even analyzed how they could build such a hotel (it was the engineer in him coming out!!). It was as if he and I were the hillbillies coming to Beverly Hills!!! You could definitely tell he and I do not get out much in swanky places!!!

They had the coolest chairs hanging from the ceiling.

When we splurge on a hotel, we try to get a king size bed since we have a queen at home. I have to tell you, the bed was amazing!!! It truly was the most comfortable bed I have EVER slept in, including my own at home!!! It made us start talking about buying a new mattress. I slept so well!!

Bryan has been holding out for a flat screen HD TV so of course, he was pumped to have this in our room too:

Even the pool area seemed contemporary.

We woke up late Sunday morning, got dressed, and then sat down and listened to a message from one of our favorite preachers that Bryan had on his iPod....Michael Statton with FBC, Mustang, OK. He is a wonderful preacher! The message we listened to was taken from the Sermon on the Mount and discussed being the Salt of the earth.

What's another day on a mini vacation with yet even more food!!!

Bryan would go into convulsions every time we passed a Dairy Queen, so we had our lunch Sunday at one and he finally got his ice cream cone!!

We did some shopping at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco and eventually made it over to Allen Premium Outlet Malls.

The icing on the cake Sunday was eating at our favorite seafood restaurant:

Scrumptious!!!!!

Texas Weekend

I am behind on blogging, yet again!!

I need to recap our Texas Weekend before I forget it. I love having a journal where I can add pictures and then look back later and remember events, thoughts, and happenings. It doesn't matter if I'm the only one who reads it or if just a few read it. I enjoy looking back over the past months of mine and Bryan's lives!

On our way to Alyssa's graduation, we turned way to early to get into Frisco and what should have just been another 25 minute drive turned into at least 45 minutes!! Bryan and I both were maxed out mentally by the time we got to the graduation. Luckily, we just barely made it in time!! We had contemplated stopping before leaving OK and buying a GPS (we had been wanting one for a while) but decided against it because we wanted to get out of town and make progress on the road. After our experience on Friday night and seeing one certain lake at least 3 different times, we went right out Saturday morning and bought:

It is our best friend!!! We both recommend it. At times, it is a huge argument/heated discussion preventor. Every couple should have one!! :-)

My cousin James lives in Lewisville, TX and he hosted us at his apartment on Friday night. He is such a sweet, unselfish man. We are so comfortable around him. All 3 of us slept in Saturday morning and then James made us a huge breakfast. What's a mini-vacation without a ton of food!!?? Soooo, for lunch we ate at one of James favorite place:

You create your own bowl. Do not ask what is in mine (mine is on the left)!! I put a little bit of everything including 3 different sauces and 2 spices. I do know my meat was chicken and shrimp. Surprisingly, I thought my bowl was great!! We were stuffed!!!

The guys were so cooperative and let me stop in at:

Sam Moon Purse and Jewelry and then Sam Moon Home Decor store!! They were so patient. They did have the GPS to play with and then found a place that selled smoothies. Would you believe, I shopped in both stores for a combined total of 1 hr 15 minutes!! I was speedy!!!! I'm thrilled with my purchases from the home store:

I loved this little flag! I think I must have had an "H" theme going while I shopped!

And I finally found one of these:

I had looked at several before shopping on this day but none of them moved me. I liked the shape of this one. Now I just need to think of what to put in it. I was thinking of pears or grapes or maybe some artificial flowers. Any suggestions??

We made a side stop at a Toyota dealer in Lewisville. Bryan has been shopping, and I mean really shopping with extensive research for a new vehicle for us. Consumer Reports ranked the Rav 4 as the top car of the season so he is highly attracted to it. It wasn't even the car he originally set out to look at.

The salesman who talked with us went to high school with former OU wide receiver Mark Clayton and is still in contact with him.

Mark is now playing for Baltimore Ravens and doing pretty good!

It was fun going back and forth with the salesman and he even gave me the Texas Longhorn sign which I in turn did back to him only in reverse as a good Sooner fan would do. He was a great guy and a good sport!!! Of course, I told Bryan since he knows Mark Clayton we should buy a car from him!!!!!! Bryan being the ever so wise guy that he is tells me we will buy from whomever gives us the best deal, regardless of who they went to high school with!! :-)

We ended Saturday night (May 30th) with Katie's 9th Birthday celebration at my uncle and aunt's house in Celina, Texas. Katie turned 9!!!

She is wearing the outfit Bryan and I got her and I just realized it stills has the size tag on it!!

This picture was taken at James's apartment. Katie had just got back from a cruise with her dad and she was trying to show off her bracelet. I love these 3 very much.

Have a great week!!!

Alyssa's Graduation in Texas

We had a great trip to Texas this past weekend!!

We went down to honor and celebrate my cousin Alyssa's high school graduation. She will be moving to Arkansas and attending Arkansas State University. She is the only girl out of 8 children. Alyssa has such a sweet spirit. She is so caring and respectful. Bryan said whoever marries her will be getting quite a catch!! We are so excited for her future and cannot wait to see the young lady she develops into.

I thought the graduation was one of the best high school graduations I had ever attended. It was all about the students and there wasn't a guest speaker. It was in Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, TX and I think there were over 110 graduates. I especially enjoyed the ceremony because I got to take care of this little fellow....

He is so precious! My cousins, Whitney and Eric (although he is still in Kuwait) are so good to let me have a very active role in his life. We love he and his sister deeply. Just like I would with my nieces and nephews, I pretend they are mine! I am blessed!! I look kind of funny in some of these pictures because I held Jesse until it was time to put him in his car seat!! Thanks Whitney for sharing him!!

2 of the Sweetest Ladies I know:

Whitney and Alyssa

Bryan and I were blessed to have a great time with family and with each other. I have more to posts but I thought I would split it up into more posts with a shorter narratives!