2010 was an incredible year filled with great memories, blessings, provision, and reminders of God's goodness (no matter the circumstances we faced) and constant faithfulness. In 2010 Pete graduated, we passed MAF Technical Evaluations and were invited to begin Candidacy, we learned that we would be adding a member to our family, and have begun a prayer ministry at our church! What a wonderful year it was! Although 2010 was a year to remember and continue to praise God for, we are incredibly excited for what is in store for 2011.
It's amazing the fresh perspective that comes about with the ringing in of a new year. I was reminded this morning of the new mercies that God provides to us DAILY (not yearly) and am in awe of Him, whose grace is more than sufficient and whose faithfulness and love are never-ending!
As this year begins and we await the birth of our son, I look forward to growing more in love with my Savior and friend and sharing that love with my husband and son!
Happy New Year!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Friday, October 22, 2010
LOVE
Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all, matters the most
Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep locked inside
Love is a river that flows through
Love never fails you
Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease at the end of time
and Love will protect
Love always hopes
and Love still believes when you don't
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you
When my heart won't make a sound
when it can't turn back around
when the sky is falling down
nothing is greater than this
greater than this
Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way, the truth, the life
Love is the river that flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
and Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you
|brandon heath|
This is the song the struck my heart the morning after we learned our Greenbean is a boy. I can't imagine the fullness of love our Father has for us, but I do know that the love I have for my husband and this baby grows leaps and bounds everyday. What a joy to know His love is far greater!
As I start the third and last trimester of this pregnancy, I can't help but look back on the first two-thirds and sit in awe of the miracle that is 'being pregnant'. I am shocked at how quickly time has passed and how much the Lord has shown Pete and I over the past 7 months.
One thing is for certain - we are blessed! Blessed by a God who is HUGE and yet knows the most intimate details of our lives. Blessed by a Savior who loves beyond barriers. Blessed by a Spirit who leads and guides. Blessed by family and friends who offer support in trying times and rejoice with us in glad times.
I can't wait to bring this baby boy home! (Although, I must admit, I sometimes get nervous when I realize he won't come with an instruction manual...) What a joy it is to pray for him, his life, and the testimony of God's love, grace, mercy, and power that we hope his life will be!
This last trimester will be filled with many joyous occasions - Thanksgiving with great friends, Christmas with family, celebrating the New Year, and it will culminate with our son's birth. The next few months will fly by, so I hope to enjoy every moment and cherish the together time that Pete and I have as a couple before we become parents.
What an awesome journey we are on!
Love does not boast
Love after all, matters the most
Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep locked inside
Love is a river that flows through
Love never fails you
Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease at the end of time
and Love will protect
Love always hopes
and Love still believes when you don't
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you
When my heart won't make a sound
when it can't turn back around
when the sky is falling down
nothing is greater than this
greater than this
Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way, the truth, the life
Love is the river that flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
and Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you
|brandon heath|
This is the song the struck my heart the morning after we learned our Greenbean is a boy. I can't imagine the fullness of love our Father has for us, but I do know that the love I have for my husband and this baby grows leaps and bounds everyday. What a joy to know His love is far greater!
As I start the third and last trimester of this pregnancy, I can't help but look back on the first two-thirds and sit in awe of the miracle that is 'being pregnant'. I am shocked at how quickly time has passed and how much the Lord has shown Pete and I over the past 7 months.
One thing is for certain - we are blessed! Blessed by a God who is HUGE and yet knows the most intimate details of our lives. Blessed by a Savior who loves beyond barriers. Blessed by a Spirit who leads and guides. Blessed by family and friends who offer support in trying times and rejoice with us in glad times.
I can't wait to bring this baby boy home! (Although, I must admit, I sometimes get nervous when I realize he won't come with an instruction manual...) What a joy it is to pray for him, his life, and the testimony of God's love, grace, mercy, and power that we hope his life will be!
This last trimester will be filled with many joyous occasions - Thanksgiving with great friends, Christmas with family, celebrating the New Year, and it will culminate with our son's birth. The next few months will fly by, so I hope to enjoy every moment and cherish the together time that Pete and I have as a couple before we become parents.
What an awesome journey we are on!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Pictures of our Greenbean
Now that you have seen pictures of my preggo - here are some of the little man who is growing inside:
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Greenbean
22 weeks. 22 weeks of belly expansion, nausea pills, contemplating parenthood, and thinking of baby names... 22 weeks of enjoying pregnancy, registering, monthly appointments, and daily reading of how Greenbean is growing and developing.
Today makes 22 weeks of carrying this precious little boy that we will continue to call Greenbean. I could not have imagined my belly this big nor the size of my heart for this little boy whom I don't even know. Over half way to the finish line (or the starting blocks) and I am already in love!
According to my "What To Expect" updates, the Greenbean is the size of a spaghetti squash, weighing in at 1 lb or so and approximately 8in. Within the week, he will have reddish skin due to the blood vessels that are developing under his skin and over the next few weeks he will double in weight - YIKES!
To date, Pete and I have learned several things:
1. Greenbean is a BOY!!!
2. Registering is OVERWHELMING! Thanks to Pete for keeping it a light-hearted learning experience and making it enjoyable.
3. Ansel is excited about having a brother. He pounced on my belly when I told him he would have a baby brother :) I'm sure this is just a small dose of what is to come.
4. I love the feel of his arms and legs kicking at my stomach. It is amazing to feel the new life growing inside me! And yes - Pete has felt Greenbean from outside my belly as well, which makes this even more exciting!
5. Picking out names is impossible - or at least really difficult.
All in all, pregnancy is wonderful and I can't wait to see our son and hold him in my arms!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Blessings Abundant
As you know from Pete's previous post, we had been in preparation for Technical Evaluations with MAF for quite some time (6 years or more for Pete) and were finally on our way... We packed up the dog and took him to a friend's house for his own little vacation and excitedly boarded our flight to Boise, ID.
At some point during our travel day Pete looked over at me and asked, "Do you think we are ready for this?" While I wasn't quite sure that we were ready, I did know that God was leading us at this specific time and we were right where we needed to be. The numerous ways that God provided for us to even make the trip are beyond mere coincidence. Time off for both of us (at the same time!!), financial support from family and friends, preparation time in the hangar at LETU and with Pete's first flight instructor, Gene... truly, the direction God had for us was made clear! After a full day of flying, we found our rental car and began the short drive to Nampa, ID. Our journey was in full swing and we were getting even more excited (and a bit anxious, too).
I won't bore you with all of the details of the trip, but let's just say that TE's are essentially a two week long interview process with meetings, flight evaluations, maintenance evaluations, a psychological appointment, etc. We really grew together on this trip and, more importantly, grew with the Lord - constantly putting our hopes and dreams into His hands and relying on Him for peace and strength. Just as we had begun our two weeks sitting in front of the Candidate Committee, we ended our two weeks in hopeful anticipation of being accepted into Candidacy.
Wouldn't you know it - just as it was His plan to bring us to Idaho for evaluations, it was His plan to allow us to continue the journey as MAF Candidates! Even as I write this, I can barely believe it is real! Needless to say, we sat in that last interview overwhelmed, thrilled, and relieved.
The next day we boarded our flight back home to Texas. In just two short weeks (and many years of preparation and prayer) we were one step closer to the calling God had placed in both of our lives so long ago. I cannot wait to see what He has in store for us and how He continues to guide our path in every aspect of our lives!
We've been home for almost 3 weeks now and we are still amazed at how God has worked and continues to work in our lives for His glory.
Over then next year, we will be paying down the loans that we acquired for Pete's flight training/degree and will welcome our sweet little Greenbean! God has truly blessed us abundantly and we cannot wait to invite our little one into the amazing journey He has us on!
A few prayer requests:
For our Greenbean to continue to grow/develop in the womb.
To enjoy and appreciate where we are now, while still looking forward to our future in missions.
For Pete's flight students as they learn and hear God's call in their lives.
Blessings Abundant,
Ashley
At some point during our travel day Pete looked over at me and asked, "Do you think we are ready for this?" While I wasn't quite sure that we were ready, I did know that God was leading us at this specific time and we were right where we needed to be. The numerous ways that God provided for us to even make the trip are beyond mere coincidence. Time off for both of us (at the same time!!), financial support from family and friends, preparation time in the hangar at LETU and with Pete's first flight instructor, Gene... truly, the direction God had for us was made clear! After a full day of flying, we found our rental car and began the short drive to Nampa, ID. Our journey was in full swing and we were getting even more excited (and a bit anxious, too).
I won't bore you with all of the details of the trip, but let's just say that TE's are essentially a two week long interview process with meetings, flight evaluations, maintenance evaluations, a psychological appointment, etc. We really grew together on this trip and, more importantly, grew with the Lord - constantly putting our hopes and dreams into His hands and relying on Him for peace and strength. Just as we had begun our two weeks sitting in front of the Candidate Committee, we ended our two weeks in hopeful anticipation of being accepted into Candidacy.
Wouldn't you know it - just as it was His plan to bring us to Idaho for evaluations, it was His plan to allow us to continue the journey as MAF Candidates! Even as I write this, I can barely believe it is real! Needless to say, we sat in that last interview overwhelmed, thrilled, and relieved.
The next day we boarded our flight back home to Texas. In just two short weeks (and many years of preparation and prayer) we were one step closer to the calling God had placed in both of our lives so long ago. I cannot wait to see what He has in store for us and how He continues to guide our path in every aspect of our lives!
We've been home for almost 3 weeks now and we are still amazed at how God has worked and continues to work in our lives for His glory.
Over then next year, we will be paying down the loans that we acquired for Pete's flight training/degree and will welcome our sweet little Greenbean! God has truly blessed us abundantly and we cannot wait to invite our little one into the amazing journey He has us on!
A few prayer requests:
For our Greenbean to continue to grow/develop in the womb.
To enjoy and appreciate where we are now, while still looking forward to our future in missions.
For Pete's flight students as they learn and hear God's call in their lives.
Blessings Abundant,
Ashley
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