Guess who turned 3 months old today?!?! It's my little angel muffin!

And God Changed His Mind

I just finished one of the best inspirational books that I've read in a long time. It is called "And God Changed His Mind" by my favorite Christian author Brother Andrew. He also wrote "God's Smuggler" which is my all time favorite book. This incredible man has devoted his life to reaching oppressed Christians throughout the world by smuggling bibles into communist countries. It is hard to imagine living somewhere where you could be imprisoned or killed if you are caught with a bible. We have at least 3 in the house right now! He tells stories of Christians who pass a couple pages of the bible around to each other because that is all they have. Imagine having to meet in secrecy to have a church service and then your pastor only has a page or two of a bible to teach from. Thank God for our freedom of religion!
God Smuggler tells more about his journey becoming a missionary and amazing stories of the situations and people he encounters. And God Changed His Mind gives us insight into the power of prayer that allowed him to reach those people and change lives. Prayer is something that I have been confused about for awhile. I felt like it was vital for me to learn how to pray effectively in order to grow as a Christian. I have always wanted that close personal relationship with Jesus to where I feel like he is guiding me and speaking to me through the Holy Spirit but I have never really worked to get that or really known how. So I set off on a quest and it led me to this book that it has completely changed the way I pray. A couple of weeks ago I was praying for God to guide me and show me how He wants me to pray and I heard Him answer "Then get on your knees" and I did and as I prayed the tears rolled down my face and I felt a huge wall come tumbling down. That day I was praying for a sweet newborn baby who was clinging to life. Today she is off oxygen and able to nurse from her mother! Before when I would tell someone you are in my prayers it was more like a polite thing to say to them because I thought well God knows what is going to happen and He doesn't intervene so what is the point of asking him to? I still would pray but I didn't believe it would help. Now if I say that I'm going to pray know that I am on my knees pleading for God to intervene and help because I know that He can and that He does all the time. But if He doesn't I will accept that it is for reasons that I as a human am unable to understand. The old way of praying is precisely the way that satan would want us all to. There is constant spiritual warfare going on in this world and he knows what an impact prayer can have on it so he works in ways that we don't even see to keep us from praying effectively. For example I know that satan was responsible for making me feel guilty for asking God to help and because of it there has always been a distance in my relationship with God. I felt unworthy to ask the creator of the universe to change His mind. But God wants us to. He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him and to have faith in Him. Now if you pray for a million dollars the chances of Him answering that are pretty slim but if you ask Him for something that would be according to His will like healing a child with cancer or saving a nation from an oppressive leader I believe He will listen and answer. Even if the answer to that prayer is not what I would like I have faith that He heard it and answered it in His on way. I wanted to share because I'm so excited by this revelation and if anyone else has struggled with this I strongly encourage you to read this book...I'll even let you borrow it if you ask.

"You may ask for anything in My name and I will do it." John 14:14

I caught him scratching again. He looks guilty doesn't he?

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This weekend.....

I did not show up to church over a half hour late with a baby that I had let sleep way too long so all he wanted to do was laugh and talk during the very quiet service and I did not almost knock a lady over with his carseat trying to get to my illegally parked car.

I did not have a bag of movie theater popcorn for lunch and rotel dip followed by cherry pie and ice cream for dinner on Saturday and I certainly did not have rotel dip for dinner the night before also.

I did not yell "why can't you hear me...what's wrong with your phone?" when I was checking a message from my mom and I thought I had actually called her instead.

I did not just spend my afternoon at JoAnne's getting supplies for another business venture that will probably never come to fruition and I did not go to Wild Oats next and spend way too much money on groceries and then drive to my mom's house to steal her viking bread from Meridee's out of her freezer as if that would balance out spending $7 on organic spinach.

And I am not occupying my time blogging when I should be taking advantage of having a sleeping baby by folding the 4 loads of clean laundry that are sitting on my bedroom floor, paying bills and then starting dinner.

Jeremy and I are slowly getting our new house decorated how we like it. I gave him free reign of "the man cave" and so he has pretty much let me do the rest of the house. We did this wall the other night. I had been waiting for the crosses to go on sale at Hobby Lobby and they finally did! It was inspired by Kathleen's wall of crosses. I love the way it turned out.

Check out those chubby hands!

I forgot to share about Bishop's new head scratching skills...sometimes he just drums his fingers on his head but mainly he scratches. I think he's taking his cradle cap issues into his own hands...literally.

12 Weeks Old

Bishop is 12 weeks old today! He is such a sweet baby. His gas is getting better thanks to some probiotics so he's much happier now. He still sleeps a lot through the day and when he's awake he loves to sit in his bouncy seat and watch Baby Mozart. He still doesn't like his swing, play mat or crib but at least he likes his bouncy seat and co-sleeper. He is very vocal and tries to mimic us and smiles at everyone. His little legs are getting chubbier and his belly is bigger. I'm in the process of packing away his newborn clothes and bringing out the 3-6 months hand me downs from his cousin Ben which is fun. It's like going on a free shopping spree. Everything about being a mommy is fun...I love every minute of it.

This is a picture of me and mom that I just found.

I couldn't have asked for a better mom. I'm so lucky.

Ma's Chicken Pot Pie and Ginger Cookies

I thought I would share some of my favorite recipes from my mom. I've seen where other people post recipes on their blogs and I thought it was a really good idea only I forgot to take a picture of the pot pie to show and now it's half way gone but I promise it is so yummy and easy to make. The ginger cookies are addictive. Jeremy ate atleast 6 the other night and he doesn't even have a sweet tooth like me.

CHICKEN POT PIE
2- cans mixed vegetables, drained
1- can cream of potato soup
1- can cream of celery soup
2- chicken breast cooked and shredded
1 1/2- Tbsp of tastefully simple's onion onion
(if you don't have this pick some other kind of seasoning like season salt and dried onion flakes, you decide and experiment)
2- 9" pie shells

-Mix first five ingredients together on the stovetop and just enough to warm them, add a little milk so they don't burn
-pour into a pie shell and then place the other pie shell on top, poke holes on the top
-bake at 425 for 15 mins or until golden brown


GINGER COOKIES
1/2 cup canola oil
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup light molases
1 egg beaten
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ginger

-Mix oil and sugar together.
-Add molasses and egg, beat well.
-Add sifted dry ingredients and mix well.
-Roll dough into small balls and roll in sugar.
-Place 2" apart on greased cookie sheet.
-Bake at 375 for 6-8 mins.

Vaccine Woes

I am really struggling in weighing the pros and cons of vaccines. Bishop had his two month check up this morning and we chose not to start the recommended vaccines. I just can't imagine letting them inject his little 13 pound body with 6 different vaccines that contain live viruses. We already said no to the Hepatitis B shot when he was born even though the doctor treated me like an idiot for not doing it. If I was worried about my infant shooting up or becoming a prostitute I might have considered it otherwise it seemed unnecessary to me. There are others that I have ruled out also like Polio. There hasn't been any cases in the United States since 1979 (actually there was one case in 1985 that was caused from the vaccine but no other natural occuring cases) and the vaccine is derived from aborted fetuses! Chicken Pox, Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Hepatitis A and Rabies all come from aborted fetuses as well. I have also read that flu shots come aborted fetuses but I haven't looked into it to confirm it. I was shocked when I read that! Being someone who is Pro-Life it would have been nice to have been given that bit of information upfront instead of stumbling across it through my own research. I asked my doctor about this and he said "Yeah I've heard that too but I'm not sure which ones." There are alternative forms of the vaccines that are derived from monkey kidney cells and chicken embryos but you have to ask for them.
Another huge concern of mine is the risk of Autism. Autism has now reached epidemic proportions with 1 in 150 children diagnosed, boys are 4 times as likely. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined! This is an issue that hits very close to home for us because Bishop's 8 year old uncle, Alden, is Autistic. Alden is an incredible little boy who's IQ far surpasses mine. I've never met an 8 year old who names composers and compisitons as his favorites that very few adults have heard of and reads books like The Inconvient Truth. I was completely stumped when I tried to play "name that composer " with him. Even though he is a child prodigy we don't know how he will socially function in society as an adult. It's sad because his disease possibly could have been avoided if we knew half of what we know now when he was a baby . We will never know for sure what caused his autism but with all the research being done on autism's link to vaccines that is the most logical cause. For example the measles component of the MMR vaccine has been shown to be in the brain, spinal fluid and intestines of children with autism and not in children without autistism. That is more than just a coincidence to me and I don't believe it is worth the risk. The more research I do the more uncomfortable I become. What if Bishop has a prediposition for autism and I allow something to be given to him to trigger it? This was why I was up until two o'clock last night stressed out. I guess ignorance really is bliss. I'm not saying that vaccines should never be given and I understand that they are recommended to protect us from having outbreaks of diseases and viruses but I just want more research to be done to make them safer and until then I'm staying on the fence.

2 Great Inventions

So I just had to share with all you moms and moms to be a couple of things that are making my life a whole lot easier these days. These have me raking my brain for some other genius creations to invent and strike it rich with. I already have some things cooking!

The first is a baby carrier from BabyHawk. This was introduced to me by my sister who is an amazing example of what a loving mom should be. It is better than the Baby Bjorn because it equally distributes the weight so it's alot easier on your back and shoulders. You can also customize the color and design. Kathleen and I get stopped all the time and asked about them because they are so cute. And most important Bishop loves it because he is close to me. Check them out at http://www.babyhawk.com/.

The second is the miracle blanket. I read about this on MckMama's blogsite http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ this woman is full of information on parenting in the most natural granola tree hugging way possible. Bishop has slept in his co-sleeper the last three nights because of it which is amazing! I kind of feel like I'm putting him in a straight jacket but he does not fight it at all and goes right to sleep. I wish I had known about it from the beginning because when he was first born and I would try to swaddle him his hands would always pop out no matter what I did. The miracle blanket has two pieces of fabric that kind of look like wings that go over his arms and then under his back to secure it and then you swaddle them. Check it out at http://www.miracleblanket.com/ .

Back to work.

Ready to go to Ma's house!

This was when the water works started.


This week was my first week back to work after three months of maternity leave and I think I handled being away from Bishop pretty well. I did however wake up Wednesday morning and look over at him and start crying remembering that today was the day that I would have to leave him for 6 whole hours! I cried a little on my way to work too. I purposely wore little mascara expecting that to happen. He did great while I was gone and my mom even thanked me for letting her watch him but she is the one that needs to be thanked. It was so comforting knowing that he was in her care and safe. When I went to pick him up he wouldn't look at me...like he was punishing me for being gone. He kept turning his head in the other direction and both nights after we got home he continued to sleep in his carseat until midnight, which is unheard of for him. If we are in public he can sleep for hours in it but the minute we get home he wants out. I actually had to wake him up and bring him to bed. I think he was in a bit of a milk coma since mom gave him 10 ounces while I was gone. I told him it's okay everyone overeats when they go to Ma and Pa's. ;) It was nice seeing everyone at work and my clients. I missed all of them and I really do love my job but I love him much more so I hope that I will be able to stay part-time. Besides I'm happier to be at work when I'm not there 40 plus hours a week. I'm much more productive and positive. I think the french are onto something with their minimal work hours and long vacations. Americans need to adapt that lifestyle. I'm sure that our life expectancy would increase drastically. I got the chance to go to Paris with my dad several years ago and I was amazed how they would just close up shop and take two hour lunch breaks in the park. Could you imagine doing that here? Most people are lucky if they even get to take a 30 minute break. So I'm going to continue with my 10 hour work week and pray that it will be enough and that I won't have to miss a minute more than I have to with Bishop.

Fondue Night

CeeCee, Paige with Bishop, me and Julia

Julia and Matt and the pretzel rigged fondue pot.


Matt and Sophia holding Baby Bishop.

Sophia breaking in Bishop's rocking horse.

Last night we hosted a fondue party with my lovely girlfriends there and their hubbies. This was the first time all of us (except for Dallas) have been together since September and also the first time we hosted a party at our new house. We had so much fun! Catch phrase got a little out of control but overall the party was a success. Even Bishop and little Sophia were there to party with us. I have the greatest friends in the world. Some of these girls, my ya-ya's, have been my friends since sixth grade and I'm so thankful that we have remained close after all these years.

First pictures of the new year.

Welcome 2009!

I hope everyone had a Happy New Year! Ours was very low key but just how I wanted it to be. We stayed in and played games and barely stayed awake until midnight. Having a newborn can really shift your priorities. I'm so excited for this new year to start. It's nice to close the chapter on 2008 and start fresh! I am setting three goals for 2009 which I think are realistic for me to achieve.
The first and most important one is to continue to grow and mature in my faith. I want to be a good example for Bishop and to raise him in a loving Christian home. I am so thankful to my parents for raising my sister and I that way. I don't know if my faith would be as strong as it is today if it hadn't been instilled in me from the beginning. Here is a "deleted scene" from a sermon at the church we've been going to called Journey Ecclesia:

Some of you need to let go of resentment, and treasure again.You need to go back to the sweet moments. The good things.You need to cleanse your soul.For some of you, it is not a matter of forgiveness but a matter of simply being reminded of what you have. For once, would you put the dishes down, and leave them dirty and come and sit on the couch.For once would you shut your phone off and give more than 15 minutes to each conversation.Would you close your laptop, and star into the eyes of the real people surrounding you not the pictures of the ones on your Facebook.I am not saying those things are wrong, I am just saying how often are you fully present?How much time to take to ponder and treasure that which is good.I honestly believe this is one of the secrets of life.Without it, you will spend most of your minutes in the day, off center...Being fully present keeps you more acutely aware of the kingdom that is around you...The radar of the soul remains sharp and is not dulled by the restless, driven pursuit of doing.

I think this is a great reminder to all of us. Sometimes we just need to slow down and treasure each moment. Blogging has helped me do this. I never thought I would be someone who would enjoy this because I've always been pretty private about my personal life but it has allowed me to reflect and journal all that I'm thankful for.
The second goal for 2009 is to get on a budget. I'm not too excited about this goal because I've never really had to do it before so it's kind of scarey to me. I started my career when I was 20 and it has been a great and successful career for me. But now Bishop is my top priority and I want to be with him as much as I can. I want to work to live not live to work. I don't think anyone has ever loooked back over their life and said I wish I had worked more. I'm sure that it's been more like I wish I had spent more time with the people I loved. So I'm going to have to get creative and be very disciplined in order to do this. It will be a nice challenge for me.
And last but not least is to loose the baby weight and then some! I wish that I had been in better shape before I got pregnant so I could have exercised through the pregnancy. Even though the majority of what I gained was water weight and it's already come off I still have a ways to go. It's amazing what one little 7 pound 12 ounce baby can do to your body! I'm still wondering if my feet will shrink back to normal size. But, I am going to make this goal more about a lifestyle change and not just about the weight. I need to create habits that I love like cooking healthy, yoga and exercising outside. For me following a specific diet plan and being in the gym will just set me up for failure. Wish me luck!