A prayer for Reagan

      Growing up in a Christian home I always heard my parents pray for my future spouse. They would pray that the little boy who would grow up to be my husband would find God at an early age and lead a life that would bring Him honor and glory. I remember my mom once praying that the special little boy that God had already picked out for me would be blessed with patients and have the understanding to deal with my "free spirit." Although it was always kinda fun hearing about the future mister as a little person I never realized the beauty of these prayers until I too joined the league of parents praying for their children's future spouses.                    

                                                
This little angel was given to me on a temporary basis by God to love, raise , and protect. It's so easy to love her. I'm learning how to raise her. But how in the world can I protect her enough in a world so evil that partial coverage might not keep her alive?

 I know when the time is right ( say in about 45 years or so...) it will be hard to watch my little girl grow into a woman and start her search for the right guy but I feel pure panic at the thought of her finding the wrong guy. Since there is , in my opinion, only one right man for my little woman and a few million wrong it just plain stands to reason that she will have a run in or two with the later:(

What can I do now to start the protection process? I hated it as a teen but whole heartily support a proactive approach to parental protecting now that I'm a parent. I need to know how to spring load her red flag system? 

Reagan Leigh, I pray a hedge of protection around you. Around your heart, your mind, and your body. I pray God blesses you with blinders to the evils of the world. That satan's snares will not be beautiful to you but disgusting and something to run from. Please Lord seek after her heart at a young age and make her your own. Train her mightily in your ways.

I pray for the little boy you are preparing for her. I pray he is raised in a Christian home so he will know how to lead my sweet girl in her walk with You. Put him in a home where he can learn the true meanings of home life, church family, family worship, leadership, loyalty, honesty,selflessness, and being a fighter for the things that matter. Give him a kind mouth. Let his song , no matter the message, be sung sweetly. 

Give her a peace. A peace in the good times but also in the bad to trust you for everything. Help to know joy and not just happiness. Love and not just lust.
Fill the gaps in her life. Help her to forget my faults as her mother. My inpatients and my temper.Thank you for Blessing this foolish sinner with the mighty and wonderful job of training Your child, protecting  and loving your precious little one. There is no way I could have ever deserved something to wonderful in my life. She is truly a gift from You.

Pearls of wisdom while we workout

One of my regular Curves girls and I have gotten very close and while we're working out most days our conversation ends up deeper than squats, lunges, biceps and triceps! Recently we have been praying for peace as we are both going through separate but testing times.

Today she walked in and explained: " While driving here God spoke to me and he said,"

 "I have commanded you to put on the WHOLE armour of God... why are you just accessorizing?"

It sounded funny at first because she said it with a real "You Go Girl" attitude but then as those words bounced around in my head the next few hours they finally reached my heart.

I am bad about this and I have had to ask God to forgive me in this area. He tells me how to make my life easier , by putting on the whole armour, but I so often foolish pick and choose what parts I want and then I am surprised and frustrated when I am scratched or even cut by the devil.

Reagan Leigh turns one!

Yesterday morning I found out I was expecting then evening came and I was holding a tiny little bundle of joy. Through the night we both learned to love and trust each other with everything we had and today she turned one. That's exactly how it feels. I can't remember where the time went. The sleepless nights are long but the days with my sweet angel are short short short. 

January 5th very conveniently landed on a Saturday this year:) And in spite of Reagan being slightly under the weather we rallied the family for cake and ice cream.

She was very lady like about eating the cake. She would look at the cake ( very close up at some points) and then squeal and look at me to serve her some. She's so polite

In the end though she finally caves and took a bite about of the cake mommy made her and the cupcake Mimi made her. 

 Lil bit was very unsure about the whole gift opening, party hat wearing, song singing, candle blowing, much to do about her making. 

The last year has been such a wild ride of experiences both good and bad. I love being a mom and understand why people say there is no higher calling. I don't know what in the world God saw in brad and I that he thought was worthy to raise one of his precious angels but I'm so glad he sent her to us. I'm finding more and more that without asking Him everyday to take the day as use me to protect, teach, and love Reagan it is a complete waste to even wake up. 

If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all...

October 23 was the last time I opened this blog and at that point the blog I started as an outlet for my thoughts I realized had become a chore. I felt the sense of obligation to the this blog that I was trying to escape from in my everyday life. And, worst of all, on the days I had something to say and no time to say it I added "my blog" to my list of life failures. I finally decided if I couldn't enjoy it, I didn't need it in my life. That should explain the silence on this end of the computer screen for the past almost four month. However, I have missed "unloading" at the end of the day so I am back to my blog.

Updates: Since last we spoke:)

-I am starting over with the 25 weeks of respect. I will NOT be giving a week to week check in on how each assignment goes but as one or two suggestions particularly touch my marriage I will be sure to share.
- I have lots of new recipes I am excited to share with you.
- My angel turned 1 year old and I will defiantly have some ( or a million) pictures on the subject.

Happy 2013! I hope y'all are as blessed as I am:)

Strong enough

The words in this song speak straight to my soul. I feel so overwelmed with what God has asked of me. Then I realize He is strong enough to do it for me. What a hopeful song.

 

 

 

Happy Anniversary!!

 Two years ago today I married my best friend and love of my life. Although it had been the two toughest years of my life I wouldn't take it back for the world. My husband gave me the sweetest angel ever January of this year. I love my little family and pray for many many more years!

Bath time is such fun!

Reagan loves her bath time. Today I put her in the big person bath tube with about an inch of water and she splashed and played for about an hour, way past the water turning cold. I look forward to Fridays all week long. They are the one day a week set aside to bond with my little angel. I spend everyday with her. But as all mothers know you can be WITH your child all day and not spend one minute of QUALITY time together. She looks like her daddy and that makes me smile. She is getting so much personality and spunk. I just love being around her. Almost 9 months old, I can hardly believe it. I can't believe sometimes that she is real and she is mine. I find myself thinking that any minute someone is going to wake  me up from this wonderful dream. God gives good gifts!