Spread the Word!

Moms Sew Sassy

Yep, it's official! My friend, Erin, and I have ventured into the world of Etsy and opened up shop: MomsSewSassy.

We've had a blast so far scouting out yard sales and scavenging through the scraps bin at Joanne's. It started out pretty random just making pillows and covers here and there but as we started playing around with scraps and extra tid bits of fabric we decided to get creative and dive into bibs, diaper cases, passy clips, little girl purses, stockings and more. We offer custom orders, monogram and personalization. Sewwww fun ;)

Stay tuned for more info regarding a very FUN and UNIQUE Holiday Market featuring all local and handmade items right here in Raleigh...ours included!

Exciting News!

I can hardly stand typing this because it makes me just want to get up and SHOUT out how GREAT our God is! To God's glory it is with a joyful and humble heart that I get to tell you Billy got a new job that will keep him home 60% more of the time!!! This verse has been on my heart all week as I have remembered what the LORD has done. Praise Him!

Clap your hands, all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.

How AWESOME is the LORD Most High,

the great King over all the earth!

Psalm 47:1-2

When we first got married Billy traveled even more than he does now (which seems crazy since he is gone 80% of the time right now). I was in class at the time so it was almost a blessing for my grades. I was able to focus, study, read and write while he was traveling and then put it all away when he was home. But once we found out I was pregnant and then brought little Luke into the world things shifted a bit and we have both longed for Billy to be able to stay home more. After promises were left unfulfilled, job offers fell through on multiple occasions, and Obama's new tax law giving benefits to companies that hired the unemployed, I found myself frustrated, disappointed and longing for something different. There was at one point when we were so certain that Billy was going to get a new job - it was all things we prayed for, they were extremely interested and flew him to their headquarters to meet with their top 4 execs, it was the perfect salary...everything seemed right in our eyes but the Lord still said no. I don't really know words to describe how I felt....I just remember sitting on the floor looking at Luke play with his toys and crying out to the Lord wondering why another "no." Looking back on the past year I am so thankful the Lord did not give Billy a job any sooner, for my heart needed to be changed.

A lot of it was a battle with myself; What I wanted, what I pictured life to be like, what was convenient for me. But the Lord graciously reminded me that He is my portion, He is my strength, He alone is all that I need. I finally came to the realization that if this is what the Lord has for us, then that's ok. If this is what life for us will look like for the next several years, it's ok.

I've clung to Isaiah 40:31 during this time:

Yet those who wait for the LORD

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary.

God is my strength and my shield and He is made perfect in the midst of my shortcomings. On the nights I couldn't fall asleep He provided ladies to stay with me. On the days that I felt alone and like I couldn't do it on my own He brought encouragement in many different ways. On the mornings that I just needed a good Word from Him to help me make it through, He delivered! He gave me new eyes to start seeing opportunities of how He could use this time and gave me new ways to serve my husband away from home. And after finally surrendering to Him He graciously and undeservingly blessed us beyond what we could have come up with ourselves.

I am so thankful and look forward to see what God has for us in the coming months. I'm sure it will be an adjustment (ie living together full-time for the first time ever) but I gladly welcome it!

Home, sweet home

Well, we're back. It was truly a fantastic trip but I am SO exhausted. Traveling with a child adds slightly more..."oomph" to your trip. Just a few poopy diapers (through pants), a few meltdowns before the planes even took off, whacking his head twice on the overhead compartment - complements of Billy - two throw ups and one lost passy we are home and it feels soooo good. Despite the craziness traveling with a little one brought the trip was worth it. I've said this before but although life looks different with a little one we absolutely love it. I'm not sure Billy would have said that in the midst of getting thrown up on and watching Luke terrorize all the businessmen sitting in first class with us ;) We had a blast and got to experience lots of things we wouldn't normally choose thanks to PPD and Billy's ridiculous amount of hotel/airline points he's accumulated in the past 5 years. I think that is the only perk to his job. That and the chocolate he brings home for me from every city he goes to.

It's amazing how two years ago when we were in the City we only cared about landscaping and pictures of each other (hah, what am I going to do with 15 pictures of me in front of the statue of liberty?!). This year all the pictures were taken on one day and they feature our precious little one. We are blessed! Here's a few snapshots of our trip.

A little excited? This is the story of his life.

Cheesin' :)

Boy, I sure do love him!

My favorite boys :)

Billy is hands down Luke's favorite thing on this planet.

Sometimes it's really adorable and sometimes it's slightly annoying.

Oh the places we go

Last weekend I had the amaaaazing privelege to sit under Anne Graham Lotz and listen to her for hours while she brought the Word. SBF had their first ladies retreat and it was absolutely FANTASTIC. Not only do I just love a good retreat, I LOVE me some preaching by AGL. Everything went very smoothly from an organizational standpoint but so many lives were changed. One of my most favorite things that Anne reminded me of was of God's omniscience. If God knows all things, then there has never been a new thought in his mind. And since we know that to be true, we know that He has never stopped thinking about me! Or you! I am not a surprise to him, what has happened is not a surprise to Him and what I am going through - no matter how big or small - is still not a surprise to Him. How precious and feet-stompin-good it was to be reminded of that truth. I was also so blessed by my husband to have a solid 24 hours to worship hard and focus soley on the Word of God. I came home to a clean house (including mopped floors?!), a very happy baby, clean bottles, errands run, and laundry in the works. I didn't have any worries of him staying home with Luke since he is such a hands on dad to begin with, but it was such a blessing to walk into the home and STILL not have to worry about things getting done.

And now we are in the city that never sleeps! As much as I love living down South I absolutely LOVE nyc. Billy and I have been a few times since we've been married, though this is the first time with Luke, and every time we're here I love it a little bit more. I can't decide what I love more, shopping at my favorite stores or playing out scenarios in my head of meeting celebrities and becoming BFFs with them. No seriously...I do that. We had a wonderful day hitting up the clearance racks at some of my favorites stores, long walk through Central Park, visit to Grand Central Station, and dinner in a fabulous french restaurant in the meat packing district. Billy will be working the rest of the week so Luke and I will be on our own. Although Billy's traveling gets very old at times, I'm thankful for the opportunity to go on free vacations such as this. Speaking of Billy's work, he got another e-mail from the VP of the company he's interviewed with in the past month and they have some potential business that Billy could potentially manage. We are praying for a change. Thankfully, my heart is in a MUCH better place than last time so I am ok either way. I know God has great ministry and learning opportunities regardless of where Billy works.

Alright folks, TV time - we don't have half the channels at home that we do at this hotel! MAN we are so lame...

Vote for Luke!

We are trying to win a $25,000 scholarship for Luke. Hey, it's never to early to plan, right?! Gerber Generation is hosting a contest in which you can upload a new picture once a month and have friends/relatives vote once a day per e-mail address/computer. Help us win by clicking the link below and clicking on "vote"!

VOTE FOR LUKE!

New Discoveries

I feel like this week has been a week full of new discoveries - for Luke and myself.

Big boy has teeth. He has learned to pull-up. He mastered the ability to use his thumb and index finger to grasp things. He can now go from crawling to sitting on his bottom, and he is usually tickled to death upon doing so. And last, but certainly not least...he has figured out how to climb up the first stair in our house. (insert hyperventilation here).

I, on the other hand, have made some new [to me] discoveries myself.

1. Jesus Culture. I was feeling like my ipod was getting a little dry in terms of music selection so before going on a very long walk with Luke I asked for some suggestions to get a pep in my step...and let me tell you. This put a pep in my step, a yearning in my soul, and rejuvenated a deep and gut-wrenching enthusiasm for singing praises to the LORD. My neighbors likely thought I was slightly mental as they saw me walking down the street. Or dancing, rather. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-lY8VQpSTY if you want a taste of our worship fest.

2. Whitney Miller, Masterchef. We're friends on facebook. Enough said.

3. Williams and Sonoma kitchen towels. Do you ever feel like your kitchen towels just don't soak up water? Personally, it's a pet peeve. It just kind of shoves water around instead of actually absorbing something. Billy and I have a secret love for Williams and Sonoma but typically don't shop there due to the pricing. But, we just so happened to stumble in when they were having a kitchen towel sale. Sometimes I get my hands wet just to wipe them in my new towels... yikes.

4. Ebay. I know, a little behind on the times. My mom started shopping for Luke on there and so out of curiosity I took a look for myself. My heavens, it's a big new world out there!

5. shadethatlamp.blogspot.com. My precious friend, Tory, is a fabulous interior decorator and lampshade designer. She has such a BEAUTIFUL heart and is helping me redesign and decorate my living room with things we already own. What a true gift she has!!!

6. Harris Teeter's chocolate chips. Call me crazy if you will, but seriously, they make a difference. 7. Starbucks Light Mocha Frappaccino. I don't go to Starbucks often but I was recently given a gift card to the ever so lovely Starbucks. I'm a HUGE hot chocolate person which is typically my drink of choice when making a stop into Starbucks. But let's be honest, folks. I need a little more caffeine these days and the hot chocolate just doesn't deliver.