I'm Back :)

Hello Friends,

Thank you so much for your understanding and patience with me as I took some time away from blogging to just be! To be quite honest with you, I took a break for many reasons - 1) I felt the need to focus on my family - 2) I felt completely uninspired and had zero desire to blog - 3) I needed the time to pray about some things...

But I am feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready to be back to blogging. Maybe not daily, but more often and about more things!

And now for some updates!

- Parker is doing so well! He is just a little ball of fun and fire. He is learning more and more and wanting to walk more, but still chickening out at times. He has really started eating more and more food. He will continue to get a bottle of formula until at least october. To be honest, his growth and size is still behind and small. Yes, he is growing, but he isn't really catching up with the curve of an actual 14 month old. He is still learning to walk - he does great when holding on to things...if he could hold on to stuff all the time, he would walk very very well. The problem is when he lets go - he realizes there's nothing there to grab to and automatically falls. It's cute! He loves cartoons and he is a little blabber boy. He says mama and some times dada and random other noises. He has learned to climb on the couch by himself and does it often (it's the getting down that we have problems with). This month, we are working on eating table food better and using a cup. He still thinks a cup is a toy - but I am hoping he will be able to use one by the time we go on vacation in september. Also, yesterday was Parker's first day in the crawlers - walkers class at church. It's weird that he isn't in the nursery anymore! But so exciting that he gets to be with kids his own age!

- I am still planning on going to Cambodia. In fact, that's a lot of what I prayed about. God is leading me there and I feel his hand on it. I know now it's not just my desire, but it is in fact God really doing this in my heart! I am nervous about raising the money to go though. I am working on a sponsor list currently to send out in the next couple of months to start working on raising the funds, even though I wouldn't go until 2010. If you are interested in sponsoring me, leave a comment and I will get back to you for your info.
I am really preparing myself to, I have borrowed a lot of books from the library and a couple of movies. I watched one recently - "The Killing Fields" - wow. I mean just wow! It really helped me to understand what this country has been through. I am sure once I am there and such, it will really hit me.

- Life in general is good. We just resigned our lease - which is exciting considering we've lived here 3 years and in 3 places! It's nice to be staying and not having to relocate again! I am going to be a working woman soon - which is such an answer to prayers. I can't really go into much detail quite yet, but it's a job that doesn't require many hours and it will help bring in a little extra cash. We are also planning on getting a new car. We've had it with our Bonneville and the constant issues. We are putting way to much money into considering how much it's worth (which is like nothing). So starting today, we are going to be looking at new cars - we have a small list of cars we want to look at and test drive. I'm pretty excited because this new car would be mine and I would like something a bit bigger than our PT Cruiser. So pray that we are able to find something that fits us well and our needs. We don't plan to purchase today, but we want to be looking and starting to really weigh our options.

- Some exciting things are coming up soon. This Wed. is the 1 year anniversary of bringing Parker home from the hospital. Thursday is our 4 year anniversary. Next wed is the 1 year "adjusted age" birthday of Parker. So much to celebrate in August! And in September - we go on vacation to Buffalo, NY to see Drew's parents and such. So excited!

Well, I hope you all are well! I am so glad to be back!

Holy Cow God!

I apologize for me lack of updates as of recent. Part of that stems from the lack of motivation and desire to blog right now, the other part stems from the amount of time I have been in prayer over some doors that have opened as well as just having a toddler and being sick and busy.

I am hoping - and I do really hope - to do better at updating more and blogging more. My mind has just been a jumbled mess of trying to figure some things out, accepting some things, working with Parker on things, ect.

I want to tell you how God is opening doors in my life and really pushing me past some serious boundaries. One of these things I just can't put out there yet until it goes through and such, but lets just say, God is providing in a way I never thought.

The other way, well, that's different, because I need you all to pray for me. I have told you all for a while now that I have been praying about going to Cambodia with my church on a missions trip at some point. I will say, I am still seeking his will 100%, but unless something changes, I feel with no doubt that he his will is that I go to Cambodia on a trip. I would be really surprised if this doesn't work out.

But the truth of the matter is - I. Am. Terrified. I have never been overseas, the only other countries I have been too are Mexico and Canada and I didn't fly to Canada. I mean, like, this is WAY out of my comfort zone, yet, I am at peace. I am terrified of planes, yet, at peace about that. I am terrified of not finding any food I want....yet, I am at peace about that. I mean, whoa! It's a total God thing!

If you could just pray that details work out, that would be great. I don't know when the next trip is, but it sounds like it may be Jan or Feb. But there is a lot to do between now and then, like, get a passport! Also, we will need to work out child care for Parker, as well, I don't think Drew can take that much time off. And there are many others, but until I know more about the trip itself, I don't know what all it is. I assume I will be getting shots - so if you can pray for my fear of needles that would be great - you'd think they wouldn't phase me anymore after all I went through with Parker - but ha, no such luck. I still hate them! I am excited, yet scared, but God is really just working in me and I love it.

Ok, so well, that's all I have for now....

Just Stuff

- First of all, I have to tell you all that Parker took his first step on Friday! I was sitting on the floor while he was playing and I picked him up and stood him up a few inches from me. (He can stand on his own without holding on to things) Next thing I know, he picks up his foot and takes a step forward and immediately falls into my arms. It was awesome! Yay bubba!

- I need prayer - I am praying about a few things - 1) Going to Cambodia: I am planning on doing it, I just need prayer to bring me to peace about being overseas, in a new country, several hours flying, being away from Drew and Parker. ANXIETY anyone? and 2) Prayer for getting in better shape. When I do go to Cambodia (thinking Feb?) I would like to be in better shape so that I am not killed by the heat and the activity. I already do mommies and munchkins 2 times a week, I want to start going out and walking on my own. Now that I have my iphone, I can use it as an ipod and I had Drew put a couple of playlists on it for me that will motivate me. 3) A Job - while this is no where near official - I know I should start praying now. There may possibly be an opportunity for me to get a part time job with my church - now I am not 100% sure on it...I don't know when it will happen...I don't know if I will be offered. I guess I just want prayer that God would open doors (either at church or other places) because the truth is, we could use an income from me...even if minimal. I am not ready to put Parker in a day care so I hope and pray I can find something that would allow me to bring him with me to work or work from home.

- My Zoo - do you use facebook? Do you know of this application? Oh my gosh, I am addicted to it. You basically build and manage your own zoo. I wish I earned more money faster...I'd like to know how my step sis has 8 million dollars to play with.

- Big Brother - any other fans out there? If there are I will rant later about it, if not, I won't make you read it!

- My week - it's looking like a busy week. I have mommies and munchkins tues, and then a leah sophia party I am hoping to go to. Wed Parker has an in home visit with his Help Me Grow case worker (She didn't lose her job in recent cuts PTL), Thursday we have a WIC appointment, then that night we are attending a dessert thing in which we will get to talk to Jen, our missionary in Cambodia that is currently home on furlough. Friday I am going to go to a local preschool concert thing with some friends!

- Apologies - I am sorry I have been lacking in updates - the truth is I feel like I am in a rut. But, I am hoping now that my moodiness and depression are under control I will be able to focus and write more frequently.

The Beautiful 16

Dear Friends,

Please meet the most beautiful children I have ever seen. These are the orphans that call the orphanage my church sponsors home. The are lovely kids, a delight, amazing, beautiful.


Asia's Hope: Cambodia from Clay Productions on Vimeo.

Please meet Jen, a good friend who is a missionary over in Cambodia loving our children.


Here I Am from Clay Productions on Vimeo.


Today, my good friend and amazing author, Marla Taviano will be donating all monies collected from book sales to our orphanage over in Phnom Phen. Please consider buying a book, or two, or three, prices are dropped today only!

- For information on our orphanage please visit: An Asian Vista
- To learn more about Marla's special book sales day please visit: Marla's Website
- For more information on Asia's Hope, the organization that we are partnered with please visit: Asia's Hope
- For more information on my church please visit: Vista Community Church

I hope that you consider helping out, but understand if you can't. But I would ask that you please take a moment to pray for our orphanage...the kids and Jen too! Thanks for allowing my to share this opportunity with you!

Hello Strangers!

Well hello there friends! I feel like it has been forever since I have blogged! It's been an insanely busy time here in my life and I just have not had time to sit and write anything worthy of note out...until now of course!!!!!

- UNVEILED -
What an amazingly God filled weekend. I mean, seriously, I have never felt God so strongly in a place before. Satan was doing his best to make this weekend not happen (sick cast members, power outage, rain, horrible tech run through....) but he did not prevail! Unveiled was successful, each performance better than the next, each song more powerful the more we sang. I really hope that some of you made it and were able to experience this amazing time. If not, here is a quick run down of some of the key things! First of all, we were able to have live feeds from Cambodia where we have an orphanage. We have an amazing missionary there right now (jen) and the kids were able to sing a song in both their native language and english! It was AMAZING, I cried each time. I adore those kids! I hope to some day make it over. If you would like more info, go to Asian Vista! Our kids did an amazing job as well! We were also able to do cardboard testimonies (just like in this video) I even took a huge step of faith and did one myself! Mine was "Struggling with post partum depression" my flip side: "My strength is the joy of the Lord." It was amazing to see some of the testimonies out there, all these people I have known for some time, I didn't realize some of their struggles. Those were just two of the awesome parts, there was so so much more! It was so amazing!!!!

- LIFE -
We are doing pretty good over in our house. Parker is growing like a weed and goes in tomorrow for a monthly weight check and a couple of shots. He has had a rough day today...severe diarrhea today, I mean full out, up the back, out the sides, on the clothes. He has had no other issues, no fever, no cold actions, nothing...I am wondering if it isn't because of teething, but I will discuss that with DR. tomorrow. Drew and I are both down right exhausted. I am feeling icky and would love to sleep a week.

I have missed you all, I am going to go for now, I have a lot to catch up on!

Blessings of the Week!

Here are my blessing of the week...I want to do this every sunday so that I can remember that even in the dark times, there are always blessings..even in the little things!

1) Parker is feeling a ton better and has been super happy most of the week!
2) I was able to hang out with my friend Jennielle several times this week, which also includes hanging out with my play group friends!
3) I got a mom's night out Friday night, and yesterday I got a mom's day out with my bff Mandi!
4) I got to worship God during choir practice yesterday
5) Church is awesome!
6) Jen - our mission at one of our orphanages in Cambodia was live via Skype today! I love her!


This is just a short list!

Prayer Requests for this week:
1) Parker has his 6 month check up this week (tuesday). I am a smiggin worried about his weight (not that he hasn't gained, but has he gained the right amount). He is getting his shots too, so pray he isn't too fussy!
2) Pray for Jen, our missionary with Asia's Hope that is over in Cambodia right now.
3) Pray for Drew and I, that we both don't get overly worn out.