Teethies...!

First off, in the pictures above, Caleb was NOT drinking Dr. Pepper. They were just playing!=) It's cool to actually see them beginning to interact (though often times too rough for me!) with each other.
So, long time no post for me. It's not that I'm too busy. With no internet (by choice) in our apartment, I have to use the computer in the clubhouse. It's a short walk, but the boys don't do well waiting while I write!=) Right now they're both in the floor playing with the boatload of toys I brought to distract them! At any minute, Caleb could start crying, and this post is over! We'll see!=) Speaking of Caleb, he got his first 2 teeth yesterday. He's done well and not been overly fussy. Today, actually, marks the one year anniversary of the due date of the baby God took back in 2007. That's kinda crazy, I guess, that I remember, but it comes to mind naturally; Stephen had this same due date. On this day, especially, I am very grateful for the blessing of Caleb. He is the little boy God meant for us to share, and I love him overwhelmingly! Stephen is also doing well. I think he's actually drawing on the clubhouse carpet right now! Oops!=) We have so much fun walking places and just hanging out. Just last night, Jeremy and I took him to a playground at the airport. It's really close to the runway, and we saw lots of planes taking off! It was very cool and only like 3 or so miles from the apartment. Stephen tells me, "he doesn't ever want to live anywhere else!" He loves it here! We do family night at Chic-Fil-a on Tuesday nights and the library on Wednesday mornings. I'm beginning to find my nitch! Finding my place in ministry at the Summit is my next goal. I'm praying that God leads me. I'm excited to get to teach the elementary this coming Sunday. I haven't taught kids in a long time and really miss it! Pray that I please the Lord if you think about it! Oh, and we had 2 different people look at our house this past weekend; haven't heard anything from the showings. We'll keep praying, trusting, and enjoying every day! I'll be in touch!=)...

An Update on Us!

So, once again, I kinda "fail" at blogging!=) I've got no pictures to post and no cute title!=) Regardless, here's an update on our family. This past Friday we moved into the Villas at Brier Creek. It's a really nice, brand new set of apartments about 5 minutes from the Summit. We are the first people to have ever lived in our "home." It's 1,200 sq. feet, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Both bathrooms have huge garden tubs. Stephen has already enjoyed his! We're on the terrace level which means we only have 1 neighbor; no one is living there yet. We have a private patio with grass behind it where Stephen can play. Within walking distance is a weight room, mini movie theatre, and swimming pool. I am looking forward to some sunny days by the pool!=) The apartments are also on the backside (walking distance but too far for me and the boys!) of a shopping center which includes a Chicfila with a play place. There's a community playground less than a mile down the road. Needless to say, there are lots of things for us to do! While this was not exactly what Jeremy and I had planned, we are praising the Lord for providing this "home." Someone wise (you, Judy!) once told me that home is where your family is. As long as we're together, it's home to us! Please pray, though, that the Lord would work and our house back in Winston would sale in 6 months; before our lease runs out! Thanks!
So, back to moving...On Friday, the Canters drove up and helped us move. We were up til like 1 Saturday morning. We then went to Stephen's soccer practice at 8:50. He did a little better and listened to the coach (somewhat!). His first game is this coming Saturday. I can hardly wait!
Sunday was nice for us. In addition to an awesome service, we were able to come home after church. The boys didn't have to nap in Jeremy's office! I even cooked a light lunch, and we went out for supper. I had forgotten the blessing of living close! Anyhoo, that's where we are. I'm at my Mom's now grabbing some things that we accidentally left behind. I've opted not to have internet at the apartment, so I'm borrowing my parents' computer while I'm here!=) I'll do my blogging from either Jeremy's phone or the wireless in the clubhouse. Thanks for being patient with me! Things will hopefully become "normal" again soon (if there's such a thing as normal!).=)

Where I've been and My Journey Concluded...

It has been FOREVER since I've blogged. Here's what's been going on over the past week: We celebrated Stephen's 3rd birthday (I know I should be posting pictures!), We worshipped Christ at Easter, we signed a 6 month contract on a villa in Durham (we move this Friday; I've been trying to get stuff together), We booked a family vacation to Disney in September! Craziness but fun! With moving later this week, I'm not sure when I'll get to blog again. I want to finish up my Journey right now, in case there's another big time lapse in my blogging. Here goes:
The virtuous woman is know by others to be "worthy of praise." This was also said of Ruth in Ruth 3:11b which says, "All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character." It's not enough to be "good." Henry writes, "Those that are good should aim and covet to excel in virtue."
Proverbs 31:31 says, "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." When we look back at verse 23, we see that her husband is the one at the city gate. He, like I wrote last time, gives her the praise she is due. The Proverbs 31 woman bears good fruit. Another good "fruit" you can see in her life is once again her children. Henry writes, "If her children be dutiful and respectful to her, and conduct themselves as they ought, they then give her the fruit of her hands; she reaps the benefit of all the care she has taken of them, and thinks herself well paid."
The final way she is praised is by her neighbors. May we, as women, praise other women when it is due. Our pride shouldn't get in the way. When we see another woman truly striving to live virtuously, may we encourage her, as a part of our own virtue.
And with that, my journey concludes...or maybe just begins...I'm not really sure. May this "looking-glass for ladies" be a constant part of my days. If so, we can expect, as Henry concludes, "praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Thank you for taking this journey with me. I hope it has encouraged and challenged you in half the ways the Spirit has used it in my life. I look forward to many more journeys together!=)

My Journey...Part 11

First off, the picture above is Stephen at his first soccer practice last Saturday! He did well (for a 2 year old), and we are looking forward to the start of his games. We went to the zoo later that afternoon, and he HAD to wear his "uniform!" He is so proud of that "Carolina blue" shirt!=)
So, I guess my comment that I was on Matthew Henry's last commentary page made it seem like this journey was done. That's not completely true. Each page I've studied has taken me 3-4 entries to explain. I'm guessing that since I'm now on the last page, I may have 1 or 2 more parts of this journey to post. We'll see.=) Regardless, here's another portion of what I've learned from my study of Proverbs 31:
Proverbs 31:28 says, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." The virtuous woman has commendation in her work, her home, her relationships, but that's not all. She even has commendation in her husband; we've talked about how much he loves her. But...the virtuous woman can also find commendation in her children! What an amazing thing! Do others look at our boys and "commend" me? Will the boys look back on their lives and "commend" me? I'm not sure. While everything the Proverbs 31 woman does is ultimately for the glory of God, she still receives the praise of others. I pray the boys find this in me! Henry writes, "They (her children) are ready to give great commendations of her; they pray for her, and bless God that they had such a good mother. It is a DEBT which they owe her." We've talked about money so much already in Proverbs 31 that it's almost strange to read the word "DEBT" in this commentary. It's been all about save, save, save. Debt doesn't sound appropriate to this passage but consider this: When the virtuous passes from this world to the next, she will have no debt. No debt, that is, but the gratitude and love her children "owe" her! I love this thought! It has been one of those "Wow" ideas for me, and one that I think I will always remember. The only debt I want to leave this world with is the debt of love my boys can never repay their Mom! Incredible! And this, will undoubtedly, only be done through the grace of God!
To finish this part, we look at the second part of verse 28, which talks about her husband praising her. Henry writes, "Her husband thinks himself so happy in her that he takes all occasions to speak well of her. It is no indecency at all, but a laudable instance of conjugal love, for husbands and wives to give one another their due praises." I love it when Jeremy "praises" me. I pray I give him reason to. May we be so enamored with our Savior and each other that our love and appreciation overflows! And may it start in front of our boys!

My Journey...Part 10

First off, I have to let everyone know that on Tuesday I reached Lifetime Membership at Weight Watchers! I've lost about 23 pounds (which I know is not a whole bunch) but enough to put me back down to "pre-Caleb" weight! I don't want to "stop" now but am very thankful for this accomplishment. Back to Proverbs 31...
So, I'm officially on the last page of Matthew Henry's commentary. This has been quite a journey, but I have loved every minute of it! Proverbs 31:25 says (and once again, we talked about this verse earlier in another context), "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." The virtuous woman is confident. She has an ongoing spirit. Others see her "strength and honour" and desire to know her; to know what/Who makes her different. Henry comments: "She enjoys a firmness and constancy of mind, has spirit to bear up under the many crosses and disappointments which even the wise and virtuous must expect to meet with in this world." Just because she fears God doesn't mean that she is exempt from hard times; from frustrations; from disappointments. I imagine that this beautiful woman had "cry days" herself! The difference is that she rested in Who was really in control. She didn't just KNOW it, she BELIEVED it! I've really been asking myself lately "how much do I really believe God?". Sadly, I must answer not much. If I did, I would live life differently, just as the Proverbs 31 woman did.
At the end of her life (which is really just the beginning), she can look back and know that "she has lived for some good purpose. She shall be recompensed for her goodness with 'fulness of joy and pleasures forevermore'." I want to live each day as if it was the last. I want to love my family and bring joy into our home. I also want to anticipate the Heavenly blessings that lie ahead; that this Earth is not my home! May we, as women, be able to look back at the end of our lives and rejoice!