help

I'm about to be out of my first trimester. Everyone told me this is the time I would be moving out of the sick stage to one of more bursts of energy and feeling good. I'm sorry to say this is the sickest I've ever been and I can't seem to get enough sleep. I'm really hoping this is the storm before the calm.

Please Forgive...

I will try to briefly update you on all that has gone on since our last post.

*Zack and I visited friends and family in Georgia. It was a nice little weekend to share our big news and see familiar faces.

*We had a horrible scare - a very large grease fire attacked our kitchen. We are still thanking God that none of us were seriously hurt (Zack incurred a few burns on his hands but they are healed now.)

*We had our 2nd baby-doctor visit and here he/she is! file:///Users/Productions/Desktop/Snapshot%202008-08-22%2016-50-45.tiff


*I went away with my job to a beatiful place in Mobile called CAMP MASH (which is located at Camp Grace.) It's a camp we do every year for children with arthritis. The kids and their families come and learn about JA (juvenile arthritis) and really have a great time. The environment allows them to take a break from their disease and be a real kids. Bet you didn't know children had arthritis, eh?

*Zack and I visited family in Boston.
Cousin Myles

My favorite brother

My two men - dad and shnookems (ha)

mom, me, dad

Zack's first real "lobstah" experience

*The night after I returned from Boston I had to leave that following morning for a work conference in Atlanta.

BUT it is finally an at-home-weekend and I am thrilled!! Pregnancy is tiring all by itself never mind keeping up with the rest of life. Our baby and I are very excited about resting this weekend! So I hope you can all forgive my long blogging absence, hopefully life will slow down a bit now.

I leave you with Preggers and Proud Papa-to-be

<3 J

Life Changes

Cravings. Mood swings. Weight gain. Swelling of the ankles. Constant fatigue. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing! Yes, the rumors are true, Zack and I are going to be parents, but we are NOT having twins. Oh how we love rumors.

There are many decisions to be made. Zack has been accepted to Gordon Conwell (in Massachusetts) for the fall of 2009. As much as we both would love to move there, we just have so many factors to consider; we would love to be closer to family but will we be able to afford to live? Will we be eligible for health insurance?

It is something very different to have to think about another being whose needs are more important than our own. Hearing the heartbeat of our baby for the first time truly made us realize the reality that we are going to have a child. It is something truly amazing, extremely exciting, scary, and joyful. Zack and I are so happy that I am pregnant and we are looking forward to being parents. We know what we would like to name our baby but we'd like to hear from you, what names do you like?

Why I Hate Religion

*Amy - I didn't mean to steal this from you, but it was too good not to share.

Independence Day

I'm not exactly the greatest at remembering to take pictures but here are a few of our 4th. I forgot to take pictures of the fireworks - oops!

Current Physical Location

Current Mental Location

Conviction

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. -Hebrews 10:24&25

At the Church of Brook Hills, where Zack and I attend, David Platt (our Pastor) has been preaching on a series called "Attachment" concerning the gospel and our families. He preached the last in the series last night on the gospel and homosexuality. It really has been enlightening, if you'll allow me to use that term. I will not reiterate what Platt has said but will share what has struck me in my life most throughout the series.

#1 Christ HAS to be the heart of our lives, pumping his life through ours. There can't be any inbetweeness. I know that we talk about this all of the time as Christians, not becoming "luke warm" but there seems to be very different perceptions of luke warmness. What constitutes for total devotion to Christ? I just can't see Jesus approving of our 40 plus hour work, 20 hour TV, 2 hour Bible weeks. I'm speaking mostly to myself in this blog. I'm frustrated most of all because I find myself in this rut. There needs to be change. I do not want to strive for things of this world - money, popularity, having nice things, being consumed with appearances - but I am. This leads me to my 2ND point of enlightenment. We NEED each other! I cannot do this without a strong team of people who want to serve Christ walking with me everyday. I need to be there for others in the same way. We need not worry if we will be stepping on toes or over stepping boundaries in friendships with people who make up the body when we are concerned about his or her or our own spiritual well-being. #3 My goal should always be to share the gospel with others, whether they claim to know it or not. My belief is if one can learn to effectively share Christ with the South (people who claim to know Christ but really do not) you can take the gospel to all nations, no problem.

If you are interested you should visit http://www.brookhills.org/ and there is a place where you can go and listen to the series.