Blessings...

As I've walked through the past few days grieving the loss of a dear friend who battled cancer, the Lord used this song, "Blessings" once again to minister to me. Jeremy and a friend sang this song today during her service. I will post a link to the previous blog when I referred to it a few months ago. The past week has been an emotional roller coster for me and several of my dear friends. One week ago today, I had the privaledge to pray over my sweet friend Karen who was struggling with cancer. We prayed for healing, peace and comfort....we prayed that our desire for healing would be the Lord's plan but we prayed for peace to trust His plan. The Lord chose to take sweet Karen home to be with Him last Friday. I had the privaledge of teaching alongside Karen at my former school for 4 years as well as serving alongside her at our church. She was a strong woman of faith, courage and love. She had a servant's heart and was always looking for opportunities to encourage others. She was a Godly mentor to me as a young teacher, wife and mother. I will always remember the wisdom she shared with me through out the 6 years I knew her. I will never forget the image of me opening my eyes last week while praying for her and seeing her raising her hand to toward heaven. She loved Jesus with all her heart and that was evident to all around her. Her Pea Ridge Elementary family loved her dearly........what a blessing it was for me to teach with those sweet ladies. I pray that we will never forget the lasting impression she made on each one of our lives and be inspired to live our lives to bring glory to Jesus just like Mrs. Karen did.

So...here's the link to the blog. Since this post - there have been friends conceiving left and right....Praise Jesus for those precious little baby lives! He hears our prayers and answers them in His perfect timing! =)

http://jeremyandwhitney.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html

Labor Day Weekend!

Last weekend, we headed up to Nashville to spend time with the "Boyd" clan! It was such a nice, relaxing football weekend! The guys had at least 2 TV's playing games....the girls enjoyed cooking and playing with the babies! It's always a fun time when we're together! =)

Go Vols! and War Eagle!

Do you know how challenging it is to get a pic of a 17 month toddler and a 4 month baby???

Isabella was overflowing with sugar for Sadie! It was so cute to watch Isabella's "mothering" instinct come out......

She was ready to put that pacifier back in the moment Sadie lost it! =)

Cousin bath time is oh so fun! Yay for the invention of the Bumbo which helped Sadie enjoy bath time with her toddler cousin!

And let's face it....Uncle "Ma" and Aunt "Bubba" are the cool, hip uncle and aunt! =)

Auntie Linz was sooo fun....she carried Boo around in her kangaroo pouch!

My dad dedicated Sadie on Sunday morning.....it was so special that we were all able to share in this memorable day!

Pappa sure loves his sweet baby girls....

and I love my sisters....

A holiday weekend wouldn't be complete without an early morning race! Dad and I ran in a Labor Day 5k.....it was raining so the family stayed home.....so we didn't get any pics...but it was fun for us to do together. (Or should I clarify - not actually "together" - my dad is still WAY faster than me!!!)

The Greatness of our God

This song has meant so much to me in the past few weeks and I just wanted to share it with those of you who read our blog.

As I post these lyrics and video, I'm filled with a combination of mixed emotions. I have a heart of joy for all the many blessings the Lord has lavished upon me and my sweet family.....his goodness, his faithfulness and his unconditional love.

But, I also have a very heavy heart as Jer and I are walking beside and praying earnestly for two close friends battling cancer. One friend has been a mentor to me while teaching school and I've looked up to her in so many ways as I've seen her love others and the Lord with all her heart. I went to visit her and pray over her on Tuesday with some ladies.......we are praying for a miracle to heal her and save her! We know it's a selfish prayer to want to keep her here on Earth with us....but we are praying and believing that God's will is best and hoping his will aligns with ours. She needs prayer just to make it through each moment of the day at this point. Another friend is a young mom a little older than me who just found out she has breast cancer. I just can't even imagine being in her shoes...but I know our God will be faithful and love her through this journey ahead.

So, with all this on my heart - this song has been such an encouragement to me. I pray that it will also encourage you and remind you of how great and perfect our Father's love is no matter what you may be facing today. He is greatly to be praised even when we can't find the words to express. Even when life seems unbearable.....and seems impossible to praise Him...HE is great and good and worthy to be praised.

The one line that really seems to express my heart today is....

"I spend my life to know, and I'm far from close to all You are, the greatness of our God."

Just click the link below....

http://youtu.be/3dzK0dr7B5s

Verse 1:
Give me eyes to see
More of who You are
May what I behold,
still my anxious heart.
Take what I have known
And break it all apart
For You my God, are greater still.

CHORUS
No sky contains,
No doubt restrains,
All You are,
The greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
To all You are,
The greatness of our God.

Verse 2:
Give me grace to see
Beyond this moment here.
To believe that there
Is nothing left to fear.

That You alone are high above it all.
For You my God, are greater still.

CHORUS 2x
No sky contains,
No doubt restrains,
All You are,
The greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
To all You are,
The greatness of our God.

Bridge: 2x
And there is nothing
That can ever separate us.
There is nothing that can ever
separate us from Your love.
No life, no death, of this I am convinced.
You my God, are greater still.

2x:
And no words can say, or song convey,
all You are the greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
to all You are,
the greatness of our God.

17 months!

Sweet Isabella is 17 months...and she just gets more and more personality every day! We are having a blast together! She loves painting, doing puzzles, coloring with crayons, reading books, playing outside, going on walks (she walks not rides!), loves swinging at the park, actually has FUN in the nursery now (praise Jesus!), savors every bite she eats (I'm pretty sure she would eat the entire day if I let her), loves waving to people...even strangers (we are working on that), and I think her very favorite thing to do these days is to walk around pointing to objects, family members etc. and naming them (for animals she says the sound too)......soo cute!

She continues to love people...meeting new people, hugging friends and kissing friends (we try to aim for the cheek.....not lips!) We spent the weekend with my family up in Tennessee and all of a sudden Isabella's little "mothering" instinct has surfaced. She was loving on my little 4 month niece Sadie....kissing her...hugging and putting her pacifier in every time it fell out. It was the most precious thing to watch! I think she was exceptionally very gentle for a 17 month old! But, that just seems to be her personality at this point. She seems to be very sensitive and tender. But, she also is very independent and likes to do things "her" way! For example, we could all be hanging out talking and look over and Isabella has taken a toy and pretended to "vacuum" the entire house. She has no fear of being alone or walking around exploring! My prayer is that this trait will develop her into a strong leader one day! We all know that she has a tender side....but she sure has a strong will too! She usually visits "time-out" once a week and thus far it has been very successful! She doesn't like to disappoint mamma or dadda....so sitting in her crib alone and away from us really hits home for her. As much as it breaks our hearts to discipline her, we know this is the best thing for sweet Isabella! =) It's so much fun running errands with her and just spending the day with my sweet girl. As her little personality continues to unfold and she becomes more independent, she is quite a fun little helper and she continues to bring us so much joy each day!

Here are the words she is saying....this may be the last month I attempt to list her words because she pretty much repeats anything we say! She is a smart whipper snapper!

cat, meow, dog, ruff-ruff, bird, tukey (turkey), cheez (cheese), beys (strawberries), bed (bread), cheeos (cheerios), ater (water), ink (drink), mo (more), peez (please), ball, bubbles, book, Bible, door, hi, bye-bye, shoez (shoes), bow, eyes, Ga-Ga, She-She, ordo (Jordan), Eya (Ellen), Mammie (Maddy), Pappa, Mimi, Linny (Lindsey), Bubba, yan (John), Ma (Matt), Baby, Babi (Abby)......she recognizes all her family in pictures, can identify eyes (blinks), nose, mouth, ears, bow, hair, feet, belly button. I'm sure there are other words she knows and says consistently...but it's just hard to remember them all.

She can also repeat the alphabet...let me clarify - if we say "a"..she'll say "a"...and she'll go through all 26 letters. "W" is our favorite - it comes out different every time "wallulyou."

After saying all her letters....her favorite part is when we cheer for her! I mean who doesn't like a little positive reinforcement! =)

Here are her stats.....just done at home so probably not perfectly accurate....

Weight - 24.5 lbs 55%

Head - 19 inches 90%

Height - 31 inches 45%

Her schedule remains the same also (although I think the morning nap is getting shorter and shorter....but she still plays in her crib when she wakes)! I will be sad when that nap is gone......but I suppose that just means more fun times together!

7 Wake/Eat

9 Read/Nap (1-2 hrs.)

12 Lunch

2 Read/Nap (2-3 hrs.)

6 Dinner

8 Bath/Prayers/Bedtime