I have HOPE and a FUTURE.

I am finally getting back into my blog.  I was looking at the date and it has been since right after my first son was born that i have posted something. Yikes! Life has taken over and now that I have finally looked up, here I am over 3 years later posting something.  Nevertheless, there is HOPE for me yet.  I wanted to focus on something that was important to me in hopes that someone else will find it important or encouraging to them in their day to day life.  

I still love my life of being married to the amazing man I call my husband and to hear my adorable two little boys under the age of 3 to call my name: "mama...."  Where I am constantly on my knees about and unsure of, is what our FUTURE holds and what God is doing with our life. In the last year we have struggled with finding balance between a commuting job, change of job, change in income, a newborn now 1 year old and so on.  On all counts, if I stop and take the time to think, I know that we have earnestly sought after our LORD Jesus Christ for His will of our life and what decisions to make, when to make them.   Nevertheless our current life reality can be twisted by the Enemy to trick us in thinking we have made a wrong turn, missed what God was "really" trying to tell us what to do or that we are on our own.

Regardless there is no HOPE left after a couple of wrong turns.....our minds take when looking at life and misses a detail here or there.  We then proceed to overlook God's hand on our life.....therefore not truly see the Reality of our lives. 

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

This verse has been a breastplate of Truth for our marriage and our family for 3 years running.  To constantly remind us of when something in our lives appears to be of disaster and holds no hope, then we are not hearing from our LORD but are listening to the whispers of Satan in our ears. We are not holding true to God in Faith and like Peter walking on the water, we are now worried of sinking in the stormy waters around us.

But then today (through good ole Facebook) I was reminded to look again on passed this verse (12 - 14):

"In those days when you pray, I will listen.  If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  I will be found by you." says the LORD.  " I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land."

Talk about HOPE!  All i have to do is with my best of intentions and WHOLEHEARTEDLY seek Him and he will be there!  I will find HIM! My God is not a God of technicalities.  He isn't going to say, "well you were only about 90% wholehearted" and then leave me high and dry.  He is faithful to those who are faithful to Him! His Word does NOT return VOID!  And has he Clearly states, He is found when we pray and seek Him.....period! He will be bring me home!


So when Satan feeds me lies (like "maybe you missed the mark" or "you miss understood what God was trying to tell you); then it is my duty to remember the truth....

• That we did Wholeheartedly Seek Him. And not only by ourselves in our own Quiet time but with one another together and with other Godly people praying with us.
• We waited and waited for God's timing.
• We sought after Him and he gave us peace in the moment we made the decision/change in our life at that time.
• We are now in a period of waiting again to see what God is doing but the verse tells me I have H-O-P-E and a Future.  In other Words, God is in control and even though my human mind may not see what is to come, HE DOES!

So to those who Believe in our LORD, take HOPE in this Promise in God's word.  That when you seek Him and seek to Glorify Him with your life,  You will find Him in  your presence.  He will be there to guide you to your Future. He will Bring you Home and He will lead you to your future!  So take Hope, lean on your faith and Rest in God's Peace knowing you are in His Hands! 

Let it Snow, let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Northwest Arkansas got Record breaking and all-time amounts of snow this last week and for the year!  We got 2 feet of snow!  The last time it snowed that much here was in 1905!  All week the temperature was below ZERO!  One morning it was -20-Degrees!!! That is an ALL-TIME RECORD! It has never been that cold here since they started recording weather back in the last 1800's.

Now with being Pregnant, my sweet husband swept all of the stairs and patio area so I would not slip and so nothing would become ice as it packs!  He also shoveled a path for me to the car! Here is pictures of him in actions! My Hero!

Here are a few pictures we took on the first day it was (what they called it) "Blizzard like conditions"....we did get 10 inches in just a couple of hours!

Our First Home....Constien Igloo!

So with all the snow NorthWest Arkansas has gotten, my sweet husband has been inspired to build our first Home....

Come on in!!!!

 Here is our Entry way...

....and the rest of it!

 What great curb appeal!

Meet Baby Constien!

We had our first big appointment with our first Sonogram where we got pictures of our wonderful little, or big, bundle of joy!

Alex asked our Doctor how big he or she was, so she measured the baby and laughed.  I wasn't sure what that meant but overall it was just that were probably further along than originally expected and moved our due date up to Aug. 8th from Aug. 15th.

How we told our family, we were Pregnant!

When we found out we were pregnant, it was December 10th and the Doctor appointment to confirm was December 15th.  So it donned on us that we could surprise our families for Christmas!  What a treat!  Especially when both mom's had requested for Christmas for us to confirm we were "Trying"....hehehe!

So, after us "Googling" and dreaming up ways to share the good news, we came up with some great ideas and all were great but the winner was....

We made these cards at Walmart.com.  The Photo Center online had all of these options and one of which was to make your own Christ Card. So the above was the front of the card and below was the inside of the card.  The wrote in the personal name for everyone that got one (i.e. Nanna Sue, Aunt Rachael, Paw-Paw) Here is ours for the Scrapbook!

Then when all the family was together (for each family Christmas) we told them we had made Cards this year and one for everyone.  So they all opened them at the same time and it was such a treat to see they faces and hear their responses!

Your First Doctor’s visit, what you need to know

This first visit, and every visit from now on, you WILL pee in a cup. They will also do some blood work but that’s mostly the first visit.

Next they will ask a lot of question about your family health history as well as the baby’s dad’s family history.  So it is best if both of you can come to answer all of these questions.  They will also give you a due date as well as tell you how far along you are!!! (This was the best part for me! It made it so real for us!)  They will go over what to expect in the next couple of weeks and how often you will be visiting the doctor for the next 9 months or less. (see below for timeline)

Prenatal Doctor visits:

*First one to confirm!

*Next in 5 weeks  (when you are at 10-11 weeks to check your pelvic for birthing and possibly here the heart beat! I teared up for a moment thinking about that! So precious! (First Sonogram and first PICTURE!)

*After that will be a visit 1 per month until your 28^th week (when they test for diabetes)

* Then you go to visit every 2 weeks

*The last month, you go to visit every week until you go into LABOR

Insurance and finance plan. Then someone there comes to talk to you about your insurance, what it covers and what you will be left with to pay for (FYI: this person has called your insurance Provider and asked all the questions needed to know what all you can get out of your policy.  So great!)  This amount covers (at least for us) pretty much all of the prenatal stuff and the delivery.  There are still some other bills you will occur while you are in the hospital such as for Anesthesiology, pathology and Baby Bills. 

(Baby Bills: after you give birth, there is a nurse that is assigned to your baby to take care of and examine.  You can actually request this person to be your family doctor if you so chose.  I don’t know which is cheaper.  Nevertheless, this bill covers this persons expenses charged)

NOW, Before you Get Pregnant!

Here are a couple of things I have figured out within the first couple of months of this Pregnancy.  Hope they help out other women as they begin their journey through becoming a mommy!

A.) Take a prenatal vitamin now! 

And If you can, take a fish oil supplement as well.  You never know when you are going to get pregnant or if you going to have an “Opp’s” and you want your baby getting that nutrition ASAC (as soon as conceived).

B.) Starting asking questions now!

You might have friends that are having babies so ask them questions about what books they read, who is their doctor and how do they like them, what were the expenses like and how much did insurance cover? 

This helps you learn more about the process now (while you have time) and start to see what are the important questions to ask when it’s your turn.  Plus this might help you find the right doctor for you,  your husband and your baby. 

C.) Read Now!

Again, you have time now!  When we found out I was pregnant we were thinking “YAY! in 9 months we are having a baby!”  Then we go to the doctor a couple of days later to find out I am 5 weeks and 3 days.  So now all the sudden we are 7 months 2 weeks.”  IN OTHER WORDS, 9 months turns into 7 months like that; it goes quicker than you think!  Having as much knowledge now, while you have time, is a good idea!

D.) Workout  NOW!

I am currently in the “overweight” category so my weight is not ideal.  And Now that I am pregnant I can’t over do it by any means NOR can I try losing weight right now. 

So if you wanting to be in good shape (because you bounce back better after giving birth AND it’s safer for you and the baby) and you don’t want to be huge during the pregnancy…..start trying to lose weight and get in shape NOW!

E.) Save NOW!

For us, the first Doctors appt we were told, the  charge would be $100 to cover what the insurance didn’t cover or go to your payments for the prenatal – labor charges. 

Also at that first appt they go over what your insurance does cover and what you will be liable for after that. (Monthly payments and such). 

Most offices will sit down with you about what your insurance will cover and talk numbers with you from now until you give birth