The Woman I Want to Be!

I saw this on a blog I occasionally stalk, and I loved it. The list of comparison is truly convicting and inspiring and just a great little tool for some self examination... this is the kind of example I want to be for sweet baby Maggie, and the wife I want to be for my AMAZING husband and the child I want to be for my perfect and loving Heavenly Father!

Flashback...

to July 3, 2009. Young(er) Robert watches young(er) Ashley walk down the aisle; they say "I DO!" and then they kiss and so far they have lived happily ever after!!!

Flash forward two years (present time) and they are in cool San Francisco celebrating two years of fabulous love and a baby girl on the way! So, please enjoy a few pics from our trip - we did!!


THE PAINTED LADIES


CRAZY LOMBARD STREET


COOL STAIRS AT COIT TOWER


ALCATRAZ!


ROBERT IS LOVING THE PRISON!


(and obviously i'm looking super cute!)




AUDIO TOUR


(this totally crazy insane guy) in front of this YUMMY burrito place!


YAY for our good friends, the MILLERS :) (came to visit from Modesto)


GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE!!

OK. There are a million more pics, but uploading them is getting annoying, haha. So, for now, adios!! Can't wait for my man to get home...!

Babies! Babies! Babies!

Currently, babies are popping up everywhere in my life except for the little one in my belly!

It all started in February with Caitie and Olive...I cannot believe she is already 6 months old and so so adorable and fun! Then, another Caiti - roommate from college - had her sweet little Hayley! Shortly after that one of my dearest friends from college Stephanie and her hilarious husband Nick, had baby Addison - who I am dying to meet! Then came the few boys: Kelsey with Declan and Carly with Tucker, what handsome little men! A past coworker and friend had her second little girl, Allie, up in Alaska. Now, my best CA friend, Nicci, has her little Bryndal Lane, and she is just so sweet and beautiful! I'm also waiting to hear from my friend and neighbor, Rebecca, and the arrival of her little one (who was due last week!). Then, my very own family grew with the addition of Jacob Timothy Wauhop to Tim and Joni! What a chubby cutie, 9lbs, 9oz and 22 inches long!! I cannot wait to see him at Christmas! And, I still have several more pregnant friends, ready to bring their bundles of joy into the world within the next 4 or 5 months! What an exciting time!!

Here is my new nephew!! Looking so handsome and big-cheeked with his hard working mommy!!

So, now, Robert and I are basically dying to meet our Maggie Grace! Seriously, she is just moving and rolling and dancing around inside of me 24/7 and I just want to see her face...and fingers and feet and nose and belly and everything! I want to hold her in my arms, and not in my belly anymore, haha! (not to mention, I could definitely go for a nap on my stomach!!) I'm making my way through this 32nd week, and praying for the next 7 or so to come quickly! What a blessing all these new lives are! God is so kind to bless so many we love with the gift of life, adding to our quivers and adding to our joy which is always full in Him!

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures." James 1:17-18

Valley of Vision

God the Source of All Good

The heavens declare thy glory,
The earth thy riches,
The universe is thy temple;
Thy presence fills immensity,
Yet thou hast of thy pleasure created life,
and communicated happiness;
Thou hast made me what I am, and given me
what I have;
In thee I live and move and have my being;
Thy providence has set the bounds of my habitation,
and wisely administers all my affairs.
I thank thee for thy riches to me in Jesus,
for the unclouded revelation of him in thy Word,
where I behold his Person, character, grace, glory,
humiliation, sufferings, death, and resurrection;
Give me to feel a need of his continual saviourhood,
and cry with Job, ‘I am vile’,
with Peter, ‘I perish’,
with the publican, ‘Be merciful to me, a sinner’.
Subdue in me the love of sin,
Let me know the need of renovation as well as
of forgiveness,
in order to serve and enjoy thee for ever.
I come to thee in the all-prevailing name of Jesus,
with nothing of my own to plead,
no works, no worthiness, no promises.
I am often straying,
often knowingly opposing thy authority,
often abusing thy goodness;
Much of my guilt arises from my religious privileges,
my low estimation of them,
my failure to use them to my advantage,
But I am not careless of thy favour or regardless of
thy glory;
Impress me deeply with a sense of thine
omnipresence, that thou art about my path,
my ways, my lying down, my end.

Vote!

So, if anyone reads this and has the time, please vote on which bag you think would make the better diaper bag for Baby Maggie!

The Hey Jute Stripe Tote - which is SO cute and girly (and affordable)!! My only concerns here is that it's really springy, and she will be a November baby, and it totally clashes with my stroller and car seat. But, I really do love it!



-OR-

Ambitious Lizard Embossed Tote (in Grey Blue) - love the neutral modern color, perfect size, and seems like really good quality. It's not adorable like the other option, but it's totally practical and just a beautiful bag in general!



Maybe I should just get both?! I mean it is my birthday next week!! Or, if you have another suggestion - a diaper bag you've loved or seen...I'd love to check it out!

What We've Been Up To...

O my! It has been quite some time since I last posted; but, I do think about it often. Life seems to be flying by. In the last month we've moved to Montrose (woot! woot! - such a blessing!), went on a anniversary trip/babymoon to San Fransisco (pictures and separate post to come, I promise), and all sorts of other work/high school ministry/seminary related things. And now we are about to venture off to Gloreitta, New Mexico for our high school summer camp and then a week after that, head home to the East Coast!! Living the good life :)

So, Montrose is this adorable little city that's sort of tucked away in some hills. It's so quiet and quaint and residential - so not North Hollywood where we just came from. And, although we loved our old location, the Lord has blessed us with so much extra space and amazing neighbors here in our Montrose apartment!

As far as high school camp, it's an insane, high-energy, total blast of a week with some of the greatest high schoolers around, and then like 600 other ones, too. This year there are going to be about 900 kids at CampRegeneration, hosted by Grace Church and our 180 youth group! There will be 12 teams (I think), and the competition is super fierce. This year it is Heroes vs. Villains, and I honestly have not seen girls go at each other like this, ever - it's so crazy...the sweetest little tiny high school girl is rolling around in the mud fighting over a blown up crocodile and then diving into a kiddie swimming pool and running around with a refrigerator box on her head - o camp! John MacArthur, Rick Holland, and Austin Duncan will be speaking, and it should be amazing! But, I've left out the best part! Me and this giant belly of mine will be riding on the bus...for 18 hours!!! So, honestly I'm not looking forward to that, because I know it will be uncomfortable and hard to sleep...but the Lord will give grace! Pray for me, please, if you think of it. Thankfully there are bathrooms on our bus!!

And then going home! O my goodness, I cannot wait to go home! We haven't been home since Christmas, so that's over 8 months! I haven't seen my mom once since I've been pregnant, so I'm really looking forward to spending time with her and the rest of the family! Also, I should be having 2 baby showers, one in NoVa and one in DE - so I'm very excited about that! Bring on all the cute baby gear!

Baby Maggie is getting so big and she's becoming more and more active, which is really fun! We hit 24 weeks/6 months this past Sunday! I cannot wait to meet her!! Getting fatter has been a little rough for me. I've always tended to be more self-conscious about my weight/appearance...and adding 12lbs so far to this little 5'1" frame has bummed me out at times. But, it really is like all belly so far, so that is kind of the Lord. And, it's humbling to remember that not only is my body not my own since it was bought with a price by Christ at my salvation, but it is also being used by Him to grow another life at this time! Also, I am just so thankful that she is healthy and growing right on track! Pregnancy is such a miracle...it's super weird and full of emotions, but God is such a Master Creator! It really is awesome! I can't wait to see her beautiful little face, and pinch her little fat rolls, and kiss her forehead, and all that good stuff! Ahhh!! Just 15 and a half more weeks!! Thank you Lord!

Ps. 72:18-19 - Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!

Psalms 37

1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.

7Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow
To cast down the afflicted and the needy,
To slay those who are upright in conduct.
15 Their sword will enter their own heart,
And their bows will be broken.

16 Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
But the LORD sustains the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
And their inheritance will be forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And in the days of famine they will have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish;
And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures,
They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not pay back,
But the righteous is gracious and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him will inherit the land,
But those cursed by Him will be cut off.

23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.
26 All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his descendants are a blessing.

27 Depart from evil and do good,
So you will abide forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice
And does not forsake His godly ones;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
His steps do not slip.
32 The wicked spies upon the righteous
And seeks to kill him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand
Or let him be condemned when he is judged.
34 Wait for the LORD and keep His way,
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked, violent man
Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.
36 Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more;
I sought for him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright;
For the man of peace will have a posterity.
38 But transgressors will be altogether destroyed;
The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.

Feed Me!

I've always been one to really enjoy food. I definitely think about food, good food I want to make or just eat... But since I've been pregnant I really think about food a lot. I think about how some food sounds so disgusting, but mostly about foods that I just really want - right now. Literally, I drop Robert off for school in the morning, before 7am, and I say, "Hey, what are you thinking for dinner tonight?" He hasn't even considered breakfast or lunch, and I'm already dreaming of dinner time! It's bad...but I'm pregnant, right?!

At about 8 or so weeks I started feeling pretty sick all the time. At first I blamed it on heavy dairy products: cheesecake, goat cheese, a glass of milk, etc. They just seemed to really increase the nausea. Which, if you know me, is so sad. I'm a cheeseaholic! I love cheese! I was born that way; ask my mom. (Once, I took a bight right out of a stick of butter because I thought it was a block of cheese!) So, that was hard for me. But, I seemed to get over that and am really loving a good glass of skim milk every other day or so, and am eating more than my fair share of cheese and it's delicious products! (still no cheesecake though; that was rough.)

Other things I am loving are: the stereotypical pickle - YUM! I was into eggs a lot for a few weeks. And now it's potatoes! French Fries (with a lot of salt and ketchup), hash browns, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, twice-baked potatoes...you name it - I'll take two!!

Since I've been feeling sick, it's been hard to work out, slash also with my lack of energy. I'm just really loving me some extra sleep these days, too. But, I am getting my energy back and am super thankful to be feeling better more consistently! The Lord is good and pregnancy is such a miracle! I cannot say that enough! It's amazing!

Lastly, my sweet husband has been so wonderful throughout all of neediness and what not during this pregnancy. I highly doubt there is a greater man out there! He is so sweet! He loves this baby so much; it's so cute to see him talk to it! He will be the best dad! He's so patient and so kind and I am so very blessed! Thank you, Lord, for this amazing man!

Three and a half more weeks until this pregnancy is half over!! And we find out if it is a boy or girl June 13! Yay Baby Wauhop!

Currently...

I am at a loss for super interesting updates.

I really want to start writing a book, but can't quite think of something good enough to write about. Any ideas?

Robert is in a summer class that literally requires 300+ pages of reading a night :/

High school Bible studies are coming to a close, but I'm going to start meeting with my girls during the summer and going through Fundamentals of the Faith with them!

The baby and my belly are growing, growing, growing! And I'm so excited! (I'm going to do a post soon of some pregnancy cravings, wishes, and what not...)

We are looking for a bigger place to live. (keep praying! and let me know if you hear of anything!!)

I have 141 days left of work at GTY!!

I'm so excited to go home in August! I bought our plane tickets yesterday!!

And, I'm equally excited to go to San Fran, June 29-July3 for our 2 year anniversary and BabyMoon!! Ahh! I can't wait to be alone with my sweet, sweet man for 5 days straight!

I am a happy girl! So blessed! My God is good!

Update

He said no... But, we know that God is so good and He loves us! And we are so hopeful for our future home; both in this life and the one to come! Yes, I cried. But I am so blessed, and good news - the gospel is still true! So, today I am praying for a little extra grace, and rejoicing in the sovereignty of God.

Thank you for those of you who prayed with us!

Apt. #1

It's so appropriately named, because it truly is the best apartment in our complex! Apartment #1 has just become vacant in the building we manage. Currently we are in apt #9, which is a "cozy" one bedroom. Apt. #1 is a spacious 2 BEDROOM...with a REAL KITCHEN (it's like it's own separate room with more than 1 counter!!), and 2 storage spaces/closets!! Wow! Sounds to good to be true, haha!

But, I'm writing all of this to ask you (Kristen and Marie and whoever else might read this) to please pray with us, that the Lord, who is rich in mercy, would allow us to move in and manage from apt #1! It would be a HUGE blessing with the baby coming in November, and being something we can actually afford! Really, we couldn't imagine a more ideal situation. We've been waiting a little over a month to hear the ruling of the property bosses as to whether or not it's an option. It's been discouraging to say the least. But, also it's been awesome, because the Lord has exposed my faithlessness. O me of little faith. The Lord can so provide this for us, and totally glorify Himself in the process. Or, He can say no - and totally glorify Himself in that process! But while we wait, I'd love for you to pray as well; that way you can rejoice in the outcome as well, knowing that the Lord hears our prayers and He loves us!

Lastly, please read this if you've ever struggled with faithless prayers. It was SO convicting and encouraging! The Lord really used it to rejuvenate me!

And double last, my baby is the size of a lemon! Wow, huge!!

these days...

Hello again! I'm still pregnant...11 and a half weeks now! And life's been good. I keep meaning to blog something, but can't really think of anything interesting/just haven't really had the time.

I've been so sleepy lately. And I feel sick approximately 15/6 - so not quite 24/7, haha! I've had a few episodes of "pregnancy brain" where I've left my purse at a restaurant, or left something in first service at church, or locked my keys in my car...But it's really crazy cool to know that a sweet and tiny human person is growing inside of my belly!! Wow! I cannot wait to find out if we are having a boy or a girl in June. And I'm also so excited to go home in August - I'm just looking forward to our parents being able to see the belly and experience a short week of the pregnancy with us! That time will be really special!

On another note, belly pics? I have tried to take some belly pictures, but I feel like I'm either trying way too hard and end up just pushing my hips forward to give the illusion of a belly, or I just don't know what to do with my hands?! So, hopefully I'll get the hang of that before to far along...

Ooo, we got a new couch at a great yard sale! So, we are selling our others. And waiting to possibly hear about some potentially awesome apartment news!! So, pray about that if you think of it. Basically, as always, God is so good and we trust His plan for our future!

Having a Baby!!!

Yes, it is true, Robert and I are having a baby this November - and we literally could not be more excited! What a little miracle! It is so insane to know that a real little person is growing inside of me! God is so amazing! I get these e-mails every week that tell me what's going on in the womb each week, and it is unbelievable!

Right now I'm 8 weeks and a few days! Baby is around the size of a raspberry! And, he has a brain and his kidneys, and is growing webbed fingers and toes! His heartbeat is strong and I am just amazed at the whole process!


Is the pic TMI?

We won't know until late May or early June if it's a boy or a girl. We are hoping boy (because who doesn't want a big brother), but would be so excited for a girl, too! We have both names picked out!!

I don't want this post to be forever long, but, it's so crazy...Last summer I was throwing up a lot (gross, I know), and I never throw up. So, obviously, I thought I was pregnant; but I wasn't! Instead, it planted the baby bug in me! So, we decided to wait until this spring semester to start "trying!" So, March 4 I took a test early in the morning. Robert was at his Friday morning Bible study and Roxy was sleeping in the living room, haha! Don't worry, I told Robert first! Of course on the first test the second line was kind of faded, so I went out later to get a digital and double check!! I highly recommend the digital! It's so awesome reading the word, PREGNANT! Anyway...

Please pray for us and this little one! We are so excited and SO THANKFUL!

i love CHARLES SPURGEON!!

“We are liable to worry a little when we think of our changeableness. If you are at all like me, you are very far from being always the same. I am sometimes lifted up to the very heavens, and then I go down to the deeps. I am at one time bright with joy and confidence, and at another time dark as midnight with doubts and fears. Even Elijah, who was so brave, had his fainting fits. We are to be blamed for this, and yet the fact remains: our experience is like an April day, when rain and sunshine take turns. Amid our mournful changes, we rejoice to hear the Lord’s own voice saying, ‘Fear not: for I have redeemed thee.’ Everything is not shifting waves; there is rock somewhere. Redemption is an accomplished fact. ‘The Cross, it stands fast. Hallelujah!’

The price has been paid, the ransom accepted. This has been accomplished and can never be undone. Jesus says, ‘I have redeemed thee.’ Our feelings may change, but this does not alter the fact that we have been bought with a price and made the Lord’s own by the precious blood of Jesus. The Lord God has already done so much for us that our salvation is sure in Christ Jesus. Will He begin to build, and fail to finish? Will He lay the foundation in the everlasting covenant, dedicate the walls with the infinite sacrifice of the Lamb of God, give up the choicest Treasure He ever had, the chosen and precious One of God, to be the Cornerstone and then not finish the work He has begun? No, if He has redeemed us, He has, in that act, given us the pledge of all things.

See how the gifts of God are tied to this redemption. ‘I have redeemed thee, I have called thee’ (Isa. 43:1).”

Charles Spurgeon

************************************************

Praise the Lord, right! I want to highlight every one of the sentences in that quote, because each one is so true! Spurgeon is such an encouragement to me (and I will be proud one day to name my first born son after him). This totally encouraged my soul and I hope it might do so to yours as well!

What an awesome and gracious God! Salvation is such an amazing gift and we are certainly the most blessed of all people! Praise God from whom all blessings flow, the unchanging, eternal, sovereign, and good One!

GAP Giving and Getting

OK friends! It's one of my favorite shopping times a year: Gap's Friends and Family Give and Get 30% off sale! Please feel free to take advantage! You can get anything from Gap, Banana, or Old Navy (EVEN SALE!!) for 30% off, plus, they usually have free shipping! Check it out!!

Give and Get is Here!: "Enjoy 30% off from March 17-20 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy plus we'll make a 5% donation to a non-profit."

God Is So Good

God is so good,
God is so good,
God is so good,
He’s so good to me!

He cares for me,
He cares for me,
He cares for me,
He’s so good to me!

I love Him so,
I love Him so,
I love Him so,
He’s so good to me!

I praise His Name,
I praise His Name,
I praise His Name,
He’s so good to me!

It's a children's song that is so simple, but it is so true. I so often feel that as I pray in worship to the Lord that I am repeating myself and He is so bored with my praise, because it is ridiculously inadequate compared to His worthiness! What can we say to express again His loving kindness, mercy, sovereign grace, etc... WE SAY IT AGAIN, because His praise is inexhaustible! One of my favorite sermons by John Piper, himself is called God Did Not Spare His Own Son and it is AMAZING! I really encourage you to listen to it!

I am just so thankful for the Lord, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do! I serve such a faithful God. In His infinite wisdom He knows all things and yet chooses to extend great mercy. I literally cannot fathom how God, knowing my full capacity for wickedness and my prideful, fleshly heart could love me with an eternal, perfect, redeeming love.

Basically, what I'm saying is that God is so good! And I do not say it nearyly enough - nor can I, but I will spend this life trying!

Fatty-much?!

Why do these potato-bites look SO amazingly delicious right now?!

February 27

Weekend! Weekend!

This Sunday marks the 10th birthday of my little sister, Aubree! Please watch this VIDEO and get to know her - she is hilarious!

This Sunday is also the 4 year anniversary of Robert and I dating (for the first time). Four years ago Robert called me and asked if I wanted to go get dinner. I was sitting at my desk in my dorm room eating pretzels and pudding for dinner...So, I said yes, and we went to OSAKA's! (It's the greatest place to eat on earth!)

We get there, we order, we sit down and wait. I go to the bathroom (crucial detail, obviously) and when I come out, our food is waiting! So, I sit down, we pray, and I start eating - but Robert doesn't. He begins to give a speech, if you will, about how satisfied he is being single and what not...how he's not so much for the dating...and eventually, though, if he was going to date, that he'd be interested in dating me!

Well, after hearing points A, B, and C - actually a month or so prior - I was sold! And so started the love saga that is Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wauhop :)

Needless to say, February 27th is one of my favorite days ever!!

Roxy Maddah: djRoxBox

My dear friend Roxy is coming to LA one week from today, and I am SOOOOO excited!!! Roxy is one of my very best friends. We met at the end of my freshman year at LU - we were on YouthQuest together! We've been friends, roommates, enemies, better friends, and now we're pretty much sisters...and I love her!


One year Roxy was my valentine! I made her fettucini alfredo, and melted a plastic bowl on to her oven! Also, I snuck out of my dorm once to sleep over/facebook stalk in her dorm! We shared a twin bed for a week in FL...O memories! Roxy has been there for heart breaks and wedding bells and everything in between! Roxy is so much fun. It's been so awesome to see her grow in her faith and example over the last year. I am so thankful to the Lord for her friendship! She is truly one of the greatest friends/sister known to man, and I am so excited to see her next week!!

Crafty Corner

I've been feeling super crafty lately...or at least wishing I was a creative genius. And, this is a really fun project I'm considering! It doesn't look too difficult or pricey, which is definitely a plus! Now for a party to throw :)

Chocolate and other things...

Chocolate chip cookies and chocolate hearts are staring me in the face...and I don't really mind. Would you?

And, how can people be so talented? I mean, I feel like everywhere I turn around someone else has a great blog, amazing photography site, or creative venture! I recently (as in today) found this photogrpher (Gray Benko) who seems to be seriously phenomenal! Of course she lives in SC, and only photographs children - but nonetheless, she is worth just checking out! And obviously the famous VanDykes! And my dear friend Jake - who side note DJ'd my wedding and is marrying my friend Katie from college in October! I really want to get into photography - not just because everyone and their mom is - but because I feel like its such a useful skill to have in a family! But, as of right now, we have lost our camera. Neither of our mom's can find it on the East coast...but, it must be somewhere!

Anyway, I love chocolate and peanut butter, and do really enjoy some great pictures, too! (I mean really, who'd rather hang expensive, random art in their house when you can take such amazing pictures of people and places you actually know and love!)

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." PS 118:1, 8, 9,and 14

In LOVE

In case you don't know me...I am CRAZY about my husband! I mean, check him out!


He is so wonderful! And I couldn't be more thankful for him...actually I probably could (hence the reading of Choosing Gratitude)! But, I just really love my man!

So, with valentines day approaching I've been making him all these little cards and leaving them in his school books, lunches, pockets...one for every day. Some silly, some sexy, some short, and some long. It has been a lot of fun. We will be "celebrating" Valentines Day tomorrow! And then Monday night I'll just make him an extra special dinner. I love everything we do together, and so I'm really looking forward to a weekend full of Robert! I could say so much more about him...and I will later - so I know you'll be looking forward to that! But basically, to close, God is so kind!

Quesadilla con Huevos

YUM! I'm sure most of you have already thought of this...but the other night I was not feeling like the gourmet chef I usually am (JOKE!) and was going to just make some easy, but good quesadillas. Then, I started day dreaming about Mexican food (which happens to me more than you might think), and I remembered the delicious huevos rancheros at Casa Vega and I thought: what if I could make huevos in my quesadilla!?! I'm sure I'm not the first to shed light upon this delectable Spanish cuisine, but it was so good!

I buttered the corn tortilla, and threw it in the frying pan. Then I cracked an egg on top of the tortilla, flipped it and let the egg fry, and then flipped it again so the egg was inside. Then I proceeded to make the quesadilla like normal...cheese, chicken, other tortilla! Yum! It really was so easy and it definitely hit the spot. So, if this is new to anyone, I highly recommend it! And, if Quesadilla con Huevos is old...keep enjoying!!

A Disciples Notebook

I literally think that this is the best blog that I read! A Disciples Notebook always has encouraging and convicting and TIMELY posts. I would highly recommend reading it regularly. Can I also suggest going back to: The Way to Devotions and Stillness Before the Lord. These are excellent! What a blessing!

I really want to share this one, Completely Clean (below), though. Seriously it's so awesome to remember this truth. It's articulated by none other than the amazing C.H. Spurgeon, and it really makes my heart swell with joy and hope in the Lord!

Completely Clean
Posted by jerrywhite on Feb 3, 2011

Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
John 13:10 (ESV)

~~~

“It may encourage you to call to mind the people who were praised. They were not cherubim and seraphim, but men, and notably they were men filled with weakness. There was Peter, who a few minutes afterward was brash and presumptuous. But it is not necessary to name them one by one, for they all forsook their Master and fled in His hour of peril. Not one among them was more than a mere child in grace. They had little about them that was apostolic except their commission. They were very evidently men who had the same passions that we do, yet their Lord declared them to be clean, and clean they were.

This is nourishment for those souls who are hungering for righteousness and worrying because they feel so much of the burden of indwelling sin: cleanliness before the Lord is not destroyed by our sins and weaknesses or prevented by our inward temptations. We stand in the righteousness of Another. No amount of personal weakness, spiritual anxiety, soul conflict, or mental agony can mar our acceptance in the Beloved. We may be weak infants or wandering sheep, and for both reasons we may be very far from what we wish to be. But, as God sees us, we are viewed as washed in the blood of Jesus, and we, even we, are ‘clean every whit.’

What a forcible expression, ‘clean every whit’—every inch, from every point of view, in all respects, and to the uttermost degree! Dear friend, if you are a believer, this fact is true even for you. Do not hesitate to drink of it, for it is water out of your own well, given to you in the covenant of grace. Do not think that it is presumptuous to believe this statement, as marvelous as it is. You are dealing with a wonderful Savior, who only does wonderful things. Therefore, do not stand back on account of the greatness of the blessing, but rather believe even more readily because the message is so similar to every thing the Lord says or does.”

Charles Spurgeon

Joy In Christ’s Presence, 167-168

Thoughts on Thanks

A few excerpts from Choosing Gratitude:

"Gratitude is...a choice that requires constantly renewing my mind with the truth of God's Word, setting my heart to savor God and His gifts, and disciplining my tongue to speak words that reflect His goodness and grace - until a grateful spirit becomes my reflexive response to all of life"

It is interesting, yet so true, to think of gratitude not as a feeling, but a command and a discipline! Thinking this way makes my thankfulness a much bigger issue throughout my day!

"The true glory and the transforming power of gratitude are reserved for those who know and acknowledge the Giver of every good gift and who are recipients of His redeeming grace"

How true. We overlook God's common graces to all, every day! What an even greater tragedy to neglect His gift of salvation which is unimaginably great! We - I am truly so blessed. My God is so good! Thank You, Lord!

SleepOver!

I want to stay here so badly - the Standard! Doesn't it look like so much fun! What a great Valentines Day treat? Or just a weekend rendezvous!! It's way more trendy than I am... and a little too expensive for us - but, I feel like it would be such a fun, dreamy treat!

I must admit that LA does have a lot to offer - especially variety. From food to attractions to entertainment to shops, literally everything is here. Since Robert only has 3ish semesters left in seminary I figured I should start living LA to the fullest (or at least start checking it out)! So, I'm adding to my amazing places to vacation/staycation in LA. The Figueroa Hotel looks like so much fun!


The atmosphere seems really chill and it's so beautiful! It's right by the Staples Center and LA Live, yet it seems so secluded and romantic! What a fun find!

FYI

It's FEBRUARY!!!!

So, I am LOVING Choosing Gratitude! Robert brought it home for me last night and I read the first thirty pages...I can already tell it's going to be amazing - and so convicting! I wrote out a few quotes on 3x5 cards to put up at my desk at work, but forgot them on my night stand. I'll share them when I bring them tomorrow, hopefully!

But, on another note - John MacArthur will be speaking at Liberty University next Friday, Feb. 11! I am shocked, so excited, and bummed I won't be there. But, for those of you still in that woderful Burg, DON'T MISS IT!

Secondly, I was thinking that as I was recommending these books, I'd also like to let everyone know that if you have a ".edu" email address you can sign up on Amazon and qualify for free 2-day shipping! That is such a good deal! I am way more inclined to on-line shop when free shipping is in the mix!! (Speaking of free shipping check out this fun website - ASOS. I think the jewelry and sale section is pretty bomb!)

Lastly, I'd like to recommend another book, When Sinners Say "I Do". When Sinners Say "I Do" is about the blessed gift of marriage between two sinners - which every marriage is. Now, I'm still newly married and pretty much think Robert is the bees knees! But this book was so helpful for me in seeing the sin in my life and how that affects my marriage. It has also been key in forming a godly perspective on forgiveness and "absorbing the cost" - you have to read the book to find out all about what that means! I went through this book with Mrs. Busenitz (a wonderfully godly woman, wife of Dr. Irv Busenitz and mother of Dr. Nate Busenitz from the Master's Seminary!) after I joined HS Staff and couldn't do SemWives anymore. Our time together, coupled with Dave Harvey's wise words really cemented the importance and impact of When Sinners Say "I Do"!

i love book?!!

So several months ago I was on a huge reading kick...I'm getting ready to start another one, hopefully - beginning with the book Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Lee DeMoss! It has been highly recommended to me, and I'm planning to start reading it this week.

But, several months ago I read a few great books that I'd like to highly recommend. Today, I'm promoting Comforts from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick.



Comforts from the Cross is such a great book - ENCOURAGING and CONVICTING and SO COMFORTING! It really blessed me, and was especially pertinent for the time I read it. The Lord is so kind! Also, it's so easy to read, because it's set up as a daily devotional. There are thirty-one "chapters," about five pages each. I read one each morning and it was wonderful! Comforts from the Cross is literally one of the best books I've ever read. In fact, I think I'll read through it again this March!

Thanks Amanda!

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to Amanda Taylor for helping me learn how to update my blog a little bit :)

I'm so thankful that I get to work with Amanda! She's such a wonderful friend!!

is late really better than never?

If so, then please enjoy these pictures :)




This summer, the wonderful Manfredi brothers took their awesome sister Erin on a cross-country trip before she went off to Hong Kong. Well, Erin is a professionaly, top-notch photographer. So anyway, when she was here, she took a few pics of us just hanging out at the beach. I thought I'd share a few :)

Isn't it a blessing to have talented friends!! And don't you love Robert's curly hair?!

Timing...

You know when you pray for the Lord's timing, His will...for His glory, but secretly you assume He will still graciously give you what you want when you want it. I did that/I've been doing that and have just been realizing it through the last few weeks. Isn't God so good to be so patient with us?

I just wanted to give that little update. I also hope to be posting some Christmas pictures soon...if I can get internet somewhere long enough. Ok. peace out :)