Congratulations, Husband!!

Last Sunday, May 13, my amazing husband, Robert Wauhop, graduated from the Master's Seminary with his MDiv (Masters of Divinity)!  This was a day that we had been excitedly anticipating since, well, since we've been married... maybe even before that!  That's when our seminary journey started - less than a month after our wedding we headed out in the good old Lexus, made the drive across the country, and arrived here, at the Master's Seminary!  Three years later I hear these glorious words: "Robert Wauhop, Summa Cum Laude!"  That's right, Summa Cum Laude - "with highest honor!" That title is rewarded to those with a GPA of 3.9-4.0...basically he's a genius graduating with a 3.96 (while doing ministry, hanging out with his wife and daughter, and working)!  I can't tell you how excited I was to hear Dr. Mayhue call his name and to see him walk across that stage - and when it happened I was NOT disappointed!  It was such a proud moment and I am so filled with gratitude.

The Lord has provided for Robert and I so faithfully, perfectly, and abundantly throughout our three years in seminary!  We've lived in three totally different, fun places: Castaic, North Hollywood, and now Montrose!  We've been so blessed to serve on the Grace Community Church high school staff for most of our time here, and we LOVE it - our kids and the staff, who are our best friends!  And the best most significant "accomplishment" during our time here is the blessing of our beautiful baby girl!  We're parents!  I still can't believe it sometimes.  Maggie is an amazing addition to our family; we are so crazy about her beautiful face and super fun little personality!  I am extremely thankful and blessed beyond measure!  Above and beyond what we have asked and far far more than we deserve, thank You, Lord!

So, what's next for the Wauhops?  It is official - we are staying here in California while Robert gets his ThM.  And honestly, I'm excited about that!  And honestly, again, I was not so much at first...but it has become really obvious that this is what the Lord has for us.  And bonus, we have a wonderful church, great friends and neighbors - and each other, which is all I need to be happy!  So basically, the ThM is a Masters in theology, which will enable him to teach at a collegiate level and maybe even in a seminary.  He should be done with this degree by January.  After that, we will go to a church...somewhere...hopefully...!  We had some other plans that didn't end up working out, and that is ok, because the Lord is in control.  He didn't call us to this task of seminary and sacrifice to leave us stranded.  So, we are super excited about our future, and fully enjoying each day along the way!  

I am so thankful for you, Robert; for the countless hours of hard work, for the thousands of pages written, the scores of thousands, maybe even millions, of pages read, the late nights, the prayer, the dedication, the sacrifice, the leadership...well done, good and faithful husband!  Enjoy the fruit of your labor.  I love you!!

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." 2 Tim. 4:1-2 

 

A Beautiful Saturday

Life has been BUSY lately!  Most recently my amazing husband graduated from Seminary with his M.Div. (don't worry, i will be singing his praises in my next blog!), family was in town from NoVa, Maggie turned 6 months (yet another blog to come), and of course just living the high profile, high energy Wauhop life - you know what they say, work hard, play hard ;) and we do!

But seriously, we had SO much fun this weekend at the gorgeous Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills!! (Thanks Carly Brannon for the tip!)  We brought a picnic (Chipotle) lunch - yum!  It turned out there was no "picnicking" allowed, nor the throwing or catching of balls, and a few other random things.  But it was an absolutely gorgeous and FREE activity!  Even the drive down was super fun, (we took the 2 to the 134 to the 101 and got off on Coldwater Canyon and followed that down most of the way) very scenic - the secluded Beverly Hills!  Here are few of my favorite pics from the day.  Enjoy!

Handsomest Hubby/Daddy I've ever seen!!

My two most favorite people!!  Love their big, beautiful blue eyes!

Maggie loves giving kisses...big, wet, slobbery ones...all the time!!

and a few of the place, itself...

Thank you, Lord, for your beautiful creation, a super fun day in the sun, and an amazing family to enjoy your graces with!!!  We are so blessed!!

Faith & Hope

(I think that is the name of an old TV show with Kelly Ripa...but that is not the topic at hand today.)

This is actually something I've been thinking about lately as I've been studying 1 Peter and I wanted to share...(from the MacArthur commentary on 1 Peter).

"Faith and hope are the two-fold blessings of redemption in God.  Faith enables believers to trust God for necessary grace in the midst of life's present circumstances, struggles, and anxieties (5:7, Ps. 5:11, 31:1, 37:5, 56:11, Prov. 29:25, Isa 26:3, Nah. 1:7, Phil. 4:6), and hope enables belief in future grace to be revealed for them in heavenly glory (Ps. 146:5, Acts 23:6, 24:15, Rom. 5:2, 8:18-25, Gal. 5:5, Titus 2:13, Heb. 6:11, 15)."


So maybe you could think about that today, and praise the Lord!

5) The Honor of Working at Home

Titus 2:4-5 is very clear, "...so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." Yet, this seems to be interpreted so many different ways by so many believers, truly trying to please the Lord with the way they live their lives.  Being a homemaker is offensive to some, outdated to others, and to others still it is the greatest joy!  There is only one correct interpretation of this verse, and I do believe that to be that a woman's place is in the home...even a working woman with no husband or children should cultivate a love for the home.  In the short amount of time I've been a full-time stay at home wife and mom I've had many people say, "It's so nice that you can do that..."  Implying that it is a nice option I've been afforded.  Praise the Lord, He has provided for me to stay at home without greatly altering our style of living.  But my "choice" to stay home with Maggie is something that I am actually called to - not just as a seminary wife, or a future pastor's wife, but as a believer!  When family or friends see homemaking as a burden, an unnecessary sacrifice, or even to the other extreme as a luxury, it becomes all too easy to "succumb to worldly thinking rather than viewing my profession as the Bible portrays it - a high calling from God."

 

In this chapter Carolyn Mahaney writes, "What we need is a biblical perspective.  For in God's economy, homemaking is a high and noble calling...By 'working at home' we can present the gospel as attractive to unbelievers.  Our homes can actually be a showcase for the gospel!"  How awesome and daunting is that!  It is my ultimate goal, as a homemaker to create an environment for all who enter to think of Jesus Christ, to be refreshed, encouraged, and happy.  Playdates, Bible studies, recipe parties, new neighbors, friends, family, you name it - there are countless opportunities to share the gospel and encourage one another in love and good deeds in the home!  And as a wife, that's my job!  

Think back to the beginning...why was Eve created in the first place?  She was created to be Adam's helper!  "We are to be our husband's helper (Gen 1:26-31, 2:7-25; 1 Cor 11:8-9)...She is called to the work of ministering to him.  He is oriented to the task, and she is oriented to him."  God ordained it to be so in the garden!  A huge part of my glorifying God on this earth is to serve my husband, family, and home.  Careers, trends, traveling, "me time," etc. are not a part of the plan.  Nothing is wrong with many of those things, but the calling is the same for all women.  Especially as wives and mothers, our lives should be centered around our husband's and children's needs - everything else can fall into place after that. 

Some think that as a stay at home I don't get to exercise my skills or interests.  First, I'd say that I actually don't have that many marketable skills :)  And secondly, it is a true joy and "skill" to love the home and manage it excellently.  I cannot wait for the day, Lord willing, when I am that super organized, cool wife/mom who has the menu ready, the cleaning all scheduled, and the calendar worked out, helpful projects lined up, and her hair done!  Maybe I'll never get there, but that is certainly a goal to which I attain.  Since staying at home, I've found a new love of cooking (and I am going to post 3 new recipe blogs asap!  The Wauhop's have been feasting on some delicious new dishes these past few weeks!).  I get so excited each week to plan out my menu and try something new.  Ask Robert, I'm always so excited for him to get home and try whatever I've been working on that day.

Honestly, I think that I have got the BEST JOB in the whole wide world!  I mean seriously, my child is gorgeous and sweet and so much fun!  My husband is the greatest man ever and my very best friend.  My house/apartment...well, I'm on my third one in three years and although it's nothing too special, but it's our home and I'm so thankful for it!  So much joy can be found in working at home.  Working at home is hard and dirty at times, it's tiring, especially when new babies come onto the scene, but I find it to be super rewarding and fulfilling - and even fun!  Either way, though, it is what God has called me to do.  And in His will there is great joy!  So, that's what you'll find in the Wauhop household - great joy!  The saying goes, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" and I really think that is pretty true.  As the mom, I set the tone for the home.  If I begrudgingly do my chores, make the meals, attend to Maggie's schedule, etc - well, home isn't Robert's or anyone's favorite place to be.  So, if you struggle with this area, when I struggle in these areas: PRAY, BE THANKFUL, and be in the Word!  The Lord is kind to provide the grace to obey and to be delighted to do so!

Ps. 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."  

P.S. - If you still aren't convinced...listen to this sermon from Johnny Mac!

My Girl Maggie - 5 months!

One more month and my Maggie Grace will be half a year!  Half a year!  I cannot believe that she is growing up so quickly.  This past has month has been so much fun!  Life with a baby gets better and better; each month she is learning so much and it is awesome to be able to be there for ALL of it!  It is such a blessing to be a stay at home mom and hang out with my baby girl all day, every day!  We have a blast together, reading stories, going on walks, playing with toys, spitting, making silly noises, having little photo shoots, singing songs - you name it, we love it!  *Don't get me wrong, we (I) have our moments when things get frustrating...but God is SO GOOD!  And it is awesome to be being sanctified as a mommy!  What a blessing 

Maggie is to me!

So...On to the interesting things:

Maggie is talking!  She babbles and coos and gaga-goos all the time!  It is pretty much the cutest thing you've ever heard!  I am convinced she will have a scruffy, raspy little voice.  She's going to be this beautiful, little, petite, feminine thing with the voice of a smoker.  It's going to be pretty cute,  I'm sure :)

We started doing solids every day, morning and night!  Mostly just oatmeal cereal...we tried avocados and sweet potatoes (not together) once, but she didn't love them.  I think it was a little too chunky.  I mixed it by hand; I think we need to get a blender of sorts to assist in my baby food making efforts.

She is sitting up for around a minute at a time all on her own!!  So fun and scary!  I know crawling is right around the corner.  I've caught her caterpillar crawling a few times, just inching around!  Baby-proofing is coming, I guess.  I actually think my biggest need in that area will be to vacuum the insane amount of hair I lose daily (which is apparently normal) off of our floors so she doesn't eat it - GROSS! 

She was sleeping about 11 hours a night (AMAZING, thank You, Jesus!) - until the day she turned 5 months, actually, when we entered into the fun world of teething!  (I think/I hope this isn't just a new phase she's in).  Mom's any sure fire teething tricks you'd like to send my way are greatly appreciated!  I will be sad to see her priceless little toothless grin go, but a little tooth will look pretty adorable in her precious mouth!

We also started a 4 hour feeding schedule - which has been the bomb (again until the teething started, but hopefully it's just a hiccup... :) !!

Maggie had her first Easter!  She is so beautiful!  I cannot get enough of this sweet girl!!  I could just kiss her little face all day -  so I do!

22 BIG weeks!!

The happy happy Wauhop family!  We love our little Maggie!!  Thank you, Lord!

4) The Pleasure of Purity

This chapter is about yes, you guessed it, sex...and it was a great chapter!  I hesitate to write on it, but for the sake of reporting on each of the seven virtues I'll give it a go.

She begins the chapter by sharing a story:

"Several years ago at a church leadership conference, I hosted a panel of pastor's wives at a women's session.  We fielded questions on a wide variety of topics - from childrearing to counseling women in crisis situations.  Then a woman from the audience posed the question: 'What is one thing you have learned that encourages your husband the most?'  As  other women on the panel answered, I pondered my response.  I know what C.J.'s answer would be, but dare i say that?  And then it was my turn.  'Make love to him,' I blurted out.  'That's what my husband would say if he were here!'  The room erupted into a wave of nervous, knowing laughter.  It's true!"

So, although not much else needs to be said for you to get the point, I thought I'd include her outline of the chapter, each section being pretty self-explanatory:  

Sex and the Scriptures:

- It is God's Idea

- It is Fashioned for Marriage

- It is Intended for Pleasure

- It is Designed for Intimacy

- It is Created for Procreation

Sex Polluted by Sin

The Problem of Lust

A Clarion Call for Purity

- Set Our Hearts and Minds on Things Above

- Make No Provision for the Flesh

- Be Honest and Pursue Accountability

Three Principles for Grade "A" Passion

- Be Attractive

- Be Available

- Be Anticipatory 

This Morning with the Mags!

Ah! I love this girl!  She is way too cute! I'm so thankful for this happy girl!!

DON'T YOU WISH YOU WOKE UP THIS HAPPY THIS MORNING...

KICK, KICK, KICK!

Introducing...My Girl Maggie (after the fact)

So, about four months ago the sweetest and most beautiful little girl entered into this world, on November 10, 2011 my precious Maggie Grace was born!

Labor: I was induced at midnight on Wednesday the 9th.  My nurses were amazing, the hospital was freezing, and the day was long.  Around noon (after 12 hours) I got an epidural - and in my case that actually sped things up; plus, it was pretty amazing!!  Then, at 6:30ish I began to push.  At 8:27 my new love was born!

Eating, Sleeping, and Diapers: That pretty much sums up a new babies life, haha.  At first I felt like all she did was eat because she would always fall asleep while eating and it would take practically an hour for her to eat, and then in about another hour it'd be time for her to eat again! So, I a lot of Netflix...  Maggie and I spent many nights on the couch; it was so sweet and easy - there is nothing like cuddling your sweet baby, holding her in your arms for hours while you sleep.  So precious!  (I did miss my bed and my husband, though, so after a couple weeks we really started to work on sleep training.)  And, Robert was a champ and changed most of the first week diapers.  

Schedules: We did/do Babywise, and I would highly recommend checking it out.  It's basically a three hour schedule of eating, playing, and sleeping.  So, she eats - now at 8:30 or 9, 12, 3, 6, and 8).   Then plays, at first there isn't much playing, there's hardly any awake time.  But now it's so much fun.  Maggie and I read stories and play in her bouncy chair and go on walks...she's such a joy!  Then there is napping!  Praise the Lord that napping is no longer a great mystery or daily challenge for us over here!   Lastly, it's bed time - and I do love our bedtime routine.  When she eats around 6 she stays up to play until around 7:45 and then she has a bath, which she LOVES!  Then it is time for jammies with daddy, and one last feeding to send her off to sweet sleep!

Now, Maggie will be four whole months this weekend!  I seriously cannot believe it.  I love my girl SO much!  I don't know how I imagined motherhood to be...not exactly like this, I'm sure, but I am so glad that it is this way!  Maggie is beautiful and fun and joyful and amazing!!  I can't wait to see how she grows and learns and changes.  She loves reading stories and singing and she rolled over at 6 weeks - what an Einstein!  Before I know it she will be sitting up and crawling and getting more hair and sleeping 12 hours and holy cow I'm so excited, but at the same time I can't believe how much she is already growing up so quickly!!  Thank you, Lord, for the great gift of Maggie Grace Wauhop.  Robert and I are so blessed!  We love you baby girl!

February 27, #5!

Just a quick note before I head off to bed and snag a few hours of sleep... This is the fifth February 27th that I have spent in-love with Robert Charles Wauhop.  I guess the first February 27th was more of a nervous, hopeful "like," and the second was like a "well, this is the last February 27th I'll ever care about... (apart from the fact that it's my sister's birthday)"  But number 3, 4, and 5 - completely smitten!  Truly, truly, I have the world's best husband!  I cannot thank the Lord enough for the greatest earthly blessing which is marriage to this wonderful man and the life and family that we have together!  We are "fellow heir[s] of the grace of life," 1 Peter 3:7b and God is so good!  

I'm Back!!!

YAY! I'm blogging again! It's been quite a while since my last post...and, a huge new part of my life is the one to blame...my sweet Maggie Grace Wauhop! Can you believe that she will be 4 months old in just a few weeks!?! I can't! But, at the same time, i feel like she has been a part of our fabulous little family forever! I've heard that's how motherhood is, though. And it is so wonderful. Seriously, the faces she makes, the "stories" she tells, she is just the sweetest girl this earth has ever seen and Robert and i are so in love with her!!

So, my plan so that I don't get too overwhelmed, but am still connected to the blogging world and the 3 people who read this (don't give up on me kristen!) is: 1. to share new and delicious recipes that i am trying (i told Robert that i'm going to make at least one new thing every week [thank you pintrest - making better wives and moms everywhere, haha!]) - that's the easy blog. 2. Maggie's Mom posts, aka things i love about being the cutest girl ever's mom! these should include pictures and milestones and maybe videos if i can ever figure out how to upload all of the adorable things that she does onto my ancient computer. and 3. just things that the Lord is teaching me, encouraging stuff, and updates on our life - seminary, graduating in May, future plans, etc?! So, with that being said, I do want to just share this link to an awesome sermon by our pastor JMac that was super encouraging as a stay-at-home mommy! It's so good to know that you are doing the Lord's will for your life and loving it! God is so kind to make our desires His desires and to give us such joy, peace, and grace! Thank you, Lord! And, please listen to this sermon if you get the chance :)

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!!