Seasons........they do change

For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace

A conversation with a friend yesterday made me think about seasons. She just had a new sweet baby, and was reflecting on the difficulty of having a newborn (getting up every hour at night, etc.) especially while having a toddler as well.

I immediately thought about seasons. Not only have I (as well as everyone) walked through many “seasons” in life, but I am also constantly reminded by my best friend that “This is just a season” when I lament over the difficult times right now being in school with the baby, etc.

I decided to do a scripture search on the topic—and this is part of what I found (paraphrased)

Exciting, fun, new seasons 12/10/08

Psalm 1:1-3 --you are blessed when you walk in the ways of the Lord--meditating on His truths all day.  You will be like a tree--always watered--and bearing fruit in season. 

All trees bear fruit in season.  Even nature has seasons for producing fruits and flowers.  Why should we expect that our lives would produce the same "fruits and flowers" all year round.  Part of my discouragement is the pressure I place on myself to "produce" certain characteristics etc. at all times.

A season of CHAOS (Gustov 9/1/08)

Life definitely has seasons.  I'm learning to embrace each one for what it holds--both good and bad.  Some are learning seasons, some are resting seasons, and some are down right confusing.  But all in all--walking through them with the right attitude makes me into a better person.  I think recognizing that it is different season is one of the most important parts of coping and dealing with the change/situation.  Embrace it.  Learn from it.  It will change.  Seasons.......they do change.....eventually :)

How have you dealt with changing seasons?  What have you learned?

Galatians 6:9  Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

A season of stability, quiet :)

Speechless

Well, for those of you who know me.....I'm rarely speechless!  Brett tells me I'm "passionate" when I get excited about some topic and ramble on.  I have (on occasion) been passionate--and I like it ;)

Her new ducky tub

Anyway--I had oral surgery one week ago--which has had me somewhat "speechless."  It just plain hurts to talk....even after a week--I'm not myself.  Can't wait for this to heal up.  One step closer to getting the braces off, though!

And a big thanks and big hugs to my friend who read my last blog post and brought over food!!  You are a dear.  The chili was wonderful, and the potatoes were perfect for my sore mouth!!  My husband is grateful--because over the last 4 days--all he has had is chili :)

Smiling at Daddy!

Just thought I'd post some fun pics of my baby girl for you to enjoy--because you can't have her in person ;)

11 + 2 = 575.26

Yes--I really do know how to add.  That is the 11 books I ordered off of Amazon and thankfully the 2 I owned already--for a total of 13 books for this semester totally $575.26!!  Yikes!

See even Lydia looked at my books and cried ;)

It's going to be a challenging semester.  I am looking forward to this semester as I start clinicals and begin focusing on the "practice" side of being a Nurse Practitioner.  I actually do enjoy studying, but it is a difficult program.  I'm open to any help :)  I'll take meals and babysitting offers any day :)

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Meet Ellie!

Lydia has a fascination with straps.  I'm not sure if all babies do--but she will chew on any strap she can get her hands on.  Car seat straps, high chair straps, swing and bouncy straps.  She loves them!  Some times she is so enthralled by the high chair straps that I have a difficult time feeding her.

Soooo I remembered seeing some "strap" material (which is called webbing) at Hobby Lobby.  So Tuesday night I packed my little one up and we headed there to get some colorful webbing.

Ellie and the ball I made (Lydia was not very interested in it, though :)

I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the webbing after I brought it home, but after digging around in my scrap bags and sewing desk drawers.....Ellie was born!  Lydia loves her!  She will chew on her for 30 minutes at a time while playing with her "pig tails"  and the various textures of her "skirts."

Holding Ellie and her favorite blanket before nap time

Alas, one of my final creative outlets prior to school starting.....tomorrow (or rather today--since it is almost 1 a.m.)  She is a very unique little doll . . . unique and original like my Lydia.

A sneek peek of the other project I'm working on ;)  No webbing here!

I'm done!

Done with my CEN and homemade baby food!

I finally took my Certified Emergency Nursing Exam Monay--and PASSED!!  I have been "planning" to take this for about 2 years now (wow--has it really been that long??).  I decided that if I didn't do it between semesters--it would never get done.  So--why take it?  Well--you learn some things by studying, shows professionalism, and.....you make a little more money.  And right now....a little more....goes a long way!

What you see:  butternut Squash, peaches, avocado chicken, figs, apples, banana mango

I'm also finished with making baby food.  Wednesday night I made chicken/apples, chicken/potatoes, and more sweet potatoes.  Last week it was mango/banana, kiwi/mango/banana--yum, and avocado/chicken/mango.  Can you tell I had a case of mangos!  Well--besides starting school on Monday--and not having much time to make any more--I also have no more room in my freezer.  We have more food for Lydia than we can fit.  Besides--I think I have enough to last a couple of months--and then she'll start eating more finger foods anyway (I think).

Carrots, more peaches, pears, kiwi/mango/banana, and behind this are the yogurt fruit blends :) (and chicken/potatoes and sweet potatoes in the ice trays!

I say I'm done....but I know I may feel the need to experiment with other foods one day (like fish :)

My gentle Giant

My neice came for a quick visit this summer.  Neither one of us had seen each other's babies.  This is baby Johnathan with Lydia. The ironic thing--is Johnathan is 1.5 months OLDER than Lydia! :)

He was born prematurely at 1 pound 9 ounces!  What an amazing miracle.  He has done so well--and his Moma takes very good care of him!  One day--I'm sure he will catch up with Lydia--until then--we'll keep them out of the boxing ring ;)

Where or where did the last month go?

Wow--one month since my last post.  I have actually gotten much better at blogging, but this past month--life was a little like a hurricane.

I finished a summer semester packed with 6 hours of graduate school, unending research, and a video project that stole many hours of sleep from me!  Thankfully--Grandma came to the rescue one week--to help out!  Lydia loves Grandma!

I have finally, thank the Lord, overcome a cold/allergic exacerbation that lasted 2 months!  I am no longer over-dosing on antihistamines of every shape, name, and size.

Immediately after school was over, we became (miraculously) owners of a rental property.  So that entailed late night cleaning (hauling Lydia with blankets, toys, and bottles), early morning cleaning (once again hauling lydia with blankets, toys, bottles, etc), completing the punch list, devising a lease, etc. etc. etc. Phew....glad that's over.  We have been blessed with wonderfully renters already!

We also drove to Dallas to visit friends and Brett's cousins.  Lydia had her first road trip.  She did great!  We swam, went to the Dallas World Aquarium, and ate great food (thanks to John!).  The temperature was 103-105 degrees (without the heat index)--so the zoo trip and the hiking I wanted to do with Lydia--was OUT of the picture :(  Thankfully the Aquarium was indoors!

Currently, I'm studying for my certification exam in ER nursing (CEN)--which I will take before I start school again on the 23rd! Wow--life is busy, the emotions sometimes run rampant, but I have a wonderful little girl who makes me smile every day, and a very supportive husband!  Thank you, Lord, for my many blessings!