Friendship Baptist voted...

YES!  Wow, who would have thought?!

Matt is now Friendship Baptist Church's Interim Pastor.

We are both excited to be able to help this small church until they find a pastor.   Yesterday, they were a total of 25 people during the morning service including my family.  A few weren't there that morning.  Remember, I mentioned that two churches drop our support? Well, unbelievable...God gave it back through Friendship Baptist Church!  What's crazy is that... it's double from the two churches we've lost!   I'll never understand why we've lost our two supporting churches but I do know one thing... God is faithful!  To make things a bit clear, Friendship Baptist gives love offerings to their guest speaker every time someone comes to preach.

We are now going to be busy busy busy.

I apologize for this short post. Last Monday, I just started learning to make jewelry at Hobby Lobby.  I want to be able to make my own. It cost a lot for the ones I like, you know?  Anyway, I go every Monday nights from 6-8pm.  I could never have done this without a babysitter.  The cool thing is the class only costed me $25.00 and the rest of the time I just show up every Mondays until December. Of course, bring my own materials. The day I started I've been finding materials at 50% off! Affordable. I give thanks!    

Bear with me, as I am still in progress potty training Joanna. She's been having a lot of accidents and not saying anything to us. Still working on that. Patience. Patience.

Friendship Baptist Church voting tomorrow

We'll find out tomorrow if Friendship Baptist Church wants Matt to be their Interim Pastor. I really don't know what they'll decide on. Tomorrow we'll find out... in the meantime, Matt and I decided that we are still going to have the baby here in Austin no matter the outcome.  After the baby is born, if all fails, we'll seek a church in need elsewhere.

This week, I started potty training Joanna. It's no easy task. The first two days were not successful. However, the third day, she has informed us that she needed to go to the restroom but she didn't make it in time then again a few hours later she made it.  The next few days, it's been so-so. I have to be patience and be reminded that's she is just learning.  Overnight, she wears pull-ups and there were no accidents the last two days. One day, she told grandma, "we gotta run." Grandma was puzzled. Then Joanna said, "we gotta run to the potty." Off grandma went to help her. Pretty neat that she's letting us know other times she forgets.  Patience. I know. All in all, I expected the accidents to happen and yet I am proud of her. 

I was supposed upload my baby shower pictures but I lost track of time and got busy.  I went through some of Joanna's and Peter's baby clothes and got rid of a few that I no longer needed but kept most of them for the baby.

Also last night, I was cleaning out my laptop to make rooms for a video program. I also replaced my battery now I don't have to charge it every 30 minutes or less. It was that bad.  Anyway, I need to get back at it posting pictures. I don't want to say when because I kept saying the same thing...so hopefully I can take care of that soon. 

I've been pretty spoiled lately. Why? Because I was able to go shopping on my own without my children and used Peter's and Joanna's baby gift cards that I have saved since their baby showers. Yep, that's right.  That's how long it's been!  (Not to mention that the gift cards given to us for baby Andrew, thanks so much to FH@MV!) I'm very grateful. It's been a blessing to be able to buy them something. I got some sippy cups, LeapFrog Reader to help them learn to read and write, shoes, clothes, and ABC blocks to help Peter learn his alphabets. It's amazing how Peter just started to repeat words and letters after I showed him using those blocks. I'll have to videotaped it so you can see for yourself. 

You know? It's really nice to have a break every once in a while. I'm thankful for grandparents. I've missed being able to go out and shop alone. I enjoyed myself.  I'm guessing grandma and grandpa are also enjoying their quality time with their grand babies.  I'm just grabbing and taking advantage of this opportunity before it all changed.  You know?

Pray for us as we just found out another church dropped our support. So far, two churches.  It is discouraging but I know that God is in control. Matt was down too when he found out because he doesn't know the reason why, there were no reason other than it's because we've changed ministry. Just so you know, Matt is never worried about money. Strange thing is, I am. I shouldn't and I know that. Do I ever get discouraged? Sure. Who doesn't?  I'll just keep trusting my Lord.  

You'll be hearing from me again soon. I'll be posting about tomorrow's vote. I'll tell you this. I don't know what they'll decide on. It could be they'll want us or they don't. I might get discouraged again but then again I might not. I've been through the valley before and if I have to go through that again, then so be it.  God knows.

Well, I have to get going now. I am going to make some short bread again for tomorrow. Matt and I will rise and shine early to set up the table and all before church members show. Then I'll head back home and get ready then back to church.

Anyway...if you ever think of us, please keep us in prayers.  God is able, He is faithful!  

Made it safely

I know I know... but here I am! Hooray for internet access! I'm back to blogging, checking emails and all. Whoo hoo!

Long story short. We left Snellville, GA on October 7th. We took a three day road trip back to Texas. Stopped in Mississippi and Louisiana for the night at an RV park. Noticed with two small children it is hard for us to drive over 6 hours. We've drove 14 hours before and the kids were just... MISERABLE. I don't blame them at all. So, hence the 3 days trip.

Funny, as we've crossed the Texas border, Matt felt like we're almost home. I don't know why but my mind at the time must have been programmed differently. I didn't even felt like we left Georgia. I guess living in Georgia for a year does that to me. Yesterday, was different because I didn't see everyone that I am used to seeing. It finally dawned on me that I am no longer there. I sure do my my sweet Georgian friends at Forrest Hills! I am at the start of readjusting...

I haven't been able to settled in completely yet but I'm getting there. This past Saturday, I was busy baking and cooking for Friendship Baptist Sunday's Potluck. I've baked carrot cake, pecan pies, shortbreads, then I put together two different crock pot meals. Three are recipes that came from friends at Forrest Hills. Thanks! Did I not tell you... I got heartburns from my own cooking! I haven't had any throughout this pregnancy until yesterday! Ugh. Matt told me to drink some milk. I don't know if it helped or not. Maybe for a few minutes then it came back. Off and on.

Anyway, Matt preached. Next, we had Potluck then a short afternoon service afterwards. Again, it was different for me because I wasn't at Forrest Hills but I sure did had a good fellowship with Friendship Baptist. Just to give you insight, we meet at a clubhouse because they don't have a church building of their own yet. You can look at a picture of the building we are meeting through their website (still in progress). It is http://friendshipbaptistchurchofaustin.com/

Hopefully, I'll remember to take pictures to share with you to give you a better view. Well, I better get some of my other pictures uploaded on here. One of them is from my baby shower at Forrest Hills. I'm hoping to upload them today.

Fall Family Cookout

Enjoyed great food and fellowship with my Forrest Hills @ Mountain View Baptist Church friends!  I love them!

 It was hard for me to social with anyone for a few minutes because my kids needed my attention. I just can't let them wander off, you know? Matt ended up helping Tim fried some onions, pickles, and jalapenos.  I thought he was going to help move a chair or something and then come back and help me watch the kids... nope.  Thankfully, a few people helped every now and then. By the time everyone was done eating, Matt was able to watch the kids so that I can finish up my meal and social a little bit before heading home. I appreciate his thoughtfulness.

I wanted to take some pictures of the Fall Family Cookout.... just because.

Taken after morning service...

... my babies have grown! I have posted this on Facebook and a brother in Christ told me to enjoy them because time flies. Trust me, I know! I blinked and POOF! I think I understand by fast forwarding what others have to say about their children. To me, I don't have to wait until they are teenagers and adults to understand. I simply go by.. well, they are no longer newborn babies, you know what I mean? I used to held them when they were helpless. Now they are both sort of independent by walking and talking. You get it, don't you?

I have a couple of more pictures to post. Be on the lookout. Just a reminder, if I take a while to post on here, I've been busy.

Here's a few news... we are no longer a part of Cornerstone Baptist Builders. We have changed ministries. We are excited to see what God has in store for us. Next month will mark a whole year that we've been on this building project at Forrest Hills at Mountain View Baptist Church. Craziness, right? We grew to love the people here. The church is going to have a baby shower for me on September 29th. They even announced to give only gift cards, not gifts. I think it's because they are afraid nothing will fit in our small 5th wheel home and that gift cards will give me the options to pick what the baby needs. Not a bad idea. What do you think? Oh and guess what else is happening on that same day? Yep, Joanna's birthday! They'll even celebrate her birthday, that's what I am told. So, we'll see! One of the ladies offered to make Joanna's cake. She did my birthday cake and I loved it! I don't know if Joanna's cake will actually be a cake or something different like... cupcakes with dolls? Not sure but who cares?! She'll get a cake and a Cinderella barbie! I think I heard her say that. Pardon me if I heard wrong. Well, it is 1 in the morning and I need to get some beauty sleep. BUT I'll try and finish up my other pictures and post it. I haven't been doing too good with my pregnancy photos either. I did take some so I'll share those too. If you look at me from the front, it is hard to see my baby bump. From the back, you'll never know I'm pregnant. It's only when I turn sideways that you'll actually see how GIGANTIC I am! haha

Okay enough for now... toodles!

Disappointed

I'm very disappointed in myself lately. I've failed my children. Well, I say that now because I saw what looks like a cavity in one of Joanna's teeth (bottom back right tooth). I thought maybe it was from the Tootsie Roll lollipop that I gave her. Nope, because I have been brushing it hard for 2 weeks and the color brown is still there. I'm so mad at myself. I don't give her a lollipop anymore. Instead I give her candies that are soft and chewy. Even though she always asked for a lollipop, I've ignored her and give her something else instead. She isn't even 3 years old yet! You see why I am mad at myself?? Anyway, we have already set an appointment this month to get her tooth taken care of.

And today, Peter had his 18 month check-up and vaccination shots. (although he is now 19 months.) Everything is good except his private part. The thing that bothers me is that he might have to get circumcise again. The doctor said his foreskin is starting to close. Sighs. She did prescribed us with a cream and suggest we try that first. If not then schedule him to get re-circumcise.

I felt like I didn't do much to prevent either one of those things. If only I brushed her teeth very well and if only I'd cleaned him and pulled his skin back correctly... if only, if only... Please, pray for me. I don't feel like I did such a good job and I blamed no one but myself. I admit going through this helps me to take better care of my babies and that's what I want to do. I will try to do my very best. I just love them too much.

Not only that, it doesn't help when they mentioned about my third baby still having a little extra fluid in the brain. I know that God is in control and that He will take care of my precious little one inside of me.

I could use a lot of prayers right now. Thank you.

July 2013 Photo Album

I'm always a bit late but here are a few pictures I haven't shared.  I already shared the diaper box picture but then you'll see that Joanna and Peter are laying down next to eat other watching a movie.  The rest is when we were invited to a friend's cookout here in Georgia. They had the teens come over too after they just got back from Teen Conference in Tennessee.