We’ve been staying pretty busy around here. We’re all pretty much better, just a little bit of a stuffy nose, but not in bed sick all day anymore, so that’s great! Last weekend David, Adrienne, Noah and Addison came up for a visit. We had a great time going out to eat, which was  a bit crazy with 3 kids and 4 adults. Restaurants aren’t really made for children. We spent most of the time inside from the dreary weather, but were able to get a nice walk in on Sunday after church. It is so much fun to get Hannah and Addison together with them being 3 months apart (exactly) and see the differences in their developments. It’s going to be so much fun to watch them grow up!

Tim and I have been trading places this last week with me working as a temp at the church while they look to hire a new secretary. To make that work a little better Tim will go to his meetings in the mornings, and then on the days I need to go work, he would come home and work here while taking care of Hannah. It feels like this week has been pretty long, but I have really enjoyed getting out of the house and around adults, and make a little bit of income to help us out.

Today we got a good snow storm. When I went to the church this morning it was raining, and all I needed was a light jacket. By the time I went home for the day the snow was coming down hard and I wish I had my heavy coat. Despite the snow, Tim and I had to get back out to go open a local checking account. We’ve been using our bank down in TX, but having to mail our checks in is a hassle, and we end up waiting longer than we should.

And…my most exciting news…. Southwest Airlines was having a great sale this last week, so Tim and I were able to purchase tickets to go to Texas in February! We haven’t used up any of his vacation days, and they start over February 18th, so we needed to use them, and figured February will be a great time ’cause we’ll more than likely be ready for a break from all the snow and cold temperatures. I’m super excited to take Hannah to Texas and let my parents show her off to people down there.

I took photage of Hannah to make a video, but Tim got to it first. So here’s his video. I’ll have to get more of Hannah later.

Tim, Hannah and I have all been feeling bad lately. I think Hannah got sick first, then me and now Tim. Yesterday I was feeling the worst, running a fever a couple times, and now today Tim has been in bed all day. I’m hoping I’ll continue to feel better even though I’ve been holding down the house today and haven’t fit in a nap. God is looking out for us though, and we have had 2 offers of people bringing us soup by. Such a blessing! So now we’ll be good for a couple meals while we recover. Hannah has been a joy to have around with her sweet voice and smiles to cheer us up.

Our pastor started a great sermon series called False Sexpectations. This past Sunday was the first of the series, and he taught about homosexuality, starting with the changes that happened in the Lutheran church this summer, which really moved him to preach this series. I think that was very important to touch on since we have more Lutheran churches in our area than any other denomination.

Scriptures used: Romans 1:25-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Notes:

We must give God’s message to homosexuals. (We are called to give God’s message to everyone.)

Homosexual practice (not preference or feeling) is sin and is not to be participated in by anyone.

Love like Christ and remind them that change is possible. (God loves homosexuals and will equip them to change.) Change: to resist, the desire may still be there, but you can be freed from the life style.

Churches have a history of communicating that homosexuality is a worst sin than any other. But, people have an easier time controlling sexual feelings than controlling their tongues from gossip.

2 things than can change in everyone: 1-What we believe, and 2-How we behave. #1 effects #2

You can listen to or watch the sermon here.

I was most excited to hear this sermon because I am proud of our pastor for being bold and preaching on something that most churches will tip-toe around. Although the sermon was on homosexuality, I was very convicted by my own actions and lack of grace in my heart. I look up to Tim for how forgiving he is and how much grace he has for others. That is an area that I have a lot of work to do in. When Pastor John said that “people have an easier time controlling sexual feelings than controlling their tongues from gossip” it really opened my eyes. Gossip is such an easy sin to get tangled in, especially when frustrated with something, or wanting to make myself feel like I’m better than someone. Over the years I have gotten better at not falling into gossip as much, but it is tough. I know if I keep on playing something over and over in my head out of frustration, I don’t need to let it out and tell others. I need to turn to God, and get rid of it.

Another part of the sermon that stuck out to me was when Pastor John talked about changing in a way that you resist the life style, that the desire may still be there, but you can be freed from the life style. That reminded me of my first 2 years in college. I got into the party scene my 2nd semester of my freshman year, was able to resist the drinking the first semester of my sophomore year, but then was right back into it 2nd semester. In order to free myself from that life style I had to transfer schools because I was not strong enough to resist in that atmosphere. God has completely blessed me for that decision with my wonderful husband, baby and family and friends surrounding me, also mending relationship from my first 2 years of college. I haven’t had any alcohol in over 6 years, although the desire has still been there, but I know it would take me down another messy path if I even so much had one drink. But I am very excited to say that last month was the first time I was turned off by just looking at a wine cooler at the grocery store. Before I would see it and would fantasize of the taste of it and would be frustrated with myself. But now God has taken even that desire away.

To end the service we sang Grace Flows Down:

Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
Amazing Love
Now flowing down
From hands and feet
That were nailed to the tree
As Grace flows down and covers me
It covers me
It covers me
It covers me
And covers me

I have sung that song many times, but this time it really touched me. God has given me immeasurable amounts of grace, and I should do the same to others, but haven’t. So that has been my prayer this week, that God will give me a heart full of grace for others, like he has done for me.

Tim and I were playing around with www.blabberize.com Enjoy!

Hannah had her 2 month check-up since she turned 2 months yesterday. We got to do the fun weight and height measurement, and then came the not fun immunizations. Hannah was in such a good mood for the first part, then while waiting for her shots she started getting tired and hungry, but I made her hold off to eat until after her shots, knowing she would want the comfort. The doctor’s office got new computers so we had to wait a little longer for her shots, and by the time the nurse came back in Hannah was already putting herself to sleep sucking on her pacifier. She had to take some type of oral medicine first, which she really liked, and then came the surprise of the shots. She looked shocked at first then let out a terrible scream and turned bright red. I handled it better than I thought, which was good, but felt so bad for her. Tim was unable to go because he had a meeting that got planned two days in advanced. I was really hoping he would be there to comfort me too, but God had everything planned out. Before the appointment I got to see two ladies from church and one of our youth. And then when the appointment was over I saw two more ladies from church. God knew about the meeting Tim would have, and knew to send these special ladies for me, surrounding Hannah’s appointment.

I had Hannah’s bottle ready for her to eat after the shots, and she quickly ate her 4 oz bottle, and cried for more. Luckily I thought ahead and had an extra 2 oz of formula to give her, which was just enough. Hannah fell right to sleep (which the picture above is from), and we went home. Tim was home to welcome her and get Hannah out of her car seat and in to her crib. Hannah woke up in the process and gave her Daddy some of the sweetest smiles ever.

Our little girl is 11 pounds and 2 ounces now, 23 inches long and her head circumference is 15.5 inches. She is in the 50% for weight, and length and head I get mixed up, one is 70% and the other 75%.

Well, my MacBook was fried. Tim and I had a joint hand in doing it. Tim was handing Hannah over to me to feed, and while laying her on the pillow in my lap she started rolling off and we both went to catch her, and in the process my water cup got knocked over and into the keyboard in my MacBook. Hopefully Apple will start making them waterproof, that would be nice! We don’t have the money to buy another one, we got mine for free from the money Tim made on the referral website he does. So now we’re attempting to be a one computer family. Tim has his MacBook for church, so that helps if we both want/need to be on the computer at the same time, like now. We went down to visit Tim’s brother and family this weekend and went to a mall near Minneapolis to take my MacBook and get the Apple store people to look at it. We didn’t know you have to set an appointment, so we left my MacBook there to get looked at and they called Tim yesterday letting him know it’d cost about $700 to fix it, but for just a couple hundred more we could get a brand new one. We still need to go pick it up, probably this next weekend, and I’m not sure what we’ll do with it, maybe sell it for the parts? I don’t know. I guess we just will have to learn how to share a computer. This will probably be good practice for when Tim’s car dies. We’ve talked about trying to see how we can get by with just one car, and I think we’re in the ideal town to do it because our town is so small. It’ll be more inconvenient, but doable.

I have been pretty good at updating pictures of Hannah on Facebook, but for those of you not on Facebook, I will be updating our online photo album, so you can click on the photo link at the top of my blog and see the pictures. Check back soon for pictures!