Yesterday we had a special celebration with a group of close friends and family as we dedicated Asher's life to Christ. I love how intimate and personal the dedications are at our church, and the special meaning behind them. Sharing our babies with our community and church is such a blessing. Hoping that they learn about Jesus and grow up to be men of God is one of my biggest prayers, and I know that our church will help us in that task. We have already learned so much from the teaching, and the community we have made at Grace, that has helped us in this journey of parenthood. I'm so excited about the future that our children will have their also. 

We finally made it to church for the first time since Asher was born and it was wonderful. We wanted to go last week but it was one of those cold rainy days, and I wasn't feeling 100%, so it didn't happen. But, this week was different. I was beyond ready to get back and worship. I've missed it terribly. Asher was so great during the entire service. The songs we sang after the wonderful sermon were so good for my heart. It was so special to wear my new sleeping baby as I swayed back and forth and  sang to the Lord. Having his dedication after church was just the icing on the cake for me. It was such a good morning!

Some of our sweet community group! It was so special to have four babies to celebrate together. 

This picture means so much to me. All of those close to us, surrounding us in prayer and support for our baby boy. The person to the left is my mother in law and the person to the right is my mom. It really is special to have the two most important women in our life always praying with us and helping us love our babies. Such a huge blessing, and we are so thankful! Thank you all who came to help us love and celebrate Asher. I pray that he does big things for our Father and His Kingdom one day!!

community.

We feel so fortunate to have our community group from our church for the past few years. We are also thankful that we haven't had to break up yet. It's so amazing when God puts people in your life that can speak truth and be honest with you. When we joined our group we were engaged and almost married. Since then we have changed so many moments of growth together. Actual growth with babies being born, and heart growth during hard times. Having these people around to lean on, and enjoy fellowship, makes everything sweeter. During the summer months off without weekly meetings, we try and get together once a month. We were excited to visit the "Batson Farm" over the weekend!! 

we totally snapped the hammock after this picture when I asked Peter to sit with us... he thought it was a bad idea, ooops! 

Since our group doesn't normally meet with the kids around, it's always so fun to see how much they have grown and watch them play together when they get the chance! 

so, so thankful!!! 

working on work.

I truly believe that motherhood is just an awesome way to teach you how to eat your words. A wonderful way of teaching you that you are not in control. I'm thankful everyday that my heart truly knows who is in control. Jesus gives me patience, and when I lose that patience, He gives me grace. I pray so often that my mothering can mirror His love for me. Patience, Grace, Understanding & Love. 

We have been working through the book of Ephesians at our church for the past few months and I've really enjoyed it. A couple of weeks ago, while in chapter 6, the following verse really spoke to me.... 

Ephesians 6:7 
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 

Service is an act of worship. The work that the Lord has given me is a way for me to worship Him. Obeying enthusiastically pleases Him, and I want to please Him so badly. I'm so thankful that He has given me this family to love. I'm thankful every day that I have the opportunity to stay at home and be a mom full time. All mom's are a full time mom, but I'm glad that I can do the job at home. The pastor said something in the sermon that hit me like a ton of bricks.

 ..........the quality of our work shows the depth of our faith.

In the nights of teething when I want to lose my cool and I am aggravated and sleep deprived, that work I have to do, is given to me by the Lord. He knows I can handle it, He has given me the chance to do the work with a happy heart. Rocking and swaying with a 20+ pound baby on my chest that will scream and cry if I try and sit or lay down is work. You better believe that is work! But, it is work for Him. I was singing a song to Solomon the other night while I was experiencing the back pain and the sore arms from hours of swaying and bobbing that heavy boy on my chest. 

Holy Spirit, you are welcome here. come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for. to be overcome by Your presence, Lord. 

Service is an act of worship. Without even thinking about it, in a hard moment of motherhood when I wanted to go to sleep and not have a crying baby on my chest, I chose to worship. Looking back at it now I have tears in my eyes from living that moment. Not even aware of the motions I was taking, but letting the Holy Spirit move in that dark room. 

This season as a wife and a mom is my act of service. I have the opportunity to be an Ezer for Peter and teach Solomon about the love of Christ. It is so much more than holding hands and saying our prayers before dinner. It is in the little moments of our days and nights where I can allow myself to worship and lift up Christ to him. Showing him the reason why we are all here, to work for His kingdom. Enthusiastically working for His kingdom. 

This is one of those times when I started out writing a blog post that turned into a completely different post. I like to think that is God's way of speaking through me, when He takes control of my fingers and goes crazy with my words and my heart. I'm so thankful that I have this outlet and can freely share my heart and my Jesus this way. 

(The pictures for this post are from a sweet afternoon out in the yard when our boy was very happy outside, before the crazy night of crying and screaming.)

Solomon's Dedication.

Yesterday was such a wonderful day!! We got to dedicate our sweet boy with our family and friends supporting us. Our church is a pretty large church, we have several campuses and a lot of families with babies, so we didn't think a dedication was an option. Thankfully, our small group leader is also a pastor on staff and he told us that we could do a dedication and it would be a small ceremony with our family and friends on a Sunday afternoon. That seemed perfect to us!! Small and sweet, and we could also have it at the church downtown, where we got married two years ago. It was such a sweet day. 

One thing that Chris said several times is the main thing that I have tried to remember as a parent, this baby is not mine, he is God's. I feel like I can be the best parent possible when I remember that and live by that truth. God gave us this sweet boy so we could love him and show him the amazing love of God. We are thankful for this gift of parenthood, our little man, the family and friends that surrounded us and prayed for us, and our church community that gives us the knowledge and teaches us how to be a God centered spouse and parent! So many wonderful things to be thankful for!!

After the ceremony at the church, we invited our family and friends to come over for salad, lasagna and some delicious carrot cake (made by my sweet cousin)! It was so nice to sit and relax and enjoy those who love us and love our baby boy. It made me feel so thankful and loved!!

when you lose your bible.

A couple weeks ago I was frantically trying to find my bible before church. It had been a few weeks since we were in town to actually GO to church so I couldn't remember the last time I had it. Then it hit me, I can't remember the last time I opened my bible. What a terrible feeling for someone that used to open that bible every single day. Someone who craved it, not just doing it to check something off the list of things to do. 

The last few months have been busy. It is a busy season of change... with the summer coming up and this little man growing in my belly. My mind has been boggled with plans for the weeks ahead and slightly obsessed with the new life that will be joining us in September. Of course I have been thanking God every day for all that we have. I've been talking to Him. relying on Him, singing to Him in the car, but have I been reading His word? Nope. 

I went to the "lost and found" area at church and was so thankful to find my journal and my bible waiting on me. I was so upset the whole time I didn't know where it was because I love journaling through my bible and making notes. The thought of losing that was breaking my heart. Then I felt convicted because this really did mean I didn't have my bible for three whole weeks. How could something so precious to my heart be missing from my life for that long. It only pointed out the fact that it really wasn't so precious at all. I would like to say that conviction moved me and I read my bible every day that week, but I didn't. I still made excuses and filled my days and nights with so many things to do and my bible stayed on the kitchen island most of the week.

At church we are going through the book of James. It is a short but tough book in the bible and we are truly digging into it. I've enjoyed it a lot. A few Sundays ago we talked about judgement and how we are not called to judge other believers because that is not our place. That is God's place. We all judge, we all compare, but it is a lot easier to stop pointing fingers when He turns that finger back on yourself. He was pointing at me. He was poking that hurt spot that I haven't fixed yet. The part of me that makes excuses and doesn't take the time to read His word. I'm thankful for that.

I'm thankful for His love. I'm thankful for His grace. And I'm so thankful that it will never run out, even when I lose my bible, I can never lose Him.

His Name.

One thing that I have learned about marriage is it takes work and time. I'm not saying it isn't fun, I love the work and the time put into this relationship, but it is really easy to lose sight on the most important relationship I have. The lyrics below from Bethany Dillon's song Say Your Name hit home for me. 

i’m trying to find a moment with You, these days are speeding by

this ring gives me a new point of view, i’m a dealer in my time

& if I can make a confession, my time is torn between 

the man who has won my affection, & the God who made me

oh, it all looks different

but that doesn’t mean anything has changed

still I reach for You.... when I am afraid.... & this breath that comes from You.... helps me say Your name

I know that time is precious and that my time should be spent at His feet everyday, but it is so easy to lose touch when I have a man in front of me that needs my attention. I also know that time will only grow more full when we have this little one here. Even then I want to keep His Name at the front of my mind. Being thankful and finding His Grace for my life in every moment. 

At church on Saturday night (yes, I looooove that our church has Saturday night service!) the pastor hammered all of this in place for me. It is a funny thing when you are thinking and praying about something and then God places it all in your lap to take a look at. We are going through the book of James at church and this passage was so wonderful to hear: 

{James 1} 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 

I have to make time for His word. I have to set aside moments in my day for Him alone. I need it. I have to learn His word and do what it says, living it out. That is what I am called to do as His child. Before I am a wife, and before I am a mother, I am his child. That is the most important role in this life, the only thing that will matter in the next life with Him. 

Sweetly Twisted.

On Sunday night we had our community group over for a cookout to say goodbye to summer before our group starts meeting again in the Fall. I've missed seeing all of these wonderful people each week so much! It was so wonderful to have all the kids in our home since we never get to see them at group. Having the Sweetly Twisted yogurt truck in front of our house thanks to a couple in our group that runs this awesome business was a huge perk!!! It was a perfect summer night with a nice breeze and some tasty yogurt for dessert after our dinner.

Check out Sweetly Twisted for some delicious frozen yogurt, 

I promise you won't be disappointed....

& don't forget to LIKE their Facebook page so you can keep up with their locations!!

In The Word // Exodus 15:3

Just a Reminder // Cassie and I decided to change this link up a little so everyone can have more flexibility to write and share their hearts here with us. Instead of this being a Tuesday only link up we wanted to make sure everyone knew that you can add your link to your blog post for a full week. You can even link up old posts if you'd like. We just want to hear your hearts and grow together as Sisters in Christ! We decided to change the button also to make sure there wasn't any confusion.
Okay now on to the normal routine... what God has placed on my heart recently.

At church on Sunday morning I heard this during the teaching:
"Having a warrior God, means we are at war."

Wow, right? When I heard those words it was like all of the little pieces clicked together for me. We are at war.

War within ourselves. War with other sinners. War with other believers. War with the lost.

But, war doesn't have to be ugly. It certainly can be, and sadly most of the time, it is. Just like all things in this life, we should mirror ourselves and our actions after a perfect King.
Fighting with pure reasons and fighting for His kingdom. Learning how to fight with grace and forgiveness.

Yahweh. King of all Kings. The Lord. I'm so happy to have such a mighty Warrior on our side. Aren't you? I'm glad that we have a King that will fight for us and love us fiercely!

After the service on Sunday we sang these words.... 

Greater is the one who's in us

Greater is the one who calls our name

He will never fail

Stronger is the one within us

Stronger is the one who fights for us

He will never fail

You will never fail

For Your love endures forever

Oh Your love endures forever

Open up our eyes, surround us with Your light

Your love endures forever

Mighty is the one who's for us

Mighty is the one who's strong to save

He will make a way

You will make a way

For Your love endures forever

Oh Your love endures forever

Open up our eyes, surround us with Your light

Your love endures forever

Our God is fighting for us always

Our God is fighting for us all

Our God is fighting for us always

We are not alone, we are not alone

- Elevation Church 

He is fighting for us & we are not alone.

Amen! 

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Hands On Greenville.

Over the weekend we got to participate in HOG day with our church! When we were talking about the options as a group and traveling to Powdersville (about a 25 minute drive) came up I was interested since that is where I grew up. I didn’t move to Greenville until my sophomore year of High School so my "growing up years" was spent in Powdersville. Then I found out that we would actually be working at my elementary school! I squealed. It was exciting!! 

Once we arrived to the school to start work I had such a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. I have so many memories of this place. They may be really small and distant memories but they are still special memories. This is where I became a little girl. Where I made friends for the first time. Where I learned responsibility.

I also didn't expect to be so emotional about working at the school with Peter. I just kept thinking about little, baby Cassie and all the dreams she had when she walked the halls every day. I thought about my first crush and how I would think about meeting my Prince Charming one day. It was a little full circle kind of moment for me. It sounds cheesy and silly but it was so gratifying to return to my school after such a long time with the man that I love. The person who I will create a family with. It was fun day!

Plus, it is nice to check off my #1 task on my 101 in 1001 list!