Happy Valentines Day my friends....

Just wanted to post a picture of our little guy and wish you all a Happy Valentines Day!! He is growing so fast! I went back to the doctor yesterday and am supposed to return to work on March 5th! I am praying that God will answer our prayer and allow me to stay at home with Piercen so we can travel with Jeremy! I would appreciate all of your prayers! I will post again soon! Hope everyone is doing well! I pray that you had a wonderful Valentines Day! And remember... God is LOVE!

How about those COLTS!!!

Hey everyone! I hope this post finds you all doing well and a start to a good week. We have alot going on this week with a few visitors coming to see us! It was so pretty here today I cleaned my car and tomorrow we are cleaning this house from top to bottom and I should have picked a different day to do that as well because it is supposed to be 56' here! WOW talk about heat wave! Just a few updated pictures to share with you of our little guy. You know me, I am taking all the pictures that I possibly can. Piercen will be 6 weeks old on Thursday and it seems so impossible. He is growing so fast and changes every day. Jeremy said this morning to me "I think he gained weight overnight!" I believe it!!! He loves his bath time and I love these pictures of him....









Last night before our super bowl party I took these two pictures of him! Needless to say he cheered on the COLTS with his daddy and the rest of the gang! We had alot of fun but don't you always when your teams wins ?!?!?!?!?


Have a great week - hopefully one of these days I will have enough time to sit and write something spiritual on my blog. Right now when God speaks I have just time to take it all in and digest it - I need to find some time to share because I have learned if you want him to speak have a baby! I hav found since being pregnant he has used this entire experience to change my life!

Love to you all !!!

Isn't he just precious!!! I think so!!!

.....such a time as THIS!

Where on earth does the time go? I can not believe it has been a month since I gave birth to this adorable little guy of mine. Yesterday he was a month old and it seems so impossible. As most of you know my husband is a full time evangelist. He travels doing revivals, youth retreats, mission trips, summer camps and fills in for a lot of pastors while they are on vacation and various other things. The past 6 weeks he has been home with me and it has been such a blessing! Some of you might say how on earth can you afford that --- God always meets our needs above and beyond. He is such a great God. Piercen isn’t able to be in the public so we have been at home bonding with him. Jeremy, I want you to know how much I love you. You are the perfect husband and daddy. God has created such a Godly man and I am thankful for you! You continue to bless my heart beyond measure. The past month has been a treasure. You have helped me in so many ways and I am forever thankful. Thank you for making this time so much easier and enjoyable for me during all the adjustments. I do realize just how blessed I am!!! Two is always better than one - I love being a team! :)

Piercen is growing so fast! When he was born he weighed 7 lbs and 11 oz 19 ¾ in long. With him having jondis his weight was affected greatly. He would gain then loose, gain then loose. W hen we left the hosptial to bring him home he weighed 7 lbs 3 oz. Weight loss is common but after being home a week he had only gained a ½ oz. We had his four week check up on Wednesday and he now weighs 8 lbs and 8 oz…. He is now 21 ½ in long. He is growing perfectly and gaining weight as he should. We are so excited! His pediatrician said he is perfect, just perfect. I could have already told her that! Piercen has decided he likes to be awake most of the night and sleep during the day but his daddy & I keep telling him that we hope that he changes his mind about this really quick! Funny thing is when he does sleep at night it is for 5 hrs!!! We keep praying this becomes a habbit! He still has both a head full of hair & those long eyelashes mommy prayed for. Everyone loves his little chubby cheeks and his eyes are blue, blue, blue! Maybe they will stay that way!!!! He loves to sleep on his boppy, loves his swing and LOVES to cuddle!! I love that! :) Believe me or not... last Thursday he smiled for the 1st time and it was NOT gas!

This past month has brought so many smiles and yet so many tears! I find myself crying as much as I smile and laugh. God amazes me – I am sSsSoOoO overwhelmed with great JOY! I can’t get over it! And I believe it will be something I will never ever get over! I stand in Ahhh at how he has blessed us with this little boy. We prayed for years for a baby yet I had no idea why he chose to wait until such a time as THIS to send him. I do know it could never be a more perfect time. Before I couldn’t understand why it never happened and now I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it doesn’t matter why and THIS timing is perfect no matter what I thought before. That is how our God is, his timing is always perfect. I have to admit it – I’ve been sad too! I’ve had so many experiences this month that I won’t ever have again. I’ve had a hard time accepting I won’t ever feel Piercen kick inside my tummy or get the hickups, I won’t ever experience his BIRTH day, the first time they placed him in my arms, the moment I heard him cry, the first time I changed his diaper, the moment we walked thru our door & he was finally at home with us as a family. Yes, call me crazy but a part of my heart is sad. I will never experience those moments with him again! I just pause and thank God for this past month and all it means to me… I have memories that I will forever treasure in my heart! I think I finally get it…it is just now that I understand the love our heavenly father has for his children.
I smile and tear up as I look forward to our future --- the first time he rolls over, sits up, crawls, says his first word, his first step --- ALL the many times we will experience together as a family. I pray for guidance and wisdom as we raise him in the ways of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6).

I’m not sure if you have heard the song "Find your wings" <<<<by Mark Harris but it is my song to Piercen. I pray that my love will always give him roots! I pray that all I say and do points him to Christ. Pray for me! I’m going to be one of those SsSsIiIiLlLlYYY moms! Yes, the one you see screaming "I LOVE YOU" as he gets out of the car as he walks away with his friends! I am so in love, LOVE, love. Have I told you how adorable, precious, sweet, beautiful and perfect he is?!?!?!? He is all of those things and more. If you think I am proud I sure am and if you have children you should be to! We are taking his first month pictures and some family pictures some time this week so I will post them later this week!

View Show Create Your Own

Slide Show..

Here is a new slide show of the pictures that Jeremy and I took of Piercen this last week when he was three weeks old on Thursday. Call me crazy if you will but I am taking pictures like crazy each week... and sometimes.... daily! He is growing so fast and changing so much. Where on earth does time go? He is a sweet, sweet boy and he is so laid back. I know of course he gets that from his daddy. I am going to scan a picture of Jeremy and I both when we were babies. You will see how much he looks exactly like me yet how much he looks like his daddy as well! Needless to say I never ever knew life could be so precious and I am so thankful God has given him to us. I am SOOOOOO in love!!!


| View Show | Create Your Own

No mattter what.....

My son has to sleep at the end of the bassinet!

Doesn't matter how comfortable I make him he has to have his feet tuckeed in

and in the fetal position to be able to sleep! He gets to the very end and sleeps

every time! I guess now we know exactly how he was in my tummy!!

Explains why he was breech and never turned!!!

Side Show

Create Your Own

Some of you have been asking about the baby so I was going to share these pictures and our experience with you! I got the slide show idea from Amanda. Thanks girl!!!

As most of you know my doctor put me on best rest just a short time before Christmas due to my blood pressure. I spent the holidays in bed but it wasn't a bad deal ----I was waited on hand and foot. My husband is the greatest guy in the world! Thank you honey for always taking good care of me! Michelle came over and we exchanged our Christmas gifts and then Machele and Amy came and brought Jeremy& I such YUMMY food! My family came on Christmas eve and I opened all my gifts with them from the couch but the blessing was just being with them!

On the 27th I went to my regularly scheduled weekly appointments and my bp was still elevated. My dr was on call the next day and was going to be gone several days. We did an ultrasound and made sure Piercen was okay and decided to schedule the C Section for the next day! We called all of our family and friends as we headed up the elevator to check in..... Piercen was born December 28th at 11:08 am and weighed 7lbs and 11 oz and was 19 3/4 in long.

The C Section was a breeze! I met all of the OR team and we prayed before surgery. All the stories I was told weren't true or alteast not for me. It was wonderful and I have healed marvelously. Our baby boy has a head full of dark hair that his mommy prayed for, long eye lashes just like his daddy and LIPS that are beautiful and good for lots of smoochies from mommy and daddy! We had a host of family and friends to share our joy and I feel so blessed.
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Piercen had jondis so we had to stay a few (sigh) extra days in the hospital. He had a problem with feeding because of the jondis so he lost 4 oz one day. We sent out prayer chains and he made a huge turn around within 24 hrs. I made the nurses crack up -- who would have ever thought my baby boy would have a problem with feedings?!?!? He was just not feeling well but since being home he has more than made up for it! We have a check up on Wednesday to see how his weight is. We know everything is perfect!

We came home on Friday and are adjusting well. Daddy and I are learning to get 8 hrs of sleep one hour at a time!! Ha Ha!! Thank goodness he is home for several weeks and is such a huge help. He gets up for every feeding, every diaper change and doesn't miss a thing! We have had the best few days bonding as a family with our brand new baby boy. I never knew life could be so precious. Last night at 1 am we changed a diaper and used 4 diapers before we got it done! We had pee pee everywhere! I just sat and cracked up. We laughed for an hour! You would think with the both of us it would have been done alot faster! :0) Piercen got us both (good)!


Hey, by the way, I have a bone to pick with some of you!!! How come all you moms and all my friends never told me anything about those raging hormones!!! Hot/Cold, Happy/Sad, Tired/Energy and so forth! Thank the Lord they don't last! I feel like an old lady with these hot flashes! Hee Hee!! And they say this goes away! YEAH get it gone!

Well, I could go on and on... I haven't blogged and the last few times I have I just tried to post some pics real fast. I am learning to do things in shifts! :0) Speaking of - he is awake. Perfect timing. Have a great night everyone!

It has already been a week~

I can not believe how time has flown. Maybe it feels this way because we were only able to come home yesterday but I can't believe it!

We had to get a picture of Piercen in his Razorback hat! I love it! Daddy thought it was awesome too! He has already been introduced to the Razorbacks - even though they lost the Capital One bowl game!

Pictures to share

~me and my daddy~
~snuggling with my mommy~
~I love my hands~

Introducing our little guy....

Piercen Kennedy Howell

Born December 28, 2006 at 11:08 am

7 lbs 11 oz 19 3/4"

Mommy, Daddy and baby are doing wonderful....it was a whirlwind of a week! I did just wonderful but we had to stay in the hospital until today. Piercen got jondis and we were able to come home finally today. He is happy, heatlhy and doing wonderful. Mommy got the baby blues -finally doing so much better. I was SO worried about my little guy that I was just beside myself. Thank God he is doing wonderful. We rang in the new year snuggling as a family and it was the greatest feeling in the world. Jeremy & I are both in love like never before. I never knew how much my life would change. God is so good! If we can get some sleep we will shout! Ha Ha! I plan to post more pictures in the next few days! Hope everyone is doing well!

A special Christmas message.....

From my family to yours -

Merry Christmas, Chelle!

Thank you for being such a great friend and for being here for me this past year. Alot has taken place in my life this year. It has been a tough year in some ways and yet it has been the best year of my life. I am so thankful for your friendship. Most of all thank you for being there for me when my dad had his heart attack and during my pregnancy. Thank you for every phone call, email, card and time you have invested being part of it all. I can't wait for Piercen to get here and for you to meet him!

I pray you have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New year....

love,
Chris~

Already Christmas from my couch....

YES! You got it.... I have already been having Christmas from my couch! I went to the doctor on yesterday and I get to spend the next few days *sounds better than two weeks hee hee* at home. He took me off work on Monday afternoon and I went back Thursday for a check up..... I am doing ok... bp is still somewhat elevated but it is good when I am relaxing so I choose to keep our little guy in and do Christmas from my couch! I did loose one pound of the 4 of fluid so I was proud of that. I know that what I am doing is working even though the swelling doesn't make me think so! It is so much better though! I am scheduled for our C Section on January 5th which is two weeks from today. We are so excited. I know some may say a C Section isn't the best choice because of the healing process but it has a few positives too. The most important is that Piercen is breech! He may or may not turn in two weeks.... we are excited too that we have a date set and everyone can be there. That is really important to Jeremy & I both. We have such wonderful family & friends and most of them will be there! We have prayed about it for 36 weeks now and know that our son will come the way and time God has planned. That is the blessing.....

So Christmas from my couch it is - I look at my tree and decorations and remind myself that this time in two weeks I will be the happiest mommy in the world (AND pray my bp is okay so I can lay on my moms couch on Christmas eve!). We have had some friends over already and its been entertaining ... I get to sit and do nothing -unwrap gifts and be waited on. WOW..... now I know how the children feel all over again! I had forgotten... thank you to my husband who has even had to finish up some of my last minute shopping! Lord only knows why this year I waited. I am normally done weeks before and this year I am pregnant and wasn't even close until recently. Jeremy is loving Wal-Mart since he has been there every day for me the past three days. And yes, that is a joke! A joke he is loving it, not a joke he has been there SO much!

Michelle, I know at some point you will be reading this. I just want to say I love you! You blessed me today and I am so humbled at your heart..... I realize just where God has brought us from and how he has blessed me beyond measure having a friend in you. Thank you for what you mean to me. You are a gift from him!

36 weeks Friday..

Well it is official.. I am off work and at home! I went to the doctor on Monday and I will be 36 weeks on Friday... I am on bedrest and return to see him on Thursday! My blood pressure was slightly elevated and I am retaining some fluid. Piercen is still breech so we scheduled my c section for January 5th. I have 16 days to go and I have to take it easy. I am just praying that this rest will help! I was a little discouraged as I left the office to have things stacked against me my entire pregnancy and get this far and this happen when indeed its been such a blessing! I know and trust the Lord knows exactly what he is doing.

My husband ---- WOW! He is so amazing... He is finishing my last min shopping and taking care of me. I am so blessed. You should feel the same about yours too but as I always say he is best guy in the world! We are both so excited to meet our son but want to make sure I try my best to get to 38 weeks.... pray for us! I appreciate all the emails, packages and gift for Piercen. You guys are all such a blessing to us! I hope you have a blessed Christmas. I am going to get to sit back, relax and just take it all in.

35 weeks and ECSTATIC.....

What a journey it has been... We have been married for eight years and it isn't going to be long until the birth of our son. God has been so good to us and we are thankful for every single day of this journey. Who would have ever thought ! I've dreamed of it and wondered what it would really be like but I never imagined it would be this wonderful ! I am thankful for every doctors appointment, every ultrasound, every sleepless night, every insulin shot, every bit of it!

We had our 4d ultrasound today and it was something! He has the chubbiest cheeks and looks alot like his daddy. I can honestly say I have seen several of these and most of them do really reveal alot of features of the baby. The only thing I could tell he had of mine was my lips! They said he is measuring 5 lbs and 11 oz. All in all he could be 5 lb 3 oz or as big as 6 lbs and 1 oz. I have known them to be off on a few babies who have been born recently so we will see! I still can't get over the cheeks! I was going to post a picture and Jeremy was unable to get those scanned because we ran out of time. I will try and post a few later. Piercen is breech as of right now and we hope he will turn in the next week. Everything looked good and we will see the doctor again on Monday for our weekly appointment and to see what he thinks in terms of c section or ???

Here are some pictures we had made two weeks ago. I have to say I am very proud of them! I think they will be something I will treasure forever!

33 weeks!
I love you Jeremy! You are going to be the best daddy in the whole world!
Jeremiah 1:5
This is our favorite!
We love you Piercen Kennedy!

I am still alive...

I really am! It has ben CrAzZZzY around here! Thank you for your emails and for the 'few' comments some of you have left. I am horrible lately at blogging... I am really going to try and be better. I wanted to update everyone on what has been going on and it is always so much easier from my blog rather than several emails! I hope to have my husband scan the rest of my pictures from our showers and such this week so I can get some picturs on here for everyone to see. I have had four showers and we are winding down to the last weeks before our little guys arrival.... we are ECSTATIC!

Since my last post my dad is doing really well. Thank you for the emails and most of all --- your prayers. He does have two blockages but there is blood flow and the medication is working. There isn't a need for surgery at this time. At first I was a little scared. One, I was afriad he'd have to have it done and would be recovering right at Piercen was born. Two, I was afraid if they didn't do it now and just fix the problem he may have another attack. I learned real quick that God is in control and I can't worry. He took care of him when he had his heart attack and he is taking care of him now. He is the same God as yesterday! The human in me has to remind myself of this from time to time. My mom has been such a trooper in all of this... she has taken such good care of him. Anyone who knows my dad --- knows my dad. Ha Ha! He is now exercising every day and eating right. He isn't a big guy at all and never has been but something else we have learned. Your health isn't only affected by your build and weight. You can be 5'3 and 150 and still be unhealthy. You gotta take care of yourself. With this and all the weight I have lost being pregnant I can't wait to get on the ball once Piercen is born.

It is that time of year! Christmas parties, Christmas dinners, Christmas caroling, Christmas plays, and before you know it -- Christmas eve and Christmas day! It all starts this week heavy for Jeremy & I. And did I mention Childbirth class, doctors appointments, preparing for these last few weeks befor the baby -- OH and work ... I am still working! I almost forgot about that. I will be 34 weeks on Saturday and we have our 4D ultrasound on the 13th. So you ladies who have been here and done this --- how do you please everyone? We already tried this the first time when we went to find out what the baby was. Now its the 4D and as much as I'd like to ask several to go Jeremy & I are thinking just having my mom and my dad. It is one of those things that I have thought alot about because it is such a special time. If you have any advice please send it my way... it has been a struggle for me. Honestly, the ones I felt would be by my side really haven't shared much of this time with me. Others I have grown so much closer to. It has been hard to understand at times. I am just trying to be true to myself and not regret any decisions I make. When Jeremy & I found out together on our anniversary that we were having a boy it was priceless! My mom came in as soon as we calmed down from excitement and I was happy to share that with her but you couldn't have paid me for it to be any other way.

Piercen is going to have several play mates. I have been pregnant with about 10 other people from around here and three of them we are really good friends with. Asher was born on Saturday 11/11 (here is his picture) http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage_view.asp?URLID=9E0S9I6K7O

and Megan was born on Monday 11/13 (here is her picture)
http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage_view.asp?URLID=8C5W0O2E1A

They won't be too far apart and birthday parties wil be lots of fun. Jeremys's sister Erin and her husband Shannon are expecting Trinity Jade any time now and Brian and Carol are having a boy in February and that is exciting too! Babies everywhere!

Hope this post finds you all doing well. I've been praying for you Veronica as I promised. Kristina I have a thank you card ready to mail to you - I didn't forget you! Promise! Thank you again for the gift. Piercen will love it.

~Happy Thanksgiving

I haven't had a lot of time to post much the past few weeks but I wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and I pray that you will be blessed tomorrow as you spend time with your family and friends!

I have so much to be thankful for that if I began to name all of the blessings one by one I'd forget something OR there would be too many to name! God has been good to Jeremy & I this year and to our entire family as a whole. I am most thankful that God is still God, He is still on the throne! Without Him I'd be nothing and I'd have nothing! Thank you Heavenly Father for being who you are and what you mean in my life!

God bless you my friends....

In the midst of it all....

I am hanging in! I tell you ladies, I have had a rough few weeks but God never ceases to give mercy & grace! He will always give us what we need & exaclty when we need it to make it through the things we face in life.

Since my last post in October it has been a bumpy ride... my dad, brother and uncle went on a huge elk trip to Colorado and had a great time. While there they got both Elk and Cow and brought home what they call 'trophies'. They were both so proud. My dear husband didn't get to go this year with the upcoming birth of Piercen. We weren't sure at the time the trip was booked how I'd do and thank God it has been an amazing pregnancy. Jeremy is really looking foward to next year - they are already planning ahead! If you know anything about those kinds of hunts you know they are scheduled a year in advance!

When dad arrived home in the weeeee hours of the morning he was experiencing alot of pain in his left arm. He was visiting with friends and they just happend to check this bp. Unusual for him - high! His blood pressure is never high! My youngest brother Aaron and my mom took him to the doctor and they checked him out. The dr assured us that it was not his hear - it was a muscle and possible nerve damage. We just assumed the same because he has been on this trip, carried out his cow which weighed several hundred pounds and dad tends to have arthritis anyway. Funny thing --- his arm continued to hurt and the pain began to get really bad over the weekend. On Sunday morning the 29th my brother rushed him to the ER. He arrived while having a heart attack. Thank God the doctor was fast and they got him right in. They were able to adminster medication and get him to tests just in time. I believe with all my heart --- God is always right on time. They were able to take care of the blockage to his main artery with a stint. He was literally in surgery and out in 1 hr! He was monitored in ICU overnight and was released on Monday.

While home recovering he has been very sore and is learning he has to eat alot differently. He still has another blockage on the back side of his heart and it is 80% blocked. We go to the doctor on Tuesday of this week to find out what will happen from here. I have been praying the entire time that the medication would take care of it as alot of times it will because it isn't as serious. If the Lord chooses not to do so with medication he will be looking at another surgery. I pray that isn't the road we take but I know it is in the hands of God. Please pray for my dad - he is a pastor of our local church and he it it taking a toll on him spirtitually ... he so wants to preach. Not only that but anyone who knows him knows my dad has a heart of gold..... those people aren't just his church members -- they are family! We will know more after Tuesday how long he will not be able to preach. All I know is when it is his time to go back he will have both barrells loaded !! My mom has been the trooper I tell you --- she too has her sunday school class and does children's church so missing out is hard on her. She is taking such good care of him and making sure he is doing everything he should. She deserves a metal of honor I tell you! Jeremy has been extremely busy filling in for my dad. This is his slowest traveling time of the year especially with the holidays (Nov-Feb) and with Piercen coming! Pray for him - he isn't a pastor that is for sure but he is doing a great job and it takes a huge burden off of my dad knowing he can depend on him and not have to worry that anythign is slacking while he is unable to be there.

Being 30 weeks pregnant I have had some adventure! Stress isn't anything I like. I was just asking Amanda if I had told her lately how much I hate the devil..... I am so thankful God is always one step ahead of him. I would have to say that my pregnancy from the begining has been such a miracle. I have physically been healthier than I have ever been and being diabetic God has been so good to me. I've had several things since April to strengthen my faith and my walk with the Lord and although I haven't enjoyed the circumstances the lessons has been great blessings. If anything I needed to learn to trust HIM more and realize there may not always been something I can 'see' but I must trust. When they told us Piercen may have spinabifida as a mom I thought the worse but God whispered "Trust ME"... when I got the news dad was having a heart attack I burst into tears and my first reaction "PANIC".... I knew and believed the words "Trust ME"! I may not always know and I may not always see but he does and he does want me to trust him. My circumstances may some times overwhelm me but he knows exactly where I am and what I need. I know and beleive with all my heart he has been preparing me for the last 30 weeks for something........ motherhood. I'd never be able be the mother he would have me to be until I've learned to trust in him completely.... Jesus, I trust you. Regardless of the situation, the outcome, whether it is a good day or a bad day, a smile or a tear, a joy or a sorrow -- I trust you! Thank you for speaking to me!

Baby update -- I have gained one pound. Yes, one! You girls know how important this has been to me... I had lost 33 and gained 6 of it back in one month so I quit the eat out or atleast not every day for lunch. I have lost 5 of that so I am back on target! I am 30 weeks and starting to feel tired. Our little guy is kicking hard - he kicked a book off my tummy the other night! I felt him roll all the way over (I called it the toosie roll) on Tuesday night of this week! I don't know if its a first time mom thing but I write everything down so I can put it in my pregnancy journal. I have had 3 showers the last two weeks and we have gotten so many nice things! I hope to post pictures of them soon! The nursery is well on its way to being finished. I pick up his letters for above his bed this week and hope to get those put up. If we can find curtains we will be good to go other than waiting on more piece of furniture to come in! Once it is all finished I will post pictures! It is adorable I must say!

I wanted to add this picture of Michelle & I. This is her version of 'us' from one of my showers... she cropped it in for me and I love it! We are all smiles! Her birthday was Saturday and I wanted to say "Happy Birthday" to my dear friend. She has been so good to me! She has called me almost daily, made sure everyone knew what was going on with my dad, was a huge part in my shower for all my girlfriends and it turned out great! Yes, in October we had an LUAU! Pics to post of that as well! Michelle, I love you my friend - you bless my heart! OK OK so blogger isn't letting me post my picture! I will try it again!

Reason... Season.. Lifetime....

It seems many of us have been discussing 'friendships' on our blogs and even on emails I have received lately. I know God continues to show me daily what kind of friend I need to be and that is friend of HIS! I was sent this from one of my dearest friends Machele and it blessed me. I wanted to share it with each of you. You know I have come to learn that things to do change, people change and friendships change and it is really okay! I used to think I couldn't live if there were change but I now see change is good and when God does something it is for a reason. Whether you have a friend for a reason, a season or a lifetime there is a purpose!

I pray I will always find peace as I have now to accept it when something may not be forever!

My new philosophy is it isn't all about quantity but quality! Thank you Jesus for my friends!

PEOPLE COME INTO YOUR LIFE FOR A REASON


People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.


Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share,
grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant .

Thank you for being a part of my life, Whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

one of the best in the world...

Aren't we lovely? Aren't we beautiful? This is Machele & I.. she is one of my dearest friends - one of the best in the
world. I've had alot of questions lately - done alot of soul
searching about what it is to really have a true friend. So many times we are concerned about quantity rather than quality! The older I get and as things change in my life, I come to realize I count myself blessed to find someone who is true, trustworthy, loyal, dependable, forgiving, available and genuine.... so many times friends are for a reason, maybe just a season and not a lifetime! God tells us in his word that to be a friend we must show ourselves friendly. This is my prayer that as I allow Christ to be a friend to me he will show me what kind of friend I should be for I long to be like him, I long to please him. Proverbs 17:17 says "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother". God longs to be our best friend! I am thankful that when a reason has been fullfilled, a season has changed and someone is no longer in your lifetime even that too is still in his plan. No matter what changed, the sense of loss, he has a purpose and plan.
Thank you heavenly father for being my friend and for showing me how to love someone else as you'd have me to. Thank you for teaching me to be true, trustworthy, loyal, dependable, forgiving, available and genuine! There is no greater love, no greater friend than the friend of Jesus!
Chele - I love you! Your the best!

The Arkansas Traveler....

I am so glad that blogger is finally working for me tonight.....

This is my picture - one of my treasures! This is my PaPa standing beside the plane that he flew in WW 11. It was called the "Arkansas Traveler". It was a bomber - a B2 to be exact! God protected him from danger many times as he served our country.

We are so proud of him and excited to being naming Piercen after him!

Our baby boy....

WOW! It has been a while since I have had a chance to sit down & fill you in on what has been going on! There are so many mental notes I have been making trying to remember everything so hopefully I won't forget any of it. They say that comes with being pregnant -- imagine that! By the time I am finished it may turn out to be my blovel for today!

As many of you know we found out that we were expecting our first baby in May. It was the happiest time in our lives. Jeremy & I have been married for 8 years - we celebrated our 8th anniversary in September. I always believed in my heart that God would send us a baby in HIS timing as he has proven time and time again in our lives that not all things happen when or how we want them to but if it is HIS will it will come to pass. For many reasons I step back now and see the full picture --- I understand why God chose now and HIS timing is PERFECT! We've never been here before and it is everything -- PERFECT! We could never been more blessed. He is a great God and never ceases to amaze me.

As a few of you know, most of you do not but when I was 16 weeks along in my pregnancy they did all of the routine testing. For me they have been extra cautious with me being diabetic and to my doctor we are so thankful. When my tests came back I learned that I had made it to 16 weeks but needed to take insulin to insure that the baby would not be affected by me being diabetic and to try and prevent him from being so large that in the end I would be forced to have a C-Section (Prayerfully we believe this will be prevented but if needed I trust it will all turn out fine). One of my tests came back 1 in 185 % that our baby would have spina bifida..... while some say that is not very likely for a mom it is scary and for a first time mom it was something else! I realized the entire time that it was very slim being only a 1% chance but it still bothered me. Jeremy & I chose to tell a few people who we believe are prayer warriors and decided to go to Little Rock to be tested to find out for sure. With much prayer and the hand of God we found out that our baby indeed has a normal spine. Praise the Lord. I believe with all of my heart that this was a test for me... for me as a Christian, for me as a mom and for my faith. The entire process God was tugging on my heart "TRUST IN ME". As God spoke complete peace to Jeremy and gave him scripture that our baby was just fine he just kept speaking to me "TRUST IN ME". Not only does our baby boy not have any problems with his spine but his mommy has grown so much in the Lord over the past several months! I've learned that God is the ultimate physician and a test is a test... a physical test OR a spiritual test. For everything we face there is a purpose under heaven and this purpose was for my spiritual growth. And thank you for those who prayed with us!

After three ultrasounds we finally were able to find out the sex of our baby. What kept everyone on pins and needles was that at 18 weeks we could have found out while in Little Rock and we chose not to! Yes, everyone was like "WHAT" - some even said we knew and were holding out! This was not the case. Our first attempt here was unsuccessful as the baby was on his tummy.... in Little Rock we decided to wait and then the day of CRazIneS came! We took my mom, my dad, my mother in law, my mema, my aunt and my best friend Heather with us to the ultrasound! BOY that was something! This was the day the doctor ended up having to deliver two babies and when he finally got us back I was exhausted as well as frustrated... too many people! We waited and once the doctor returned we tried again needless to say but just wasn't meant to be. We ended up at dinner with 18 other family and friends waiting to hear the news and guess what ?!?!?!?!? There was no news to tell! I just laughed! I had a feeling all day long that day it wouldn't happen! Finally September 26th on our anniversary we were able to find out what the baby is! It was only Jeremy & I ... it was precious. A moment we will never forget. My mom came in a little later and wasn't a bit surprised to learn it's a BOY! She had told us that all along she thought he was a boy! She was right!

We have chosen a name for our son... his name will be Piercen Kennedy. We think it is perfect even if it won't be found on a Christmas ornament some place (Ha Ha Michelle). You all know me, I am anything but common. I love uncommon! Unique and different makes it even more special. William Kennedy was my grandfather's name - my moms dad! No one in our family has ever been named after him. He has been gone for several years now but my memories of him are alive! I was thrilled when Jeremy & I chose this name. My "PaPa" was a great man of God. He loved the Lord, was a devoted Christian and he truly loved his neighbor as himself. I never seen a greater love expressed in anyone than the love he had for others! He enjoyed traveling and camping - the RV was his toy! He loved being outside and was very active... I remember walking the dogs with him all the time. PaPa was a successful man and a well educated man. He was a pilot and this was so amazing to me. On Sunday afternoons he would take his family flying and had awesome vacations! Jeremy & I can sit and listen to the stories for hours. He flew in WW 11 and was the airport manager here at our local airport for several years. We believe Piercen's name is strong and bold!

Since my pregnancy I have lost 31 lbs but visited the doctor last week. I have gained a total of 3. I was in shock. each visit I have lost and 4 weeks ago I had gained 6 ounces.. this visit made a total of the 3 all together. With being diabetic I have tried to eat really healthy and I am pleased. My due date is still Jan 19th but they will begin to monitor the baby at 32 weeks. I pray he won't grow so big that I can't have him naturally but I am just TRUSTING IN HIM !

We have painted our nursery, have the bed and furniture in along with all the bedding.... I hope to post pictures of it once it is all completed. We still have to hang everything on the wall, get a rocker and put up the curtains. We did however buy a HUGE giraffe for his nursery... his name is Jingles. he is amost 5 ft tall. I love him! Jeremy just had to name him for Piercen!