A Letter to my Son

     Over the last couple years, I've seen a couple people write a letter to their son/daughter. I wrote this a couple weeks ago, but adjusted it accordingly. I thought I'd share it with ya'll.

A Letter to my Son:

     James, you're only 7 weeks old, and somehow the time is already passing by so quickly. From the moment your daddy and I found out we were going to have a baby, we had already fallen in love with you. With every passing day that my belly got bigger, our dreams were coming true.

     You didn’t know it at the time, but I had prayed for you since I was a young adult. I prayed that when that someday came for me to get married and have children, that God would give me the strength to endure the path that He had for me. 

     The days of pregnancy went by fast for me. I had quite the scare in my first trimester when I thought I had lost you. However, God saw fit to bless us with such a beautiful and handsome son. 

  
   
     As my pregnancy with you came to an end, I began to feel excited and nervous. Excited that I was going to be holding you in my arms soon, but nervous with how I was going to be as a mother. Your dad was confident that I was going to be great, but I couldn’t see how someone so little could play a huge part in my role as a mother. 

     As the days pass, and you get a tiny bit bigger, I wonder, even now how I’ll be as a mother. I know that I’ll get upset and frustrated with you at times, but I pray that you’ll be patient with me as I’m learning to be a momma for the very first time. 

     We've had bad day, and good days, and days that were so rough on me, that I was in tears because of the lack of sleep, but you helped me grow into mommy-hood. I"m very thankful to be married to your daddy, who, during those times was so patient with me, and still continues to be.
     Last week, you started smiling for the very first time when daddy and I would talk to you. Every morning, we long to get that sweet smile, and every morning, you melt our hearts with your smile. We are in love with you!
     James, as daddy and I train you up in the admonition of the Lord, may you seek Gods wisdom always. Remember to "Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you." ~1st Samuel 12:24. Give God glory for everything in your life, and praise Him through all the trials that will come your way.
     Your daddy and I love you very much and we're blessed and honored to be your parents! We're looking forward to watching you grow. We love you James Randal Narwold!!! <3

Gender Reveal!!!

I'd like to introduce to you our baby BOY.... James Randal Narwold!!!

 James is my husband's father's name, and it's also a biblical name. Randal is my dad's middle name. :)

 James is doing great!
He's got his daddy's long feet and long spine. ;) I'm 21 1/2 weeks along now, and feeling great! We can't wait to welcome our little boy!

Feeling Accepted

     This past week, my husband and I went up to Missouri for a Family Reunion that happens every 3-4 years. It was such a sweet blessing to be able to meet everyone, and feel loved and wanted.

     One thing that many of you many not know about me, is that I struggle with feeling wanted. I struggle with feeling accepted... for who I am. I tend to think of myself very lowly, and often times read too much into things, and feel un-accepted. In most circles that I've been in, there were clique's, most of which I was never a part of, mainly because I felt like people didn't accept me... they didn't make effort to help me be a part of their circle. They didn't welcome me in.
     So when I went to Missouri, and felt accepted by the family members there, I felt very loved. I felt like I did, when I moved here to Ohio. Where people excepted me, and welcomed me into their group. When I was sitting off alone for even just a few minutes, they'd join me, or they'd welcome me into their circle, and let me know what they'd been talking about.
     All of us to some extent struggle with feeling wanted. We want to be loved. We want people to like us... that's the human part of us. If you've never felt like you're on the outside, then I'd encourage you to look at others around you... welcome them into your conversation... even if you don't really want them to. Make people feel like they're loved. It's not enough to just say hi, you need to have a relationship with them. Check up with them every once in a while. Ask them how they're doing... and when they say, "fine." Ask them again... "No really, how's everything?"
     Another thing I ask, is that you try not to talk to the same person every week, and no one else. Especially if they're at church, and you see them every week to begin with. Go out of your comfort zone, and talk to other people... they do exist. ;)
     Any way, sorry to be totally off subject, but hey, it's me. :) I loved my time in Missouri, and meeting so many new people. We played games, stayed up late talking, ate lots of food, we laughed many times, had a tea party honoring Josh's grandmother. (who passed away many years ago from cancer)
     On our way back, we stopped in St. Louis with Josh's parents, and one of his brothers, and stayed at a hotel, went to a couple Museum's, had coffee, took pictures, played games, and rested. :) I've included some pictures below.
     What summer trip have you taken or do you plan to take?
     "This is the day the lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." ~Psalm 118:24~

Isn't Josh going to be a great dad someday?! :) I love you Josh!

 My husband and I both got awarded. :)

 Little Liam was just adorable holding this kitten in his overalls. :)

 My sister-in-law, Joanna, and her husband, Derek, joined us in a cave.

 Most of the family... Jonathan,(Josh's brother) and Ashley, were missing in this pic.

Serving in Disguise

Yesterday, I had the privilege to go to our friends the, "Davidson's" house, and help them out
with the kids, laundry, dinner, and packing for their trip to Russia. 

     While I was helping the kids clean out the closet, Mrs. Davidson asked me to feed baby "Owen", so that she could get some stuff done. With joy, I took him out of the swing, and fed him his bottle. After feeding him, I went into the girls room to help them clean out the closet, and I lay Owen down on my lap facing sideways...he was so content! As usual, I stared at Owen thinking, "Wow! How can people not like children?" They are so precious...aren't they?!

     As I was sitting there with Owen on my lap, I helped the girls fold their tights, and other miscellaneous things. After that, I rocked Owen to sleep, and vacuumed around the house. When I got home, I was greeted by my little brother, Elijah, who comes out ever time one of us comes home. There's always a welcoming smile on his face, and a big, warm bear hug awaiting us from our little Elijah. Isn't it nice to come to a place that you can call home?

After a long, hard day from working at the Davidson's, (which I appreciated) I kept thinking, "all that I'm doing at home, at the Davidson's, and any where else, is teaching me...teaching me to be patient, teaching me to be slow in anger, and slow to speak, teaching me to 'serve', and teaching me
 to love God even more."

Last week, I was having a hard time doing some stuff around the house, and I've been asking God to help me serve without thinking about it. Whether it's doing my siblings dishes on their dish day, doing  their chore for that week, or merely putting their shoes away that are in the middle of the floor. They might not notice me doing anything...but God does! He sees everything that we do...whether it's with a servants heart or not. So let's serve, knowing that our reward is in heaven! 

The Beginning of Life

I found this video below on GodTube. I think that it's a great reminder that God loves us, and cares for us. He knows the plans that he has for us.

In Psalm 139:13-18, it says,
"For you formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it ver well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I wake, I am still with you."