Maxine Monday...

I have been really slacking on my Maxine Mondays. So when I stumbled across this one, I knew it would be great for the first Monday of the new year.

The DH and I bought tickets several months ago to see Joel Osteen in JACKSONVILLE. I was so thrilled to be starting off the new year with night of hope with Joel and Victoria. The message that night was encouraging, motivating, and hopeful. Joel spoke on how we can set our minds to what WE expect to happen in 2009...not what the NEWS says will happen. Instead of listening to all the negative comments about our economy and how everything is expected to get worse before it gets better, we can CHOOSE to see things in a different light. Our God is an awesome God and he can do immeasurable more than we could ever imagine.

But remember the LORD your God is the one who makes you wealthy. He's confirming the promise which he swore to your ancestors. It's still in effect today. ~Deuteronomy 8:18

So Maxine...I am expecting a prosperous 2009 and I will gladly be a lender and not a borrower.

Thankful Thursday (Times Three)...

Thursdays are when I post about the three things that I am most thankful for that week. As we start the beginning of a new year, I have many things to be thankful for...limiting my list to only three for this post was a FEAT. But here you go...

1. The growth of my relationship with God...

The forever journey of TTC during 2008 was definitely a blessing...WHAT??? Yes, I am so thankful for the trials of TTC because they brought me closer to God. I never thought I would be able to say (or write) those words, but it really is the truth.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will lsten to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."Jeremiah 29:11-13

2. Patience...

I have FINALLY learned how to be patient...well almost :) Going through our infertility journey with my husband these past few years has shown me how to wait. Not that I do not want to be a mother any less, but I know that it will happen, but only in His time.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:4.

3. Blogging...

Starting this blog has been such a great experience for me. Not only have I met some amazing women out there, but I have created bonds with women that I never thought would be possible. Women who feel the same way I do, share the same experiences, and have such a wealth of knowledge about God, infertility, and staying positive. You ALL are a blessing!

What three things are you most thankful for as we begin 2009...the year of new beginnings!!

Hannah's Hope...

My mom gave me the Amazon Kindle for Christmas and I have been reading all about it for the past few days. You literally can download books, magazines, newspapers and more from Amazon-dot-com. Of course each item has a cost, but most of the items I plan to purchase are between $3-$8. How easy is that?????

My first purchase for the Kindle?

Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart In The Midst Of Infertility by Jennifer Saake. It is absolutely amazing!! I read the first three hundred pages in one sitting and I just can't put it down. The author is relating the life of Hannah in the Bible and the struggles she faced while trying to concieve with her own struggles in the 21st century. The similarities are uncanny....watching others get pregnant so easy, attending the birth of someone else's child (showers), answering those horrible questions like "When are you going to have a family?" And the list goes on and on.

Another part of the book that I like so much is the Burden Bearer. This part of each chapter helps others understand what we are going through and how they can be more sensitive. The Burden Bearer for Chapter 2 explains how people should never ask the question "So, do you have any kids?" when they first meet someone. Instead, they should ask something more along the lines of "Tell me a little bit about yourself." Isn't this so true???

Overall I am really learning so much about myself, about Hannah, and how to release my frustrations, desires, and hopes and just let God take control. Afterall, He is already in control...I just needed to realize it.

2009 is a new beginning for me...

Cookin' with Cathy...

I FINALLY convinced my mother-in-love to start her own blog!! YEAH!!! She has been blog-stalking for some time now and decided to start a blog that will spotlight all her WONDERFUL recipes. We call her ALL the time to ask how to cook some of our favorites...Cathy's Chili, HDC---also known as Hotdog Casserole, Broccoli and Rice Casserole, and so many MORE!

She hasn't made her first post yet, but please welcome my mother-in-love, Cathy. Please click on this link to visit Cathy's Kitchen!

Thankful Thursday (Times Three)...Christmas Edition

Thankful Thursday is when I post about three things that I am most thankful for that week. Today, because it is Christmas, I wanted to share three very special things that I am SO VERY THANKFUL for today.

1. The birth of Christ...

Today as I celebrate the birth of Christ, I reflect on this perfect baby and how He changed EVERYTHING.

Luke 2: 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.


2. My family...

I am so thankful that my family drove from Houston to spend this special holiday with me and my husband. We have been so blessed this year to have my parents here for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. But with the addition of my #1VBF and my sister, Christmas has been over the TOP!


3. My husband and Southpoint Church...

I have been hoping and praying that the DH would attend Southpoint Church with me for some time now. Tedra, Lisha, and I were planning to attend the Christmas Eve service and I asked the DH if he would like to go with us. I think he was a little apprehensive, but knowing how important it was for me, he agreed to join us. After the service, the DH commented on how much he liked the pastor and how he enjoyed the service. He agreed to attend every Sunday with me now...what a blessing!!!


I hope you'll share the three things that you are most thankful for on this ThankfulThursday (Times Three)...Christmas Edition.

Merry Christmas!

What Do You Think?

I was blog-stalking this morning and read a post about the IVF Vacation. The blogger stated that she witnessed this site and info from CNN last night. So OF COURSE I needed to do some research. And sure enough, CNN had a video about the IVF Vacation. Check out this video...







I must say...I'm pretty interested in doing more research...the cost of IVF in the Czech Republic is 1/3 the cost of it here in the USA. Pretty amazing, isn't it? What are your thoughts on this? I'd love to hear them...

Disappointment Turned into Prayer...

I am having a rough day today. As you can see, it is 6:00 a.m. on my FIRST day off on Christmas Vacation. So why am I wide awake and writing a post on my blog? My plan for a Christmas surprise for my family ended this morning when my stomach started cramping at 5:30 this morning. You know the rest...no need for details :(

So here I sit trying to sort out my feelings....my first thought? DISAPPOINTMENT!!

Disappointment...the feeling of dissatisfaction that follows the failure of expectations to manifest.

The word disappointment is made up of DIS and APPOINTMENT. DIS means separate, apart, or asunder. So, disappointment describes a feeling of dissatisfaction or anguish, which is experienced when we are torn apart from our expected appointment with fate. Yet, we don't have to experience pain when things don't go our way.

The negativity surrounding disappointment exists not in the real world, but only in our mind. It is not the event, but our interpretation of it that causes pain.

Now this last definition caused me to think for while....the interpretation of the disappointment is what causes pain, not the event itself. So what did I do next? I prayed...


Psalm 31:2-5
Turn your ear toward me. Rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. Indeed, you are my rock and my fortress. For the sake of your name, lead me and guide me. You are my refuge, so pull me out of the net that they have secretly laid for me. Into your hands I entrust my spirit. You have rescued me, O LORD, God of truth.

It still isn't the right time...only He knows when.