How

Today in church one of the leaders of Manna Ministry got up and gave a testimony about how God provided for Manna last Tuesday night, and I thought it was worthy of sharing with you.  Every Wednesday Manna Ministries gives food out to about 200 families who are considered "working poor", and every Tuesday night there is a team that stocks the shelves and makes sure that there is enough food for the anticipated amount of families who will be coming through.  Last week they were notified that they could not pull food from Second Harvest for the week because there was a shortage, and Second Harvest just so happens to be the largest supplier to Manna.  When they finished stocking, just like every Tuesday night, they gathered to pray over the food that they had, and they prayed specifically that God would provide enough food for the families who would come the next night.  After they were done praying there was a knock on the front door, so he went to the door, and there stood a 16 year old girl and her mother.  When he asked if he could help them, the mother responded that they had some food they would like to donate to Manna, and that for her daughter's 16th birthday party she had requested that instead of every guest bringing HER a gift, they brought some food to donate to Manna.  As soon as he was done telling that story I looked over at Lindsey and we both said "How do you raise a kid like that?".  Neither of us ever did that, but we think our parents were awesome parents who did a good job showing up how to treat others and teaching us right from wrong.  How do you set yourself and your children apart like that? 

God I pray that you will guide and direct Brad and I as parents.  That we will never parent using our OWN head or hearts, but rather we will parent Emery as you would have us to do so.  I pray that you will make your will for her clear, and that you will show us how to mold her into the kind of person that YOU would have her to be.  I pray for wisdom and strength when it's not easy because I know there will be lots of times when it won't be easy.  I thank you for this responsibility that you have entrusted us with, and I pray that we will be worthy laborers in building your kingdom through the way that we choose to bring up Emery.

Finished!

So yes I know I have been a SLACKER when it comes to blogging.  I know it's bad when my girlfriends from other states or other parts of Virginia call me out on it...Maleka and Alisa :) haha  But as I am about to show you I have been a little (or a lot) busy!!

The nursery is FINISHED!! (Except for a mirror my grandmother is refinishing for over the changing table.) Oh my goodness it feels so good to have it done, and I am OBSESSED with it!  It turned out exactly how I wanted it.  LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  Emery's room is by far the  nicest room in our house, but I'm okay with that.  Without any further ado...here are some pictures (although, I don't think they quite do it justice)...

I am also FINISHED being pregnant...if you don't want to hear me whine then you might want to stop reading :)  I am MISERABLE.  I wake up and tell Brad everyday that "My everything hurts" haha.  I have really tried not to be a whiny pregnant lady that complains all the time, and I would say that for the past 9 months I have done a good job with that (although Brad might disagree haha). 

Brad and I are trying to enjoy our summer together before Emery makes her grand entrance.  We have spent lots of lazy days at the lake, and we've just been hanging out enjoying each other.  Lots of changes are in store for our family, and I'm uneasy about them, but I DO know that God is bigger than these changes, and my worries about them.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning;  Great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself  'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him'.  The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly on the Lord." ~ Lamentations 2:22-26