House Update

Well - the house is moving right along! We went by today to take time and walk around, take some pictures, and wrote on the studs of the walls. So fun building a house, already such special memories being made there!

Front of the house

Emma having fun

Back - love our porch!

Wrote the lyrics to one of our favorite songs, Invade all through out the house

Emma wanted to write her name and baby on the room across from hers :)

We wrote verses all around the house - love this!

Saturday hike

This past weekend Matt had the weekend off so we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and get outside. Here are a few pics from our hike.

Another Year

It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone so quickly. I would never have imagined our life to look so different in one year. 2011 definitely had its share of challenges, struggles, tears, loneliness and adjustments. I will admit that I am glad it is gone - but I am also grateful for what the year taught us as a family. Through unwelcome circumstances we grew closer as a family, we grew closer to our Mighty God, I saw His hand work through tough situations, I have learned that I must rely on Him to be my ALL - not just some. I have learned that we can live on little and we have seen Emma adjust far better than I could have imagined, and thrived through it all. And we have seen that God is faithful, even though most prayers have not been answered, He is still faithful. Today I can across this verse:

Ps. 40.3

"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in Him."

May that ring true in our lives. I am thankful for a tough year. Thankful that we can come out on the other side and still say God is GOOD!!

Looking ahead at 2012 I know their will be struggles - but there are two things that, Lord willing, look very promising:

Baby Waller!!

A HOUSE!!!

Christmas 2011

We had a great long Christmas this year! Emma and I were at my parents house for about 2 weeks and Matt got to join for over a week as well! We were able to see his parents and grandparents, which was such a special treat, and spend a long time with my family.

Is. 9.6 - "For unto us a child is born, to us a son is give, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

This verse stood true so many Christmas' ago and rang true this Christmas as well. This year He orchestrated so many details for my whole family to be together. It was a cherished time of playing and laughing, quality long night talks, worshiping together, and being thankful. What a precious family He has granted me with - I could not be more grateful.

Where do they come up with this?!?

A conversation with Emma over dinner last night - as she got very thoughtful

"Mom - if cows give milk, and chickens give eggs, what do alpacas give?"

I (trying hard not to laugh) answer, their fur

"But I don't want to eat their fur!"

No - its just for wearing

"Oh, thats so nice of them."

Really - crazy kid... officially starting to document our conversations, we need to remember them!

Proclaim it.

Today as I was reading I came across this verse:

Psalm 105.1

Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

And so today that is what I am going to do. For two years now Matt and I have prayed that God would use the current struggles in our lives to bring Him glory, in some way, to help others know Him. We have consistently longed for our trials to be our testimony, for God's mighty hand to be revealed in ways that we could never know. For almost two years now we have struggled with the desires to grow our family, the physical pain of loosing pregnancies, and the waiting period of taking in children without a home, knowing that He would do it at the right time. Trusting that God would grow our family how He saw fit, taking the faith walk to just wait (which is really hard for me to do).

Over the last several weeks, I have struggled more than ever with the meaning of life. It is not until a life close to you is threatened that you begin to evaluate, to look at, and to wonder what it is all about. We have been faced with the uncertainty of life and attempting to trust that God is in control.

And now we see the hand of God reach down in both situations and show His faithfulness. As I sit tonight and try to put into words my overwhelming feelings of inadequacy. That He would choose to answer prayer. That He would give my mom something to look forward to. That at the exact time that we are needing Hope, He gives it. That the Maker of all life would choose my family to perform a huge miracle through a tiny life. Through that He has given us another child, a healthy pregnancy. LIFE - and only by the Hand of an Almighty Maker. Praise be to our Father in Heaven, who hears our cries, and gives LIFE and gives it abundantly!

Our prayer for this precious new life is that he/she would bring glory to God, from this day to their last. That we would not forget to proclaim His mighty act and faithfulness. That this story could bring others to know Him. May you be reminded today that He is good, His timing is perfect, He is in control, and He knows the deepest longings of our hearts.

So the facts: Jen is 12 wks, baby is in the right place! Due June 17th. Yes, a few wks into summer camp, again - trusting God's timing!

Santa Fe Thanksgiving

We had a great time over Thanksgiving! Matt was done with his final paper and we got to just be together as a family. We talked the entire 11 hour drive there, so nice just to be able to talk. Daddy and Emma had lots of play time, which was a nice break for Mom too and we were able to enjoy just being together.

There was some riding bikes.

Time in town square with Christmas lights.

Fun times with Pops and Susu!

Emma's Thanksgiving plate - I love her face "what, I shouldn't eat this huge piece of bread first?" And she did clean her plate!

And beautiful sunsets!

So much to be thankful for - Happy Thanksgiving!