The Adams Pair + 1

Laughing Olivia

2010-11-08T10:33:00.001-06:00

Olivia thought Toby was so funny.

Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

2010-11-04T11:22:00.003-05:00

Last weekend Olivia took her first trip to the Pumpkin Patch with Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Christine, Ricky, G-ma Marion and Papa. We had so much fun! Olivia loved it and loved being with her cousin Ricky.

She wasn't to sure about the bunny.

Ricky sharing a pumpkin with Olivia.

Mark thought he could fight a goat.

I love these pictures. She loves her cousin Ricky!

Eating Solids For The First Time

2010-10-15T07:25:00.003-05:00

Our baby girl is 4 months old and growing up so fast. As you can see here, she can sit up with support, which she loves to do. She had her four month well baby checkup and we got the "ok" to start solids. This is our experience. The first video is from the first night, the second video is from the second night.

She loves telling stories

2010-10-04T11:12:00.002-05:00

Olivia has discovered her voice and she loves to use it!

Our growing baby girl

2010-10-04T10:05:00.003-05:00

Our beautiful baby girl is getting so big! She will be 4 months old on Saturday! I can't even believe it. She can sit up with support, roll over onto her belly from her back and then from her belly onto her back again, she holds anything that you put in her hand, she laughs out loud and smiles all the time. She is such a joy. We are so very blessed with this amazing little gift.

Bath Time Fun

2010-10-01T10:29:00.000-05:00

Olivia LOVES her bath time. She has discovered that splashing is a lot of fun!

Olivia's Dedication

2010-09-13T10:43:00.001-05:00

We dedicated Olivia Faith Adams to God on August 15, 2010. It was a special day to thank God for our beautiful miracle baby and give her to Him. What a great responsibility to raise a child to know the awesome grace of Jesus Christ and to teach her about His love. She has so many people who love her and prayed so hard for her to be a part of our world. I want to say thank you to all the wonderful people who will and already have been a huge part in our little Olivia's life. You all mean so much to us!

3 Generations

2010-09-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Olivia meeting her great-grandpa.

Always keep moving!

2010-09-12T20:28:00.003-05:00

With parenthood comes many lessons. We have learned that riding in the car calms Olivia down. It relaxes her and she will usually fall asleep. We have also learned that when the car is moving she is fine, if we stop she gets fussy. We saw this commercial, and we can TOTALLY relate!

Find Your Wings

2010-08-19T13:37:00.004-05:00

Becoming a parent is one of best things that has ever happened to me. It has totally changed the way I look at things and given me a new perspective on life. I have learned more about my self in the last 2 months, than I have in my last 24 years of existence. Olivia has helped me to understand the kind of love that my parents have for me. They would do anything for me to make sure that I am taken care of. Growing up, I was never in need of anything because my parents worked so hard to provide for us. I never really understood why, but now I get it. A parent wants the best for their children and will do whatever it takes to ensure that their children are taken care of, even if it means sacrificing for them. It is my hope, that as a parent, Olivia will grow up knowing that she is loved very much. I pray, that with God's help, we will be able to raise her in such a way that she knows that she can do big things in life and dream big dreams, and that we will do whatever it takes to make sure that our love gives her roots and helps her find her wings.

This is my song to my precious Olivia...

Find Your Wings

By Mark Harris

It's only for a moment

You are mine to hold

The plans that heavens has for you

Will all too soon unfold

So many different prayers I'll pray

For all that you might do

But most of all I want to know

You're walking in the truth

And if I never told you

I want you to know

That as I watch you grow

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind

That leads you through your days

And may conviction keep your strong

Guide you on your way

May there be many moments

That make your life so sweet

Oh but more than memories

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

It's not living

If you don't reach for the sky

I'll have tears as you take off

But I'll cheer as you fly

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

The Small Group

2010-08-06T14:11:00.002-05:00

I love this video! How accurate is it for you?

Smiles from Olivia

2010-07-28T18:01:00.004-05:00

I could watch her smile all day long. I am so thankful for my beautiful girl!

Olivia's first month of life.

2010-07-09T19:09:00.003-05:00

I can't even believe how fast time flies! One minute I'm thinking that I am going to be pregnant forever, the next minute I wake up and my baby girl is a month old. Adjusting to a new life with a newborn has been tough at times, but we wouldn't change it for anything.

She is such a good baby. She cries when she needs something and is happy the rest of the time. Every day we learn something new about her. She is an absolute joy and we are very blessed to have her in our lives.

Olivia Faith Adams

2010-06-27T11:44:00.006-05:00

Olivia Faith Adams has finally arrived! Her birthday was one of the happiest days of my life and we are cherishing every moment. We feel very blessed to be a part of this little miracle baby's life!

It all started when I started having pretty intense contractions about 10 minutes apart on Tues. June 8, around 7:30pm. I wasn't sure if it was the real thing or not, so I let it play out. By the time I was ready for bed, they had become about 5 minutes apart and I could not sleep through them. I woke Mark up and we headed to the hospital. When we arrived at the hospital, around midnight on June 9, the nurse informed us that I was only at a 1. I felt very disappointed, because I was so ready to meet our little girl. After I was checked, the doctor came in and said that she didn't want to send me home just yet. She told us to walk for an hour. That hour of walking felt like the longest hour of our life! After the hour of walking, I was checked again and informed that I was at a 2 1/2!!! I was in labor!!!! Shortly after that my water broke. I was moved into labor and delivery. No turning back now. After 16 hours of active labor and some major fluctuations in Olivia's heart rate, the doctors felt that it was best for me and Olivia to have a C-section. Within 15 minutes of the word C-section, I was prepped and ready to deliver. Within 15 minutes of me being in the operating room Olivia had arrived. She was absolutely beautiful. She was born June 9, at 6:47pm, 6lbs, 7oz, 20in long.

Being able to see our daughter for the first time was the most amazing feeling. At that moment, I never thought I could feel so much love for something to small. And now every time I look at her, I can see just how much God loves us! He has given us this beautiful baby girl to love. Something that we thought was never going to happen. She is such a little blessing.

40 Weeks!!! I made it.

2010-06-08T18:17:00.004-05:00

Here we are, 40 weeks pregnant, the day I am due. Still no baby yet. I will be induced on Thursday, June 10 at 8pm, if she decides to stay until then. What an amazing journey this has been. It is so humbling to know that God cares about me enough to give me the desire of my heart, which is to be a mom. I have dreamed about this for a long time and it is finally happening. Mark reminded me this evening that tomorrow night will be our last night at home, just being Mark and Sarah, and then after that we will become a family of three. I love the sound of that! I want to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey with us. Thank you for your love and support. We love you all!

37 Weeks SOOO close!!

2010-05-20T11:43:00.003-05:00

How far along? 37 Weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: I don't know, they have stopped telling me. Lol.

Stretch marks? Ugh!

Sleep: NOPE!! Not at all. I actually dread bedtime. I am up every 30 minutes.

Best moment this week: Knowing that she is due in less than 20 days.

Movement: She is getting pretty crowded in there, but she is still moving a lot.

Food cravings: Fish

Labor Signs: I have been having contractions. Apparently they are all practice ones, cause I haven't started to dilate at all yet.

Belly Button in or out? Still in but very stretchy.

What I miss: SLEEP!!!

 What I am looking forward to: Meeting our sweet baby girl!!!!

Weekly Wisdom: Salt is not your friend.

Milestones: I am officially full-term

At 37 weeks, your baby's body is developed enough to survive outside of the womb. Her lungs, now filled with amniotic fluid, are ready to take her first breaths of air. Her eyelids flutter open and shut preparing for her first view of you. This baby is just about done growing inside you. That means it could be anytime now! At nearly six pounds, six ounces and 14 inches in length (crown to rump), she has now reached about the size of an average watermelon and will continue to stay at that size until she is born.

Olivia's Nursery

2010-05-12T12:07:00.006-05:00

It's been a long time coming, but here is her nursery. I absolutely love it. I often find myself just sitting in her room, dreaming about what it will be like when she gets here.

Wow! 36 weeks...Baby Olivia could come at any time!

2010-05-12T09:11:00.002-05:00

Well here we are at week 36. I am amazed at how fast this has all gone by. It feels like just yesterday that we were announcing to everyone that we were finally going to be parents! What a journey this has been, from being told that we would not be able to conceive on our own to experiencing all the highs and lows of pregnancy. As much fun as this has been, I am soooo ready for her to be here so we can start the next journey of being parents.

Your once wiggly baby now favors certain body positions. Typically, your baby will enjoy resting with his head down and his rump toward your ribs—the ideal placement for delivery. Your baby's movements will become less frequent as he has less wiggle room. From now Baby's growth will be slow and steady as he continues to put on weight and fill out. Your little one weighs in at six pounds this week and his length hovers around 13.2 inches (crown to rump). About the size of a crenshaw melon.

Week 35 ALMOST THERE!!!

2010-05-06T12:14:00.006-05:00

This week started off with a little scare. I woke up Monday morning at 4:30am with really bad chest and back pain. In order to find out what was going on, Mark and I took a little trip to the ER. They ran a bunch of tests on me, did an ultrasound on my legs to check for clots, drew several tubes of blood from my veins and arteries (ouch!) and monitored Olivia. The diagnosis: UNKNOWN. :( The doctors only explanation was acid reflux or something with my gallbladder. So they sent me home with the orders to rest and drink plenty of fluids. I have been okay since and Olivia is very healthy. I guess it's just not time yet.

How far along? 35 Weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +27 lb Ya, totally gained 11lbs in 2 weeks, ugh! The doctor said it was all water weight.

Stretch marks? Ugh!

Sleep: Depends on the night.

Best moment this week: Knowing that Olivia is healthy.

Movement: Still a little mover, I think she is head down. Sure feels like it!

Food cravings: Pepsi freezes from Fastlane!

Labor Signs: Contractions.

Belly Button in or out? Still in but very stretchy.

What I miss: Being able to get off the couch on my own.

 What I am looking forward to: Mark finishing the nursery this weekend!!!! (Pics will be up next week)

Weekly Wisdom: None this week.

Milestones: Olivia's bag and my hospital bag are all packed, the car seat is installed, the nursery is 95% complete, we have everything we need, we are ready for her!

At 35 weeks, your baby is considered full-term and she looks developed. The soft, fuzzy hairs that once covered her body begin to disappear. She continues to add fat layers, which will help her stay warm once she's out of the womb. During these last weeks, your baby is developed sleeping patterns (and they often have little to do with night and day!) Your unborn baby weighs in at about five pounds, 10 ounces and stretches to around 12 inches (crown to rump). Baby's total size is about the size of a sheet cake.

Week 34

2010-05-06T12:03:00.004-05:00

Your unborn baby's muscles are maturing along with the rest of her body. She can hold her head up and turn it from side to side. She'll practice her newfound muscle tone by stretching out her arms and kicking her legs. If you are indeed having a boy, the testes have descended into their proper place. Your baby's eyes are now open when awake, and closed when sleeping. Most of the lanugo is gone and replaced with a thick coat of vernix. This week your baby is about 12.8 inches (crown to rump) and weighs nearly five pounds. About the size of a hefty honeydew.

Sooooo funny!

2010-04-22T10:18:00.001-05:00

A friend of ours introduced us to this video and it is certainly worth sharing!!

Week 33

2010-04-22T09:45:00.002-05:00

How far along? 33 Weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +16 lb

Stretch marks? Itchy!

Sleep: Heartburn keeps me up during the night. But when I am asleep, I sleep pretty well.

Best moment this week: My baby shower and getting her nursery all put together.

Movement: Her kicks are becoming stronger. It's no longer the little flutters. When she moves, she moves with purpose!

Food cravings: Nothing this week. I haven't felt as hungry as I usually do.

Labor Signs: I have been having some contractions. Nothing consistent yet.

Belly Button in or out? Still in.

What I miss: Seeing things on the floor, like my feet.

 What I am looking forward to: Being within a month of her arrival!!!

Weekly Wisdom: Slow down, kick your feet up, and drink water.

Milestones: Month 8 is underway! 1 more month to go!

Your unborn baby's senses continue to develop. If you talk to your baby, she can hear you. In fact, her world is full of sounds. In addition to your voice, she can hear your stomach growling and your lungs taking in air, along with the reassuring vibrations of your heart beating. Also, your baby's skin has turned from red to pink and she has started preparing for life outside the womb by storing iron in her liver. This week your baby stretches to around 12 inches (crown to rump) and weighs in at about four pounds, eight ounces. She is now about the size of a duck.

Maternity pictures

2010-04-22T08:55:00.006-05:00

We had so much fun doing this! Just another reminder that we serve an AWESOME God, who is always faithful! These are some of my favorites that I picked out to share with you. Enjoy!

Week 32

2010-04-21T15:02:00.006-05:00

Wow! 8 weeks left to go before the arrival of our daughter. This week was a big week. I went to the doctor and I will now be seeing him every other week, instead of monthly. I had my baby shower over the weekend. I had so much fun and got so much cute stuff. I am so thankful for all the wonderful people in my life. I also had maternity pictures taken. I want to say a HUGE thank you to our friend Sharlla Brandwein for doing such an amazing job! Needless to say, the next 8 weeks will be filled with preparation for our little girl. Her nursery is soooo very close to be totally complete. I can't wait until it's all finished!

Just like you, your unborn baby will establish a daily routine. You'll notice at times your baby is active and wiggly, while at other times you can't feel her movements. Once your baby's born, she'll most likely continue with her in-utero pattern. Along with a routine, your baby has favorite positions too. A favorite of many unborn babies is to have their heads down, rumps up towards the ribs (conveniently, the perfect position for labor). Your unborn baby weighs around four pounds and stretches to over 11 and one-half inches in length (crown to rump). She is about the size of a jicama.

Week 31

2010-04-21T11:32:00.005-05:00

How far along? 31 Weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +16 lb

Stretch marks? Blah!!

Sleep: I am getting up more often in the night and I now have to sleep at an angle and with 6 pillows.

Best moment this week: Getting maternity capris FINALLY!!!

Movement: Yep she is still a gymnast in my belly.

Food cravings: Chocolate milk

Labor Signs: I think I have had some contractions from time to time.

Belly Button in or out? Still in.  Mark wants it to pop out cause he thinks it will be cute.

What I miss: Being able to go non-stop. I now have to take breaks every hour or so.

 What I am looking forward to: My baby shower!!!!!

Weekly Wisdom: Keep tums with you at all times!!!!

Milestones: I can eat pickles again!

Your unborn baby's lungs continue to mature. As her lungs become more developed, the chances of her surviving if born prematurely increase. Her skin, which has been wrinkled, now becomes pink and smooth as fat cells fill out her body. Baby knows your voice. Singing to her, talking to her, and telling her all about the world she'll be joining soon is a great way for you and your partner to bond with Baby—and each other! Your baby's fingernails have grown and she may even need a manicure after she's born. Your unborn baby weighs around three pounds, eight ounces and stretches to around 11.2 inches (crown to rump). She is now about the size of a head a cabbage.

Week 30

2010-04-13T08:37:00.006-05:00

30 weeks pregnant and I am feeling great!! I get more and more anxious every day to meet our daughter!

Your baby's face looks much like it will when she's born. She still needs to fill out more to get the characteristic chubby infant cheeks, but she's on her way. She can move her head, open her eyes, and make breathing movements through her open nostrils (although no air comes in). If your little one were born today, she'd have a good chance for survival at about three pounds and nearly 11 inches long (crown to rump). About the size of a chihuahua.

Week 29

2010-04-04T18:33:00.006-05:00

How far along? 29 Weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +16 lb

Stretch marks? Yep, still there. Ugh!

Sleep: Sleeping pretty well these days, but I do have scheduled times that my little girl wakes me up.

Best moment this week: Mark being able to watch her move.

Movement: ALL THE TIME!!! I absolutely love feeling her move!

Food cravings: Nothing in particular this week, just food.

Gender: Still a beautiful baby girl.

Labor Signs: Nothing that I know of.

Belly Button in or out? In. 

What I miss: My toes and having normal sized feet.

 What I am looking forward to: Getting her nursery all set up and organized.

Weekly Wisdom: When you sleep...pillows, pillows and more pillows!

Milestones: Third Trimester has begun!!

Your baby is filling out this week. She's adding fat to insulate her body for the day she leaves her cozy home. You can probably distinguish between feet and hands, head and bottom when your baby-to-be moves inside you. She takes practice breaths but won't breathe air until delivery. Your baby's growth has begun to slow down now, but she will still gain approximately four pounds between now and birth. If she were born now, she would be able to breathe, but might tire easily and need assistance. Her little eyes are sensitive to light. At two pounds, 12 ounces and almost 10 and one-half inches (crown to ump), your little one is growing fast! She is about the size of butternut squash.

Week 28

2010-03-23T11:55:00.006-05:00

Well I am officially in my 3rd trimester. I can't even believe how fast this is going. Our little bundle of joy should be arriving in about 11 weeks, which means it's crunch time! The nursery is coming along very nicely, (I will post pictures after my baby shower, I promise!) and I am feeling more and more prepared every day, well as prepared as you can be for something to totally change your life. My pregnancy has been so wonderful, and I couldn't be more thankful that God has blessed me with such an amazing and healthy pregnancy. I can't wait to meet our beautiful little miracle.

Your unborn baby's survival rate outside the womb increases as each week passes. If she didn't open his eyes last week, chances are she'll take her first peek this week. Your baby-to-be's skeleton and muscles are maturing quickly. This week she can turn her head from side to side. Most of the lanugo has disappeared at this point and your baby may have a full head of hair by now. Your Baby weighs in at around two pounds, seven ounces and stretches to 10 inches (crown to rump). About the size of a Chinese cabbage.

Week 27

2010-03-18T10:20:00.004-05:00

How far along? 27 Weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +16 lb

Stretch marks? I don't want to talk about it.

Sleep: I sleep best from about 4am-7am, and I sleep really well on the couch

Best moment this week: Getting to feel her kick from the outside and watching my belly move.

Movement: She is in her prime moving time. The doctor told me that I will be feeling her the most from now until about 32 weeks.

Food cravings: Still Mac and Cheese

Gender: A beautiful baby girl.

Labor Signs: None this week.

Belly Button in or out? In. 

What I miss: Rolling over in the middle of the night and it not taking 10 minutes to do so.

 What I am looking forward to: For Mark to be able to feel her kick.

Weekly Wisdom: Pedicures are your friend!

Milestones: This is the last week of my 2nd trimester.

Your baby's lungs and brain are beginning to mature. Although she'd have a good chance of survival if she were born now, she could use a few more weeks of growing. Added layers of fat are continuing to form. These layers will help your baby regulate his temperature once outside the womb and help keep her warm. Your little one weights just over two pounds now and stretches out to a little over nine and one-half inches (crown to rump), which is about the size of an 8x10 picture frame.

Week 26, Less than 100 days to go!!!

2010-03-08T09:09:00.005-06:00

I am 26 weeks pregnant and every day I get more and more excited to be a mom! What a journey. And it's one that is just beginning.

This week your baby-to-be opens her eyes for the first time. She'll open and shut her eyes as she gets used to her new ability. Your little one is still on the small side. Her body may look fully formed on the outside, but inside there's fine-tuning taking place, including her lungs and her brain. This week your baby's weight hovers around two pounds and her length reaches about nine inches (crown to rump) which is about the size of a box of Kleenex.

Week 25

2010-03-01T08:49:00.005-06:00

How far along? 25 Weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +10 lb

 Maternity clothes? I think I am gonna wear maternity clothes forever!! They are so comfortable!

Stretch marks? Ug!

Sleep: Depends on the night. Heartburn keeps me awake.

Best moment this week: Getting to see her again via ultrasound

Movement: I am pretty sure she has her own kick-boxing class in my belly.

Food cravings: Mac and Cheese

Gender: A beautiful baby girl.

Labor Signs: None this week.

Belly Button in or out? In. 

What I miss: Being able to paint my toenails.

 What I am looking forward to: For Mark to be able to feel her kick.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't hesitate to call your doctor if you need something, that is what they are there for.

Milestones: Feeling her move all the time.

Your baby-to-be's lungs are developing rapidly, although she'd probably need a little help breathing if she were born at this point. Her respiratory system continues to develop, her nostrils are open, and she can breathe—but she won't take her first breath of air until delivery day. Her reproductive organs are formed (in boys, the testes have descended). Her skin is translucent and wrinkled, and he can hear your stomach when it gurgles nd your voice when you sing. Your baby is becoming more aware of how she can move—she's wiggling her fingers and toes! Your baby has grown to about one pound, eight ounces and she's nearly nine inches long (crown to rump).

Week 24

2010-02-22T10:12:00.007-06:00

Just a quick FYI: Heartburn is a killer!!!!!!!

Other than that things are still going really well. I had a doctor's appointment this week to check for gestational diabetes and I passed it!! I am so thankful for that!

I feel her move all the time! She is definitely an active baby. I love to feel her move inside me. It's a constant reminder of the awesomeness of God and how great He is, to allow me to carry and raise this little girl.

This rocking chair was mine from when I was little, so I refinished and painted it so Olivia can enjoy it. Here is the before and after.

I thought this picture put things more into perspective as far as how big she is inside me.

Your baby is filling out this week. Part of your weight gain goes straight to helping him gain weight, too. Since he's still on the scrawny side, his skin wrinkles on his body, but he looks like a miniature version of what you'll see on delivery day. His face has formed, ears are in place, and eyes are complete (although his lids are still closed). He has eyelashes, fingernails, and may be growing hair, too. Rapid eye movements (REM) are beginning, too. This week your baby weighs around one and one-half pounds and measures almost eight and one-half inches (crown to rump). She is about the size of an ear of corn.

Week 23

2010-02-09T09:01:00.005-06:00

So here I am at 23 weeks pregnant. I am still enjoying every minute of it! Mark has informed me that I have started waddling. I didn't believe him, but then it just had to snow and I saw my footprints. Sadly, they are no longer in a straight line, they are side by side. Oh well, I guess it had to start some time. At least Mark thinks its cute. He is so supportive and I love him so much for that!

I had to have another ultrasound Monday, so they could get some more measurements. Some of these aren't as clear as the last ones, but I thought I would post them anyway. The doctor says everything looks great and that she is right on track. I have about 115 days left before we get to meet our little girl!

Here are her little arms and hands.

I think this one is so cute. She is in the fetal position.

This is her whole body.

This one they did in 3D. They wanted to get a view of her face, but she was being camera shy and wouldn't move her hands away from her face. Silly girl, she is going to have to get over that, because when she gets here, she will have A LOT more pictures taken of her.

Twenty-three weeks marks an important point for your unborn baby. Your baby-to-be is far enough along in her development that she could have a chance at survival outside the womb. According to the March of Dimes, of all babies born at 23 weeks, 25 to 35 percent survive. This number goes up considerably when you add just a couple weeks: babies born between 50 to 70 percent of all babies born at 24 to 25 weeks survive. And 90 percent of all babies born at 26 to 27 weeks survive. Although all of your baby-to-be's internal systems are in place, she needs more time for those intricate systems to mature. Your little one now about eight inches long (crown to rump) and weighs in at around one pound. Which is about the size of a papaya.

Week 22

2010-02-01T08:50:00.005-06:00

We had a really great weekend. We were able to get Olivia's room all painted. (Pictures of the completed nursery coming soon!) We just need to get the chair rail put up and arrange the room. I can't wait to see it all put together. I know she will love it!

Your baby's brain is growing daily. Her senses are also starting develop. She can hear the sound of your heart along with your breathing. As she wiggles her fingers, she may touch her face or even suck her thumb. Her lungs are becoming more mature, and she even goes through the motions of breathing. She can also swallow, although she won't have her first real meal until delivery day. Your baby-to-be reaches about 7.6 inches in height (crown to rump) and weighs in at just over 12 ounces. Which is about the size of a spaghetti squash.

Week 21

2010-01-26T13:51:00.004-06:00

This whole experience has been so wonderful. Some days I wake up and still can't believe that there is a little miracle growing inside me. I absolutely love being pregnant, but it's funny because some days I just want this to be over so I can meet her, and start teaching her about how much of a miracle she really is. I want to show her how much we love her and for her to understand how much God really wanted her to be here.

How far along? 21 weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +10 lb

 Maternity clothes? Yes please!

Stretch marks? Still not too bad this week

Sleep: Some nights are good, some nights are not so good, but I LOVE NAPS!!!

Best moment this week: Finding out that we will be having a girl.

Movement: I am starting to feel her more and more. She is most active from 8pm-10:30pm.

Food cravings: Mayo, cheese and pickle sandwiches

Gender: It's a girl!!!!

Labor Signs: I think I have been having some Braxton Hicks contractions. I had three really bad cramps in a row the other night, each were 9 minutes apart. I am not diagnosing myself, but I am guessing that's what it was.

Belly Button in or out? In. 

What I miss: Feeling full for a long period of time. I feel like I am hungary every 5 minutes.

 What I am looking forward to: Getting started on the Nursery

Weekly Wisdom: It's okay to cry! Just let it out. Blame it on the hormones!

Milestones: She is moving around a lot more.

Your little one will begin to fill out over the next few weeks. Fat layers form throughout your unborn baby's body. These layers will eventually keep her warm and insulated once outside the womb. Soft hair, called lanugo, covers her body, too. Her eyelids are still closed, making her appear like she's sleeping, but frequent wiggles will let you know she's awake. You may also feel Baby hiccupping.Those jerky motions you feel in your belly are a result of little lungs practicing the important task of breathing. Your baby-to-be weighs in at around 10.5 ounces and stretches to about 7.2 inches (crown to rump). About the size of a phone receiver.

2010-01-19T09:02:00.003-06:00

I love this picture! She looks so relaxed and has her ankles crossed like her daddy does.

It was so neat to watch her move on the ultrasound screen. She was such a wiggle worm. I guess eating a king size Reeses and apple juice was a little excessive. I am pretty sure she was having a sugar rush. At one point I saw her jump on the screen and I felt the jump at the same time. Mark and I are so happy that we will be raising a daughter. We are really looking forward to meeting our little princess!

By week 20, your baby-to-be is gearing up for the next phase in his development—filling out. Her organs are getting into their proper places. Her kidneys are now in position with their familiar bean shape. Her ovaries have reached their position. Her brain continues to form and grow. Her teeth are beginning to appear, and she can swallow. If you haven't been able to feel her move, chances are you'll be feeling her move more and more over the coming weeks. She's still just barely six inches long (crown to rump) and weighs around nine ounces. About the six of a 6in Subway sub.

Half way there!!!! 20 Weeks!

2010-01-18T08:53:00.003-06:00

I can't even express how excited we are for this week! We have reached some big milestones. Today we will (hopefully, if little bit cooperates) find out if we will be raising a son or a daughter. I have heard tons of predictions and many people say that it will be a girl and only a few that it is a boy. I have had three dreams for a boy and three for a girl, so at this point I really don't have any strong feelings either way, I will be totally surprised! Whether it's a boy or a girl, I am so thankful for this little miracle growing inside of me. God has truly blessed us with this precious gift, and we will be forever grateful for that!

Week 19

2010-01-11T14:21:00.004-06:00

How far along? 19 Weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +8 lb

 Maternity clothes? Still very comfy!

Stretch marks? Not too bad.

Sleep: Not so much right now.

Best moment this week: I am feeling the baby move!!

Movement: Yep, mostly at night.

Food cravings: Mac and Cheese

Gender: Finding out on MONDAY!!!!!!

Labor Signs: None yet.

Belly Button in or out? In. 

What I miss: Laying on my belly.

 What I am looking forward to: Finding out the gender!!!! I am sooo excited. It's so close now!!

Weekly Wisdom: Not feeling very wise this week. Lol.

Milestones: Finally feeling the baby move.

Your unborn baby's organs continue to grow. His body is covered with lanugo—soft hairs and a sticky protective coating that keeps his skin from drying out in the amniotic fluid. Your baby is moving frequently, and by now you should be able to feel those movements. Your physician can hear your baby-to-be's heartbeat with a stethoscope placed on your abdomen. Baby is covered in vernix, a white, cheesy "cream" that protects her skin from the long bath in amniotic fluid. Preemies are covered in vernix at birth—"posties" have almost none. Your little one weighs in at around seven ounces and he's between five and six inches long (crown to rump) about the size of a mango.

Week 18

2010-01-11T10:26:00.004-06:00

It's been a pretty exciting week. I am starting to feel the baby move. Really awesome feeling. I mostly feel it at night, which for us might be good if our baby is a night owl. I can only hope right?!!

At week 18, your baby-to-be's senses are maturing. She's able to hear sounds within her own comfortable environment, such as the sound of your heart beating, as well as external sounds, such as your voice. She may become more active for certain sounds, and you'll feel her movements. At this point in her development she's still small enough that she has plenty of room to wiggle. Your little one is about five ounces and five to six inches long (crown to rump) which is about the size of a plastic cup.

Week 17

2010-01-04T09:56:00.004-06:00

How far along? 17 Weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +8 lb

 Maternity clothes? Needing them more and more!

Stretch marks? Itchy

Sleep: Sleeping a lot better these days!

Best moment this week: We got to hear the heartbeat!!!!

Movement: I think I have felt movement, but I am not sure if it's the baby or not.

Food cravings: Pizza and Pickles

Gender: We will find out on Jan. 18

Labor Signs: None yet.

Belly Button in or out? In. 

What I miss: Nothing this week

 What I am looking forward to: Finding out what our baby is so we can start getting the nursery ready.

Weekly Wisdom: Make sure that there are tissues handy wherever you go!

Milestones: I can sleep again, I can sleep again!!!

Around this time your baby's ears pop from his head and Baby-to-be can now sense sounds. After all, he has plenty to listen to in utero! He's accustomed to the strong beating of your heart, blood rushing through your veins, and your stomach grumbling. He can also discern sounds outside the uterus, like your voice and music. Although, according to the Mayo Clinic, whether he can distinguish the sound of your voice versus other sounds is not yet clear. This week your little one weighs in at around five ounces and stretches to just over five inches (crown to rump). About the size of an onion.

Week 16

2009-12-26T09:58:00.004-06:00

Week 16 has been one amazing week!!! We had a doctors appointment and got to hear the heartbeat for the first time! It was so awesome! It was a very VERY exciting experience! At the next doctors appointment we will find out what we are having. I can't wait!

By week 16, your baby-to-be's body is doing more to support itself. Her kidneys function and produce urine that then passes through the umbilical cord. Within her stomach, bile is secreted, although she relies on you for all of her nutrients. Her appearance changes as her scalp hair grows and may even have color. Her developing facial muscles make it possible for her to open and close her mouth, maybe even give you a smile or two. This week, your little one is around four inches long (crown to rump) and weighs in at nearly three ounces. About the size of an Avocado.

Week 15

2009-12-21T15:02:00.005-06:00

How far along? 15 weeks

 Total weight gain/loss: +1 lb

 Maternity clothes? Yes and they are comfy!!!

Stretch marks? Not really

Sleep: I haven't been sleeping well, but when I do I have really weird dreams

Best moment this week: Nothing that sticks out. Been a good week.

Movement: Not yet

Food cravings: Pizza in the first trimester. Can't do fast food anymore. Blah! This week, it's sweets.

Gender: We will be finding out soon!

Labor Signs: None yet.

Belly Button in or out? In. 

What I miss: Sleeping through the night.

 What I am looking forward to: My doctor's appointment on Wednesday and picking up our nursery furniture this week!

Weekly Wisdom: Fast Food is evil!

Milestones: I am in my 2nd trimester!!!

At week 15, your baby-to-be stretches her limbs and bends at her elbows. She's getting big enough that you can feel many of these movements.

This week your baby is roughly the size of a small apple or orange. Her bones are continuing to grow and lengthen. While she looks more like a baby, her skin is still thin and translucent with her veins visible.

Your baby is also beginning to grow lanugo, a very fine hair. It will keep growing until around the 26th gestational week of pregnancy (that's week 28 of your pregnancy).

Week 14

2009-12-08T09:02:00.003-06:00

I am starting to show a little!! I have been having really crazy dreams. My most recent one was that I had gone into the hospital and had the baby, (which was a boy). The nurses brought him into the room so I could hold him. Mark and I were enjoying our little one. Then Mark said that I should get some rest, so I went to sleep with the baby in my arms and when I woke up he was a toddler! But I guess that is really how it is, one minute they are little ones, being cuddle in a blanket in our arms without a care in the world and the next minute they are walking and talking. This is definitely becoming real!! We are so excited to become parents. I am so thankful for this little miracle growing inside me.

At 14 weeks your baby is a regular wiggler, but because of his small size you probably won't feel it yet. Your baby-to-be's face is becoming more distinguishable as his eyes move closer together and his ears move closer to their final positions. He's also growing soft baby hair all over his body, which is thought to help anchor developing skin, as well as forming hair on his eyebrows and scalp. He may hiccup too, even though his lungs are filled with fluid, not air. Your little one is currently between 3.2 to 4.5 inches (from crown to rump) and weighs in at around .9 ounces, about the size of a lemon.

An amazing version of Jingle Bells!

2009-12-04T09:54:00.003-06:00

This is Mark's uncle. His name is Jonni Glaser. He is an AMAZING piano player!!! In fact, he played at our wedding. We had a really beautiful song picked out for Jonni to play and some friends of ours to sing. By accident, we gave Jonni one version of the song for him to learn and the singers a different version of the song to learn. On rehearsal night they realized that the song they had learned was not the same. Jonni took the right version of the song to the car, listened to it for about 30 minutes, came back and played it PERFECT!!! He has such an amazing gift! Enjoy!

Week 13

2009-12-03T15:09:00.003-06:00

Week 13 has been really good. I am feeling great at this point! I just have trouble sleeping, and my bladder won't let me sleep through the night anymore. I have had 2 dreams that it is a boy and Mark has had a dream that it's a boy, so we will see when that time comes. At my next doctor's appointment I will be 16 weeks, so I hope he will be able to tell us what we are having. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Week 13 marks a milestone for your baby-to-be. Developmentally speaking she's no longer an embryo, but a fetus. She's looking—and acting—more and more like a baby every day. She appears to be resting because her eyelids have formed and are fused together, but her arms and legs move and twitch (although you probably can't feel it … yet). She can suck her thumb, too. Your baby is about the size of a tennis ball! She's growing heavier at around .5 to .7 ounces and is getting longer at about three inches long (crown to rump).

Week 12

2009-11-25T14:54:00.003-06:00

This week was pretty uneventful. Which is a good thing. I had a doctor's appointment on Monday. I thought we would get to hear the heartbeat this time, but we did not. Still to early I guess.

The end of the first trimester marks an important step for your baby-to-be. All of her major body systems are in place. In her digestive system, her small intestine is no longer entwined with the umbilical cord, but instead is tucked neatly within the abdomen. Her nervous system continues to develop, and her brain's structure is fully formed. Many of her organs are starting to work on their own, too. For instance, her thyroid begins to secrete hormones. Next week she'll no longer be considered an embryo, but instead graduates into a fetus. She's already looking more and more like the baby you're probably imagining—she even has tiny fingernails. At 12 weeks, your baby weighs in around 1.5 ounces and measures about three inches in length (from crown to rump). Which is about the size of a plum.

11 Weeks

2009-11-18T12:04:00.004-06:00

Sunday we had the opportunity to share our story with our church family. I was very glad for this opportunity. I really hope that God uses our story to help someone else who may be struggling with everything that we went through.

This week was a little scary for me. I tripped and fell on some concrete and banged myself up pretty good. For those of you who know me, this is nothing new. I am clumsy and I fall all the time, but this time was very scary. The doctor said that everything was okay, and that the baby is very cushioned inside me. Which made me feel better, but it was still a very scary thing for me. I will definitely be watching a lot better where I am walking!

I am excited for next week, because we will get to hear the heartbeat!!

Your baby-to-be's body still may look a little strange. At this point in development the head makes up nearly half of his body size. Don't worry, in the next few weeks the rest of his body will catch up. Right now, part of your baby's small intestine coils around the umbilical cord outside his body—this will change soon, too. Your baby weighs in at about three-tenths of an ounce this week, and his length is just under two and one-half inches (crown to rump). About the size of a lime.

Trust

2009-11-12T11:52:00.002-06:00

Trust: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; one in which confidence is placed. This is something that is a constant struggle for me. So many times I think I can do things on my own and in my own strength. The truth is...I can't. I watched this video the other day and it made me think. These past few weeks have been so eye-opening for me. I have learned that God is in control of EVERYTHING in my life and I just have to TRUST Jesus! Sometimes easier said than done, but sometimes we just have to let go and know that He will catch you!

Week 10

2009-11-09T09:12:00.006-06:00

Week number 10 of being pregnant and I am feeling great! I have been very fortunate, I have not had any morning sickness until today. I still feel nauseous from time to time, but for the most part, I have felt really good! My hormones, however, are in full force. I was sitting on the couch last night, and found myself crying at a Lowes commercial. So far this experience has been so amazing and I am loving it. I am so grateful to be carrying this little blessing and I can't wait to meet little baby Adams.

Info about baby at week 10:

Week 10 marks a milestone for your baby-to-be. This first part of fetal development is all about organization. All your baby-to-be's cells have been directed to their places—brain tissue is growing rapidly, muscles are forming, fingers and toes are becoming defined. Your baby-to-be looks less like an embryo (or an alien) and more like the baby in miniature that he is. He's getting bigger, too. This week your little one is about one and one-quarter inches long and weighs in at .18 ounce, about the size of a shrimp.

9 weeks!!!

2009-11-04T13:55:00.007-06:00

Being pregnant is so amazing! I thank God everyday for allowing me to carry this baby. I am still in awe of this little miracle! Here is an 8 week ultrasound picture.

I am at 9 weeks now. It's so amazing how quickly the baby develops! Here is some info about the development at 9 weeks.

Your baby is busy growing. Her face looks more baby-like each day—her eyes are developed but concealed, and her nose, lips, and ears are becoming more defined. She's also starting to exercise her expanding muscles. Her fingers and toes are looking less like stubs. Although she's a wiggler—and you could see that on an ultrasound—she's still so small that you won't feel these movements. Her reproductive organs are developing, but even if you sneaked a peek you wouldn't be able to tell that she's a she (and neither could your doctor at this point). Your growing baby is about as big as a quarter this week.

What Faith can do...

2009-10-21T08:42:00.017-05:00

In the presence of hope, faith is born. In the presence of faith, love becomes a possibility. In the presence of love, miracles happen.

Mark and I have been married for three wonderful years. It's a journey that brought us such happiness, has taken us down many different paths and brought us through many trials. We've been through 2 deployments, moved seven times in the past 5 years, changed jobs, bought our first home and so much more.

Many of you know that Mark and I have had a hard time getting pregnant. On August 21 I went to the doctor and learned that Mark and I would not be able to conceive on our own, due to a progesterone deficiency. My levels were entirely to low to conceive or to even carry a pregnancy. This news was devastating for us. After all the fertility and doctor's appointments, only to learn that I wasn't able to get pregnant without medical help.

After learning this news, I went home and just cried out to God. I told Him that I was done, I quit, I was giving this whole thing to Him and that I know that He is bigger than a progesterone problem.

The next week I couldn't stop thinking about Jeremiah 29:11,

"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."

And Psalm 46:10,

"Be still and know that I am God."

So all I could do is step back and take Him at His word. It was one of the hardest things to do, to let go and let God completely take control. But I have learned that if I just step back and let God do what He needs to do, then His plan will prevail in His perfect timing. So many times we think we can handle it on our own. All God wants is for us to relinquish control, stop trying to do it all and let Him be the God of our lives.

Once I gave up that control and stopped trying to do it all on my own, God was able to take control. I am proud to announce that Mark and I will be having a baby. I am about 7 weeks pregnant. God is so amazing. Psalm 31:4 is so true, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." It's been a long road, but we are so blessed. God continues to show us over and over again just how mighty He is!

Wedding Day!

2009-10-05T09:06:00.002-05:00

What a great weekend! My brother and Kaylen are married now! It was such a gorgeous wedding! I love you guys and wish you all the happiness in the world.

2009-09-21T14:14:00.002-05:00

Saturday was our 3rd annual Car Show at WWC. Very much a success! It was an absolutely gorgeous day! Our students did some fund raising to go to Louisville, KY in December for the Wesleyan Youth Convention. They did very well! Thank you to everyone who helped support our students!

Mark was up first in the dunk booth.

This is our Pastor and his wife! What a surprise!!

Pastor Don making balloon animals

One of our fundraisers. Dart game.

Keith in the dunk booth

Becka with her pig, Harley.

Hartley and Leah.

Mollie, Tiffany, Hartley and Leah. I love these girls!

My Abby and Danni. So cute!!

Our Bailey

2009-09-21T14:10:00.003-05:00

About a month ago, we welcomed a new family member into our home. Here is our boxer puppy, Bailey Sue Adams. She is sooo sweet and so much fun! We love her so much!

Kaylen's Bachelorette Party

2009-09-21T13:54:00.007-05:00

Jon and Kaylen are getting married in less than 2 weeks!!!! I can't believe it!! Here are some pics of the bachelorette party!

Maid of Honor-Leah with the Bride to Be!!

Bridesmaids!

The beautiful Bride to Be.

Having some fun!

More WWE Monday Night Raw!

2009-08-19T11:20:00.002-05:00

On Monday, Mark surprised me with tickets to Monday Night Raw. We went in back in February and we got to go again!! Our seats were AMAZING! We sat three rows back, right behind the King (who is the commentator.) Some of you may have seen us on TV. We had such a great time!

Freddie Prinze Jr. was the guest host!

Randy Orton & Freddie

Kofi Kingston

The Miz

Evan Bourne

The return of DX!!!! I was so excited to see them! I am a HUGE fan of Shawn Michaels!!!

HHH

Degeneration X

Shawn Michaels! This is my favorite picture.

Poor Shawn!

John Cena

Bear hug from the Big Show.

Chris Jericho and Randy Orton

5 Knuckle Shuffle

Such strength!!! The Big Show is a BIG guy!!

Bigger/Better

2009-07-23T10:44:00.004-05:00

Wednesday, our youth activity was a game called Bigger/Better, where the kids started out with either a water gun, a rubber duck, an expired tube of neosporin, a spool of ribbon, or a ping pong paddle, then had to walk around the surrounding neighborhood and ask people to trade for anything bigger or better than the object they had. Our team started out with a water gun, traded for a tool bag, then for a huge Cabela's bag, then for a child's riding toy, then for a rocking bench, and ended up with a rocket launcher, a lawnmower, and a screen door. Other teams came back with an entertainment center, a treadmill, a mattress, a Kurt Warner picture and a computer desk. It was very entertaining!

The rocking bench fell apart in the middle of the street.

Our team carrying the rocking bench through the neighborhood.

What we ended up with

This team came back with a Kurt Warner picture from the 1999 season. They tried to be sneaky and autograph it themselves. They fessed up. Good try guys!

An entertainment center

A treadmill, a mattress, and a desk! This was the winning team.

Cardinals All-Star game

2009-07-15T09:12:00.003-05:00

This is a video covering the All-Star Game in St. Louis, and a surprise visit in the background from my brother. Watch the whole video, he pops up in two different places. He is so funny and never afraid to be in the limelight.

Lara Landon

2009-07-09T09:50:00.004-05:00

A couple weeks ago we had the opportunity to host a Worship night with new recording artist Lara Landon. She is a fantastic singer and has a true passion for ministering to people. Her new album, Beloved, comes out in September. Here is a little sample of the album.

Fun girls night out!

2009-07-07T12:42:00.008-05:00

Taylor Akers, who has become one of my best friends, moved to Wisconsin yesterday with her husband Ryan, to pastor a church there. They have been such an amazing influence in Mark and I's life. I will miss them tremendously!

Last Monday night, a group of us decided to get matching tattoos. It was a lot of fun, but kinda sad, knowing that Taylor would be moving soon and this would be one of the last big things we all do together. Nevertheless, this something we will always remember!

Here is my tattoo

Jess's

Kelley's

Melea's

Deb's

And Taylor's

Jess's 30th Birthday Party, 80's style!

2009-07-07T11:53:00.004-05:00

The birthday girl and Taylor

All the girls

All the guys

Me and Kelley

We are finally moved in

2009-07-06T10:26:00.008-05:00

This has been a long process, but it's finally over and we can enjoy our new home

This is our Master Bedroom

Master Bath

One of my favorite parts of the house!

Our living room

Living Room looking into the Kitchen

Guest Bathroom

The Kitchen

You know your an army wife when...

2009-06-25T12:39:00.004-05:00

~You freak out if you can't find your military ID but you couldn't care less about your driver's license

~You talk more to the FRG than to your own husband.

~You know your husband's social security number better than your own!

~You've been married for 2 years, but have only seen your husband for 8 months.

~You are constantly kicking about 14 pairs of boots out of the way in various rooms of the house.

~You bring both cell phone and home phones with you everywhere, including the bathroom, shower and on top of the dryer, so as not to miss a call from your soldier.

~You can't watch the flag being raised or lowered without tears in your eyes.

~You don't get the answer you like from Tri-Care so you know the best solution is to hang up and keep calling until you hear what you want.

~You speak in acronyms. For example...

"Once the hubs (SPC MOS 19D) graduated BCT and AIT, we PCS'd to Ft.Neato. We had to register our POV, after that his NCO wanted to make sure we knew who our PCMwas and the location of the MTF. We headed to the commissary and PX for some supplies and on the way I received a call from my POC of the FRG about an upcoming meeting. We got home and the hubby had to pack his ACU's and TA-50 (but not his Class A's) because an extended vacation to an exotic "beach" was in his future, but I can't tell you about that because of OPSEC."

Moving Day is getting closer!

2009-06-23T09:18:00.004-05:00

The last couple weeks have been very long and tiring for us. We have been working almost every evening, painting, repairing, and cleaning our new house, so it will be move-in ready on Saturday, as well as packing up our apartment and getting that move-out ready. It's been a long haul, but it is nearing the end and we will officially become homeowners.

This has certainly been a long journey for us, but one that we have learned a lot, and been able to learn together. I feel very blessed to be able to go through this process with my husband by my side. There have been many big decisions and events in our relationship that we have had to face alone, because of deployments and living apart from each other. I am very thankful that Mark is here with me through all of this. He is a huge supporter in my life and I love him so much!

My husband the preacher!

2009-06-22T10:49:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday, Mark had the opportunity to give a message in church. I was so proud of him. Despite all his nerves, he did an amazing job! You can listen to his message here.

Mark's new Blog

2009-06-05T12:31:00.003-05:00

Mark has recently created his own blog. Check it out! He always amazes me and I love that about him. You can access his new blog by clicking on the link in my blog, which is on the right, under "Blogging Buddies," clicking here, or going to http://sgt-of-christ.blogspot.com/ He would love your comments and feedback.

Office Changes

2009-06-05T12:22:00.002-05:00

Came across this today and would like to share. If your office is needing to make some cuts in the budget, here is a great way to do it!!!

Due to difficult economic times, some changes have been made.

NEW OFFICE POLICY

Dress Code:

1) You are advised to come to work dressed according to your salary.

2) If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we will assume you are doing well financially
and therefore do not need a raise.

3) If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and
therefore you do not need a raise.

4) If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.

Sick Days:
We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Personal Days:
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year.
They are called Saturdays & Sundays.

Bereavement Leave:
This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every
effort should be made to have non-employees attend the funeral arrangements in your place. In rare cases where
employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to
allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Bathroom Breaks:
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet.
There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will
sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and a picture will be taken. After your
second offence, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the 'Chronic Offenders'
category. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sectioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch Break:

* Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy.

* Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.

* Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore,
all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations,
allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

The Management

The ABC's of me

2009-06-02T14:34:00.006-05:00

A - Age: 23

B - Bed Size: Queen

C - Chore you hate: Laundry

D - Dog's name: Toby

E - Essential start your day item: A nice warm shower

F - Favorite color: Pink

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5'8"

I - Instruments you play(ed) : The Flute

J - Job title: Wife and Administrative Assistant

K - Kid(s): none yet

L - Living arrangements: Town house right now, new house in 24 days!!!!!!

M - Mom's name: Rebecca

N - Nicknames: Sister, Moose (from the Chili-Cheesecake days) & Tenderheart (given to me by my boss and youth pastor)

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: never

P - Pet Peeve: People who are rude or mean to other people

Q - Quote from a movie: "I'll have a Pina Colada, non-virgin, wanna see my ID, I totally have it."

R - Right or left handed: Right handed

S - Siblings: My baby brother, Jonathan

T - Time you wake up: When Mark comes in to kiss me goodbye for the day

U- Ultimate Vacation Spot: A dream vacation, Italy. On the more practical side...Colorado.

V - Vegetable you dislike: Broccoli

W - Ways you run late: Changing my outfit to many times

X - X-rays you've had: My right wrist, my left wrist and my right ankle, oh and the top of my foot

Y - Yummy food you make: Enchiladas

Z - Zoo favorite: Penguins! I would take one home as a pet if I could!

Huzzah Valley Resort 2009

2009-06-01T11:08:00.010-05:00

Once again, we had another great weekend camping and floating at the Huzzah. I always look forward to this weekend. It's so nice to relax and enjoy the company of our church family. The weather was absolutely amazing! I was very thankful for that. The weather made the float down the river very enjoyable! During the first part of the float, I was in a raft with Jason and Brittany. Half way through, I decided to get brave and try a kayak, so Mitch let me try it out. (Thanks Mitch!!) It was so much fun!! I was hooked in the first five minutes and will absolutely be getting a kayak next year! I was sad to see the weekend come to an end, but I look forward to another awesome weekend next year. Mark also has a post about the weekend, check it out here.

This was Saturday morning. It was raining, but the guys still cooked for us. Thanks guys!

Everyone relaxing

Paige and Kobe playing "Washers"

Kobe being strong and lifting the cooler. Way to go Kobe!

Buddies!!

The group

Our camping "village"

Enjoying the water

Youth Scavenger Hunt

2009-05-27T19:34:00.005-05:00

This week was our annual Scavenger Hunt. The kids had to go around town and complete different objectives. Here are some pictures of the different objectives.

The team had to spell a word with their bodies

The team had to go to a hotel and read a brochure of tourist information

The entire team with lampshades on their heads

The entire team reading a book

The team on a slide

The team on a set of stairs

The team with a duck

The entire team in a field looking lost

This picture is my favorite!! This was an "I can't believe we all fit here" picture. Yes, they all fit in a port-a-potty!!! It was hilarious!!!!!

Sudanese Coffee Night

2009-05-27T14:54:00.002-05:00

Jennifer Telfer, one of my really great friends, is doing work in Sudan. She is such an amazing and gifted person. You can keep up with her adventures here. Jen came back to the states for a few weeks for a visit. Sunday night Jen shared some Sudanese Coffee and stories with a group from church. Everyone was asked to wear a hat, which was so much fun. Everyone responded really well. Here are some pictures from the coffee night.

This is Jennifer, sharing about her experiences in Sudan

Everyone wearing their hats. It was quite amusing!

Jon, Kaylen and Phil hanging out at Jennifer's house afterwards

Cindy and I playing Quelf with some friends

Mitch's Birthday Party

2009-05-27T14:13:00.004-05:00

Saturday, one of our great friends, Mitch, had a birthday party. For his birthday we did an "Amazing Race" adventure. We raced around town, gathering clues, and completing tasks. We had so much fun. Thanks to Jess for working so hard!! Below are some pictures of the party.

This is Emma, Ruthi and Owen being entertained by the rocks.

Kelley, Abby, Brittany and Baby Stoesz hanging out

Eric and Jason playing a game of washers with Mitch and Mark

This was one of the tasks that we had to perform. We had to play leapfrog in the park.

Another task-Buy a bag of Cinnamon Twists from Taco Bell and share them

Mark posing like the dog statue

Jason posing like the girl on the log

Me riding a bike like the girl statue

The birthday boy Mitch, swinging a bat

Our mini Extreme Home Makeover

2009-05-05T13:14:00.002-05:00

Last week was a very tiring week for many members of the Warrenton Wesleyan Church. Our church took on a renovation project for a very deserving single father of four kids. It was so awesome to see the church family come together and bless this family with their time, talent, money and compassion. By the end of the week everyone was exhausted, but it was well worth it. Click here for the complete project.

Working at the car wash

2009-05-05T12:58:00.004-05:00

Our youth kids will be going to Arkansas in July for a week long missions trip. This past Saturday, we had a car wash to help raise money to go. This is an awesome groups of kids! We are going to have a great time in July!

Demolition Ball

2009-05-05T12:48:00.004-05:00

A couple months ago, all the youth sponsors went out for a night of fun. Sorry I am posting this so late, but I just found these pictures. Demolition Ball is a cross between bumper cars and lacrosse. Each team tries to score a goal by hitting their backboard with the ball. Sounds easy right? Not so much, but we had an awesome time together!!! I think the majority of us left with sore and bruised bodies.

Eatin' at Joe's

2009-04-30T14:17:00.003-05:00

Decided to go to Joe's Crab Shack for lunch. It was a VERY good choice!

Jon being the crab, instead of eating the crab

And the feast!!

Ricky's 1st Birthday

2009-04-30T14:03:00.004-05:00

This past weekend we traveled to Independence, MO for our nephew's 1st birthday. We had a great day and a good visit with the family.

Ricky opening his gifts

Ricky eating his cake

I thought this was really funny. When the cake came out, all the kids hovered around it like little vultures! It was cute!

Happy 50th Barbie

2009-04-23T11:13:00.002-05:00

Barbie is turning 50 this year! I received this in an email this morning, thought I would share. Glad to see she has been taking care of herself all these years!

The next adventure for us

2009-04-14T09:53:00.005-05:00

This is the house that we put a contract on. We are completely excited and thankful for God's provision in our life. This has been a long and trying process to reverse some bad decisions that were made and repair ourselves economically, but God has blessed us and surrounded us with some awesome people and now...we can finally buy a house!! Just wanted to share this with you all!!! Look back soon for before and after pictures of some of the things that we are going to be doing!!!

Wrestle Mania Party

2009-04-07T12:34:00.002-05:00

Sunday night was the 25th Anniversary of Wrestle Mania, so we had some friends over to have a Wrestle Mania Party. Fun stuff!

Mark and I geared up for the big night!

Bissel Mansion: Murder Mystery Dinner Theater

2009-04-06T11:45:00.003-05:00

This past Friday night, I was feeling a little spontaneous, and wanted to try something different, so I came across Bissel Mansion, which is a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. I was Cordillea Walker: Texas Ranger, and Mark was Goober Pile: Sheriff's Deputy. We had a great time and lots of laughs!!

Could this be the murderer??

Twilight Night!

2009-03-31T13:30:00.002-05:00

Yes, I am a fan. Some of the ladies in the church all got together to watch the movie. We all had a great time. The first picture is blurry; I'll get a better one soon.

Being The Church On Purpose (long)

2009-03-09T12:08:00.003-05:00

That is kind of a heavy title for a blog post. For years I have always wondered what that phrase meant, always heard it being screamed at me from pulpits, from friends, and from TV preachers. I never really understood it though. I think that too many times we are told to love, and then that is what we do because that is what we are told to do. Then when asked why we love, we tell people, "Well, that is what Jesus does, so we should do it to." That is an alright response I guess, but kind of empty. Using that same philosophy, would we be willing to be crucified? Don't be quick to answer that question. Really think about it. Would you be willing to be stripped naked, beaten, and then tortured for 6 hours only to die of suffocation or bleeding out for people who you knew were going to mock you, spit on you, cry out to you, and then do it all over again. I will be honest and say to take a bullet for someone, I can do. That is generally a quick and easy process in which there will probably not be much pain involved. My end result is guaranteed, and I don't have to worry about the end state of what happens. But to go through all of that torture, just get to be mocked and ridiculed for no apparent reason, but only because I sincerely love you, is hard to say yes to. I would do it for my wife, my friends, my family, but my enemies?? That is cause for thought.
I read this post about a church helping another church because it could. It moved me. I grew up hearing jokes about other denominations, about their short comings, about their faults, never once hearing that those people love the same Jesus that I do, and the same Jesus that died for me died for them. Then the same pastor would tell me to love all people. That is backwards. That is not being the church on purpose.
So for me to figure what this meant, I attacked it the same away I attack all problems. I took it one step at a time.
First off all, what does "Being the church" mean. To me, (and you may have your own views which I am more than open to) it means doing exactly what Jesus would have done, and asking for forgiveness when I don't. This is a short coming in my life. I can usually fulfill one or the other, but both is difficult for me to accomplish. It means that regardless if I get anything out of the situation in anyway, I need to follow through with love, kindness, and gentleness to further the Great Commission. It means I need to fight, with my all my strength, for the ideals of God in the most loving way that I can. It means to be who God wants me to be entirely, not who God wants me to be with a mix of my suggestions. That can be painful and lonely at times. That will mean going down the road less traveled, but it is the one Jesus paved (stole that from a song). It is a challenge that we turn away from because we are scared, weak, and unaware. But that is where God's glory really shines. In our weaknesses, He uses us to accomplish great and powerful things.
Now the easier one to figure out...purpose. Purpose is defined as "something set up as an object or end to be attained" according the dictionary. So purpose is achieving a goal because you set out to do just that. You seek out opportunities to find a job, marry your spouse, find a place to live, or any of those other creature comforts. How often do we search out hurting, needing, desperate people who are searching out answers when we have them, because we are able to. And don't tell me, that as a person who has accepted Christ, gone through and going through challenges, that you don't have any answers, because I will lovingly tell you that you are wrong. You do, you just have to embrace them...they can be found in God's Word. They may not be simple, or in the step-by-step process that you sooo desire, but they are there.
So, to be the church on purpose is to knowingly seek out the weak, the mourning, the poor, the lonely, the widows, the orphans, and all the other people we secretly avoid, and invite them into a world of hard work and abundant love.

Album Covers

2009-02-27T13:47:00.004-06:00

Ever wonder what you would name your band if you had one or what the album would look like? Here is an interesting way to figure it out. Thank you to Pastor Eric for introducing this! Below are a couple of examples of what mine would be.

Here are the rules:

1. Select the name of your band. To do this, go to Wikipedia and hit “random article.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random) The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2. Select your album title. To do this, go to Random Quotations (http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3). The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3. Select your cover art. To do this, go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days.” (http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days) The third picture — no matter what it is — will be your cover photo.

4. Use Photoshop (or whatever) to pull it all together.

5. Display for all to see!

If you feel like laughing, watch these...

2009-02-26T13:56:00.004-06:00

Every Wednesday in Youth, Pastor Eric does a "found on YouTube" sequence. This video was the pick for the week. Hilarious!! Enjoy.

This is one of my favorite videos. It makes me laugh so hard EVERY time! Emily Benson found it, and shared it with Eric, so now I am sharing it with you.

A wonderful way to wake up!

2009-02-10T11:12:00.004-06:00

I have the most wonderful husband! This morning he got up at 5:45, went to Wal-Mart, and bought everything he needed to surprise me with a wonderful breakfast in bed. He even used our China! I feel so blessed to have him in my life!

The honesty of children

2009-02-05T10:51:00.002-06:00

These are really funny, but so honest. Kids are great!

WWE Monday Night Raw

2009-02-04T09:49:00.010-06:00

This was one of the most fun nights I have had in a long time! I got us ringside tickets! It was so cool to be so close. Everything is a lot smaller than what it looks like on TV. The ring is tiny.

This is Finlay and Hornswoggle

Chris Jericho

This was a "dark match" that Randy Orton and John Cena did for the title.

John Cena

My guy, Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels and JBL

A little 619 action by Rey Mysterio

Cryme Time, JTG and Shad

Kofi Kingston

Shad and Cody Rhoades

Kane

The Boogyman

The Boogyman eating worms after winning his match

Randy Orton

John Cena taking Randy Orton out!

This is a video of John Cena after he wins his match against Randy Orton.

Mark's new Glock

2009-02-03T11:27:00.004-06:00

Mark just recently got a new gun and he absolutely loves it! Below is a video of him shooting it for the first time with Pastor Eric.

Mark being a secret agent man.

A perfect way to make sure your children are attended to

2009-01-27T14:04:00.001-06:00

Every business should have this sign posted! This is a sign that is posted at Hometown Bakery, where we have our staff meetings every week. So funny!

It's a garden explosion!

2009-01-26T12:37:00.001-06:00

As most of you may know, my brother is getting married in October to wonderful Kaylen. I am so blessed with the opportunity to coordinate their wedding. It has always been a dream of mine to become a wedding coordinator, and doing their wedding is just one step closer to making that dream come true. I have been working on assembling all the flowers for Kaylen, the bridesmaids, and the boutonnieres and corsages, this is what my living room looked like for a week straight!

Yummy!

2009-01-26T11:54:00.003-06:00

Paige is one of the coolest little girls around! She decided to make a surprise for Mark and I. This is what she delivered to our house! Mark's was blue, but he ate all of them before I could get a picture. Thank you Paige for the yummy treat!

All inked up!

2009-01-23T09:36:00.003-06:00

Wednesday night in 712 we played a game to see who could get the most signatures on their arm and point out who they belonged to when the time ran out. The kids really enjoyed it. I don't know about the parents.

Noah Today

2009-01-16T09:55:00.004-06:00

In the year 2008, the Lord came unto Noah,

who was now living in the United States, and said:
"Once again, the earth has become wicked and over
-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me."

"Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing
along with a few good humans."

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying:
"You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will
start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah
weeping in his yard - but no Ark.

"Noah!," He roared, "I'm about to start the rain!
Where is the Ark?"

"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed." "I needed a building permit."

"I've been arguing with the inspector
about the need for a sprinkler system."

"My neighbors claim that I've violated the
neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my
yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to
go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision."

"Then the Department of Transportation demanded a
bond be posted for the future costs of moving power
lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the
passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them
that the sea would be coming to us, but they would
hear nothing of it."

"Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban
on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl."

"I tried to convince the environmentalists that I
needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!"

"When I started gathering the animals, an animal
rights group sued me. They insisted that I was
confining wild animals against their will. They
argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and
it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in
a confined space."

"Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark
until they'd conducted an environmental impact study
on your proposed flood."

"I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the
Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm
supposed to hire for my building crew."

"Immigration and Naturalization are checking the
green-card status of most of the people who want to work."

"The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They
insist I have to hire only Union workers with
Ark-building experience."

"To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets,
claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally
with endangered species."

"So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10
years for me to finish this Ark."Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine,

and a rainbow stretched across the sky."

Noah looked up in wonder and asked,
"You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"

"No," said the Lord.
"The GOVERNMENT beat me to it."

Getting Started

2009-01-14T11:36:00.003-06:00

Kaylen, Leah, and I worked really hard last night on making "Save the Date" cards for Kaylen and Jon's wedding. We had a really nice assembly line going and with awesome team work, we were able to accomplish a lot!

Buddies!!

2009-01-14T11:34:00.004-06:00

This is our pastor, Pastor Ryan, on the left and our youth pastor, Pastor Eric, on the right, enjoying some cuddle time with Mark on the couch! They are so funny!

A New Creation

2009-01-13T15:15:00.001-06:00

I stumbled across this video a few months ago. Absolutely amazing! It makes me want to stand up and worship!!