With the day I have had, I could write a very long, probably semi-entertaining blog about being pregnant. About my crazy, vivid dreams; about my belly which seems to find every opportunity to get a stain on new clothes; and various other annoying or silly things. However, this week, our church's music director introduced a new song to our choir. Before the song was even into the first chorus, I had already bought it on iTunes. By the end of the song I was in tears. I can not get this song out of my head. Nor do I want to. Everytime I sing the words, it pierces my heart. Such beautiful, truthful words. Because I can't seem to get the song off my mind, I'm desperate to share it with you. Therefore, you will simply have to wait to get a goofy blog about my joys of pregnancy. For this blog will be filled with words of what our precious Savior has done for us.
I'm simply going to post these lyrics. The only thing more beautiful than the words of this song, is the music that goes with it. Look it up on youtube. The song is called 'O the Blood' by Gateway Worship. In fact, you could even go a step further and purchase the song on iTunes.
O the Blood
O the blood
Crimson love
Price of life's demand
Shameful sin
Placed on Him
The Hope of every man
O the blood of Jesus washes me
O the blood of Jesus shed for me
What a sacrifice that saved my life
Yes, the blood, it is my victory
Savior Son
Holy One
Slain so I can live
See the Lamb
The great I Am
Who takes away my sin
O the blood of the Lamb
O the blood of the Lamb
O the blood of the Lamb
The precious blood of the Lamb
What a sacrifice
That saved my life
Yes, the blood, it is my victory
O what love
No greater love
Grace, how can it be
That in my sin
Yes, even then
He shed His blood for me
Friday, January 7, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Changes for the New Year (and years to come)
I'm not usually one to make New Year's Resolutions. Either I don't follow through or they seem trivial to me, so I just don't make them. However, this morning left me feeling a little different. Since leaving church today, I have had so much on my heart and mind. Not sure if everything was really as great as I think it was, or if it was simply the fact the ears of my heart were listening. Either way, this morning left me realizing there were some changes I want to make. I won't call them New Year's Resolutions, because I want them to be more than something I think of on December 31 as a good idea to do for the following year.
One thing the pastor said this morning left me in deep thought. He said, "If you don't want to spend your life here on earth with God, then why would you want to spend an eternity with Him?" I don't necessarily think I live my life far away from God, but I know there is always room for growth. And more importantly, in growth of spending my life here with God, I pray the way I live my life would cause others to do the same. May the way I live cause those closest and furthest from me to want to spend more than their eternal life with Him. Hearing those words broke my heart. There are too many people around me who have made professions of faith at some point, who call Jesus their Savior, yet live their lives so far away from God and His truths. When I can see this in other people close to me and the way I live my life doesn't cause them to reconsider the way they live, there is room for improvement. Please don't think I believe I can change the lives of people around me. I don't. But I believe if I were allowing God to do all He can through me, those people would see HIM and come to a place where they must evaluate their spirtual journey.
Change: I want my life, my actions, to scream God's name and point to Him above all else.
This morning our pastor also talked about stirring up love. There is a song called 'What Love Really Means' by J.J. Heller. From the very first time I heard it, my heart ached at its words. Although I may not see them personally all day every day, there are people everywhere who don't know true love, who don't know God's love. The song's chorus says,
"Who will love me for me? Not for what I have done or
who I will become. Who will love me for me? Cause
nobody has shown me what love, what love really means."
I think this song causes my heart to ache, because I know! I know what love really means! I have experienced God's love, even when I deserved it the least! He has shown me His love. If I know His love, how can I not share it? How can I not love that way? Why do I live my life in such a way where someone could come in contact with me and not know what love really means?
Change: Pray constantly for God to give me opportunities to show others, whether I know them or not, what love really means. And ask that He not only give me the opportunity, but to open my eyes so I may see each opportunity and not be blind to what is happening around me.
In our Sunday School lesson today, we talked about when Peter confessed to Jesus he believed Christ was the Son of the Living God. At the end of the passage we studied, Jesus told His disciples this in Matthew 16:20, "Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ." Although, after Christ was resurrected from His death he called us to go into all the nations and preach His Word and Truth, I believe there are times when God doesn't want us to tell others He is the Christ. I believe he wants us to show others through the way we live and the way we love. My co-teacher was telling the class about a debate she saw on tv not too long ago. It was two politicians, one a believer and the other not. The non-believer said to the Christian man, "Christians think they have to make everyone else believe exactly what they believe. Believe what you want, but don't force it on me." Of course, part of Christianity is spreading the Gospel. But I would be willing to bet, if all Christians would live and love as Christ called us to, non believers would be a lot more willing to hear what we had to say. After all the Bible does tell us if it isn't spoken in love, we are nothing but a clanging symbol.
Change: May I not have to use words to spread the Gospel. But may my actions and love cause others around me to desire the changes God has made in me. And when I do speak of Christ and my beliefs, may I be more than a clanging symbol.
One thing the pastor said this morning left me in deep thought. He said, "If you don't want to spend your life here on earth with God, then why would you want to spend an eternity with Him?" I don't necessarily think I live my life far away from God, but I know there is always room for growth. And more importantly, in growth of spending my life here with God, I pray the way I live my life would cause others to do the same. May the way I live cause those closest and furthest from me to want to spend more than their eternal life with Him. Hearing those words broke my heart. There are too many people around me who have made professions of faith at some point, who call Jesus their Savior, yet live their lives so far away from God and His truths. When I can see this in other people close to me and the way I live my life doesn't cause them to reconsider the way they live, there is room for improvement. Please don't think I believe I can change the lives of people around me. I don't. But I believe if I were allowing God to do all He can through me, those people would see HIM and come to a place where they must evaluate their spirtual journey.
Change: I want my life, my actions, to scream God's name and point to Him above all else.
This morning our pastor also talked about stirring up love. There is a song called 'What Love Really Means' by J.J. Heller. From the very first time I heard it, my heart ached at its words. Although I may not see them personally all day every day, there are people everywhere who don't know true love, who don't know God's love. The song's chorus says,
"Who will love me for me? Not for what I have done or
who I will become. Who will love me for me? Cause
nobody has shown me what love, what love really means."
I think this song causes my heart to ache, because I know! I know what love really means! I have experienced God's love, even when I deserved it the least! He has shown me His love. If I know His love, how can I not share it? How can I not love that way? Why do I live my life in such a way where someone could come in contact with me and not know what love really means?
Change: Pray constantly for God to give me opportunities to show others, whether I know them or not, what love really means. And ask that He not only give me the opportunity, but to open my eyes so I may see each opportunity and not be blind to what is happening around me.
In our Sunday School lesson today, we talked about when Peter confessed to Jesus he believed Christ was the Son of the Living God. At the end of the passage we studied, Jesus told His disciples this in Matthew 16:20, "Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ." Although, after Christ was resurrected from His death he called us to go into all the nations and preach His Word and Truth, I believe there are times when God doesn't want us to tell others He is the Christ. I believe he wants us to show others through the way we live and the way we love. My co-teacher was telling the class about a debate she saw on tv not too long ago. It was two politicians, one a believer and the other not. The non-believer said to the Christian man, "Christians think they have to make everyone else believe exactly what they believe. Believe what you want, but don't force it on me." Of course, part of Christianity is spreading the Gospel. But I would be willing to bet, if all Christians would live and love as Christ called us to, non believers would be a lot more willing to hear what we had to say. After all the Bible does tell us if it isn't spoken in love, we are nothing but a clanging symbol.
Change: May I not have to use words to spread the Gospel. But may my actions and love cause others around me to desire the changes God has made in me. And when I do speak of Christ and my beliefs, may I be more than a clanging symbol.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Don't Blink
It feels like the last post I wrote was just yesterday. But if I believed what I felt, I would be very wrong. Since the last post, we made our trip down to Louisiana, saw a beautiful friend from High School, had our Christmas with my husband's family, came home, had Christmas with my family, and now it is all over.
When I was younger my mawmaw would tell me the older you get, the faster time goes by. It was always just something she said to me until a few years ago. Now it seems by the time I get a grip on whatever season it is, it's over. And I have a sneaky little feeling once our precious Kendall gets here, it will only speed up more!
We had such a great time in Louisiana! There is never a dull moment when we are down there! Jeff has one niece and six nephews. With those boys, there is always something going on. But we enjoy it! Not only do we enjoy the kids, but I love spending time with Jeff's sister and brother and sister-in-law. And is if all of them aren't good enough, we get to stay with his amazing parents! And beyond the good company, there is also soo much good food! I am so lucky to have married into the wonderful family I did! There are no words to describe just how great they all are!
The youngest of all the nephews is Mason, who is four. Just saying he is a funny kid doesn't even begin to describe this precious kid! The first night I saw him, he pointed to my belly and said, "Is the baby in that thing?" It took all I had to keep a straight face just so I could answer him. After he realized the baby was in fact in my belly, he proceeded to tell me how the doctor would get the baby out of me.
"That doctor is gonna get a knife, and cut you open, and pull that baby out!!"
Precious! I so desperately wanted to say "I sure hope not!", but I didn't want his momma to have to explain how else the baby would get out. Then later at dinner, he asked what we were going to name the baby. After someone answered him, I heard him say, "What's a Kendall?" Then a few minutes later, I heard him repeating to someone else, "That doctor is gonna get a knife and cut aunt Jennifer open, pull the baby out and wash it and give it to her!" He was so funny!
I just can't wait to see how all the boys react to having a girl cousin around!!
When I was younger my mawmaw would tell me the older you get, the faster time goes by. It was always just something she said to me until a few years ago. Now it seems by the time I get a grip on whatever season it is, it's over. And I have a sneaky little feeling once our precious Kendall gets here, it will only speed up more!
We had such a great time in Louisiana! There is never a dull moment when we are down there! Jeff has one niece and six nephews. With those boys, there is always something going on. But we enjoy it! Not only do we enjoy the kids, but I love spending time with Jeff's sister and brother and sister-in-law. And is if all of them aren't good enough, we get to stay with his amazing parents! And beyond the good company, there is also soo much good food! I am so lucky to have married into the wonderful family I did! There are no words to describe just how great they all are!
The youngest of all the nephews is Mason, who is four. Just saying he is a funny kid doesn't even begin to describe this precious kid! The first night I saw him, he pointed to my belly and said, "Is the baby in that thing?" It took all I had to keep a straight face just so I could answer him. After he realized the baby was in fact in my belly, he proceeded to tell me how the doctor would get the baby out of me.
"That doctor is gonna get a knife, and cut you open, and pull that baby out!!"
Precious! I so desperately wanted to say "I sure hope not!", but I didn't want his momma to have to explain how else the baby would get out. Then later at dinner, he asked what we were going to name the baby. After someone answered him, I heard him say, "What's a Kendall?" Then a few minutes later, I heard him repeating to someone else, "That doctor is gonna get a knife and cut aunt Jennifer open, pull the baby out and wash it and give it to her!" He was so funny!
I just can't wait to see how all the boys react to having a girl cousin around!!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas
I can't believe it is already this time of year again! I know they say the older you get the faster time goes, and I guess they are right. We leave in less than one week for our Christmas week in Louisiana! I can't believe it!
We have already had our church Christmas program. Our tree has been up for close to a month, and now there are presents piled under and around it. And on top of all that, it has been so COLD! The colder it gets, the more it feels like Christmas. There was even a little snow on the ground this morning as I drove to church. The beautiful lights are up everywhere so as soon as the sun goes down, everything looks magical as all the lights twinkle.
I've always loved this time of year. I love everything about it. I love the music. I love the red cups at Starbucks. I love buying gifts. I love wrapping gifts. I love spending time with friends and family. I love everything being decorated. I love the optimisim in everyone this time of year.
Although I love Christmas and all it brings, I find myself less excited about the holiday this year. Don't get me wrong, I am excited for Christmas and time with the family. However, I find myself more excited about the little girl dwelling in my belly. Even though it is Christmas time, my thoughts a less consumed with jingling bells, winter wonderlands, and reindeer and a lot more consumed with Kendall Marie. I long for the day when I finally get to hold my sweet little girl in my arms. I can't wait to see the gleam in her daddy's eyes when he gets to hold the little fingers he is already so tightly wound around.
I'm excited for Christmas, but not matter how much I sound like Scrooge when I say this: I'm even more excited for Christmas to be over. For when Christmas is over, I will be a few days closer to meeting our sweet Kendall Marie Welch!
We have already had our church Christmas program. Our tree has been up for close to a month, and now there are presents piled under and around it. And on top of all that, it has been so COLD! The colder it gets, the more it feels like Christmas. There was even a little snow on the ground this morning as I drove to church. The beautiful lights are up everywhere so as soon as the sun goes down, everything looks magical as all the lights twinkle.
I've always loved this time of year. I love everything about it. I love the music. I love the red cups at Starbucks. I love buying gifts. I love wrapping gifts. I love spending time with friends and family. I love everything being decorated. I love the optimisim in everyone this time of year.
Although I love Christmas and all it brings, I find myself less excited about the holiday this year. Don't get me wrong, I am excited for Christmas and time with the family. However, I find myself more excited about the little girl dwelling in my belly. Even though it is Christmas time, my thoughts a less consumed with jingling bells, winter wonderlands, and reindeer and a lot more consumed with Kendall Marie. I long for the day when I finally get to hold my sweet little girl in my arms. I can't wait to see the gleam in her daddy's eyes when he gets to hold the little fingers he is already so tightly wound around.
I'm excited for Christmas, but not matter how much I sound like Scrooge when I say this: I'm even more excited for Christmas to be over. For when Christmas is over, I will be a few days closer to meeting our sweet Kendall Marie Welch!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
New Discoveries
Since the beginning of August, when I found out I was pregnant, I have learned a lot of new things. Not only have I learned new things, I have re-learned things I have known for quite some time. Some of them were during the first couple of months of being pregnant and some have come to me just in the past week. If being pregnant changes me this much, I can not imagine how much I will change once I actually have Kendall in my arms.
One thing I learned seems so simple when just saying it, and kind of obvious, but it is a lot to chew on. The minute I looked down at the pregnancy test and saw it was positive I realized my life is never going to be the same. My body is no longer just mine. I share oxygen, food, energy, sleep, everything with my growing child. When my nine months of carrying her are up, my life will not go back to normal. Although I will still have some selfish tendancies, Kendall will always come before me. Some of what I'm saying may leave some of you thinking, "Well, duh..", it is still kind of crazy. To me anyway.
One thing I re-learned, is I love to cook! I think this one came from all the different cravings I have had and my new kitchen! The kitchen in the house we bought is beautiful! I love it! And the cabinets aren't too close to the counter, which makes me happy cause I can finally leave my KitchenAid stand mixer out! Previously, I had to drag it out of the pantry everytime I wanted to use it. But now it's always out! So exciting to me! So pretty soon some of my posts may be sharing new recipes I love!
Another thing I've learned, well I guess I knew this, but I have gained a deeper understanding about God's love and His plans. I can NOT understand how any woman could ever go through pregnancy and not believe in a God who has sovereign control over everything and everyone. Over the past six months, I have done nothing extraordinary, yet there is a new life, a new human being growing inside me! The day we had our ultrasound to find out if we were having a girl or boy, I was laying on the table watching the tv above me showing our child. The very second I saw the spine of our unborn child, my eyes began to well with tears. All I could think in my head was the lyrics to the song, "How great is Our God!" Seeing those tiny vertebra just made me realize how beautiful life is. How beautiful Our God is! How wonderful and deep is His love that He allows a sinner like me to experience a glimpse of his power and love!! I know throughout my life I have made too many mistakes, but thankfully God's grace is sufficient for me! I'm so grateful He has allowed me to experience pregnancy within the walls of marriage just as he intended.
Another thing I have learned is I'm not just excited to be a mother to Kendall. There are no words to describe how excited I am to see my Jeffy be a daddy to Kendall. I love that man more than words can describe. And just through this pregnancy I have learned I am going to love that man even more once I get to see him hold his baby girl in his arms!
One thing I re-learned is I love me a cherry ICEE and candy!!!! I have given up my starbucks addiction for an addiction to Candy Craze and cherry icees!!
Speaking of candy, that reminds me! I have some very cherry Jelly Belly beans waiting on me!
(Sorry if this post is long, random, or just plain weird. I'm trying to get back to blogging mode! (: )
One thing I learned seems so simple when just saying it, and kind of obvious, but it is a lot to chew on. The minute I looked down at the pregnancy test and saw it was positive I realized my life is never going to be the same. My body is no longer just mine. I share oxygen, food, energy, sleep, everything with my growing child. When my nine months of carrying her are up, my life will not go back to normal. Although I will still have some selfish tendancies, Kendall will always come before me. Some of what I'm saying may leave some of you thinking, "Well, duh..", it is still kind of crazy. To me anyway.
One thing I re-learned, is I love to cook! I think this one came from all the different cravings I have had and my new kitchen! The kitchen in the house we bought is beautiful! I love it! And the cabinets aren't too close to the counter, which makes me happy cause I can finally leave my KitchenAid stand mixer out! Previously, I had to drag it out of the pantry everytime I wanted to use it. But now it's always out! So exciting to me! So pretty soon some of my posts may be sharing new recipes I love!
Another thing I've learned, well I guess I knew this, but I have gained a deeper understanding about God's love and His plans. I can NOT understand how any woman could ever go through pregnancy and not believe in a God who has sovereign control over everything and everyone. Over the past six months, I have done nothing extraordinary, yet there is a new life, a new human being growing inside me! The day we had our ultrasound to find out if we were having a girl or boy, I was laying on the table watching the tv above me showing our child. The very second I saw the spine of our unborn child, my eyes began to well with tears. All I could think in my head was the lyrics to the song, "How great is Our God!" Seeing those tiny vertebra just made me realize how beautiful life is. How beautiful Our God is! How wonderful and deep is His love that He allows a sinner like me to experience a glimpse of his power and love!! I know throughout my life I have made too many mistakes, but thankfully God's grace is sufficient for me! I'm so grateful He has allowed me to experience pregnancy within the walls of marriage just as he intended.
Another thing I have learned is I'm not just excited to be a mother to Kendall. There are no words to describe how excited I am to see my Jeffy be a daddy to Kendall. I love that man more than words can describe. And just through this pregnancy I have learned I am going to love that man even more once I get to see him hold his baby girl in his arms!
One thing I re-learned is I love me a cherry ICEE and candy!!!! I have given up my starbucks addiction for an addiction to Candy Craze and cherry icees!!
Speaking of candy, that reminds me! I have some very cherry Jelly Belly beans waiting on me!
(Sorry if this post is long, random, or just plain weird. I'm trying to get back to blogging mode! (: )
Friday, December 3, 2010
I almost forgot how to blog!
Wow! It has been a very long time since I posted anything! Sooo much has changed in my life since I last wrote. I can't even count how many times I have thought, "Oh I should blog today!" and then, of course, not followed through. The title of my page is "A day in Jenn Jenn's shoes..". Well it seems recently those shoes have changed from something cute and comfortable matching the outfit of the day to running shoes. And boy have these running shoes taken me down some roads I wasn't necessarily expecting!
Since the last time I blogged, I have found out I am pregnant (which now I'm 6 months pregnant!), and Jeffy and I bought a house! It has been crazy around here the past few months! But everything has been exciting! We are so excited to start our family in our home. I am the most excited about seeing Jeff as a daddy to our baby girl! He is going to be so wonderful! Kendall Marie, isn't even born yet, and she has already begun wrapping her daddy around her precious little fingers!
Hopefully, in the next few months I will be doing more resting while we wait for the arrival for our little one! And maybe the rest will provide more down time for me to sit down and blog so I can fill you in on all that has happend since June and all that is happening in our busy life now!
Since the last time I blogged, I have found out I am pregnant (which now I'm 6 months pregnant!), and Jeffy and I bought a house! It has been crazy around here the past few months! But everything has been exciting! We are so excited to start our family in our home. I am the most excited about seeing Jeff as a daddy to our baby girl! He is going to be so wonderful! Kendall Marie, isn't even born yet, and she has already begun wrapping her daddy around her precious little fingers!
Hopefully, in the next few months I will be doing more resting while we wait for the arrival for our little one! And maybe the rest will provide more down time for me to sit down and blog so I can fill you in on all that has happend since June and all that is happening in our busy life now!
Monday, June 21, 2010
We Wear Short Shorts
Over the past five years, I have done a lot of changing in a lot of areas of my life. One area, which I am still by no means perfect in, I changed a lot is the way I dressed. I knew it wasn't good to dress so scandalous, but being the stubborn girl I was, I wore short skirts and other things I would probably not wear today.
I think getting married helped me finally open my eyes a lot. Well maybe it wasn't getting married, maybe it was just meeting my Jeffy. Let me preface all this by saying, I am a very lucky woman to be married to a man who I can trust at all times. However, by meeting him, I realized why it was important to dress more conservatively than I did when I was younger. I did not realize when I was living in my own little selfish world that not only may I be causing guys my age to struggle, but the way I dressed may cause any man anywhere to struggle. After meeting Jeffy, I didn't want to even see girls in public wearing shorts where the longest part of them are the pockets hanging out the bottom. It would disgust me to think the way other girls we don't know walking around in public could cause men, not just Jeffy, but other married men, and daddies everywhere to struggle.
Tonight, we played cards with some friends in Starbucks. A girl walked in with a super short skirt on. I kind of grumbled, but I got over it. Until I turned around a few minutes later. What I caught a glimpse of should have had a censored sign over it. I mean seriously, is it necessary to share your goodies with everyone? Uhhh no. So because five years ago that girl could have been me, I know I owe some apologies. (Not that all the people I owe apologies to will ever read this, but...) To the men, I may have caused to struggle because of how I dressed, I am so sorry. And to all the wives, girlfriends, or mothers of any men I caused to stumble because of how I dressed, I am also sorry to you too.
As we left Starbucks, I was ranting to Jeff. He asked me what the problem was if I trust him. It made me think, I don't really know. It is just annoying. So I figured this was as good a place to vent as any! :)
I think getting married helped me finally open my eyes a lot. Well maybe it wasn't getting married, maybe it was just meeting my Jeffy. Let me preface all this by saying, I am a very lucky woman to be married to a man who I can trust at all times. However, by meeting him, I realized why it was important to dress more conservatively than I did when I was younger. I did not realize when I was living in my own little selfish world that not only may I be causing guys my age to struggle, but the way I dressed may cause any man anywhere to struggle. After meeting Jeffy, I didn't want to even see girls in public wearing shorts where the longest part of them are the pockets hanging out the bottom. It would disgust me to think the way other girls we don't know walking around in public could cause men, not just Jeffy, but other married men, and daddies everywhere to struggle.
Tonight, we played cards with some friends in Starbucks. A girl walked in with a super short skirt on. I kind of grumbled, but I got over it. Until I turned around a few minutes later. What I caught a glimpse of should have had a censored sign over it. I mean seriously, is it necessary to share your goodies with everyone? Uhhh no. So because five years ago that girl could have been me, I know I owe some apologies. (Not that all the people I owe apologies to will ever read this, but...) To the men, I may have caused to struggle because of how I dressed, I am so sorry. And to all the wives, girlfriends, or mothers of any men I caused to stumble because of how I dressed, I am also sorry to you too.
As we left Starbucks, I was ranting to Jeff. He asked me what the problem was if I trust him. It made me think, I don't really know. It is just annoying. So I figured this was as good a place to vent as any! :)
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