From "The Maker's Diet"

My friend Mary Ann shared this with me this morning at chuch. Her husband is currently reading this book and it has a great prayer I can say each morning:

Morning Prayer for Healing:
Father God, I thank you for creating me in your image. I praise you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I confess that you are the God that heals, my great physician. I ask you to heal my body from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I pray that you would regenerate every bone, joint, tendon, ligament, tissue, organ, and cell of my body. This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.

My appointment with the neurosurgeon is this Wednesday at 1pm. Please pray for complete healing.

Nolan's new shades!

While Eric was getting a new foot pod for his watch in Mountain High Outfitters today, we couldn't resist these toddler sunglasses for Nolan. He loves them! After about 5 mins of wearing them, he was sound asleep in his stroller and didn't wake up when Eric moved him back into the car seat. Needless to say...great purchase! We also enjoyed watching Frankie's baseball game this morning ( a 7 year old boy Eric has taken under his wing the last few years after his father passed away from stomach cancer)and they won! The weather was SO NICE today and we really enjoyed a great family day.

A day at the park

Today Kerry and I took Nolan & Briley to the park today for a nice walk and to enjoy the warm sunshine. Nolan LOVED the swing. Kerry took a video for Eric to see:

Nolan's First Time to swing!

My Prayer to you Lord

" I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me." Psalm 57:2

I have been faced with a bit of a challenge that has turned out more serious than I had expected. For the last 2 months, I have been experiencing numbness and tingling down the left side of my body...mainly in my left leg and on the left side of my cheek. After seeing a sports medicine doctor, 1 month of physical therapy, and seeing a Neurologist for a nerve conduction test - nothing changed or showed up through x-rays, blood work, or the nerve test.

This week, the Neurologist scheduled an MRI on Monday. A vascular cavernous malformation (AVM) was found on the right side of my brainstem, which they believe is the source of the problem. A CAT scan was quickly ordered the next day and they were able to see that I was not born with this, rather it's newer in age, and measures 1.2 cm and that there are 2 other small ones on either side of it. We do not know the exact cause.

So what next? We are waiting to see 2 different neurosurgeons to get 2 different opinions on the best treatment available at this time. Because of the location in the brainstem, it's a very delicate area that most surgeons would like to avoid operating on. Hopefully we will be able to see someone soon to put our minds at ease. But most importantly, I just ask for your prayers and for the Lord to provide peace and comfort for Eric and I during this waiting period.

My reflections:
In everything that I have to do, I must remind myself and know that I am an instrument in His hand. It is God that does everything through me, so I know I'm never alone and that asking for God's help & direction will get us through this. I call out to Him and leave fear and worry in His hands, not my own.

In my quiet time this morning I reflected on Paul's prayer for spiritual empowerment of the Ephesians and made it my own prayer to the Lord:

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Our Savior has Risen!

What an amazing day it was for our family! We enjoyed our Sunday worship service so much and Pastor Chris was incredible as always, the music was perfect, and I know so many people had life-changing moments. It truly was a glorious day! I think Nolan enjoyed his Easter basket too & his little blue bunny :)

Happy Easter!

Easter is one of my favorite times of the year. As we celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Christ, we also associate this time of year with the beginning of Spring - new life & warm sunshine! This time of year always makes me smile as I see all of our springtime flowers coming to life. The beautiful Tulips, Daffodils, Azalas, Lilies, and Iris' are just a few of the flowers we have around our house that make their grand appearance during this time. Thanks Jesus! Its also a time for new spring clothes, new sun-dresses and the return of the flip-flops! Having sweet Nolan this Easter means the start of having an Easter basket filled with yummy chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, and colored eggs! Although he's too young to eat this stuff this year...I know he'll enjoy it next Spring.

Our new friend Jack

Sunday afternoon we went for a walk around our neighborhood and the one next to ours, and this little Terrier followed us back to our home. We've tried to get in touch with the owners and haven't had a response from them just yet. So - Eric and I have taken little Jack under our care until his owners call to take him back. He is so sweet and so well behaved. He loves playing with Nolan and it's so nice to have a dog in the house again :)





JACK
















Nolan, Jack & Krystie















Ready for summer!


















Nolan's famous pose












Playing with Daddy before work

We're back from Louisiana!

My little man was such a trooper and traveled with me on our first road trip without daddy. Eric had a conference for work in Chicago, so I took Nolan with me to see some close friends and family in Mississippi and Louisiana. He enjoyed watching My Friends Tigger & Pooh and Praise Baby on the dvd player in the car to keep him entertained on the drive. He barely made any noise, unless he was laughing. It was such a relief & such a blessing!

My parents were so sad to see us leave as they grew used to the noise of Nolan's many toys, laughter, and crying. I however, grew so homesick and missed Eric so much that I came home a day early. Nolan was so excited to see him yesterday...his whole face lit up.

Nolan at play group this morning...still tired from our trip, but wearing his new shoes Nonna bought him. These are the first shoes he's ever worn :)



















Grandma lovin on me when we stopped to see her at work on our way back to Birmingham yesterday. She can't get over how big I've gotten.














Nolan had fun with Aunt Allison and her dog Doodle. We enjoyed a yummy Mexican lunch, snow cones, and relaxing in the sun on her patio. He can't wait to meet his little cousin...my sister is due mid-October with her first child & we're so excited!














Nolan meets my dear friend Carrie for the first time

















Here are a few pics from Haley's baby shower - one of my sorority sisters from college. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to get a pic with her.

Megan and Molly

















Gretchen poses for a pic with us














Malisha and her little girl Addie




































Nolan is learning to drink water from his sippy cup

7 months old

Nolan was 7 months old yesterday - man has the time flown! He's such a little man and blabbing up a storm. His favorite thing to say over and over again is Bye-Bye. He chants it all day long :)