He called me by name...

Tonight on the way to church, I heard a great song. A song I knew every word to. A contemporary Christian song on The Message, and one, no doubt, they've run into the ground. It's not a new song, and honestly, I can't even remember the name of it right now... but a phrase... one phrase gripped me... "when You (God) called me by name". For some reason, tonight I couldn't get past it. It was like I had never heard it before. I couldn't even sing another phrase. I was so overwhelmed... God called me... by name... to be His forever.

Growing up in church, I've heard that when God calls you, He does so by name. I guess I just never got it before. How humbling is it to think that the maker of Heaven and Earth would call me by name. Even more humbling, to think that I am worthy for Him to call my name, for Him to want to spend eternity with me when I am so filthy with sin, for Him to send His only son to die for me and give me abundant grace. I'm just in awe.

Has he called you by name... are you His forever?

And then there's this...

We're pregnant! As a matter of fact, we're about to get to meet our baby boy any day! Can't believe it's been that long since I blogged! And I'm not going to say I'll get better at it, because I'm pretty sure that with 2 babies, things aren't going to get less busy!

We actually found out in January, and things have been crazy and wonderful at the same time! I've seriously had the most bizarre pregnancy ever! In the last nine months, I've had strep, the stomach virus, multiple sinus infections, various other infections, nose bleeds, and pregnancy induced carpal tunnel on top of the usual pregnancy symptoms! It's been a whirlwind, but like I said, wonderful at the same time!

And yes, we are blessed to be having another baby boy! I honestly thought I would want a little girl, but when we saw that it was definitely a boy, I was so excited you couldn't hold me down! Of course, after losing the pregnancy last year, and the one before Preston, what we're having isn't nearly as important as the fact that he's healthy! And while my body may have gone a little haywire, I'm happy to report that Brooks, our little man, is perfectly healthy!

Like I said, we're very close to meeting him! On my visit to the Dr. last week, she said she'd be surprised if I make it to my next visit!

We had a 4d sonogram done. Aren't those just amazing? Who would have ever thought that you could see a clear picture of your baby before he's even born? Here he is!!

Why did Jesus fold the napkin?

My husband recently received this from his aunt... just in time for Easter. I had never seen or heard of it before, but it gave me chills and choked me up. I wanted to share it...

"Now, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark and saw that the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." So Peter and the other disciples went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb and he saw the linen wrappings lying there and the facecloth that had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself."
John 20:1-7 NAS

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? That napkin, or facecloth, that covered his precious face wasn't just tossed aside like his other graveclothes... it was folded (rolled up) and set aside. The Bible takes an entire verse to explain this to us. Is it important? YES! Is it significant? YES!

In order to understand the significance of this, you need to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition during that day. The folded napkin had to do with the master and the servant. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure it was set exactly the way his master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating. The servant wasn't to touch the table until the master was completely finished. If the master were done eating, he would rise from the table and use his napkin to clean his mouth, hands, and beard. Then he would wad the napkin and toss it onto the table. Then the servant would come and clear the table, for in that time, a wadded napkin meant: "I am done." But if the master got up and folded the napkin, laying it beside his plate, the servant wouldn't dare touch the table...

because a folded napkin meant "I'm coming back"

HE IS COMING BACK!

A year older

Last Saturday we celebrated Preston's 3rd birthday! Can you believe it! And since I really stink at this whole blogging thing, I've not really posted pictures of him since this time last year... I know... I know...

That being said... I hope you'll enjoy these new pictures of our little man with his friends at his party! This was his first party to invite friends to, and it was a lot of fun! We had it at our church, and rented an inflatable bouncer, and brought all of Preston's riding toys for the kids to play with! Unfortunately, Preston was the only child who didn't get in the bouncer! He got close.. once. But that was because his best friends from Ms. Pam's (who he never sees anymore because he's home with me) was getting in, and Preston thought he wanted to as well, but quickly changed his mind! Anyway, it was a ton of fun and we were blessed to have lots of family and friends who joined us! Hope y'all like the pictures!

Ugggh...

I've got to do better with this... seriously. I'm just acknowledging it publicly so maybe it will happen?? That's all I got right now!