I Heart Faces : Photojournalism

Have you ever had to keep a secret?
What about a wonderful secret, like the gender
of your Kindred Spirit's unborn babe?
Let me tell you: it is hard!
But to see the joy on their faces when
they saw it written in the sand...

Priceless.






Edit: I just wanted everyone to know what Autumn said about the picture of Alethia at the water: "Alethia looks like she's contemplating drowning..." - ha! Well, we will just see how she deals with her baby sister in December!

Far Above Rubies: Proverbs 31:25

First of all, I am so sorry I have been so slack concerning this series! We are nearing the end of it and I have still been very bad at doing this. Things are so hectic around here, but that shouldn't keep me from taking time out to do Far Above Rubies! I am trying to do better, so bear with me! My sweet friend Kara told me how much she had been missing it and it has inspired me to do it before I get busy come tomorrow. Thank you, Kara, for reminding me that this isn't only for me!

This week we will be looking at Proverbs 31:25.

"Strength and honour are her clothing;
and she shall rejoice in time to come."
- Proverbs 31:25

It is apparent that this first part about her clothing being strength and honour is speaking figuratively about this virtuous woman. This is a meaningful verse to me especially in these difficult times that we have been facing recently. This woman "wears clothing" of strength and honour, because she has no reason not to be able to do so. She doesn't have to worry or fret. She can be confident in what lies ahead because "she shall rejoice in time to come."

How does she know this? Because she is a godly woman and those who serve the Lord will be blessed! Here are a few verses that go along with that - and one of my favorites (Matthew 6:33) is included!

1) Psalms 37:25: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."
2) Psalms 112:7: "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD."
3) Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
4) Hebrews 13:5-6: "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

Hebrews 13:5-6 ... wow. Just reading that right now, when I feel like giving up from time to time, that verse really touches me. It literally brings tears to my eyes. What an awesome God we serve, am I right?! God will NOT forsake me!

In fact, where in the Bible have we ever read about God forsaking man?! Nowhere! Man has always been the one forsaking God - God has always been where He will always be!

The virtuous woman wore clothing of strength and honour and it was evident that she could boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

I don't know about you all, but this study couldn't have come at a better time for me and I am so thankful that I took the time to sit down and do this. I hope you all enjoyed this and can jump in with comments or your own blog posts!

what I am vs. what I am not

It's time for me to be honest.

That's not to say that I've been dishonest. I haven't been. Well, not with you. I may have been dishonest with myself, but I'm happy to say that I have cleared the air with myself. And now I want to make sure you all know something about me.

I know a lot of people out there have been commenting on how well I have been doing with what has been going on. I know a lot of people have been impressed with my attitude and have commended me for it. But I just want you to know something. I'm not always so optimistic. I have more ups than downs, that's for sure, but my downs are way down there. I mean, waaaay down there.

I have had moments where I have been overcome with worry so much that I have broken down in tears. I have had moments where I have been so angry that this is happening and about the way that it has happened! I have had moments where I would think, "Why us, of all people?!" I have been so overwhelmed by the amount of cardboard boxes and stuff to pack that I have felt like throwing my hands up and throwing in the towel. I've felt like venting, like blogging, like writing a letter to whom it may concern. I've felt like screaming and crying and secluding and giving up.

It's times like these that I mostly find myself in prayer. It's times like these that I remind myself of one of Carl's sermons called "What to do when life isn't fair", most importantly step one of such process: Lose Your Pride. "Who am I to be above suffering?"

There it is, Kristen, you've been prideful. You've been prideful and you need to get over yourself.

I am not above suffering. I am not "so good" that I shouldn't have to endure hardships or trials. I'm not "so independent" that I should feel bad when I have no choice but to take someone up on their offer of help. I have been kicking myself and kicking myself for having to most likely go live with my parents. I have been telling myself what a burden we will be and who knows how long we'll be there to burden them!?

And yet never have my parents ever acted in such a way that I should have ever thought that it would be a burden to them for us to stay a spell with them.

It's just my pride, and I've got to lose it.

Who am I to be above suffering?

I am not.

but I am okay.

Wordless Wednesday: First Planeride

{On the ride home, he slept the entire time! From before the plane took off till it landed!}

What's the plan, Stan?

Good question! So what is the plan, exactly? No job = limited money = we can't continue paying rent out... so that means we are moving out! We have to do this regardless of whether or not we have a job {but it would be so nice to have a place to go permanently when we move - we are still praying!} - and we have to do this before September 23rd. That's five weeks. Five.

If it happens that we don't have a job, where are we going? Well, we're heading back to my parents'. I really hate to have to do it - not because I don't want to, but because we lived with them before we got the job down here and I just feel like we are going to be a burden again - not that they said we were before. I just don't want to be a burden, you know?

Anyway, my parents are great and are so helpful and wouldn't mind our company! I love them!

So, this week the plan is go through the closets and throw away the junk we don't want to pay to store. You know, the stuff we haven't even looked at for such a long time we barely remember that we own it. That stuff. It's got to go. This is like mega Spring cleaning, a few months late.

I know it will be hard to get motivated because packing is something I hate to do and moving is even worse.

But, we only have five weeks. Actually, less than five, because we aren't staying through to the 23rd if at all possible.

What's Ben's plan during all this? Easy.

Plan A: Be absolutely adorable.


Plan B: Stick your face in ketchup.


Check and check!

Have a great week, everyone!

PS - I am SO thankful for all the support we have been getting from friends all over! You all are so wonderful; thank you so much!! And thank you mostly for the prayers! They mean so much to us!

The Lord Has Been Mindful Of Me

Being a preacher's wife means a lot of things.

.It means that people will look at you differently, in the church and in the community.
.It means that people will hold you to a higher standard, no matter how wrong it may be.
.It means that you share in the joy and trials of others on a more personal level.
.It means that you may see more of the good, bad, and ugly of the people around you.
.It means your heart swells with pride when you hear the truth being spoken from your husband's lips, and even more so when they compliment your husband in front of you.
.It means you stand behind your husband and with him endure criticism, ridicule, and false accusations.


It's a blessing, it truly is, to be a preacher's wife. But any life isn't without it's troubles.

Right now my family is enduring troubles, and I ask you all to keep us in your prayers as we get through this. My husband has been terminated as the preacher where we have been for nearly 2 years, and we are now looking for somewhere else to go. In the coming weeks we will be packing and looking for another place, but most of all praying. Please keep us in your prayers!!

God is worthy of all our praise, no matter what the circumstance!

Though I, through the valley of shadow, O’er mountain or troubled sea,
And oft in the darkness, have traveled, The Lord has been mindful of me.
Much more than my grief and my sorrow, Much more than adversity,
Much more than the all I have given, The Lord has been mindful of me.
I’m rich! I am saved! I am happy! I’ve health and prosperity!
I’ve friends! I have doors ever open! The Lord has been mindful of me.
The Lord has been mindful of me! He blesses and blesses again!
My God is the God of the living! How excellent is His name!

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits; even the God of our salvation" (Ps. 68:19)

PS - if I am a bit absent on here, now you know why!

Benjamin, you are 19 Months old!!

And a bit Cranky... well at this time!

Sweet Benjamin, yesterday you turned 19 months old! I seriously cannot believe all you have been doing lately, all the words that you say and all of your new tricks. You are growing up so fast and I can hardly keep up! You are so funny and so smart and so sweet! You have always been an affectionate child and I am so thankful for each and every kiss you give! You're just precious!



I couldn't even list all the words you know if I tried! You most used word now is Mama! It's true, you are FINALLY saying Mama - all. the. time. I suppose I asked for it! It is so pitiful to hear you crying and calling Mama! You also say Uh-Oh a lot and you say Ooohhh when you think something is pretty. You are a jabber mouth though and you know exactly what you're saying even if we don't! You often try to sweet-talk yourself out of trouble, too.



Little man, you're going to be a heart throb some day! Just the other night you and Mariah couldn't stop hugging and kissing on each other... You are going to be trouble, I can tell! But you do really love your friends and I am so glad you have playmates!

You love to watch your shows, the Wiggles, Blues Clues, and Dora the Explorer. Your very favorite is Dora, still, and you love to look at all the Dora stuff in the store. You do have a few Dora things, actually! You love your Dora tray!



Your most notable feat this month, however, has to be the fact that you are excelling in Swim Lessons! It was so amazing today because yesterday you did not have a very good Swim Lesson, but today you were incredible! I found myself saying, "Wow!!" a lot! You didn't cry at all and you did everything you were supposed to do!

Benjamin, I love you more than you will ever know! You are my Sunshine!!