A Season of Trial

Where do I begin? Right now Matthew and I are definitely hitting a season of trial. It all started a few weeks ago. First it was one of our cars. We had been having issues with the shifter and then one day it just completely broke while I was out with Malachi. Thankfully, Matthew got off work a bit earlier and came to the rescue. We took it up to the shop and it costed us $180 to fix it. 
The next week on the day before Thanksgiving Matthew was on his way to work and got into an accident. He was fine but the truck was not and it wasn't even our truck. We were borrowing it. So we then had to put out about $400 to pay to junk it and the other fees. That only left us with one car.
The next day on Thanksgiving Matthew went up to the store to get a movie to watch. The shifter broke again and he was stuck. Thankfully his dad came to help him and had it taken to the closest Ford dealership. We were then with out a car. But God did provide through Matthew's step mom. 
The next day the car was fixed for a whopping $1,000. Matthew's dad talked them down to $850 and then paid it as an early Christmas gift. We were so thankful. 
The next morning I found a guy in my brother's fiance's bedroom. She had been living with has for quite some time. She snuck a guy into our house and he was here in her room alone with me and Malachi. I was livid and she was gone at work. As you can imagine things were a bit awkward. We finally sat down to talk with her and everything seemed fine. Then the next day she went to her moms house. By the evening on Tuesday she was moving her stuff out claiming that we had kicked her out. She was cussing at us and her mother called the police. I was so emotional and upset because we had no idea how we were going to make the rent without her part and without any notice. We had just put put about $500 extra to pay for the car problems. We were not prepared. She left and is now somewhere with her mom. Then yesterday we got a notice in the mail saying that Matthew's license has been suspended due to failure to pay off court fines. So he had to take yet another day off of work today to get that taken care of. Thankfully Matthew's step mom paid off the fine for us and he was able to have his license reinstated today. But unfortunately we are short rent, and the other two checks we had to write today. And to be honest we have never been here. And my parents won't help and Matthew's parents have put out well over $2,000 to help us with all of these unexpected expenses. So now we are just praying. Praying that God would somehow provide enough for us to make the rent and the other bills for the license problem. And really praying that this trial season would end soon because I honestly just feel like crawling into bed and never coming out. But I can't because I'm stronger than that and I have a family and a job to think about. I know God is there. And I know He will see us through this. Now we just have to wait.

1 Peter 5:10

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

And also through all of this to remain thankful that we are all healthy. That we both have jobs. Also, that our growing baby girl is healthy. And that God is bigger than all of this.

Recent pictures

Malachi sure does love Grandpa! 

Such a big boy! He loves walking. 

How he is most of the time:) happy! 

Grandpa love! 

Next to his cakeat his birthday party! 

My mom, aunt, and their grandsons! 

I got to meet and hold my second cousin on Sunday:)

Tyler, Matthew's 3 year old son. He is so handsome! 

So grown up!

New Job

Well, as Matthew and I enter into this new season of having another child I also had to get a job. Things were not working out with just Matthew working. Thankfully, they are so understanding there and have accommodated my wish for a schedule. During the week my hours are 6-11pm for 2 days and then weekends I work two 8 hour shifts. I got hired at the Sheetz Gas Station. I wasn't really thrilled at first to be working at a gas station. But I won't complain because it is a job and they have been so understanding of the need to balance family and work time. They are an awesome company to work for. Everyone loves it there, so it seems. So even though I have been exhausted with Malachi waking up lately halfway through the night and having crazy nap times it is all working out. And Matthew is doing a wonderful job of taking care of him while I am gone. I am so blessed to have a husband who works 40+ hours per week and then comes home and takes care of our lil guy, cleans the house for me, and still manages to make me feel special. I don't always give him the credit he deserves because most of the time I'm tired, hormonal, and grumpy. But I know that this is just a season and it will end someday. For now, I will enjoy God's blessing of a new and wonderful job with wonderful managers and I will continue to thank Him for His provision.

Pictures of Malachi between his birth last year to now

Not too long after he was born:)

6 days old here!

2 months old

Enjoying his bumbo seat!

Sleepy baby:)

His first Easter and my 21st birthday

First tooth!!!!

11 months old!

First time eating chocolate chip pancakes:)

Anatomy Ultrasound and Scan

I had my 20 week ultrasound a few days ago. Thankfully everything looks great! All of Elianna's organs and brain look awesome and she is right where she should be. Praise the Lord for a healthy baby! I am feeling a lot better! No more morning sickness. Just a little extra tired. I am so thankful for that. 
It is so unreal that I am already twenty weeks along. I am halfway through my pregnancy. We couldn't be more excited for our baby girl! 

Our sweet One Year Old

It is so bittersweet and overwhelming to think that tomorrow my sweet son will be 1 years old. I am having such a hard time grasping the fact that he is no longer a baby! 
I think back to a year ago when we were on our way to the hospital. I cried because I was so worried that something would go wrong. And even though I didn't have the birth experience that I had wanted it was perfect. It was perfect because in the end I had a perfect angel in my arms. 
When Malachi was born we had a hard time bonding. But boy are we close now! He is the happiest boy I have ever met. He constantly smiles and makes me happy. He makes Matthew and I both happy. 
Child birth reminds me of life in a way. There's a lot of pain and suffering but in the end I will get to see paradise! And that's what Malachi is to me... A little piece of paradise. He is our sweet angel.. Our tiny hiny.... Our little messenger of God. He has done nothing but bring joy to our life. He has made me realize what the important things are in life. He has brought me closer to God and he has made me a better person. 
I will post pictures this weekend. 

Becoming An Understanding Mama and Wife

If you know me, or even if you don't I have something to confess. Quite times with the Lord don't come easy for me. It seems there is always a billion other things to do or something more fun. But lately God has really broken my heart to begin taking time every day to spend with Him. So I have made it my goal to fill up at least two pages of my prayer journal every day and spend time reading His word. 

So, today I sat down and wrote in my journal. And my prayer has been for God to make me into a woman after His own heart. Boy, is He doing just that! 

I am reading the devotional "A Mom After God's Own Heart" and its awesome! I read a devotion today about being a remarkable woman. I also prayed recently for the Lord to mold me into a Proverbs 31 mama and wife. After I read my devotion I opened up my bible to a random spot. This is what I saw:

"A Woman of Understanding, Women in God's Design." It just so happened to be in 1 Samuel 25:1-35. That was the little footnote. I read the footnote about how Abigail's life was hard with a husband who was "harsh" and "evil". Yet she was a faithful servant to the Lord and to her husband! Boy, did I feel some conviction there. 
I then went on to read about Abigail and her life with her husband, Nabal. I was blown away by her understanding and patience that she had with her husband who treated her terribly! Also, her faith in the Lord. Then I came to realize that no matter how someone else is acting, my faith and trust in the Lord has to stay steadfast. And in those moments when I want to scream at Malachi or Matthew, that I am called to be an understanding mommy and wife. Patience is not an easy thing but when you look at Abigail she shows the perfect example of true love and obedience. Through all that her husband had done she spared his life. She picked up the mess he had made. 

That is our job as a spouse! We are called to love each other no matter what we have done. Marriage isn't easy. But I think if we live by Abigail's example we can have a successful marriage.

I can also look at this as a parent too. I know that it can get frustrating cleaning up mess after mess that your child(ten) has made. But as mom's that's in the job title. And in the end God will reward us greatly with something awesome like Abigail who rewarded with a wonderful husband in the end! 

Our handsome 11 month old

                      Malachi on his 11 month birthday! 
We were at Smith Mountain Lake for our last summer vacation:)

Wow.. I cannot believe it has been 11 months since Malachi has made his entrance into the world. What a joy he is to have around. He truly does live up to his name, "messenger of God". He is always smiling (most of the time) and he is a happy boy. I never knew how truly amazing being a mom is until I became one. And even though some days I feel like I'm not doing much at all I know that one day it will all pay off. God has used Malachi in more ways than I could have ever imagined to strengthen not only my heart and patience... But also my walk with the Lord and my marriage. Looking at that sweet little face and just knowing that Matthew and I created him makes me love Matthew all the more. And it is amazing to see how God created this little life and he is now about to begin walking! I have always loved working with children but having my own is beyond what I ever imagined it to be. His giggles and the way he touches me when I am rocking him makes it all so worthwhile.

So here's to 11 amazing and crazy awesome months! We love you bubs! 

Smith Mountain Lake

So this is my first try at blogging. I love to journal and write so I am sure I will enjoy this just as much!
So, for this Labor Day weekend Matthew, Malachi, and I will be heading to Smith Mountain Lake for a last summertime vacation. And I am so excited! Malachi loves the water and nothing beats waking up to the beautiful world God has created at the lake. Matthew and I have been facing a lot of turmoil lately in our marriage so a vacation will do nothing but good for us! I am so blessed to have my parent's lake house to go to since we really have no budget for vacations right now. Anyways, I have to get packing!