Yes, we are indeed.......

Expecting a baby. We are absolutely over the moon about it. The Lord continues to bless us. I feel so blessed. We found out on a Thursday night, exactly a week from Thanksgiving. It was about 11p.m. and I just decided to take a pregnancy test just to see what would happen. I waited for the results but preparing myself for another possible outcome. I walked away from the bathroom but within moments walked back in to see a faint positive pregnancy test. I was overcome with Gladness. Aaron was already in bed just falling asleep, but of course I could not contain myself and had to tell him immediately. We were both thrilled but still a bit cautious. I took a test everyday after to just reaffirm that I was indeed pregnant with our 3rd child.

WOHOO!!!!!!

Yay, Are we gonna have a baby? :)

"My Thankful Monday"

Lately we have been so busy that we are home one part of the day and then the other part we are out involved with either church, soccer or ballet. Today, since I have been at home cleaning I have had alot of thoughts go in and out of my head. I hate where there is time were you have time to sit and think. Sometimes thinking is a bad thing...for me. Sometimes I think to much. But right now I'm going to get myself out of that. I'm going to say what I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for GOD. That of course he care for little ol me to die on the cross for my horrible, horrible sin's. I'm such a wretched sinner, but Lord had shown me MERCY and GRACE. I don't deserve any of it. I really, really don't. SO today I will reflect on how BIG my God is. Remember how incredible he is and he has a purpose and plan for my life.

I'm thankful for Aaron, he is an incredible husband. He is gracious, forgiving, selfless, unjudgemental, diligent, patient, kind loving husband and father.

I'm thankful for my wonderful GIRLS!!!!

Ava she is outgoing, funny, a go-getter, loving a complete extrovert the complete opposite of me and I love her all the more for who she is and who GOD made her to be. The Lord has truly blessed me with this child ad I find out more and more about it each and every day.

Gabrielle she is alot like me. :) Which really makes me see myself through someone else. She is quiet, loving, she loves to cuddle, she is moody and emotional. I love these 3 blessing's in my LIFE. These are the thing's I am thankful for.

God will see us through

Filled with the Spirit

I have been totally encouraged lately by the messages I have been hearing at church. My heart is just so overjoyed once I leave church. I have just been filled with the spirit. God is just so good. I don't really know what else I can say about it. His love overwhelms me. i just have so much to be thankful for. God has truly shown me favor. I don't deserve it, not any of it, but God continues to bless. I just really needed to get out once again how thankful I am:

"May the Mind of Christ my Savior"

May the mind of Christ, my Savior, Live in me from day to day, By His love and power controlling All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly In my heart from hour to hour, So that all may see I triumph Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father Rule my life in everything, That I may be calm to comfort Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me As the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self abasing,This is victory.

May I run the race before me, Strong and brave to face the foe, Looking only unto Jesus As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me, As I seek the lost to win, And may they forget the channel, Seeing only Him.

I requested this song to be sung at Wednesday night church this past week. This song and the word's have been on my mind for a long time. Just read the word's. Even read them as a prayer. I think it is SOOOO very important for our minds to be like Christ centered always. I think it is especially hard in the society we live in. We are surronded by just the brokeness of this world around us and everything in it. Always allowing Christ your Savior to live in you from day to day. When we allow worldy thing's in our lives then we seperate our selves from God. Every small thing that we do, we seperate ourselves from God- wether it is a song we listen to or a movie we watch on television, this is were it starts, the seperation from God. That is why it is so important that we stay Christ filled and Christ centered Always.

Aaron and I were in the car the other day we were having a discusion. I think about one of his employee's. The thing that stuck out the most to me in that conversation was that he said, "Man babe, it is so hard trying to stay right with God when people keep pushing your button's. Aaron is a "nice guy" and he almost always give people the benefit of the doubt. He wants to show his employees that he respects them but while he is doing that he is being taken advantage of because of his "nice guy" quality. I think at this particular moment we were having this conversaton he wanted to be harder on his team for simple thing's they need to be held accountable for but he still wants to have a balance of discipline and grace. I think we all want to first act out of our sinful nature, but if we stay Christ filled ALL THE TIME then that will not be our first response.

Are we allowing Christ our Savior to live in us from day to day on how we speak to people or about other's? Is our speech edifying? Does it build others up instead of tearing them down.

Are we allowing Christ our Savior to live in us from day to day by giving only God the glory in everything we so quickly take credit for?

Are we allwoing God to complety rule our lives? Are we fully trusting on him?

When I run that race, I only want to run it with Jesus, I will press on to finish the race because I see his Grace in my life. I see what mercy he has shown me.

I pray that others I come in contact with will see How everyday I struggle ( For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms -Eph 6:12) Satan is at work for us not to be Christ centered, and strive to allow Christ my Savior to live in me from day to day in how I act, who I give the glory to and what words I use out of my mouth. Only focusing soley on Christ.

Thankfulness

Last Sunday Aaron and I were a bit distracted with a situation we have been going through for a while now. We were going to try and settle the situation but once we arrived at church and heard the sermon that morning, we both, I think by the end of that day had such a sense of peace about the situation that is was pretty much pointless to even try to settle the situation. The thing's here on earth are so trivial, so petty, and pointless. I think instead of us trying to over examine these trivial thing's, we need to make sure we are RIGHT with God and try to encourage other's in our lives to be right with God before he returns to take us home. He is coming back soon, and we won't have to deal with such simple issues in our lives anymore and who could be more thankful for that.

This was the verse that put cherry on top for me Sunday night.....

Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. - Philippians 4:4

Potty Training Day's

Well, round 2 and we are potty training Gigi. She has been a little more challenging than Ava. Ava was SUPER easy to train though. As soon as Ava turned 2 year's old. She hopped on the toilet and went to the potty like the big girl's do. Gigi, she has been a bit more stubborn. She knows the drill, she has shown an interest in the wanting to go but she simply will not release anything. She knows how to wipe, climb onto the big potty. She knows how to put the toilet paper in when she is done and then flush, but she simply won't just "go pe-pe in the potty" as we tell her. She has only done it once, so far but she more so was caught off guard when that happened :) So we will see what the day's lie ahead of us. HAPPY Potty Training for us!!!

"My Almost Perfect Life!!!"

So, when I first started this blog, the name of it was my almost perfect life. I let Aaron read my blog and he saw the title and thought I should change it. So we had a brief discussion about what my almost perfect life meant to me. My almost perfect life to me is I feel very blessed in this life the Lord has given me. I have EVERYTHING I NEED what more could I ask for?? My life will never be perfect but I feel like it's pretty close. I don't want to seem proud, but I have a GREAT husband and and GREAT kid's and GREAT circumstances. I think thing's could always be better but I'm happy and contenet on how thing's are for us. Less is better for me it always has and I hope and pray that it always will. So Aaron explained that people who did not know me might take the title the wrong way, so I changed it to My GRACE FILLED Life. God's grace has been so clear and evident in our lives. He has continually blessed over and over again. We really don't deserve how merciful he is to us, but I'm so very thankful that he has truly overlooked our many sins and still continue to bless us despite.

favorite quotes

If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees. ~Kahlil Gibran, Sand and Foam

If it's very painful for you to criticize your friends - you're safe in doing it. But if you take the slightest pleasure in it, that's the time to hold your tongue. ~Alice

The Puritan's idea of hell is a place where everybody has to mind his own business. ~Wendell Phillips

Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you. ~Spanish Proverb

Do not repeat anything you will not sign your name to. ~Author Unknown

It is one of my sources of happiness never to desire a knowledge of other people's business. ~Dolley Madison

It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper. ~Errol Flynn

Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell. ~Shana Alexander

There are persons who, when they cease to shock us, cease to interest us. ~F.H. Bradley

I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth; but rather by some means excuse the faults I hear charged upon others, and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of everybody. ~Benjamin Franklin

There is so much good in the worst of us,And so much bad in the best of us,That it hardly becomes any of usTo talk about the rest of us.~Edward Wallis Hoch

The best way to keep one's word is not to give it. ~Napoleon I,

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead. ~Benjamin Franklin

favorite quotes

Christian Couples must realize ministry can't come before your marriage. -Janeen Macbath

The Godly Woman will make her family her first priority. - Janeen Macbath

"You need fellowship just as you need all the other things."

If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees. ~Kahlil Gibran, Sand and Foam

If it's very painful for you to criticize your friends - you're safe in doing it. But if you take the slightest pleasure in it, that's the time to hold your tongue. ~Alice

The Puritan's idea of hell is a place where everybody has to mind his own business. ~Wendell Phillips

Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you. ~Spanish Proverb

Do not repeat anything you will not sign your name to. ~Author Unknown

It is one of my sources of happiness never to desire a knowledge of other people's business. ~Dolley Madison

It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper. ~Errol Flynn

Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell. ~Shana Alexander

There are persons who, when they cease to shock us, cease to interest us. ~F.H. Bradley

I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth; but rather by some means excuse the faults I hear charged upon others, and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of everybody. ~Benjamin Franklin

There is so much good in the worst of us,And so much bad in the best of us,That it hardly becomes any of usTo talk about the rest of us.~Edward Wallis Hoch

The best way to keep one's word is not to give it. ~Napoleon I,

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead. ~Benjamin Franklin

Negative Thoughts!!

My mothers brother and sister are getting a divorce. My uncle, my mothers brother has been speaking to my grandmother, his mother about my aunt his wife about the situation and how my aunt is doing this and that to him. My grandmother believes about 97 percent of everything that my uncle is saying to her. What my grandmother does not realize is that Uncle is telling the story so that the story is in his favor. He is telling it from his perspective. He is telling the story so that my grandparents will be on his side.

This is not the way to go about things. What this is doing is placing feelings and thoughts in my grandparents head before they even heard from my aunt, my uncles wife her side, her perspective, her point of view. I think now even if she told her side of the story, my grandparents have already formed a opinion about her about this situation. So they may never forget. Keep your negative thoughts to your self, If it is not benefiting you, the other person, or if you would not say to the person directly, don't say. It pulls us away form God.

Being who I need to be for "JESUS"

I have been guilty of not staying true to God and myself by changing who I am to fit in. I have been guilty of it in the past. The lord has brought me to my knees to submission in order for me to learn what I was doing was wrong. I have decided to not live my life like that anymore. God has shown me that there is another way. If you know me well enough, you know that I mention every once in a while that it has and sometimes still is very hard for me to make friends.

So because of this, I have been so desperate to make a friend, that in times I will change how I respond or act around people who I wish to befriend for just simple acceptance. I just want them to accept me for who I am. But, wait....I'm not really being who I really am if I have to change for this or these individuals.

Romans 12:2 NKJV- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I will no longer conform to how people want me to act anymore. I just want to live my life for Jesus. I have not become wayward, but I think I really lost a bit of my focus for a while. I'm glad I did otherwise I would not have learned the lesson God wanted to teach me.
So I have found in my struggles with this that I am just fine the way I am, and the TRUE friend is the one who does not want you to change. They simply LOVE you for who you are. Jesus loves me for who I am and I don't have to change for him at ALL. I'm so thankful that God has shown me the way to go so that I can grow into a better relationship with him.

Trials and Hardships

I keep asking myself, who would I be if I didn't go through that situation, that trial , that burden, or conflict. Well, I would pretty much be the same person I was a week ago with no kind of spiritual growth whatsoever. I have been dealing with issues involving relationships with people in my life over the past 6 month's but all in all about 3 years. Relationship issues I think the Lord has been trying to show me his way on and not my way. God does not want me to respond to the situation based on how I was raised. God does not want me to instinctively respond based off of my feelings alone. God wants me to respond his way. He wants me to come to him and seek his face in all that I do. This is the lesson that I have been learning about lately in my life. So, I'm a bit sad that certain relationships with people will never be the same but in the end I'm glad it was me that the Lord wanted to chasten. If not there would be no growth in my life. There would be no lessons learned.

Romans 8:28 NIV, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Celebrating Our 6th Anniversary-

So I initially started writing this post days ago, and then I lost what I had written. So here goes. Aaron and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary this past weekend on August 2. We went to one of our favorite restaurant's, P.F. Changs- and we just had the best time reflecting on the last 6 years of marriage. Aaron told me just right before he asked for my hand in marriage, he said he knew he wanted to marry me because of something I told him one night when he dropped me off at home. I told him I loved God more than I loved him. He said that sealed the deal for him. That sealed the deal for him that he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I remember that night like it was yesterday. I loved Aaron so much that I loved God even more for sending Aaron to me in my life and forever changing it. I hope that last sentence made sense. ;) He is a incredible husband. He is wise, he thinks about thing's before he act's on them. He does not act out on emotion. He is smart, very handy, very patience, very sweet and very loving. I really could not ask for a better man as my husband. A very Happy Anniversary it was!!!

My childhood

Pregnant at 16. I was born to my then 17 year old mother in October 1983. We lived with my grandparents, my mother was still in high school. My father, came around from time to time more like every full moon and pretty much was completly out of my life by the age of 2. I had no memory of him at all. I lived my life with my mother, my grandmother and Grandpa. I loved my Grandpa, I considered him to be my male father figure in my life because he was the only man in my life growing up. My mother later meet my sister's father when I was about 4 or 5 yrs old. My sister was born by the time I was 6 yrs old. That was an akward time for me because I was used to life being all about me from the time I was born until my sister arrived. I felt jealousy, and like I was not wanted. That feeling never really went away. I was forced to basically grow up so to speak from the elders in the home. So if I started crying about something, I was being a baby about thing's. Really I felt so alone. The time that was previously dealt to me was now my sister time, my time, my sister's dad's time and my mom's time. I no longer had my mom all to myself anymore. That was hard for me to deal with. But despite how I felt about it then, it has truly moudle me into the person I am today.

I was loved very much by my family but I still felt very lonely. I felt a void that needed to be filled. My sister's dad was there and he was nice to me but he was not my real father so the realtionship I needed to really have with a man growing up never really got fullfiled. My grandpa was also there but like I said before he was a father figure he was in my eyes my grandpa.

He spent time with me, we used to go fishing and crabbing and I got to help him work at his job or I'd go visit him at work. My grand father is really special to me.

My childhood

Pregnant at 16. I was born to my then 17 year old mother in October 1983. We lived with my grandparents, my mother was still in high school. My father, came around from time to time more like every full moon and pretty much was completly out of my life by the age of 2. I had no memory of him at all. I lived my life with my mother, my grandmother and Grandpa. I loved my Grandpa, I considered him to be my male father figure in my life because he was the only man in my life growing up. My mother later meet my sister's father when I was about 4 or 5 yrs old. My sister was born by the time I was 6 yrs old. That was an akward time for me because I was used to life being all about me from the time I was born until my sister arrived. I felt jealousy, and like I was not wanted. That feeling never really went away. I was forced to basically grow up so to speak from the elders in the home. So if I started crying about something, I was being a baby about thing's. Really I felt so alone. The time that was previously dealt to me was now my sister time, my time, my sister's dad's time and my mom's time. I no longer had my mom all to myself anymore. That was hard for me to deal with. But despite how I felt about it then, it has truly moudle me into the person I am today.

I was loved very much by my family but I still felt very lonely. I felt a void that needed to be filled. My sister's dad was there and he was nice to me but he was not my real father so the realtionship I needed to really have with a man growing up never really got fullfiled. My grandpa was also there but like I said before he was a father figure he was in my eyes my grandpa.

He spent time with me, we used to go fishing and crabbing and I got to help him work at his job or I'd go visit him at work. My grand father is really special to me.

Discouraged, Unmotivated, Tired

I need to snap out if it!! But I can't. It feels like I have been struggling with losing weight all of my early 20's. It is such a task. Aggravating- I don't like working out, I rather be doing something else. Reality, I know it is good for my body and I feel better about myself. I was looking at a record keeper of my weight the other day and it said that I weighed 188 lbs 2/5/2008 wow! wow! wow! was all I could say when I saw that. Keep in mind now that I had Gabrielle September 2007 and I was nursing and craving sweets and easily put on 20 lbs right after having her. I had never experienced cravings as I did being pregnant as oppose to having her postpartum. Yes, I learned my lesson...I hope! I was very emotional and hormonal during that period. I am proud to say I currently weigh 158 lbs and hope for that number to continue to drop. Keep going me...Keep going!!

Thought's on my life

So much has been going on in our lives. Aaron work is keeping him busy. The girls have been keeping me busy. The next couple of months to come will be very busy. Trying to keep the girls from being bored all day, everyday is a task itself. I myself, enjoy being home but whether I know it or not I really do need to get out of the house just like the girl's. The girl's and I cherish the time we spend with Aaron when he is off work. I heard Ava telling Aaron the other day. "You're my boy daddy" Where did she get that from? Well, I tell her all the time You're my girl, Ava. I love you! It is truly amazing what our children pick up from us. It is important for us as parents to be mindful of what kind of information we place in our children's head, especially at this young age. Ava will be 4 in October and this time is very critical for her. She is learning everything she needs to know unless we correct her. It is a challenge but we are thankful and blessed to have them both.

Esmeralda Party at our House

Aaron took them boating.

Well, today I invited Aaron's mom over and the girl's (our nieces) to have lunch and cupcakes! It was Essie birthday this past Saturday. We had alot of fun. Aaron took them all out on the boat. It's nice just being around family. Later on in thee day, I was going to have Ava take a nap after everyone left. Instead I, myself fell asleep and then Aaron and Ava went back out on the boat. Church at night, it was a great service. We got home approaching 10 p.m. and took our rountine walk around the block. House cleaning day a little tomorrow. Aaron is also a GREAT Dad, he was so patient with the kid's today. He said our neice Alicia asked if she could call him Dad today, he told her that she had to ask her parent's. :O They seemed to have a really good time. I will be watching them until school starts on Fridays. My girl's will love the company.

Mostly a day at home

I don't have to go out ALL the time to have fun, we enjoy being at home and being with one another. That is what is really important to us, is our growing family. Today we went to my Friend Darla's (she is a Stampin UP demonstrator) house to make some card's. Getting ready for the birthday party planning, so much fun! I enjoy planning thier parties so much! I never had big parties growing up where you invite 50-11 people, so I feel very blessed we can do it for our kid's. I always knew I was loved growing up, I usually had a cake and My mom and whoever else was around sanged happy birthday to me. I'm Thankful for that time in my life even today. So I made a really cool invitation today for Gabby's birthday party(compliements of my friend Darla of course)- I'll post pictures soon. The rest of the day though, I will just catch up on house work- fold clothes, wash clothes, steam the carpet's, wash dishes etc...the list is never ending that is why I have so much to do today. Gabby is napping- I'm going to make a quick salad and start on my work.

A day at home

Today we ended up staying home. The girl's were good. They played very well with one another today in the front room with their toy's. Gabby was not the normal grouch she is. Normally very moody, she makes mean faces at you all day long. Today she was smiling an hugging and kissing and cuddling- now she does that everyday but just with a frown. Extra sweet and Extra Loving today. I love just being home with them. Gabby has been interested in the potty, for example she will sit on it and she thinks she has done her job. She has been taking off her diaper to go. She doesn't understand that she has to push something out. We did bath's, story time and to bed they went. Gabrielle has been having a hard time falling asleep at night. I think it might be because of her teething. It also seems like she is going thru a separation anxiety stage, she just wants me to lay in her bed with her until she falls asleep. She puts her arms around my neck and holds on soooo tight. Apart of me is like" enjoy this time". The other part of me is like she really needs to learn to go to bed by herself without me being there. So it is a catch 22 for me. I had to run out to the store tonight, so I would not have to take them with me. I can go in and get out, pretty quickly. I love the girl's so much. They wear me out at times but the GOOD ALWAYS outweighs the wearing mommy out.