Being Conformed to His image

Children are a heritage of the Lord...

2011-08-24T10:23:00.001-07:00

We are finally ready to share the news with the world that the Lord has given us another baby. Yep you heard me right, we are expecting our 5th baby on or around March 4th. I was as surprised as you probably are. Matt and I thought we were done having children after our son Jeremiah was born just a mere 6months ago. At first I totally panicked, cried, and asked God why? Then I went through three months of uncertainty as to if this baby would make it or not due to some complications. It was literally like being on an emotional roller coaster. God's grace has been amazing. He has been with me through it all, all my emotions, all my uncertainty, all my lack of understanding. I am finally at the point (13 weeks into the pregnancy) that I am looking forward to holding this baby. The joy of the Lord is my strength! One thing that has kept repeating in my mind over and over is "but God, this wasn't in our plans" and thus the response I always get... Jeremiah 29:11"For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future". And so what we think is a good plan for our lives doesn't always pan out just like we think it should, but all things are possible with the Lord. So we are differently in transition in the Bailey household and their are some big things in store for us I know.

The Art of Multi-tasking

2011-05-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

   There is one thing that I have found as of late, okay, more than one thing but for now we shall focus on one. With having four children ages 9 to almost 3 months you have to learn to do things a little different. The word multi tasking takes on a whole new meaning.
    Most women are known for having good multi tasking skills and why not, I mean if I am going to be able to get anything done (such as posting to this blog, yep eating lunch in between typing) I have to do multiple things at once. Have you ever asked yourself ..."What all can I do while feeding my baby a bottle"? or "What all can I pick up on the way to throw the diaper away"? Wait, you haven't asked yourself those questions, well I am sure the questions will vary from person to person. If you are the mother to four kids, one being a baby, you will ask yourself those and many more.
   As of late I have learned to incorporate my exercise routine into whatever it is that I need to do. So if I have a fussy baby Jeremiah, then I will rock him while doing some side lunges, or some squats. If it's time to have some one on one time with Hannah we turn up the music and do some dancing. You get the idea. But of course like everything there has to be balance. There are times that I cannot and should not do three things at once ( I would give examples but I am sure you have already thought of some).
   There are times that my husband need my attention, all of my attention. There are times that my kids needs my attention, all of my attention. While I can pray as I drive my car somewhere or as I fold clothes etc. there are times that I need to have all my attention focused on seeking the Lord.

Maybe a better title would be the art of balancing multi tasking :) We live busy lives, I am learning the things that I need to busy myself with and what I don't. After all time is precious. Speaking of time, mine is up for now. I pray you are each blessed today. Till next time.....

Jeremiah means....God is Exalted

2011-03-21T11:09:00.001-07:00

Jeremiah means....God is Exalted

Me and Jeremiah ..one month old

Photography by Jonathan Howe

The Bailey brood, L to R, Hannah Grace, Lydia

holding Jeremiah and David

Photography by Jonathan Howe

Jeremiah Wayne..one month

Photography by Jonathan Howe

First Day Home

Jeremiah Wayne Bailey

Feb. 20th, 2011

8lb. 2oz.

21in.

The Grandparents: David and Kathy Reese

Precious Baby Boy

Okay, so I realize it has been some time since I have blogged. It is now the end of March 2011 and our precious baby Jeremiah Wayne Bailey has not only arrived but is now a month old already. I do have a fairly good reason for just now blogging though :) The past month has been a dozy..hum, not sure that is a real word or spelled right if it is a word but I will go with it for the moment. Let me back track to the end of Feb. 2011...one month ago.

I was a week away from my due date, had been having contractions on and off for more than two weeks, was 3cm dilated and about 70% effaced, meaning I could go into labor at any moment really. I had my bag packed and in the van, had already arranged child care for when the moment arrived. I had planned to have a natural delivery this time around at the Lisa Ross Birthing Center, actually a water birth to be more specific. I had been practicing my breathing exercises and all that jazz and was nervous but ready for the blessed event to take place. I would give birth at the birthing center and then go home within 6 to 12 hours after Jeremiah was born. Well that was the plan. Okay we are now at Sunday Feb. 20th....plans changed...within moments really. It was around 4:15pm and I was out running errands with one of my sisters. I was heading home after I grabbed a few things from the store but decided to go ahead and get some gas in my husbands van that I was driving so he wouldn't have to do it early the next morning on his way to work. At the gas station after putting the hose in the tank, I turned to put my card and keys back in the van and tripped over the hose ( I think) and landed straight on my stomach. Long story short I ended up at hospital were they performed an emergency c-section less than two hours after I fell. It's amazing how everything you planned for can change in an instant.

This was to be my first c-section. The last four weeks have had lots of ups and downs and I certainly did not expect for my recovery to take this long. I have had a ton of help, love and support. God has been exalted in this whole ordeal. It was not a surprise to him that I was going to fall and have an emergency c-section or that I would pull a muscle at my incision site three weeks later. A week before my accident I received a phone call from my out of state Grandmother who called to pray for my labor and delivery and for the health of me and Jeremiah. Coincidence, I think not. The night before and the day of my fall I had received more prayer from various friends over my labor and delivery. God knows!! God's hand was on me and Jeremiah that day, from that very moment. Was it scary, sure it was, but I prayed the entire time. From the moment I landed on my stomach till the moment he was in my arms, I prayed. I had a host of people from my church, Harvest Church that were all praying as well. Nothing shakes God, and I can tell you I have learned many things from this unexpected delivery. For one, I do not take my health for granite, being able to do simple things, getting up on my own, being able to sleep on my side, putting my shoes on, taking a bath, yes even shaving my legs...lol, those are things I did daily without a thought. Suddenly when you cannot do those things for a time, you realize just how precious health is. I value being able to do those simple things and am looking forward to the day in the near future when I feel normal again, when I can do those simple things in a normal frame of time and not 30 to 45min :) My God, the God who holds everything in His hands, has held me the past four weeks. He is to be Exalted above all else. He is my comforter, my deliverer, my salvation. I should hopefully be blogging again soon, at least before he is a year old :)

It's a Boy!!

2010-10-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

Okay so I realize that it has been a really long time since my last post. I blink and months have flown by. I figured that since my last post was that we found out I was pregnant with baby number four that I should probably update my blog :)
We found out on Sept. 30th that we will be having our 2nd son. His name is to Jeremiah Wayne. The first name actually came to me in a dream about 4 months before we got pregnant. It means Exalted of God. His middle name is after his daddy. Consequently it was about 4 months before we got pregnant that I found out my son David had secretly been praying for a baby brother.
The thought of having four kids can and does overwhelm me sometimes. But I remember my mom had five kids and she made it out okay. I know, I know it is by the grace of God that I too shall make it. It is by His grace that I am able to do anything. The past 5 months has been rather overwhelming at times. We started school back in July so that when Jeremiah arrives I will have a month to recoup and get into a routine again.
Rearranging rooms and trying to find space to put little Jeremiah in February has been trying but even in the midst of all of this I find myself smiling and happy at the thought of holding him in my arms. It's amazing the love that I can feel for this little life as it grows inside of me. There is a time and place for everything. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh..." At any rate you get the idea
If there is anything I have learned over the past few years it is to embrace where you are in life. By that I mean find something enjoyable in the season you are in and cherish those moments. My children are already growing up at such a fast rate that I can hardly believe it. Even on the most frustrating days it is good for me to remember that they won't be this age forever and to cherish the moments I have with them.
Something else I have learned to truly cherish....a moment of peace and quiet. Just those lovely moments in the day that are filled with well, silence. If I have errands to run alone I don't turn on the radio as soon as I jump in the van. It is those moments that it is just me, my thoughts and often my time to pray and talk to God. I cherish those moments. Having some time here and there by myself is not just a bad thing, it is those moments I often find myself looking for here lately.
Well there you have it, an update. Maybe more than I actually planned on but none the less you have it. We are a mere 17 weeks from the arrival of our newest member of the family. Hopefully I will find time to get back on here before he makes his debut.

Surprise

2010-06-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well I guess the picture above says it all. Yes that's right my husband Matthew and I are expecting our 4th baby. I am still somewhat in the state of shock but somewhat excited now too. Today we announced the news to our church body. I am the 4th women to be expecting in our small church. We have two babies due in December, one in January and mine in Feb. I think I have experianced all the emotions you can have in this past week.
There is something big going on at my church, Harvest Church. We have had two teens get saved in 2 weeks and five babtisms and four ladies expecting babies. I do believe we will have more in every area. Come, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. I will have more to share later. For now suffice it to say that God is good....All the time!

God kissed times

2010-06-06T18:38:00.000-07:00

My husband Matt and I just got back a few days ago from a truly God kissed vacation. We went to Myrtle Beach, SC to celebrate our ten year anniversary. Each day was so relaxing and refreshing. Everything was such a blessing from the place we got to stay for such an awesome price to how great the weather was while there. Here are some pictures that highlight our time away.

Our last walk on the beach

The 1st Day we got there we headed to walk on the beach

Enjoying the night, walking on the shore

Matt holding a baby shark that this guy caught

A view from the pier

Heading to the beach

Matt having some time to play the guitar on

our balcony

A pelican that stopped by to say hi

The beach at night

Spring is Here

2010-04-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

Picture while driving around on a Sunday afternoon

Daddy and Kids at Sunsphere

The bride to be, AKA my baby sis

Hannah looking at rocks

Daddy teaching the kids how to skip a rock

Sisters looking at rocks together

Me and the older two kids

Another picture while riding around

Spring is certaintly here. We have had some very warm sunny days here as of late in Knoxville, TN. Some days reaching into the 80's. I have found that taking moments out of my day to enjoy the simple things of life have given me a spring in my step so to speak. The picture above was one a took on a Sunday afternoon as me and my husband and kids drove around looking at the dogwood trails. There are so many things to thank the Lord for.

I come from a family of five girls...yep, that's right, all girls. I am the second of the five. Each one of my sisters holds a special place in my heart. These past few months we have been very busy as a church, two weddings only a month apart from each other. We have had one bridal shower after another, and it has been true joy. I have so enjoyed getting to be with not only my sisters by blood but my sisters in our church body. I love them all so dearly. These last few weeks we have been very busy getting ready for that 2nd wedding, the wedding of my youngest sister, Lisa. She is the youngest of the five of us girls and she is the last to get married. These are special times.

This spring like I said has been very busy but very blessed. I have friends expecting their first child, dear friends becoming grandparents, newlyweds basking in each others love and next month, my husband Matt and I will be celebrating our ten year anniversary. I feel so loved, so blessed to be a part of all of these lives. The Lord continues to draw me to Himself and I am learning more and more about the grace of the Lord. It has set me free, it continues to set me free. God's goodness is everywhere. Take joy in the moment. Remember that our strength doesn't come from ourselves but from Christ alone. I will leave you with a few photos from this month of April 2010, a month of blessing for sure.

A Shift in Thinking

2010-02-02T07:07:00.000-08:00

Just taking a few moments to share a few things with you, sharing where God has brought me to at this point in my life. I am 31 years old and was saved at the age of 6. I am amazed that I am just now getting some of this but so grateful to the Lord that He doesn't give up on us. I am grateful that He has placed me and my family in a Church with leadership that desires to see each of us grow in our knowledge and understanding of the Lord, and to truly know the Lord. I have much on my heart and so I will try to share a little of where I am.
In the past few months I have had a shift in my thinking. As a Church we have been learning about the grace of God, operating from a place of grace. I really didn't even realize the areas of my life where I was not operating from a place of grace, but the more I heard, the more I knew that I had been missing something. I prayed, I read the Bible, but honestly it was from a place of duty, a place of I had better because that's what Christians do.
Focusing on the grace of God freed me, not from praying, not from studying His word; but from my duty bound thinking. This has been a process but just recently, in the past week I realized that my thinking had changed. Praying became a privilege to me and not a duty, not something you just do because you are a Christian. We are privilege to get to talk to our Saviour, to pour our hearts out to Him. We are privileged to get to read His word and learn of Him and how He would handle things. I am doing the same things but more often, because my thinking has changed. God is not waiting for me to do something wrong, He loves me and cares for me and yes He does discipline His children but it's from a place of love, from a place that He wants to see us grow in Him. I do not have it all together, I have not arrived by any means, but by the grace of God I will continue to grow in Him. Why do you do the things you do, is it from a since of duty or a place of privilege. May I always be teachable, may I always seek His approval and not mans.

Our Stories

2010-01-18T08:09:00.001-08:00

I was recently talking with a friend, actually more than one friend and we were discussing how "our stories" matter. The Bible speaks of there being a time for everything. Ec 3:1 "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven". Where we have been doesn't matter as much as where has God brought us from where we have been. Our struggles; our trials; our joys; our victories...these things have a purpose. The purpose is not reflect ourselves but to reflect the glory of God as he saw us through. What did he do for you? You may be the very encouragement someone needs today.

For me, God took a shy girl, full of insecurities and hurts and He healed me. It was a process, just like most things, but the process was well worth it. Some things the Lord did quickly in me, others took awhile. My hurts are no longer hurts but victories. If I have my eyes fixed on Jesus, I will change, because my aim is at glorifying the Lord, reflecting Him not me. When I am going through a particular hard time, I try to remember that God knows what He is doing. He knows what it is in me that has to change, He can see down the road, He knows where I am going and what it is going to take to get me there.

Just recently I had the chance to share with our youth group part of my story. My trials and struggles will become part of my story, my victories in the Lord if I keep my eyes focused on the Lord. Maybe I will share my story at least in part with you. Be encouraged, my victory is coming, your victory is coming.

A Thankful Heart

2009-11-24T10:33:00.000-08:00

No, this isn't a Thanksgiving picture..per say, it was just a family dinner one day about two months ago..but in this picture speaks so much of things that my heart is truly thankful for. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ, for His saving grace that is mine. Jesus gave me my wonderful Godly husband. He gave me three beautiful children, whom I love with all my heart. Our home, provision for us all. A wonderful church home with friends and family that love me for who I am but also challenge me to grow in my walk with the Lord.
The Lord has been so gracious to me, leading me gently in to new places. I have just recently really started to know and understand what it means to give your burdens to the Lord. I have always known that is what you are supposed to do, sounds so nice to say :) But the Lord is showing me how to do this. I am becoming a less anxious person and more able to say, nope not going to give into worry, the Lord knows and knows how to best to handle it. I have enjoyed the sweet peace of the Lord, not because it's suddenly there and wasn't before, but because I realize it HAS been there all along. I am in a different place than I was a year ago, and for that I am truly thankful to the Lord. So much to think and reflect on this Thanksgiving week. I pray that this week you are able to ponder the things that the Lord has given you.

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with Thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Thoughts on Abiding in Christ

2009-08-10T12:29:00.001-07:00

John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I will will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown in the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

I look at this tree (a picture I took in Charleston, SC) and I see a very strong, viable tree, one whose branches are firmly attached to it's life source. I am not sure how long this tree has been around but from it's size, I would say it has been growing for some time now. It is an established tree, one that will not just be blown over by a mere wind. It can withstand probably some pretty powerful storms. The leaves give this tree beauty and shade for the people below. The leaves are simply a by product of the branches having the nutrients it needs for growth, without that the tree would slowly rot and die. It would lose the functions it has, and would be no good to anyone. Such a wonderful portrayal of our life in Christ. We can do nothing apart from Christ, we can try (and many have) but they will not succeed. To abide (dwell) in Christ we are feeding our spirit through a personal relationship with Christ. We desire to know the Lord more, we desire to spend time in His word. Our very strength, joy is in the Lord. Even if we are lacking desire and greater passion, all we need do is ask the Lord to help us, increase that in us, the scriptures says we have not because we ask not. One scripture that I use as a prayer often is Psalm 139:23 "Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." The Lord is so gracious and in his grace and mercy he is sure to lead us in His way, if we ask. In 1 John 1:9 it says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Let us Abide in Christ!

A Sure Sign that they're growing...

2009-06-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Lydia on her 8th Birthday reading one of her cards, yes she sure has grown......

Hannah having a play date....is she old enough for that :)

Hannah having another play date....

Hannah finally getting the hang of drinking from a sippy cup........reaching that next step

Here is Hannah eating a teething biscuit.....another big step :)

It seems that life changes so quickly. Things grow and change, trees, plants, and yes even we change, at least I hope I do. Although the changes and growth that I want to see in myself are no longer physical. I pray that each year I grow in my knowledge and love of the Lord, that I make the changes necessary to be more like Jesus. That my passion for reaching the lost deepens. Just some thoughts I have had lately. Just as we want to see our babies reach that next level in their development, that next milestone, we should desire to see our self and our fellow Christians go to that next level in their relationships with Jesus. I am sure that it will look different for each person, for we are all at different levels. May challenge and encourage those around me to always seek Jesus, for in that we will all grow.

Ladies Mountain Adventure

2009-06-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

A Saturday afternoon spent with some amazing ladies and we took on a 6 mile walk. It was so beautiful. Our walk was leisurley spent, talking, laughing and taking some awesome photos of God's handiwork. I came home physically tired but completely rested and relaxed, yes, sounds weird I know but it's true. I am looking forward to going again in the fall. Here are some pictures from our day and at the bottom is two very short video's from that day. Enjoy :)

Looking at pictures taken

Sisters......read below and sing along :)

Sisters, sisters...there have never been such devoted sisters...come on sing with me...any White Christmas fans out there :)

3 Miles down, 3 to go ....

At the half way point, we did it :)

Breath taking

A photo taken as we were walking and talking :)

A Family photo

Sheila posing for a picture

Our walking trail

Enjoying the scenery

Looking thru the trees

A beautiful stream coming down the mountain

Hannah was busy taking photos and so I made her stop long enough to get a picture of her

Beautiful rushing waters

The Women's Mountain Adventure is about to begin...ready, set, walk :)

ONE, TWO, THREE, SMILE..OH WAIT JUST KIDDING ...LOL

THE SOUNDS OF THE RUSHING WATER

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

2009-06-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Just thinking the other night as Matt and I were talking about how quickly time goes by. Hearing other parents talk about when there kids were young, their last vacations as a family before kids are gone to college, married ect. It made me stop and think and really want to enjoy my kids in the age and season we are in. Yes, the having to stop what I am doing and go see what's up in the next room because some prized toy has been taken by the other siblings, can get tiring but alas, this to shall pass :) So come with me as I stroll down memory lane. We start on the evening of December 19th, 1999 as my beloved Husband Matt purposes to me.

Our Engagement night

One of the best days of my life, marrying the love of my life
May 27, 2000

Our flower girl Abigail (who is now in our youth group) and Matt's

nephew PJ (who is also in the youth group) wow, how they have grown

Pregnant with our 1st baby

Going home from the hospital with our 1st born

Lydia Nicole Bailey 8lb. 5oz.
Born on her daddy's Birthday June 26th, 2001

Our precious daughter

who will be 8 in a couple of weeks

Here is my cousin and me both showing off our

pregnant bellies :) Baby number 2 will be

here soon.

Baby number 2 is here

Named after his Grand-dad
David Benjamin Bailey 9lb. 1 oz.
November 3, 2003

Family photo at the church with our Pastor, Tim

and his wife Sheila

November 03

2 1/2 year old Lydia with her 7 month old
brother David

Family photo December 2007

Pregnant with baby number 3, picture taken

day before she was born

September 2008

Family photo at Harvest Church with our

Pastor, Tim and his wife Sheila

September 2008

Hannah Grace Bailey
7 lb. 14 oz.

September 9, 2008

Matt reading a story to his babies :)

On Vacation in Summerville, SC
May 2009

Beach Vacation
Lydia 7 yrs old David 5 yrs old.

Hannah Grace 1st time at beach

8 months old

And there you have it. I hope you have enjoyed strolling down memory lane with me. Obviously I have only hit a few key moments in the span of 9 years but some of the most precious times in our lives. God has so blessed me and my family. I give Him all the Praise, Glory and Honor. Thanks for going with me.

June Days

2009-06-08T16:05:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a game of water balloon toss on a hot summer day

Most of the balloons popped on the first throw, but I think they still had fun :)

Ahh, and June is just plum full of Birthdays in my family. Here is Lisa
on her 22nd Birthday, little did she know she put trick candles on her

cake...LOL!

Full of Life

Yeah, playing with shoes way more fun that toys :)

Lunch was yummy, would you like some :)

A Perfect (well almost) Summers Eve

2009-06-02T17:47:00.001-07:00

A very warm June night and what better night then to grill out :) Our evening was very nice and almost perfect except our little Hannah is teething and so a little cranky but she even posed for a picture as you will see. A wonderful dinner and if you scroll down you can see how our evening was :)

And here you have it...our dinner on this Tuesday night. Steak kabobs, sauteed vegetables, and a baked potato and washed down with a glass of cold lemonade

Matt fixing to put kabobs on grill

David and Lydia playing in the pool while the coal in the grill is heating up for our kabobs

Dinner being prepared in the kitchen...sliced zucchini, squash, red and green bell pepper and onion...all ready to be sauteed in a pan with a little olive oil :)

Hannah, even though she has had a fever the past two days, she still found a moment to smile for mommy.

Is is Summer yet?

2009-06-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Well it is obvious that Summer is almost here "offically" anyway. The temp here in Knoxville says that is Summer already, hitting close to 88 today and tomorrow is supposed to be 90. I love the weather that is mid 70s. As a child summer was always more fun because it ment that school was out, as an adult fall is my favorite time of the year. Speaking of heat my precious baby woke up with a fever this morning. She was awake on and off all night and when I got up to check on her at 6:30 this morning she was pretty hot. I changed her diaper, fed her a bottle, prayed over her then put her back to bed. When she woke up again at around 10am she was still feverish but not nearly as hot. I thank the Lord for that. You can tell she is still not quite back up to par but she is diffently not nearly as feverish as this morning. As soon as one of my kids say they are not feeling well, the first thing we do is pray over them, so much so that normally that is how we find out they are not feeling well, they will come and say for example, mommy my stomach hurts can you pray for me. And when they start feeling better we make sure thank the Lord for making them all better. Well all I can say is our God is good! I think I may have rabbit trailed a little LOL. Tell later....

2009-05-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a mini vacation with my husband to celebrate our 9 year anniversary. We had such a sweet time away. I do believe it may have been our best anniversary yet. Every year just gets sweeter, they may seem like a cliche but it is so true for us. I cherish my husband. He is a very hard working man that strives for excellence in all he does. I want to write more but it is late and so I will add more as I can.

New to this

2009-05-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
I am very new to this but have in fact wanted to have my own blog for a little while now. Please be patient with me as I learn :)