January photos

She's already working on her teacher frown. NOT sure where she got that from? THat hair!!

Reese is 10 months!! (1 month ago, whoops)

Seriously, I cannot even believe I am writing about Reese being 10 months. I am not sure I am ready for my sweet baby to be 1 year old yet. But ready or not... Oh, I just love seeing Reese's personality come out more and more. She is growing and changing so much each day/week/month. Reese is such a sweet girl. She loves her mommy, daddy and big sister Riley so much! (and has become way more interested in Scout lately. Lucky for him ;) Her laugh is contagious and making Reese laugh has become on of Riley's favorite things to do. Reese is quite active and fast but will still slow down long enough occasionally for a snuggle. She is also becoming more independent and enjoys playing alone for a minute or so at a time. She is almost always happy but when she is not it gets ugly. She may not be much of a talker but she will let you know if she is not happy. Luckily, Reese can go from unhappy right back to laughing in a matter of seconds. Usually when she is back in mommy's arms. Here are some other things she is up to: -Reese has started pulling herself to a stand but isn't interested in putting weight on her legs for long. -She still takes 2 naps (1-2.5 hours each) and goes to bed about 7:15. (She is waking only once now at night!! Hooray!!) -She will drink water from a sippy cup and even Riley's straw cups and loves to try to drink from our cups or water bottles. -Reese still dispises being left in the church nursery or really anywhere that mommy isn't. -She is babbling more but her only true word is mama. She really isn't too much of a talker. I think Riley does it all for her. ;) -She knows several songs but likes Twinkle, Twinkle best and moves her little fingers in and out to our singing. -Eats a TON of food. All finger food. Anything we are eating she will eat. Fruit is hands down her favorite and she devours that before moving on to the rest of her food. It is really crazy to watch her eat, she often out eats Riley and I feel like some nights she might even be out eating me. The sheer volume of food that does into (and comes out) is amazing. -On that note, she still wears a size 4 diaper ;) and is in mostly size 9 month clothing. Reese, we love you so much!!! Your sweet personality and precious face brightens our day. Clay and I love watching you grow and interact with your sister. Riley is head over heels in love with you almost all of the time, just not when you pull her bow out of her hair. You bring so much joy to our family and we thank God for you everyday! Love you sweet Reesey-ree. The girls were tough to photograph this month! Too busy to sit still even for just a second. :( Done with pics.

a wedding and a newborn

Before Reese was even born my super talented college roommate, Paige (with Paige Walker Photography) asked if I would help second shoot a wedding.  We were both pretty excited about it and had already discussed if we enjoyed it that we would aim for shooting 3-4 weddings a year.
So early December, I packed up the girls and headed to Ft Worth for a long weekend.  Saturday morning, I picked up Paige and we got to work.  It wasn't that the wedding was particularly hard to shoot or anything like that but mostly it was just such a long, long day.  I think we did a really great job and the bride will be so happy with her pictures.  I'm just not sure I am interested in shooting many more weddings. ;)

I was also so fortunate to get to see Paige in action over Christmas when I assisted her in a newborn shoot (her specialty).  It was awesome to watch and I learned a ton, especially in posing a sweet baby.   Oh and just because I know people will wonder or speculate...I do not plan on opening a photography business anytime soon.  If ever.  I just don't feel led to do that right now and am not sure my skills are up to par anyway.  I do just love to bless others with my photos and want to keep up my skill level, which is why I do random shoots every now and then.  I love my hobby and am thankful for this outlet.

Some of my favorite shots of the wedding:
I love this one. The bride and her sister watching their parents walk down the aisle. Some shots of Paige in action:

volunteering

I have been volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center one day a week here in Houston for awhile now, and about one year ago I was serving my last day before Reese's arrival.  My day started slow but ended in tons of praise and joy.  I was asked to write about that day and the clients I saw for small column in the monthly newletter for the center.  Several people have asked me about it and so I thought I would post it here.  I am soooo not a writer but I just sat down and the words spilled onto the computer screen for me.  Thank you God!  To God be the glory.

(Names were changed.)

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            Just over two years ago, I felt God place a question in my heart.  “How are you serving others?”  About that time a close friend asked me to serve with her at the FWPHC.  The more I learned about this ministry the more I saw the great ways God was using it, but I still quickly dismissed the idea that I was supposed to serve there! I mean there I was a young stay at home mom, who was not eloquent, or bold, or wise and was sadly not accustomed to sharing my faith with others.  God worked on my heart for another year and He began to reveal to me how disobedient I was being by not serving with this ministry.  God opened my eyes to my seriously wrong self-centered thinking of “I”…“I can’t do that” “I’m not eloquent enough” “I’m not wise enough or experienced enough” and “I’m not sure that’s for me” and He opened my heart to trusting HIM.  I laugh now because I am still not eloquent, I am still not bold, I am still not wise, and I am still a young stay at home mom.  I realize now there is nothing I can do for Him on my own, and it is by His goodness, mercy and love I am able to serve.  Despite all of my shortcomings, God is using me and it is all for His glory!

            Once I began volunteering, my heart kept coming back to the word love.  I was being called to love these women like Jesus loves. God is so good, in that the more love I found myself pouring into these women, the more God poured into me.   In my time spent at the center I have realized we are being called not only to love on the women in crisis pregnancy situations but also boyfriends, husbands, sisters, mothers, grandmothers and friends as well.  A recent encounter with two clients proved an opportunity to do just that. 

            “I have already had one abortion. I really don’t want to have another one, but…”  said Laura.  Laura, a sweet young woman, a divorced mother of two children continued to describe her situation and how she found herself in it.  “My boyfriend of only a little more than a month came here with me.  He wants me to have an abortion.”  As we discussed her past, she explained how she had been depressed after her previous abortion, how she has asked for forgiveness and is learning to forgive herself.  I was able to share the love God has for her and the love that He has for this unborn baby in her womb.  “I see this as God giving me a second chance.” said Laura.  Then I asked if she would like me to talk with her boyfriend and if he’d be willing.  Praise God he was.

“It’s a mistake, just a mistake.”  Abe repeated again to me as he sat defeated with his head in both hands staring at the ground.  And by all worldly accounts it was a mistake.  Abe was currently going through a divorce and an ugly custody battle for his young daughter, he was unemployed and he had known his new girlfriend Laura just over a month.  “But Abe, God doesn’t make mistakes.  We certainly do, He does not.  God has a great plan for this unborn child, God can use this your “mistake” for His glory.”  Abe respectfully listened and spoke again.  “But this can’t be his plan, the timing it’s just…a mistake.  I can’t do this, besides it’s early, it is only cells.”  Pleading with God for the right words, I continued to share with Abe the love God has for his unborn child who is not just cells but a sweet baby God formed and knitted in Laura’s womb. Knitted in His image.

Abe and Laura agreed to an ultrasound and after more counseling, I went in to see the couple.  Abe, while still broken, began seeing things from a different perspective but I sensed that he needed more counseling, only not from me, from a man.  God is so good, just minutes before a male volunteer had arrived.  Abe and the male counselor talked and afterward both he and Laura joined the staff and volunteers in the kitchen for lunch.  Abe looked at me and smiled, “Is everyone here a Christian?”  A huge grin broke out on my face.  “Yes, we are!”  “Oh” he said softly “I can tell, I can feel it.”  Love.  God’s abundant love.

 

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This couple choose life for their baby and welcomed a sweet baby boy into the world this past year.  The center was also able to host a small baby shower for this couple!  Such a neat ministry!!!  I am so thankful to be able to serve there.  And what I love most about this center is that while yes, our desire is to save babies from abortion, our first and foremost mission is to share the gospel and in doing so trusting that if these women accept Christ they will choose life for their unborn baby.  We see so many different clients from all walks of life and some do accept Christ and some reject Him and some just flat out don't want to hear it but if even just the smallest seed is planted..."For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God." Psalm 86:10