Birth Control Challenged

......Cabo San Lucas,Mexico....possibly the most heavenly places on the face of the planet! Nathan and I had the privilege of taking an impromptu trip to this glorious place last week (No, don't worry we didn't get the swine flu). This was our first actual vacation ALONE with no kids, family, friends or a team that we had to lead since our honeymoon. I have to admit, I wrestled with major feelings of guilt and selfishness before I left. However, I knew that Nathan and I needed this trip REALLY BAD!! I really can't believe that we actually were able to go. We were blessed beyond belief by Ray and Teddi Baker. They let us have 1 of their time share weeks in Cabo and we were BLOWN AWAY by their kindness. Ahhh!!!! Thanks you guys! You have no idea how AMAZING this was for us! Truly the MOST memorable trip EVER!

We left early Sat. June 6th at about 5am and came back June 12th. We flew from here to Houston then from Houston to Cabo San Lucas. Here is an aerial shot of Cabo as we flew in.

The resort was out of this world!!! It's called Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach. It was located on the side of a mountain and overlooked the beach. Spectacular!!!! Besides a little excursion of Jet skiing in the pacific ocean we did one day, all we did ALL week was lounge by the pool or beach for 5 to 6 hours at a time reading and listening to teachings or music on our ipods while sipping on diet cokes. Jealous? I would be too :)

Sitting on our balcony
View from our balcony

Pics of our fantastic 1 Bedroom suit!:

Guest bathroom

Master suit and bath

Where he spent most of his days :) in that lounge chair

An end to what we called our "PERFECT DAY"! Dinner at sunset!

Isn't he AMAZING? I fell deeper in love with this man on this trip! He rocks my world!!

Taken during one of our night strolls on the beach

This is why they call it Sunset Beach. The pic doesn't do it justice.

Our cabana where we spent most of our days

The last night :( but we were ready to see our kids!

"....Or we won't get lovin in the spring"

I just can't seem to get these show tunes out of my head. For the past 3 months I have been very busy working on the musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

The performances were this past weekend, March 13 &14th. Let me tell you it was fun! The last time I had done a show was back in high school and that was my life back then. I have such a passion for acting so it was great to flex my acting muscles once again. To step outside of motherhood for just a bit and do something apart from mothering. Not that I don't LOVE being a mother, but sometimes being a mom, you forget about the things that made you who you are today. It was an incredible experience. I played Milly (the lead for those who don't know). I loved every minute of it! All the dancing, singing, acting and not to mention the costumes. It's just hard to compare anything else to it. The adrenaline that you get once you walk on stage, WOW!!! That's all I got to say. It was a huge cast. 14 leads, 7 townsmen, and then the extras plus the crew and directors. There was many late nights and sore mornings (cause we danced so much). But I can't complain. I at least was getting a really good work out every night :)

And of course I could not have even thought about doing something like this if it hadn't been for the BEST HUSBAND IN THE WORLD! He really took up the slack. Every night I would have to be at rehearsals and he would feed the kids, bath them and put them to bed, and he did that for 3 months. He even would clean the kitchen for me. I'm telling you what, he really sacrificed a lot to let me do something that I enjoyed. I owe him a LOT! Thank you honey!!! You are incredible! I Love YOU!!!! I think he is glad to have his wife back though :)

The girls loved watching me act. This was the first time they have ever seen me in any other role besides their mommy. Kadyn told me after the first performance, "Mommy you are really mad at daddy", it took me a minute to understand but she was referring to me acting mad at my "stage husband" in the play. I guess we were that believable. Then the second night she pointed to David Martin (He played Adam, my husband in the play) and said, "There's my father!!!" Clearly she was really confused. Ashlyn's reaction was a little interesting. The first night, she came up to me, threw her arms around my waist and through sobbing tears said, "Mommy.....You...Did...such...a...good...job...!" She was so proud of her mommy. The emotions that she felt was overwhelming that all she could do was cry. Nathan said she cried herself to sleep that night. Sweet girl. It of course made me cry too. Now Ashlyn asks me every day....."Mommy, I really want you to do the play again. PLEASE!!!!" Like we all just decided to put on a play and it's that easy to do any night of the week.

So now that it's over, I am back to my life as a mother and wife. My actress hat is back in the closet. I am sure I will wear this hat again someday but my family needs a little break. Rehearsal schedules are grueling.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support me. I am a blessed woman.

Here are a few pictures from the play: Sorry the pictures are small. I don't know how to make them bigger :(

If you want to see some videos of me performing, Here is a link to my mom's facebook page. You will see some videos of me on there. http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=1001888075

Wife: "Honey?? I think it's time!"

Husband: "Time for what?"

Wife: "To go to the hospital"

Husband: "Uh...Are you sure? Oh my gosh... I mean are you sure? What do I need to do?" As he stands and scurries around like a chicken with his head cut off.



This could be the conversation you WILL have or have already had when labor begins and it's time to make the trip to the hospital. I know when I was pregnant with my first and labor began, the moment I told my husband and family that it was time to go to the hospital, complete chaos began. People were running into each other, trying to figure out what to put in the car and such. They were so freaked out that everyone ran out of the house and left me standing there alone. Sounds like a movie? Yeah I know. IT REALLY HAPPENED! If I had not been prepared (as far as my bags packed and stuff) the trip to the hospital would have been a nightmare.


So in continuing the theme of my last blog, I thought I would write a check list for your hospital/labor bag! Here is a list of things to make sure you pack with you to the hospital:


For Me:

1. Warm comfy socks/house shoes


2. Nursing gown and robe (don't use p.j. pants in the hospital because...well...they will get too messy)


3. Extra pair of clothes to come home in. (bring your smaller maternity clothes, not your "normal" clothes. Chances are they won't fit that soon after giving birth)


4. Toiletries/make-up


5. Nursing bra


6. Nursing pads


7. Camera/video camera


8. Lap top (if you have it)


9. Ipod and speakers


10. Chap stick (your lips get VERY dry)


11. Pillows (however many you need to make your hospital stay more comfortable)


12. Blankets


13. Movies (for down times in the hospital)


14. Cell phone chargers


15. Magazines/book/cards

For the baby:

1. Warm blanket (to come home with)


2. 1 cute outfit to come home in and for hospital pictures


3. P.j's


4. A hat


5. Baby mittens (they tend to scratch themselves a lot)


6. Socks


7. Boppy pillow


8. Car seat


9. Nursing cape (optional)


10. Newborn Paci (optional)


11. Burp cloth


12. No need for diapers and wipes, it's provided by the hospital

For the Daddy:

1. Extra clothes


2. P.J.'s


3. Pillows


4. Blankets (A few because it's freezing in the room for "non-hormonal" people)


5. Socks


6. Toiletries


7. Some snacky items

There it is! Hope it helps in preparing for your impending trip to the hospital. Yay!!! What an excting time!!! You're that much closer to seeing your precious baby!

Have you ever wondered why some sounds can calm you and put you at total peace? Why is that God allowed us to have ears to hear? He talks about in Revelations, "his voice, like the sound of rushing waters", or "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the spirit is saying"...I know He was talking about spiritual ears but I can't help but think of our natural ears in comparison. God uses the natural things to speak of the spiritual things.

I then thought of what my brother had said to me one time. He asked if I had ever heard the sound of a Lion roaring right in front of me. I said, no. He then began to describe the sound. "It was like it vibrated my whole entire body. I could feel the sound in my chest. The shear power behind it was unnerving. It scared me, I'm not going to lie." He said that at the moment, he broke down and began to cry because he was immediately reminded of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. This is what it must be like to hear the sound of the Lion of Judah coming for his bride. Why did God choose to use a lion when describing himself? There are much bigger and more powerful animals to use as a comparison for the Savior of the world, the one who set the universe in motion, the One who is coming at the end of the age to establish His kingdom here on earth. But then hearing the description of the sound a lion makes, it totally came together for me. The sound demands respect. A lion can be so calm and peaceful but when it needs to, it can attack and scare away any other thing that it wants to and defeat it. I am reminded of that Misty Edwards song, "I can hear the rhythm of the sound of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah." I am so glad the Lord gave us ears to hear the awesome sounds in the natural so we'll be able to distinguish the sounds in the spiritual. I am constantly blown away at God's creation. WE are God's creation!!!! He fashioned and formed us for a specific purpose and has a reason behind everything He makes. I am in awe at His creativity.

Wow!! My husband is 30 years old! Where did the time go? If feels like just yesterday when we were in high school together. Now we have been married for 8 years and have 4 beautiful children!

Nathan's birthday was on the 15th of December but we had his party on the 13th. It was such an AMAZING party, thanks to Anthony and Tracee Smith who hosted the party at their house. Everything was decorated so beautifully and the food....Oh the FOOD...was delicious! We had fajitas with all the fixins. I personally believe it was better than any restaurant we could have gone to! The goal of the party was to show Nathan how special he is. I had a little surprise up my sleeve for that...(evil grin). If anyone knows Nathan, you know that surprises are SOOO hard to keep from him. He figures anything and everything out. Well I had all his friends and family chip in to get him a Taylor guitar for his birthday. This was a big deal because you see, a few years ago Nathan had to sell his super nice Taylor guitar that he bought and paid for himself before we got married. It was a collectors edition. That guitar was his baby. And he had to sell it because we ran into MAJOR financial troubles. He felt that the only way to help provide for his family, was to sell it! Since then, I have always thought, why didn't I just refuse to let him sell it? It meant so much to him and it was a HUGE passion of his heart. I have regretted that decision ever since.

Well...when I was thinking of what I could get him for his birthday, that was the first thing that popped into my head. I just knew that I would never be able to pay for it myself (because they usually cost $1000 and up), so I sent out a secret email asking his friends and family to help out. And they did!!!!!! We were able to surprise Nathan with a Taylor 210ce and an awesome case. He was surprised out of his mind! He could not believe that we all did that for HIM!!! Our goal was accomplished :)

Here's some picture from the party




Nathan never thought in a million years that he would have another Taylor again, and while his new guitar is not quite as nice as his old one, the sound on it is AMAZING!!!! One sign that I knew he was thrilled, is when he got up the next morning, he immediately grabbed it and started playing it. It brought a tear to my eye, to say the least.

So THANK YOU AGAIN all you who made this dream come true! You have no idea what this meant to Nathan and I. Love you guys!

Nathan is the most AMAZING individual that I have EVER come in contact with. He loves the Lord with his whole heart and pushes me to grow in Him more. I love this man!!!!!! When I tell people of how great of a husband, father and friend he is, I often wonder if people really understand that I'm not lying! He is the same man at home in private that he is around hundreds of people. His character and integrity amaze me! Nathan is the BEST husband in the world, and I mean that! He is constantly serving me and the kids. I honestly think there is not one selfish bone in his body! On our wedding day, instead of taking communion, we washed each other's feet, which was symbolic of servant hood. This foundational principle we built our marriage around. To Serve one another daily and put each other's needs before our own. Nathan exemplifies this to the millionth degree! How did I get such an AMAZING husband???? I know what you're thinking, you're making him sound perfect. Well...he pretty much is. There is not a whole lot of bad things that anyone, not even his wife, can say bad about the guy! I think that speaks volumes!

So here's to you Honey!!!! I love you more than words can say! You inspire me everyday to be a better wife, mother, and lover of Yeshua!

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY!!!! I pray that this next chapter of your life, you will see the favor of God poured out even more. That you will walk in an even greater anointing than you ever thought possible! I love you!

Ashlyn had her first school field trip to the zoo last Friday! And although it was tiring, we had lots of fun! Oh and we HAD to go on the one of the coldest days of the year. It was freaking freezing! 

Ashlyn's good friends from her class

Her whole class

This girl totally fell asleep on me in the bus on the way home. Awkward!!!!!

Then we came home and immediately got ready for Ashlyn's sleep over. She had about 3 friends (which was all I could handle for my first sleep over). All the girls had a blast! I will definitely do this again. And while it was exhausting, I had a lot of fun! The girls made their own pizzas. We set up a huge tent in the basement where they watched movies, ate lots of junk food and slept (very little). We even did make-over's on the girls! Fun had by all.