yesterday marks one of the best days of our lives...the day we got to hear our little one's heartbeat for the first time! it relieved all my worries and reassured me our baby is doing great. i am now 13 weeks pregnant, moving into the second trimester! woohoo!!! the next few months will fly by as the holidays come and go. we will be spending many weekends out of town and during the first week or two of the new year is when we find out if our first child will be a son or a daughter! exciting stuff!!!
other pregnancy news: i am not really showing yet but my abdomen is starting to expand. i am having quite a bit of pain here and there in my tail bone region but my midwife says it's due to hormones and the loosening of all the ligaments connected to my uterus. she says it's normal and nothing to be worried about. i am feeling a lot more energized now and my appetite has almost completely returned. i think the nausea/morning sickness is over so hallelujah for that! (october wasn't such a fun month!) i know adam is singing praises too!
adam and i are still keeping extremely busy. yesterday was our 2nd prenatal appointment. then we went camping for the night at anastasia park in st. augustine, fl for our fall homegroup retreat. it was a cold night but we had so much fun! there were eleven of us total. we ate dinner together, enjoyed a campfire and s'mores. then we walked from our campsite to the beach, where we sang some worship, caught a few shooting stars, played the big booty game, the human knot, did the hokey pokey and we shook it all about....yeah. it was a blast. we also shared one big tent (i slept on an air mattress!) unfortunately, adam didn't sleep too well...he's zonked out right now on the corda-roy.
after camping in st. augustine, adam and i left our friends and drove up to orange park (near jax) for our good friend sarah's wedding. we got dressed for the wedding at the wedding location and my hair smelled like campfire. haha! it was a small but beautiful wedding and sarah looked gorgeous. one of these days i'll get better at posting pictures and updating our picasa photo albums. hopefully that day will be soon! once we left the wedding, we met up with another good friend melissa who lives there in o.p. and it was awesome to see her again.
we got home tonight about 20 minutes before the gator game and have been watching it since. yay we're winning! we are exhausted though. adam gets a holiday on monday to observe veterans day so we're glad to have a long weekend together. next weekend, we are off to visit mom and dad doyle down south and then we're traveling to toccoa, georgia to spend thanksgiving with the jordans and the champions (joy's family). i'm so excited for the holidays. adam and i were listening to christmas music in the car ride home tonight. it makes me smile! :)
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
major life changes
here's an update on the last few months of the doyle life:
-july 27, 2007: was my last day with scarborough company insurance to become a housewife. this was decided by both adam and me so that i can pour more time into serving and encouraging him in his job as well as spend more time with the girls in our homegroup.
-august 1, 2007: we moved out of campus housing and into the "FLU" house along with my lovely sister lindsay. now we pay rent to adam's parents and we host our weekly homegroup meeting. the house has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a lot of space! we are still in the process of painting and unpacking.
-uf's fall semester began at the end of august and we welcomed back the rest of our homegroup members! we also welcomed new uf students during gcl's annual fall kickoff events. adam and i are serving as homegroup coaches to our homegroup FLU (which stands for faith, love, unity)
-during gcl's kickoff week, i developed a serious cold that lasted about 3 weeks...yuck!
-september 6, 2007: the day that has changed our lives forever....after receiving antibiotics and a nasal decongestant from the doctor's office a few days prior and suspicious thoughts that i wanted to clear up in my head, i took a home pregnancy test with adam by my side. the box said the results would show in 3 minutes, however, only 45 seconds went by and adam saw it first...the word "pregnant" popped up on the screen and he grabbed my attention with an excited "meredith! look!"
our lives are now focused around this new creation developing inside me, a gift from God in His timing. it was/is/has been a wonderful surprise. i have been freaked out at times, anxious, worried, but i've never been more excited in my life! you become instantly attached the moment you find out such incredible news. having close friends and family suffer from miscarriages over the past year has worried me that i could suffer this type of loss too, however, God calms me and reminds me that He is King and is in control and i need to trust. miscarriages are very common and usually occur during the first trimester (first 12-14 weeks). i am currently 9 weeks and 2 days (in my 10th week) and have seen the midwife only once. my next appointment is in about 3.5 weeks and we'll get to hear our baby's heartbeat! our first ultrasound will be around christmas time, showing us if we're expecting a boy or girl! i can't wait for these appointments to get here! but before we know it, we'll be cuddling with the newest addition to the doyle/jordan family. our baby's estimated due date is may 17, 2008.
-july 27, 2007: was my last day with scarborough company insurance to become a housewife. this was decided by both adam and me so that i can pour more time into serving and encouraging him in his job as well as spend more time with the girls in our homegroup.
-august 1, 2007: we moved out of campus housing and into the "FLU" house along with my lovely sister lindsay. now we pay rent to adam's parents and we host our weekly homegroup meeting. the house has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a lot of space! we are still in the process of painting and unpacking.
-uf's fall semester began at the end of august and we welcomed back the rest of our homegroup members! we also welcomed new uf students during gcl's annual fall kickoff events. adam and i are serving as homegroup coaches to our homegroup FLU (which stands for faith, love, unity)
-during gcl's kickoff week, i developed a serious cold that lasted about 3 weeks...yuck!
-september 6, 2007: the day that has changed our lives forever....after receiving antibiotics and a nasal decongestant from the doctor's office a few days prior and suspicious thoughts that i wanted to clear up in my head, i took a home pregnancy test with adam by my side. the box said the results would show in 3 minutes, however, only 45 seconds went by and adam saw it first...the word "pregnant" popped up on the screen and he grabbed my attention with an excited "meredith! look!"
our lives are now focused around this new creation developing inside me, a gift from God in His timing. it was/is/has been a wonderful surprise. i have been freaked out at times, anxious, worried, but i've never been more excited in my life! you become instantly attached the moment you find out such incredible news. having close friends and family suffer from miscarriages over the past year has worried me that i could suffer this type of loss too, however, God calms me and reminds me that He is King and is in control and i need to trust. miscarriages are very common and usually occur during the first trimester (first 12-14 weeks). i am currently 9 weeks and 2 days (in my 10th week) and have seen the midwife only once. my next appointment is in about 3.5 weeks and we'll get to hear our baby's heartbeat! our first ultrasound will be around christmas time, showing us if we're expecting a boy or girl! i can't wait for these appointments to get here! but before we know it, we'll be cuddling with the newest addition to the doyle/jordan family. our baby's estimated due date is may 17, 2008.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
a 2nd niece for the summer!!!
our 2nd niece for the summer, Madison Olivia Doyle, was born at summerville medical center in charleston, south carolina last night at 7:04, weighing 7 lbs 8 oz and measuring 20 inches long!! she has beautiful dark hair!
congratulations to adam's brother and sister-in-law, brian and wendy, and their first child! Madison is also the first grandchild for adam's parents and the second niece for adam and me.
we hope to visit brian, wendy and madison next weekend and we'll take tons of photos if we do. you can also check out madison's website at http://www.babysites.com/sites/wendytdoyle/
Friday, June 8, 2007
a baby is born!!!
sweet baby girl, Laurel Faith Jordan, was born at stephens county hospital in toccoa, georgia this morning at 8:11, weighing 8 pounds 6 ounces and measuring 20 inches long!!! what a beauty! congratulations to my brother and sister-in-law, jason & joy, and their baby girl! Laurel is my parents first granddaughter, the first niece for lindsay, adam & me, and ethan's little sister. this picture was taken from lindsay's cell phone within minutes of her birth! can't wait to share more pictures and stories! hopefully i will get to see her next weekend if we go up to georgia.
please pray for joy's recovery and baby laurel to eat well and grow, grow, grow!
Monday, June 4, 2007
harry potter
what an exciting year to become a harry potter fan! the seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be in bookstores on july 21st; the fifth movie will be in theaters on july 11th; and universal studios is building a harry potter theme park!!!
i remember when the first book came out and people were going crazy. churches all around were banning the books. people, especially children started to idolize him. i didn't really care whatsoever...books and story characters that became as famous as harry potter did, seemed a bit looney to me. and i thought harry potter was so nerdy.
during my aol chat room days, when i was incredibly bored, i used to go into this harry potter designated chat room where i guess nerds and dorks would gather to chat about the latest book or something. i thought it was hysterical how famous harry potter became. he was ugly and nerdy. (and i was shallow and dumb) i said really immature things in that chat room like "harry potter is so hot" and "i want to marry harry potter". of course i was just mocking the obsessed people in the chat room and all over the world. i was acting really obnoxious....definitely not a "good" use of time. but sadly i found it amusing anyway.
then in my 12th grade english class, one of my classmates read a harry potter book (i think it was the first one) for some project we had to do. i tried making fun of him for it, but he said he couldn't put the book down, that it was really good! i thought, wow, even this guy likes it. but i still didn't have a desire to get into it.
one day during my first summer at college, i caught most of the first harry potter movie. it was showing on channel 5, our campus movie channel for everyone in the dorms. this is when i realized that harry potter was actually "cool" and i completely changed my mind about it being dorky. i really enjoyed the movie, or what i saw of it. the whole idea seemed fun. when the second movie came out, i decided i would read the books before i watched it. but i didn't have time to read harry potter, not with all my college courses.
during my third year of college, i roomed with melissa, katie, and brittany and all 3 of them had read all of the harry potter books! and they all love the books, especially melissa. i couldn't believe how many people around me had read them all. i don't remember any of my friends from high school or people there enjoying the books. but i started feeling like i was missing out on something, so i ordered the first 3 books. they sat on my bookshelf for almost 2 years. then one day, something magical happened...haha. ;) adam and i decided to start reading them. and about 9-10 months later, here i am waiting for the 7th book to come out and the 5th movie and super excited about the harry potter theme park.
it's still a bit looney but now i'm glad to be a part of it. adam and i have thoroughly enjoyed each book. i would read aloud as adam listened. often, adam would say "keep reading!" even when i'd stop for a second to take a sip of water and catch my breath. we'd read at night before bed, while driving in the car, we'd stay up late or spend hours at a time on saturdays to read. haha...i swear it's not an addiction. it's just been a lot of fun! and we finished the half-blood prince about a month ago.
we even tried to make butterbeer as we watched the 4th movie a couple weeks ago. it was so sweet so i think we will try a few different recipes or come up with our own next time. but it is so much fun! i bet the new theme park will have butterbeer!! :)
so if you are not into harry potter, i have to say you are missing out on some fun stories! and if you are a fan, maybe we can visit the park together when it opens! or see the new movie coming out. you know i'll be there. and can't wait to see how the story finishes. i'm kinda nervous if you know what i mean!
i remember when the first book came out and people were going crazy. churches all around were banning the books. people, especially children started to idolize him. i didn't really care whatsoever...books and story characters that became as famous as harry potter did, seemed a bit looney to me. and i thought harry potter was so nerdy.
during my aol chat room days, when i was incredibly bored, i used to go into this harry potter designated chat room where i guess nerds and dorks would gather to chat about the latest book or something. i thought it was hysterical how famous harry potter became. he was ugly and nerdy. (and i was shallow and dumb) i said really immature things in that chat room like "harry potter is so hot" and "i want to marry harry potter". of course i was just mocking the obsessed people in the chat room and all over the world. i was acting really obnoxious....definitely not a "good" use of time. but sadly i found it amusing anyway.
then in my 12th grade english class, one of my classmates read a harry potter book (i think it was the first one) for some project we had to do. i tried making fun of him for it, but he said he couldn't put the book down, that it was really good! i thought, wow, even this guy likes it. but i still didn't have a desire to get into it.
one day during my first summer at college, i caught most of the first harry potter movie. it was showing on channel 5, our campus movie channel for everyone in the dorms. this is when i realized that harry potter was actually "cool" and i completely changed my mind about it being dorky. i really enjoyed the movie, or what i saw of it. the whole idea seemed fun. when the second movie came out, i decided i would read the books before i watched it. but i didn't have time to read harry potter, not with all my college courses.
during my third year of college, i roomed with melissa, katie, and brittany and all 3 of them had read all of the harry potter books! and they all love the books, especially melissa. i couldn't believe how many people around me had read them all. i don't remember any of my friends from high school or people there enjoying the books. but i started feeling like i was missing out on something, so i ordered the first 3 books. they sat on my bookshelf for almost 2 years. then one day, something magical happened...haha. ;) adam and i decided to start reading them. and about 9-10 months later, here i am waiting for the 7th book to come out and the 5th movie and super excited about the harry potter theme park.
it's still a bit looney but now i'm glad to be a part of it. adam and i have thoroughly enjoyed each book. i would read aloud as adam listened. often, adam would say "keep reading!" even when i'd stop for a second to take a sip of water and catch my breath. we'd read at night before bed, while driving in the car, we'd stay up late or spend hours at a time on saturdays to read. haha...i swear it's not an addiction. it's just been a lot of fun! and we finished the half-blood prince about a month ago.
we even tried to make butterbeer as we watched the 4th movie a couple weeks ago. it was so sweet so i think we will try a few different recipes or come up with our own next time. but it is so much fun! i bet the new theme park will have butterbeer!! :)
so if you are not into harry potter, i have to say you are missing out on some fun stories! and if you are a fan, maybe we can visit the park together when it opens! or see the new movie coming out. you know i'll be there. and can't wait to see how the story finishes. i'm kinda nervous if you know what i mean!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
where did may go?
honestly...it feels like each month flies by faster than the one before it. this life is seeming shorter and shorter. soon i'll be 50 years old with a grandchild and i'll still be struggling with managing my time and waking up in the mornings. well i hope this isn't the case, but i'm just saying...life is going by really quickly! i'll celebrate my 24th birthday in october this year. i'm currently in this phase where the age 22,23, and 24 all run together and i have to think for a moment to figure out my present age when asked by someone or when i have to write it on an application. is that weird? well it makes me feel old that i can't get my age out as fast as my name.
anyway, i really have no idea what i am talking about...i am excited about the month of june though. my first neice will be born this month. we don't know her name yet and i'm getting impatient about finding out! at least we know she is a girl. it's also a big month for birthdays of some of my closest friends. new freshmen at UF will be moving here during the last week of the month which means new friends! and last but not least, adam begins his job at the florida department of transportation! this means we will be on his health insurance soon(state benefits!!!)...i'm really excited about this because it means we are a couple steps closer to having babies!!! haha.
poland is still on my heart (and adam's). we really fell in love with poznan when we were there back in march. we hope to go back someday. we miss everyone!
also, adam and i are officially members of the gainesville health & fitness center now! we signed up last thursday. it's a really really nice gym and they have so much to offer. and on some of the cardio machines, you have your own tv screen to watch whatever you want! yesterday i spent 45 minutes on the elliptical watching seinfeld!!! anyway, we are excited to get back to exercising regularly. i need to lose about 20-25 lbs!
nothing else is really new. i am trying to get up in the mornings to spend time with God before work but it hasn't been going too well. i hope it will become easier once adam begins his job (this friday). i shouldn't rely on that but i do think his work schedule will help. i have a praise though about my attitude at work! it's still a struggle every week but i have noticed a significant difference lately...it has been much more positive! having a paid holiday and a short work week probably helped! but i still want to be a stay-at-home mom soon. i can't wait!!! :-D
anyway, i really have no idea what i am talking about...i am excited about the month of june though. my first neice will be born this month. we don't know her name yet and i'm getting impatient about finding out! at least we know she is a girl. it's also a big month for birthdays of some of my closest friends. new freshmen at UF will be moving here during the last week of the month which means new friends! and last but not least, adam begins his job at the florida department of transportation! this means we will be on his health insurance soon(state benefits!!!)...i'm really excited about this because it means we are a couple steps closer to having babies!!! haha.
poland is still on my heart (and adam's). we really fell in love with poznan when we were there back in march. we hope to go back someday. we miss everyone!
also, adam and i are officially members of the gainesville health & fitness center now! we signed up last thursday. it's a really really nice gym and they have so much to offer. and on some of the cardio machines, you have your own tv screen to watch whatever you want! yesterday i spent 45 minutes on the elliptical watching seinfeld!!! anyway, we are excited to get back to exercising regularly. i need to lose about 20-25 lbs!
nothing else is really new. i am trying to get up in the mornings to spend time with God before work but it hasn't been going too well. i hope it will become easier once adam begins his job (this friday). i shouldn't rely on that but i do think his work schedule will help. i have a praise though about my attitude at work! it's still a struggle every week but i have noticed a significant difference lately...it has been much more positive! having a paid holiday and a short work week probably helped! but i still want to be a stay-at-home mom soon. i can't wait!!! :-D
Monday, May 21, 2007
best city in america
gainesville, fl is #1 and not just in sports! my dad received a very interesting article in the mail last week from my grandpa (his dad). i found the same article online from usa today. you can read it here. apparently, i am living in the best place in the usa according to a book by bert sperling & peter sander called cities ranked & rated 2nd edition.
i really do love gainesville, fl but i am shocked it is rated the #1 city. i mean who would think a city in florida that isn't along the coastline would be the #1 place to live in the whole usa! lol! i find it very amusing. i don't agree or disagree. i don't know what to think. obviously it all depends on the factors you use to "rate" a city. even though there isn't a beach to play at, i have an awesome church and a wonderful community of friends here. and the fact that we are all gators here makes it super fun! there are no mountains or beaches but we do have a lot of pretty trees and scenic roads.
anyway, i thought it was a very interesting article and wanted to share it with you. :) post any comments you have!
i really do love gainesville, fl but i am shocked it is rated the #1 city. i mean who would think a city in florida that isn't along the coastline would be the #1 place to live in the whole usa! lol! i find it very amusing. i don't agree or disagree. i don't know what to think. obviously it all depends on the factors you use to "rate" a city. even though there isn't a beach to play at, i have an awesome church and a wonderful community of friends here. and the fact that we are all gators here makes it super fun! there are no mountains or beaches but we do have a lot of pretty trees and scenic roads.
anyway, i thought it was a very interesting article and wanted to share it with you. :) post any comments you have!
i just love it!
it's been a really really busy month of may! many events to be celebrated!
so far...
5/4 - adam graduated from the university of florida!
5/11 - two of our friends, jon & pam, got married!
5/12 - adam and i have been married one year!
5/13 - mother's day!
5/16 - first homegroup of the summer!
5/17 - the season finale of the office! (which was amazing)
5/18 - shrek 3 came to theaters! (although we haven't celebrated by actually seeing it yet)
5/19 - danielle (a family friend from childhood) got married!
the only pictures that are up so far are of adam's graduation but please check in again soon to see lovely photos of the other events! (hint: see the right side of my blog where i have links to my pictures, under "picasa stuff")
even though we have been so busy, we have truly enjoyed the month of may! we have been able to spend hours of fun with both of our families, and friends including kimberly and brian (who we hadn't seen since new years) and jen (thanks for coming to the beach with us on saturday!). we also recently got to see our good friend dave who moved to texas last year.
and can't forget about the beach! we have had more time at the beach in the past two weeks than we have had in the past year! yeah i know...ridiculous! i promise we really do live in florida. but no really, it's been super nice: the sun, the water, the sand, my beautiful husband, the pina coladas, the sunsets, frenchy's rockaway grill, etc....sigh...i just love it!
anyway, i know you can just look at our calendar below but here are some upcoming events:
5/25-28 - memorial day weekend, visiting adam's parents in palm beach
6/1 - adam's first day at new job!
6/2 - wendy's baby shower in south carolina!
6/3 - our friend piotr gets married...sorry we will miss it!
6/8 - joy is scheduled for a cesarean section, our first niece of the summer to be born! (baby name unknown)
6/9 - friends allie & stew tie the knot!
6/17 - father's day!
gotta get back to work for now! will be back on later ;)
so far...
5/4 - adam graduated from the university of florida!
5/11 - two of our friends, jon & pam, got married!
5/12 - adam and i have been married one year!
5/13 - mother's day!
5/16 - first homegroup of the summer!
5/17 - the season finale of the office! (which was amazing)
5/18 - shrek 3 came to theaters! (although we haven't celebrated by actually seeing it yet)
5/19 - danielle (a family friend from childhood) got married!
the only pictures that are up so far are of adam's graduation but please check in again soon to see lovely photos of the other events! (hint: see the right side of my blog where i have links to my pictures, under "picasa stuff")
even though we have been so busy, we have truly enjoyed the month of may! we have been able to spend hours of fun with both of our families, and friends including kimberly and brian (who we hadn't seen since new years) and jen (thanks for coming to the beach with us on saturday!). we also recently got to see our good friend dave who moved to texas last year.
and can't forget about the beach! we have had more time at the beach in the past two weeks than we have had in the past year! yeah i know...ridiculous! i promise we really do live in florida. but no really, it's been super nice: the sun, the water, the sand, my beautiful husband, the pina coladas, the sunsets, frenchy's rockaway grill, etc....sigh...i just love it!
anyway, i know you can just look at our calendar below but here are some upcoming events:
5/25-28 - memorial day weekend, visiting adam's parents in palm beach
6/1 - adam's first day at new job!
6/2 - wendy's baby shower in south carolina!
6/3 - our friend piotr gets married...sorry we will miss it!
6/8 - joy is scheduled for a cesarean section, our first niece of the summer to be born! (baby name unknown)
6/9 - friends allie & stew tie the knot!
6/17 - father's day!
gotta get back to work for now! will be back on later ;)
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
turkish martyrs
adam and i just finished reading this article and our prayers go out to the families who lost a loved one. we pray this will be a turning point for people to come to Christ in turkey. we pray for perseverance for the church as they continue to share the gospel. and we pray for the men who felt they had to do this.
how comforting it is to know that God is in control and he can use us to bring people to him even in horrible events such as this. lives can change. look at the apostle paul. we pray for the five men who heard the gospel before they assisted in these murders. and we pray for the nation of turkey.
how comforting it is to know that God is in control and he can use us to bring people to him even in horrible events such as this. lives can change. look at the apostle paul. we pray for the five men who heard the gospel before they assisted in these murders. and we pray for the nation of turkey.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
calendar fun!
i've added a calendar to my blog! how fun! now you can see how busy adam and i are this summer. it is not complete yet so don't freak out if you don't see your birthday on there. i'll add it soon. unless i don't have it.
i've also added a poland picture album, some friends blogs, and hopefully i'll be able to get a picture of myself on here soon. i am enjoying this google world: gmail, blogspot, picasa, hello, calendar, etc. it's very fun.
hope you enjoy it too and check in once in awhile!
i've also added a poland picture album, some friends blogs, and hopefully i'll be able to get a picture of myself on here soon. i am enjoying this google world: gmail, blogspot, picasa, hello, calendar, etc. it's very fun.
hope you enjoy it too and check in once in awhile!
attitudes and choices...
this is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it: i should recite this to myself each morning (especially during the work week) but it doesn't always happen. i have a struggle with being content with the present, how true for so many people in this world. but i don't want to be like so many people in this world. i want to use the "present" for the Lord. but it's hard to do something for the Lord when you are having a bad attitude. and unfortunately, i have a bad attitude almost everyday. and it's my choice. i am choosing to have a bad attitude. i am choosing to let my job, schedule, hours, etc get to me. my attitude is a choice. i can choose to be overwhelmed, stressed, frustrated or depressed OR i can choose to be calm, faithful, content and trusting the Lord. i can choose to make the best out of it. so i am working on it. i'm working on the joy, not alone of course, but with Jesus right next to me. and He is so faithful. i pray for a Christlike attitude, to make sacrifices and to be a servant to Him and only Him. i pray to be selfless...
Thursday, April 5, 2007
almost friday
almost friday sounds good but not as good as almost the weekend. thursday is an ok day because it is getting closer to the weekend, but it's like a tease at the same time. today and last thursday, i woke up and it felt like a friday. and both last thursday and today have been the worst days of the week (at work). i hope next thursday is a turnaround.
tonight should be fun though. adam and i invited some friends over for dinner. friends that we love so much but hardly ever see anymore. it should be great fellowship.
i've been frustrated lately about some things, however, james encourages us to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials and to persevere through them (james 1:2-3) so that is what i am trying to do. i can be so foolish and weak and it scares me how much bitterness and hatred can be in my heart at one time. but God is amazing as always and he's right by my side. we sang "i could run away" last night in homegroup and i can't stop thinking about those lyrics
i could run away
but you would never leave
you would always stay
right by my side
everything i've ever wanted
i've found in you
and i need you, oh i need you
every step of the way
so true. i need God every step of the way. i can't do this on my own. he truly is my source of strength and brings me peace in times of trial. i think about all the times that i've wanted to run away, hide, sleep forever, or go home to jesus early. it's usually when i'm failing at something or depressed or feel lonely, but God is right there by my side, every step of the way. and i eventually get up, and i'm stronger than ever; he puts me back on my feet and directs my path.
looking at the verses again in james 1:2-4 "consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." ...i see that God is at work in me and my perseverance is growing. these trials are good for me even if they are hard. i just need to endure it, respond to life's messes with a Christlike attitude and i need to keep the joy.
tonight should be fun though. adam and i invited some friends over for dinner. friends that we love so much but hardly ever see anymore. it should be great fellowship.
i've been frustrated lately about some things, however, james encourages us to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials and to persevere through them (james 1:2-3) so that is what i am trying to do. i can be so foolish and weak and it scares me how much bitterness and hatred can be in my heart at one time. but God is amazing as always and he's right by my side. we sang "i could run away" last night in homegroup and i can't stop thinking about those lyrics
i could run away
but you would never leave
you would always stay
right by my side
everything i've ever wanted
i've found in you
and i need you, oh i need you
every step of the way
so true. i need God every step of the way. i can't do this on my own. he truly is my source of strength and brings me peace in times of trial. i think about all the times that i've wanted to run away, hide, sleep forever, or go home to jesus early. it's usually when i'm failing at something or depressed or feel lonely, but God is right there by my side, every step of the way. and i eventually get up, and i'm stronger than ever; he puts me back on my feet and directs my path.
looking at the verses again in james 1:2-4 "consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." ...i see that God is at work in me and my perseverance is growing. these trials are good for me even if they are hard. i just need to endure it, respond to life's messes with a Christlike attitude and i need to keep the joy.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
new work activity
definitions from dictionary.com:
blog - to write entries in, add material to, or maintain a weblog.
blogger - a person who keeps a Web log (blog) or publish an online diary
so i have a blog now. does that make me a blogger? i guess it does as long as i keep it and my blog remains a blog as long as it is maintained. what a life-changing step. i've added yet another thing to my workday that doesn't involve my job, however, it does involve "work". so technically, i'll be "working" at work whether i'm blogging or doing job-related things!
anyway, it's easter week and i have lots on my mind. but i have to get going to my "job" work now so i'll write more later.
blog - to write entries in, add material to, or maintain a weblog.
blogger - a person who keeps a Web log (blog) or publish an online diary
so i have a blog now. does that make me a blogger? i guess it does as long as i keep it and my blog remains a blog as long as it is maintained. what a life-changing step. i've added yet another thing to my workday that doesn't involve my job, however, it does involve "work". so technically, i'll be "working" at work whether i'm blogging or doing job-related things!
anyway, it's easter week and i have lots on my mind. but i have to get going to my "job" work now so i'll write more later.
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