Haiti Update

We talked to Tonya, my sister-in-law, on Friday evening. Tim made it safely to the MAF hanger. From the time he got there to Friday morning, they had moved 40,000 lbs of cargo and supplies through the hanger. He had also endured 2 pretty big aftershocks. He told Tonya that all they could was drop whatever they were doing and run outside and stand there until the aftershocks were over. Crazy!!! I can't even imagine what that would be like! Please continue to pray for protection and provision for Tim and the people of Haiti. I'll update more as I find out!

PLEASE PRAY!

I'm asking everyone to join in prayer with me for my brother-in-law, Tim, and for Haiti. Some of you know that Tim is a missionary with MAF. He has been on furlow here in the states, and is being sent out today to Haiti. Pray for his protection, as it is very unstable and dangerous there right now, and pray for Tim to be used in mighty way. This trip he will be going alone, so please keep his wife, Tonya, and their 5 kids in prayer as well. (Lauren, Lydia, Natalie, Courtney, & Carson)

Our Sweet Pea

Here are more pics of Karis from her photo shoot with Ginny in November. These are from Ginny's website http://www.graceglimpses.com/.

Playing Catch Up

A whole lot has happened in the past two months! We've been crazy busy and I've been a super bad blogger lately! So here's some of what's been going on with us.

1. Karis turned three months in November and was dedicated to the Lord on the 15th. We were so excited to dedicate her. I never really realized the fullness of responsibility that comes with raising a child until I held her in my arms after recovery in the hospital. It all of the sudden hit me like a ton of bricks! Mike and I are the two most influential people in her life and are supposed to guide and lead her in life and teach her how to live. It took about a nano second, if that, to understand we cannot do it without God. So, on the 15th of November we officially made a promise to God in front of a crowd of witnesses and our families that we would do our upmost best to raise Karis in the knowledge and wisdom of God in partnership with Him. Thank goodness that we're not alone!

2.

ris celebrated her 1st Thanksgiving in Houston. She meet some of her cousins for the first time & loved every minute they spent with her! She just smiled and laughed as she watched their every move.

3. In December, Karis turned 4 months and met Santa for the first time. It went pretty well. She would not smile for anything, though! I guess that's better than her screaming at the top of her lungs like the baby did before her.

4. Karis also got a good-ole fashioned panhandle, white Christmas. She did catch somewhat of a cold there and ended up staying inside a bunch, which was ok with us. I guess we've climatized to warmer weather because it was bitter cold, colder than I remember it being before. She got a jumper for Christmas, which she LOVES!

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we took Karis to her 1st pumpkin patch! She LOVED it! I wasn't sure if she would stay awake or not, but she surprised Mike and I both and was awake the ENTIRE time. We got some really sweet pics of her! I think her daddy and I had just as much, if not more fun than she did!

Psalm 55:22

"Cast your burden on the Lord, And He will sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."

I was reading my Bible and praying this morning and this scripture just jumped out at me. I felt really impressed to share it.

sustain - from the word chul- "to maintain, to nourish, to provide, to bear, to hold up or support, to defend by His strength, to supply the means necessary for living"

God knows your need, your situation, and has the ultimate power to sustain you if you'll let Him!

2 Months, a Job, and a Full Night's Sleep

Karis is two months old! She's changing ad growing so much! Last Thursday night she slept all night long! I never thought that a full night's sleep would feel so good!

I had to start back to work last Tuesday. It was so hard going back! I started crying about it about two weeks before I had to actually go back, and the night before I bawled and bawled! Leaving Karis at the daycare was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do!

I really enjoy all of the people I work with, but if I had the choice to stay at home with Karis, I would jump on it! I do have to say, though, that I have been extremely blessed with the most awesome co-workers. Everyone is so understanding and uplifting! They've been a huge help! I also get to keep Karis on campus at the daycare at my school. It's really nice because I still get to go and nurse her and hold her on my breaks. I also prayed and prayed that Karis would have a good teacher, and I got what I prayed for! Ms. Debbie is so kind and she just loves on the babies like they were her own. Here's a picture of Karis getting ready to go to school.
My parents came through two weekends in a row to visit. It was so good to see them! I really miss my family, and I wish that we lived closer so we could hang out more. Karis just loves her grandparents! Of course they spoil her silly by the time they leave. :) I was also able to get caught up on my housework thanks to my mom! She helped me a ton this past weekend! I finally got caught up so hopefully keeping it clean won't be so hard now that I'm back at work.