Alan and I are so blessed to be a part of a wonderful, Truth teaching church! I cannot tell you how much I have learned since I moved to here a little over two years ago. If you know me, you know that I love missions, and this Body does, too! Our Pastor is truly a TEACHER! He doesn't just stand at the pulpit, yelling condemnations or going the opposite, telling us how wonderful we are... he simply teaches TRUTH.
For the past 18 months or so, most Sunday nights have been devoted to going verse by verse through Romans. Last night we went through Romans 11:25-36. It has been neat to learn more about God's chosen people, the Israelites, and Paul's true desire for them to truly worship their Messiah. Pastor often includes in his notes for us quotes by other Bible scholars. Please don't neglect to read the scripture; it stands alone and is fully capable of teaching, but here are a few quotes that I just loved from last night:
"The older theology tended to produce character... By the end of the twentieth century, we have become God's demanding little brats. In church, we must be entertained. Our emotions must be charged... We must be offered amusing programs- we gave up a lot to become Christians and what little teaching we do get mucst cater to our pragmatic, self-centered interests. The preaching must be filled with clever anecdotes and colorful illustrations, with nothing more than passing references to doctrine: "I want to know what this means for me and my daily experience!" We have forgotten that God is a monarch. he is the King by whom and for whom all things were made, and by whose sovereign power they are sustained. We exist for His pleasure, not He for ours; we are on this earth to entertain Him, please Him, to adore Him, to bring Him satisfaction, excitement, and joy. Any gospel which seeks to answer the questions, "What's in it for me?" has it all backwards." ~Mike Horton
"Don't ask Him to cram His plan into your puny mind, because then God would be limited by your understanding." ~Adrian Rogers
"Almighty God, just because He is almighty, needs no support. The picture of a nervous, ingratiating God fawning over men to win their favor is not a pleasant one; yet if we look at the popular conception of God, that is precisely what we see. [Today's' Christianity has put God on charity. So lofty is our opinion of ourselves that we find it quite easy, not to say enjoyable, to believe that we are necessary to God. But the truth is that God is not greater for our being, nor would He be less if we did not exist. That we do exist is altogether of God's free determination, not by our [deserving] or divine necessity." ~ A.W. Tozer
These made me think... hope they make you, as well.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Dear Weekend,
Thank you for visiting us again. I know that it's only been 5 days since we last saw each other, but I am always grateful when you come back in town.
And this time, you've brought with you a friend: warm temperatures! Even though I do like cold weather, it's actually my favorite, I do enjoy a little fresh air once in a while. Alan will be painting, so it will be nice to have the house ventillating with this weather forecast:
Enjoy the sunshine!
And this time, you've brought with you a friend: warm temperatures! Even though I do like cold weather, it's actually my favorite, I do enjoy a little fresh air once in a while. Alan will be painting, so it will be nice to have the house ventillating with this weather forecast:
Enjoy the sunshine!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Lately...
Well, it's been over a week since I have written, so I figured I would give an update on our lives. We've been quite busy, as we've been trying to get everything in order for Evie Grace's room.
The Saturday before last was a productive one! We got Evie Grace's room cleaned out, which meant we had lots to go through. I had mentioned before that I have had the urge to purge, and we did just that! We took a huge load of trash to dump and unwanted items to the local hand-me-down store. We cleaned and cleaned, AND on that Sunday while I was taking a nap, Alan hung curtains in our living and dining rooms! (It only took a year to get that done, but mostly my fault b/c I wouldn't pick out anything.) Her room is now ready for new paint!
This past Saturday, Alan and I got up early and headed to Babies-R-Us to register. If you know me at all, you know that I hate shopping and picking things out, but it actually went really well! (Flashback Moment: Before we got married, one of our biggest arguments took place in one of the kitchen aisles in Target while trying to decide on a coffee pot or something!) It took about 3 hours, and still when I look at the registry I think, "I know that we are missing something..." We still have our Target registry to do, so maybe we can figure out what we're missing then. :)
On another note about registering, I went to look at our registry and noticed that our pack-n-play wasn't on there. I called to have it added, but discovered that the brand was discontinuing the pattern and there were none left. Well, that put us on a mission! We wanted the stroller/car seat combo, pack-n-play, and hichair to all match, so I deleted the other two items from the registry. Now we are down to two options:
the Vega pattern
or the Miro-Yellow
We like both b/c they are more neutral, and let's face it, Evie Grace probably won't be our only child, and we don't know what the other (s) will be. The latter travel system actually goes up to 30lbs, so we will probably go with that one; although, we really do like the Vega (up to 22lbs).
We also picked out bedding. I made a quick, split second change when I was registering. That isn't really like me, and I am still not sure how I feel about it:
It's pink, and I never thought I would do pink; however, the quilt is just so sweet. I don't LOVE the heart mobile b/c I detest hearts, but since those are the only hearts, I think I can manage :) We won't do the whole princess-theme though, with the crowns and stuff. We will use some of the pieces, but not all the decorative stuff.
We celebrated Valentine's Day on Saturday night. Alan took me to eat Italian at this local place called "Altruda's". It is so delicious!!! If you've eaten there, you've definitely experienced their yummy warm rolls, served up with fresh garlic slathered on them, and soaking in garlic-olive oil... Yes, heart-attack, indeed people, but I only at 2 :) Honestly!!!
Now that I've written a short novel, I will leave you... :)
~alys
The Saturday before last was a productive one! We got Evie Grace's room cleaned out, which meant we had lots to go through. I had mentioned before that I have had the urge to purge, and we did just that! We took a huge load of trash to dump and unwanted items to the local hand-me-down store. We cleaned and cleaned, AND on that Sunday while I was taking a nap, Alan hung curtains in our living and dining rooms! (It only took a year to get that done, but mostly my fault b/c I wouldn't pick out anything.) Her room is now ready for new paint!
This past Saturday, Alan and I got up early and headed to Babies-R-Us to register. If you know me at all, you know that I hate shopping and picking things out, but it actually went really well! (Flashback Moment: Before we got married, one of our biggest arguments took place in one of the kitchen aisles in Target while trying to decide on a coffee pot or something!) It took about 3 hours, and still when I look at the registry I think, "I know that we are missing something..." We still have our Target registry to do, so maybe we can figure out what we're missing then. :)
On another note about registering, I went to look at our registry and noticed that our pack-n-play wasn't on there. I called to have it added, but discovered that the brand was discontinuing the pattern and there were none left. Well, that put us on a mission! We wanted the stroller/car seat combo, pack-n-play, and hichair to all match, so I deleted the other two items from the registry. Now we are down to two options:
the Vega pattern
We like both b/c they are more neutral, and let's face it, Evie Grace probably won't be our only child, and we don't know what the other (s) will be. The latter travel system actually goes up to 30lbs, so we will probably go with that one; although, we really do like the Vega (up to 22lbs).
We also picked out bedding. I made a quick, split second change when I was registering. That isn't really like me, and I am still not sure how I feel about it:
We celebrated Valentine's Day on Saturday night. Alan took me to eat Italian at this local place called "Altruda's". It is so delicious!!! If you've eaten there, you've definitely experienced their yummy warm rolls, served up with fresh garlic slathered on them, and soaking in garlic-olive oil... Yes, heart-attack, indeed people, but I only at 2 :) Honestly!!!
Now that I've written a short novel, I will leave you... :)
~alys
Friday, February 4, 2011
Pregnancy---Week 26 coming right up!
This weekend, I will officially be 26 weeks pregnant! Daily, it's surreal. I told Alan the other night, I often find myself saying, "When this baby is finally out, I can..." The blank is usually filled in with "Sleep through the night.", "Not have to pee so often." "Rest in peace without movement.", etc... But I quickly laugh and remind myself that once she's here, our whole world will be different! No more me me me! (Wasn't I supposed to give that up once I got married?! Alan... please tell me I am less selfish!)
I have seen this blog on other's who are pregnant, so I decided to share. :)
Weight Gain/Loss: Totally not sharing this information....
Maternity Clothes? Oh yes! I have been in maternity pants since my 14th week... I could have gone with the belly band, but leaving my pants unbuttoned, with my zipper pressing into my stomach never sounded comfortable to me.
Gender: It's a girl! :) I can't wait to meet her!
What I miss: I miss not having to get up to pee at night. I can't remember ever having to get up to do this. It was probably God's plan to get me in the routine of sleepless nights! :)
Weekly Wisdom: I don't have any...
Milestones: I have had a wonderful and healthy pregnancy so far. I am still awaiting the test results from my glucose test last week, but they haven't called, so I am assuming that went well.... I think I will call :)
Sleep: I usually sleep pretty well, but most nights I do have to pee around 3am. Sleeping on my sides is really annoying b/c it hurts my shoulder; however, the doctor told me that I could prop my back up with my body pillow so that I was at an angle. That helps a lot, and I try to sleep with one side elevated like that.
Energy: Pretty good! I usually try to nap every afternoon, but honestly, there are times when I can't! SHOCKING, I KNOW! But, when I don't nap, I am checking out by 10! Otherwise, I can make it to 11 or so... We've both started to get the urge to purge things, so that's good! :)
Exercise: I should work on this.... My problem is that I sit at a desk all day...
Movement: She is quite the acrobat!
Food cravings: FOOD! Salty, rich, spicy, flavorful food! Terrible, I KNOW! I also crave MILK... but I drink Skim, so this is ok :) Also, I am generic and also crave ice-cream... but without the pickles ;)
What I am looking forward to: Seeing Alan with her :) I know that he is going to be wonderful through the labor and delivery... he is so compassionate.
Preparations: Yeah... we are a little behind, but mostly b/c I can't really decide on bedding... I know what I want and I can't find it, but I have a close second, so we'll most likely go with that. Afterall, bedding won't change who she is! :)
Best Moment this Week: Alan bought me a new maternity shirt for spring. Just because :)
I have seen this blog on other's who are pregnant, so I decided to share. :)
Weight Gain/Loss: Totally not sharing this information....
Maternity Clothes? Oh yes! I have been in maternity pants since my 14th week... I could have gone with the belly band, but leaving my pants unbuttoned, with my zipper pressing into my stomach never sounded comfortable to me.
Gender: It's a girl! :) I can't wait to meet her!
What I miss: I miss not having to get up to pee at night. I can't remember ever having to get up to do this. It was probably God's plan to get me in the routine of sleepless nights! :)
Weekly Wisdom: I don't have any...
Milestones: I have had a wonderful and healthy pregnancy so far. I am still awaiting the test results from my glucose test last week, but they haven't called, so I am assuming that went well.... I think I will call :)
Sleep: I usually sleep pretty well, but most nights I do have to pee around 3am. Sleeping on my sides is really annoying b/c it hurts my shoulder; however, the doctor told me that I could prop my back up with my body pillow so that I was at an angle. That helps a lot, and I try to sleep with one side elevated like that.
Energy: Pretty good! I usually try to nap every afternoon, but honestly, there are times when I can't! SHOCKING, I KNOW! But, when I don't nap, I am checking out by 10! Otherwise, I can make it to 11 or so... We've both started to get the urge to purge things, so that's good! :)
Exercise: I should work on this.... My problem is that I sit at a desk all day...
Movement: She is quite the acrobat!
Food cravings: FOOD! Salty, rich, spicy, flavorful food! Terrible, I KNOW! I also crave MILK... but I drink Skim, so this is ok :) Also, I am generic and also crave ice-cream... but without the pickles ;)
What I am looking forward to: Seeing Alan with her :) I know that he is going to be wonderful through the labor and delivery... he is so compassionate.
Preparations: Yeah... we are a little behind, but mostly b/c I can't really decide on bedding... I know what I want and I can't find it, but I have a close second, so we'll most likely go with that. Afterall, bedding won't change who she is! :)
Best Moment this Week: Alan bought me a new maternity shirt for spring. Just because :)
Thursday, February 3, 2011
"GIRL, WHEN did THAT happen?"
I decided to start us off with a funny post...
As is usual with my job as a university recruiter, I was visiting a local community college. I was sitting in the atrium of the building, which serves as the main area. The students hang out here between classes, eat in the nearby cafe, visit the library, etc. It gets loud during class changes since all hallways and the main staircase converge here.
I was sitting, checking my email, looking around, and ready for anyone who might stop by. All of the sudden, I hear a loud voice, echoing through the atrium, exclaiming, "GIRL, you are PREGNANT! Oh my goodness, I haven't seen you in so long!" I looked up, and saw a girl, who I did not recognize, walking towards, continuing to exclaim about her newfound discovery of my personal life. I am sure I looked shocked, confused, yet trying to remain calm and composed, and not red, since EVERYONE in this main meeting place was staring and laughing.
As she approached me, she continued with, "Oh my goodness, WHEN did THAT happen?!" Keep in mind, she was being very sweet; however, she was just little bit louder than I would have deemed appropriate.
Taking a deep breath, blinking my eyelashes, and remaining embarrassed yet composed, I responded, "Oh, you know, about 6 mos ago. Now, what is your name?"
She then told me how beautiful I looked, etc, so I quickly forgave her, of course! ;) What pregnant woman doesn't want to hear that?!
I was just glad that she didn't ask HOW it happened...
As is usual with my job as a university recruiter, I was visiting a local community college. I was sitting in the atrium of the building, which serves as the main area. The students hang out here between classes, eat in the nearby cafe, visit the library, etc. It gets loud during class changes since all hallways and the main staircase converge here.
I was sitting, checking my email, looking around, and ready for anyone who might stop by. All of the sudden, I hear a loud voice, echoing through the atrium, exclaiming, "GIRL, you are PREGNANT! Oh my goodness, I haven't seen you in so long!" I looked up, and saw a girl, who I did not recognize, walking towards, continuing to exclaim about her newfound discovery of my personal life. I am sure I looked shocked, confused, yet trying to remain calm and composed, and not red, since EVERYONE in this main meeting place was staring and laughing.
As she approached me, she continued with, "Oh my goodness, WHEN did THAT happen?!" Keep in mind, she was being very sweet; however, she was just little bit louder than I would have deemed appropriate.
Taking a deep breath, blinking my eyelashes, and remaining embarrassed yet composed, I responded, "Oh, you know, about 6 mos ago. Now, what is your name?"
She then told me how beautiful I looked, etc, so I quickly forgave her, of course! ;) What pregnant woman doesn't want to hear that?!
I was just glad that she didn't ask HOW it happened...
Here we are!
Since we got married a little over a year ago, I have been meaning to create a blog for us. So, here it is! Sure... it's not too fancy today, but hopefully over time, it will become cute. Although, if you have been to my house, you know that I am not in any hurry to decorate, so maybe this blog won't become anything special afterall ;)
I love to share funny stories, and though I do like to talk (and you who know me KNOW that I do!), I usually talk all day at my job, and often times, I don't really want to chat on the phone once I get home. Plus, I can't seem to keep up with everyone! Of course, Alan has his side of the stories, so I figured I'd let him share a bit, too! ;) Is that a good wife, or WHAT?! ;)
Anyway, we hope you enjoy our little Grissom-grams, especially as we get closer to the arrival our daughter... she will surely turn our worlds upside-down, and you KNOW you want to hear ALL about it! :) It's SURE to be a riot!
~alys
I love to share funny stories, and though I do like to talk (and you who know me KNOW that I do!), I usually talk all day at my job, and often times, I don't really want to chat on the phone once I get home. Plus, I can't seem to keep up with everyone! Of course, Alan has his side of the stories, so I figured I'd let him share a bit, too! ;) Is that a good wife, or WHAT?! ;)
Anyway, we hope you enjoy our little Grissom-grams, especially as we get closer to the arrival our daughter... she will surely turn our worlds upside-down, and you KNOW you want to hear ALL about it! :) It's SURE to be a riot!
~alys
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