Cute Polo Outfit from Aunt Ali

 

Dear Aunt Ali,

Thanks for the cute Polo outfit!! 

I love playing in it and I look so stylish! 

You know I love wearing pink too!!

Can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks,

and give you a big hug and kiss! :)  

love you lots, 

baby Molly

Miss Molly laughing and talking!

We try to make little videos to email out to our family about every couple of weeks! We sent this one a week or so ago and had to share it on the blog...so cute!  She is growing and doing very well!! Still trying to figure out her naps...going towards 3 naps a day that are longer, instead of lots of little naps! Hopefully, that will help her and help me to get more accomplished in the day! :)   She still is unpredictable and can be fussy baby around 6pm till her bedtime (my mom said we all were the same-guess that's a baby thing)!  The night before she woke only once at 2am to nurse and that was great! Yet, last night she was hungry every 4 hours!?  Maybe it's time for another growth spurt!?  She turns 4 months tomorrow!  Next week she gets her shots and we will see how much she has grown at the doctors!  On our measurements she is at least 13 pounds and a very tall girl! :) Praise the Lord for His kindness in this sweet season of motherhood!  Mark and I are having a blast watching her grow and learn!  The Lord has been so good to us!

And for some other exciting news:  We get to visit Texas for 12 days! August 16-27th!! If you are in the DFW area, let us know! Would love to meet up for lunch and catch up with old friends!!! I haven't been in Texas for a year and 1/2!  Molly is so excited to meet all her cousins and see her grandparents too!  My mom couldn't be more exited to see her Molly! :)  Mark will be training for his new position in Jacksonville, FL while Molly and I are in Texas...but the cool thing is that he gets to fly over the weekend to DFW for a little break from training and see us girls and Texas family! The timing couldn't be better!  We are just grateful that the Lord has opened up this new position for Mark that will give him a new challenge to take dominion over (which he couldn't be more excited about), be able to provide for our family without a 2nd job, and be able to be more of a blessing to the nations!  Pray for us in this new transition approaching.  It will mean more travel for Mark, which mean more alone time for me with baby Molly!  I think it will be fine b/c we will get to travel with him some, but just transition once again! Which means, we need the Lord more! ;)

Update and "Be Still, My Soul"

The UPDATE:
   The Lord is gracious and kind in all His dealings with His children!  It for sure has been a season of seeing more of my need for our Lord ( I think that's every season)!  I never knew how hard motherhood was going to be!  Don't get me wrong, I totally am enjoying this new season because I know it's directly from the Lord.  However, had no idea how much it would once again be so sanctifying and humbling!  I am seeing more of my need for our gracious Father as I seek to care for my husband and our baby! This year has been so crazy with so many life changes! I want to be more faithful in in what the Lord has given me! 
    Therefore, I must again go back to the Gospel of Christ!  In all the life's changes, there is a constant...and that constant is Christ, my Savior.  Oh, so thankful that I don't have to walk this road alone.  He has given us His Holy Spirit, I don't have to be afraid or even need to fear! Jesus directly commands us many times not to be afraid because He is with us always, even to the end of the age!  My sin struggle with fear must be stopped with trust in the Lord. He knows exactly what is necessary to make me more like His Son...and that I know that is far better then anything else.  Paul says it best.

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."  -Phil.3:7-10

Perhaps, this has been vague, ask me and I can share more personally what the Lord is teaching me!
All this being said, we know that we are in our Sovereign God's hands and not one day has happened that He hasn't planned before the foundation of the world! Like an old Caedmon's Call song, "He knew this day long before He made me out of dirt..." This brings so much comfort...my soul can be still in Christ alone!

Read this hymn below...totally encouraging to your heart! It looks long, but really read it! ;)

"Be Still, My Soul"

    by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?

"Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last."

our little baby girl

Molly Hope turned 3 Months Old!

Our baby just keeps on growing and developing so well! 

She loves to smile, which is such a joy for us!

Praise the Lord! We are so THANKFUL! 

11 pounds and 8 ounces!! 

Molly LOVES to eat!

I have been laying low on eating dairy this past month and it seems to be helping her lots! 

I miss ice cream and milk shakes, but if it helps her not feel sick, it's totally worth it!

Molly LOVES her hands!

She recently has found her little fingers and has gained more control in her arms so is able to sooth herself better! Which totally is great.  Often I go check on her when she is napping and I find her fast asleep with her hand in her mouth! :)

Molly LOVES to talk!  

If she's not sleeping or eating, she is talking! 

Should I be surprised, this is my daughter! 

Check out the video of her talking below!  :)