Ella Gisela Phillips

“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to Him. Therefore I have lent her to the Lord. As long as she lives, she is lent to the Lord.” -1 Samuel 1:27, 28a


Ella Gisela Phillips born on September 11, 2010
at 11:13pm
Weighing 7lbs 7oz and 20 inches long!

Moments after she was born!
Getting all checked out!
Daddy and his little girl in the hospital
First family picture of the THREE of us!
My little burrito baby!
Our second day home!
Ella dressed up as an angel at her first Fall Festival!
Sweet, sleeping baby

So, my child has been born over 2 months ago and I have yet to write a blog. BUT, we can go ahead and chalk that up to just having a child 2 months ago, hehe.

There is a little girl sleeping quietly in her crib upstairs while I type this blog. To her parents, she is absolutely perfect and is completely surrounded in all things pink. There is a precious baby girl snoozing away and has no idea how much her parents petitioned the Lord in prayer for her. She’s sleeping all cozy and tucked in her swaddle, while her mommy fights back tears in writing a blog to declare God’s goodness and faithfulness in the blessing that is her.

We have so loved getting to know this little girl and how easily she can confuse John and I, haha. We do have a bit of a crier on our hands, which just shows me that she is probably going to be a non-stop talker when she reaches that stage of life! Her poor daddy, two non-stop talking females under the same roof.

Speaking of her daddy, she has really does have the best one in the whole world. Since she was born, she has just loved to be held by her daddy. Can I just say it has been the most amazing thing in the world to watch?? I am completely in love with the fact that my daughter has a daddy as amazing as John. She really hit the jackpot. He has been so great in taking care of her and me. And, he is so smitten with her, that I have the feeling she will always have him wrapped around her little finger! A friend once told me that not every man is good at naturally being a daddy to a little girl, but that John is such a good daddy to a little girl. And, I completely agree :o)

We are so thankful for this baby! The last year was a season in life of uncertainty as to whether we would ever get to hold a baby. And, we are very grateful to the Lord that He has given us a precious baby in heaven and a beautiful baby girl to hold this side of heaven. The verse at the top of this post was one I prayed and prayed before getting pregnant with Ella and all through the pregnancy. It is now hanging over her crib as reminder to us that she is forever lent to the Lord and that He answered our cries for a healthy, beautiful baby.

I do plan to actually keep up with the blog now! So, look for more tidbits about our precious baby in the coming days and weeks!!

Wait, Wait, and Wait A Little More!

Well, here I am, officially in the mere days countdown of the due date. No more weeks left, just days. It was so weird to look at my little countdown today and only see 6 days. Whoa. Back in January-April, I thought September would never get here. Of course, those days were a huge blur anyways with all of the crazy, crazy amounts of sickness. While the morning sickness never fully went away, those four months were the most brutal for sure. And. believe me, September felt like an eternity away. But, here we are!

Other than dealing with false labor, and just the sheer inability to know when D-day is gonna hit, I am doing pretty good. Sure, I have any physical complaints that a pregnant woman of this stage in the game would have, but nothing extraordinary. I feel a bit like a ticking time bomb…with a broken ticker, hehe.

But, I have been meaning to share something I read in a guided journal I’ve been keeping for the little one. There are several different sections that correspond to the different stages of pregnancy and through the first year or two of life for baby. At the beginning of each section, it shares a Bible verse or two and then gives a little food for thought.

The current section I just finished writing in is the Waiting section. Then, it talks about the very first woman that had to sit around wait…Eve. And, it got me thinking to ideas that had never crossed my mind before. She was the first woman ever to be pregnant. She had just been told how painful and terrible childbirth would be. She didn’t have the medical information we have now. She didn’t know, “You won’t be pregnant forever” or she didn’t know how to naturally or synthetically induce her labor.

Could you imagine the thoughts that ran through her head?? When there were little baby feet kicking her tummy, did she wonder if the baby really was going to bust right through her abdomen? Was that the pain God was talking about? How about the heartburn? Did she wonder what in the world was going on that each time she had a bite of food her throat felt like lava? And, she didn’t have a due date. She just kept getting bigger and bigger and more and more uncomfortable with no foreseeable end in sight. I mean, talk about miserable! Oh, to read her mind during that waiting time. And, I don’t even wanna know what she thought when labor and delivery actually hit! Ouch!

So, whenever I start to think, “Am I ever gonna get to hold this baby??”, I just remember Eve’s story. And, I am ever so grateful for modern medicine and the ability to know what is actually going on in this body of mine!

Okay, that’s enough on the spiritual stuff…COME OUT ALREADY, BABY!! :o)

My Baby…Bunny

John with Mega bunny this past Saturday. When the rabbit is super happy, his little ears lay flat as can be!
Megatron the rabbit on the very first day I got him!

For anyone that follows John and I on Twitter or Facebook, you are pretty accustomed to seeing us post pictures of our crazy rabbit. Well, I think it’s high time you officially meet Megatron the rabbit. Yes, his name is Megatron. Yes, we call him Mega, Mega Bunny, Baby Bunny, or just Rabbit for short. I adopted him before John and I ever started dating. And, while it took John a good little bit at first to welcome this little furry creature in, he has since loved the bunny just as much as me! I mean, it doesn’t take long until this little guy makes you think rabbits are cool.

I first adopted Mega in March of 2008, when he was 3 months old. I had just moved into my own apartment all by myself that January and really wanted some company. I always thought it would be fun to have a rabbit, so off I went to find a rabbit. No lie, totally fell in love with Mega. Don’t tell him, but in person, he’s like the fattest rabbit I’ve ever seen and that just sounded so cuddly to me! So, I got everything I needed to take care of the little guy and went to the pet store before they opened on the first day I was allowed to get him (around Easter time they wouldn’t sell the rabbits for a while because of too many people having buyer’s regret). So, there I was, like a freak, waiting in the parking lot to be the first one in the store in case some small child in pigtails wanted the same rabbit. I was prepared to push any small children over, because that was my rabbit. Creeper? Yeah, I know. Whatever.

Since then, as silly as it sounds, little Megatron has been quite the buddy to me. My life was quite the interesting tailspin when I first moved into that apartment and he was my little buddy that kept me company when everything was so crazy. The day we lost our first baby, I came home from surgery, took a nap and when I woke up, John was still sleeping. So, I went over, and just kept petting little Mega. He just laid down and was so sweet, it was like he knew I needed a little buddy again. Now, having just moved and still adjusting to being outside of my hometown and trying to meet new people, my little bunny has kept me so much company during the day when John is at work. It may sound totally crazy and maybe I am, but this precious little rabbit has been a good friend the last 2.5 years!

After John and I got married, I joked that he was now Mega’s dad. John went from constantly making jokes of wanting to make some “rabbit stew” to looking at crib bedding for this baby in my belly that had bunny rabbits on it. Including pointing out a little girl outfit that we just had to get in case we have a girl, because it says “Some Bunny Loves Me”. That’s right, I’m selling John out :o)

But, all of that to say, our precious little Megatron has become a part of the Phillips family. Honestly, I never really thought I would ever be so attached to any animal, especially a rabbit. But, he’s a pretty cool rabbit, hehe.

The other day, Mega was obviously not feeling well. He wasn’t eating or drinking, along with other symptoms I’ll spare you, and I was up most of the night giving him water with a medicine dropper, getting him to eat as much as I could, and researching the internet like crazy to try and figure out the problem. We took him to the vet first thing the next day and found out he has a stone in his bladder and a bladder infection because of it. We’ve got him on antibiotics now for the infection and he must have surgery for the stone. The stone is the largest the vet has ever seen in a rabbit. Without the surgery, Mega will be in a lot of pain until he eventually passes away. The surgery is not exactly the cheapest thing in the world, but John and I both just couldn’t let a possibility to fix everything go right on by.

Therefore, our sweet bunny is having surgery on Friday morning. We have been doing everything in our power to get Mega stronger. And, guess what? He’s doing better! The infection seems to be clearing which has been making him more himself. Today, he was strong enough to refuse to let me squirt the meds in his mouth, haha. Preparing me for this baby in my belly, I suppose?! The vet wants us to continue to give him the antibiotics through tonight and tomorrow so that baby bunny can be as strong as possible for surgery.

Would you mind praying for our little bunny? I know it might sound silly, but I have been a crying trainwreck since he got sick. I really want my little buddy to be okay. Please pray that he makes it through the surgery nice and strong. And, that the vet can remove and repair everything that needs to be done to make Mega good as new. Also, pray that I will able to help the bunny recover well after his operation. We want everything to go as smoothly and healthily as possible! Best case scenario would be that this little bunny can be all healed up for when I bring this baby in my belly home! Just please pray the surgery goes well, I don’t think I could be more nervous about it. Y’all are awesome for reading everything about this bunny and for praying! Love y’all so much!

25th Birthday, Georgia Baby Shower and Baby Update!

John and I before heading out to my birthday dinner! 34 weeks pregnant here!

Okay, since I posted last, I am officially 25 years old and I’m 35 weeks pregnant! So, my birthday last year, I had been married for 2 weeks and little did I know, I was a week away from being pregnant with my first baby! It’s so hard to believe that I have now had TWO birthdays as a married woman. And, John did an extraordinary job this year at making me feel special on my birthday. He came home from work at lunch time and we went out to lunch (at McDonald’s…I know, I know, don’t talk to me, tell this baby that a double cheeseburger meal is ridiculous. Droooool). Then, thanks to some birthday money and a coupon I found for a free bloomin’ onion, we enjoyed some Outback Steakhouse! We had a great time hanging out! Plus, John got me flowers and a yummy peanut butter chocolate pie. Good man, good man.

Two sweet ladies here in Georgia threw me a baby shower! It was so sweet of them and of so many ladies to bless us with gifts! It was a women’s only shindig with church staff ladies, church staff wives, tech team volunteers, and tech team volunteers wives. It was so fun to have a more traditional shower and I loved being able to open so many great gifts! We played baby bingo and everyone had a necklace on where they would lose it if they were caught crossing their legs. I lost my necklace pretty fast! Everyone was so sweet to buy us such awesome gifts, especially since we haven’t even been in Georgia very long! After this shower, we are officially set and ready for this baby to get here! I actually crossed off the last item on my essentials list this past Friday. Now, we just need a precious little baby to welcome :o) Thank you to Holli and Becky for throwing such a beautiful, fun shower! And, thank you to all of the ladies for such awesome gifts!! Here are a few pictures from the shower:

The gifts!! We got so many seriously awesome gifts!
Opening gifts!
I look a little confused here, haha. But, I think this was when everyone was enjoying the yummy food!

This past Friday, we had our 34 week appointment. Everything is looking great and it seems like baby is starting to measure more on the average track! At the 32 week appointment I was measuring 34cm and this one I was measuring 35cm. So, for now, there’s no need for another ultrasound. As much as I would LOVE to see the baby again, I’m afraid to see, um, private parts on the screen! Haha! It’s a pretty irrational fear because the tech at our office is really good about not exposing what we don’t want to see, but I am just afraid somehow the gender would slip! And, it would stink to make it this far and have the surprise ruined. We will know whether there is a lot of pink or blue in our future, in just a few short weeks! This has been such a fun surprise and waiting game! Next appointment is in 2 weeks (Aug. 20th) and after that we will be at the doc’s every week until we have our precious baby! Oh, and on the contraction front, I only had 2 rather intense contractions about a week ago. The doctor said at this appointment I am out of the woods as far as he’s concerned for pre term labor, so whatever happens happens at this point!

For those out there that want to know how to pray for us and baby, here are some things we’d love for you to lift up if you want to! Most importantly, we are praying for our baby to develop safely and healthily. And, for our baby to arrive safe and sound on delivery day for us to hold and take care of for the rest of our lives! Also, we are praying for baby to stay head down and for an uncomplicated labor and delivery. We have also been praying that I could labor and deliver drug-free, with no need for a c-section. And, that the labor and delivery would go quickly! If you wanna, feel free to pray with us! We can hardly believe that the time is almost here!! So excited for that day!

Never A Dull Moment!

So, last night, it was bedtime and per my usual routine I turned the thermostat down from the 78 I keep it on during the day to the 73 I put it on at night so I don’t sweat the night away in my current hormonal state. John and I went to our bedroom for some good ol’ pillow talk, then our usual prayer time. The room was getting nice and cooler, so I got all comfy under my blankets. We turned on the TV and then I started to feel warmer. Assuming it was my hormones (ahem, my scapegoat for everything the last year of my life), I asked John if he could turn down the air one more degree.

He goes to turn it down and informs me the thermostat says 75. Which, is pretty crazy because I set it to 73 almost 3 hours earlier and it usually cools down pretty fast. Still not thinking much of it, I just try to get comfy and fall asleep.

Then, as each hour passes through night, I awaken feeling warmer and warmer each time. And, noticing that the air is constantly blowing and never shuts off. Hmmm…

The morning comes, I shake John awake and declare that I think our A/C is broken because I am sweating like a mad woman. He checks the thermostat. It is currently 78 degrees in the house while it is only 75 degrees outside.

We go to Home Depot thinking maybe we just need to change the filter. I have a contraction in Home Depot where I wasn’t able to talk. Oh dear. But, luckily it was only one.

Change the filter.

Wait 30 minutes.

It is now 80 degrees in the house.

Several phone calls later to the landlord, warranty companies, and A/C repair company, we realize the A/C unit outside has officially stopped running. It apparently hates pregnant women that are 33 weeks pregnant that are supposed to be on a simplified, modified bedrest for one more week.

As I laugh about how ridiculous everything is, the house went up two more degrees in temperature. We officially dubbed today “bring your hugely pregnant wife to work” day. Today I have lounged on John’s couch in his office hoping that all of today’s activities don’t cause this baby to exit my nether regions before hitting the 34 week mark.

I have been laughing at just how crazy all of this pregnancy has been. This child’s scrapbook will be written out in detail so the second this child thinks he or she is cooler than me or doesn’t love me anymore, I am shoving the book in their face. Complete with the details of my puke escapades and of the A/C breaking causing me to sweat like a construction worker in my own bed while I am supposed to be focusing on not stressing my body so the child stays locked in for at least one more week.

I guess it wasn’t a random happenstance that yesterday one of the verses I prayed over me was Proverbs 31:25 “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come”. Because, my actual clothing was smelling of sweat and no person in their right mind would have laughed at the fact that their A/C was broken in the dead heat of summer. So, praise Jesus that He prepared me for today as much as possible!

Tonight we are staying with a gracious family that has opened up their home so we don’t have to sweat to death. And, another family had also opened their home. We are so thankful!

And, tomorrow, God is sending an angel to our little home in Peachtree City, GA…

the blessed A/C repairman shall be knocking on the door between 9a-1p. I would bake him homemade treasures to show my gratitude. But, that requires too much heat. Therefore, I will repeatedly thank him for his supernatural ability to fix the one thing every woman with a child in their uterus should be given, a working A/C unit.

Baby Time Getting Closer, Maybe Too Close?

We had our 32 week appointment just the other day with one of the partners in the office. Next appointment I return back to my regular doctor for the duration of Operation: Baby. I really do love this office and so far they have been great. Every appointment the doctors have taken their time with us and I always just feel like I am hanging out with a good friend. A good friend that I have total confidence in for taking care of me and my baby.

For those that are keeping track of the unfolding story concerning this baby growing like a mad child, I measured 3 weeks ahead again. Every single time I have measured 2 or 3 weeks ahead. They’ve told me that +2 is completely within the normal range but the +3 is what makes them want to take another little sneak peek at the child either next appointment or the appointment after. It seems like all of the doc’s are guessing an 8-pound baby. Not that I’ve ever pushed a full term baby out of my Nether regions, but 8 pounds seems doable to me. I try to explain to the baby that 7 pounds is a good number, but for some reason, I don’t think the baby understands a word I am saying…

Well, this past week, the Braxton Hicks contractions decided they wanted to begin revving up. Which, hey, I am all about because it’s comforting to know that my body is getting ready for the process. But, on Monday night, I had 7 contractions in an hour. For those pregnancy illiterate (like myself before I had a child in my uterus), 4 or more contractions in an hour can be a sign of preterm labor. I did all of the special little things that are supposed to make them stop if it’s just Braxton Hicks and none of it worked. Well, I finally decided if I had one more, I was going to call the doctor and bam, they stopped. I had one more about 45 minutes later, but that was it. The rest of this week I have had Braxton Hicks on and off, but nothing consistent again. I’ve also been having some pressure (sometimes feels like a lot, sometimes it’s not as noticeable) and feeling crampy (sometimes a lot, sometimes not).

At my appointment, the doctor just emphasized lots of rest and water. And, more than once she said, “I just want you to get 34 weeks, after then, you can let your body do whatever you want”. SO, that’s where we are now. The last few days have been me laying on the couch or bed and telling the baby to not arrive until my birthday (the day I turn 34 weeks, August 2nd) or later. John cleaned the whole house and did the dishes and finished the laundry and mowed the lawn and made dinner and so forth the last few days. (Awesome man, hasn’t complained once!) It is so against my entire personality to sit around and not be able to do my normal activities. But, I think I can handle taking it easy the next week and 2 days. It’s already been amazing how much extra rest really has calmed the contractions and pressure.

Part of me wants to laugh in thinking that we’re trying to do whatever little things we can to ensure the baby stays in and that when it comes the appropriate time for the baby to come out, the kiddo probably won’t budge. I sure hope that’s not the case, but I am learning how unpredictable all of this pregnancy stuff can be. But, the baby is currently head down, which is exciting to know that one more piece to the puzzle is falling in place!

So, there ya have it! Looks like we’ll have a baby in 7 weeks or less from now! :o)

One Year Anniversary!

Has it already been one whole year since we got hitched? We made it through our first year with none of that yucky “your first year is going to be terrible” stuff! It feels like our wedding was just yesterday. I can still picture everything about that day so vividly. I can honestly say it was the absolute best day of my entire life. I don’t think I could have been more excited to marry the man God provided for me. John, I thought I loved you that day…

…but, I look at now, and think that today there is no way I could ever love you more.

Our first year of marriage has held more than I ever could have imagined! We’ve changed states, jobs, baby doctors (3 times, mind you!), and God has given us two babies in our short year together. It has been such a crazy ride! I mean, have I seriously had morning sickness the majority of our marriage?! Good grief! As many twists and turns that have been thrown at us in a year, I can honestly say I’ve always felt calm knowing that you were the man I was standing next to.

You have loved me above and beyond anything that I have experienced before, apart from the Lord. I really never knew that someone would love me, protect me, and provide for me the way that you have. God far exceeded in answering my prayers for you starting so many years ago. Even this whole week, leading up to this weekend knowing it would be our anniversary, I just couldn’t help but spend half of my prayer time in my devotion time, just thanking the Lord over and over again for you. I highly doubt I ever say it enough, but I am so unbelievably grateful to be your wife. I am so glad to be given the chance to support you, pray for you, and respect you as my husband.

And, one of the things I have loved the most about you this last year, is that you loved the baby we lost just as much as I did. You have never once made me feel dumb in some of things we did to recognize our baby’s life. I cannot begin to tell you how much it has meant to me that you would help pick up the broken pieces of my heart while your own was breaking. Both of our babies are beyond blessed to have a daddy that loves them the way you do. I will always be in awe of how you walked me through the darkest time of our life when we lost that precious baby.

Praying Ephesians 5:22-33 over our marriage every day, I can absolutely see in you how you love me like Christ loves the church. And, I can only pray that I can respect you to the magnitude that you love me. There is not any other person in the whole universe I would rather display the profound mystery of Christ with than you. I just pray we do it well.

I love you so much, husband! You are my most favorite person in the world and thank you for marrying me! I can’t wait to look back on this day and think “oh, how I thought I loved you then, but now…”

Baby Update!!

We had the 30 week (oh my goodness gracious, 30 weeks?!?) appointment this morning. And, let me just say, this baby cracks me up every single day. I am convinced this child is the biggest wiggleworm in the whole world. The baby doesn’t care to slow down for the doctor either.

Today we saw one of the partners in the office and as she first put the little doppler on my belly, the baby was all over the place. My stomach constantly rolls in waves and even the doctor today jumped back with a big “whoa! Oh my goodness!”And, as she looked for the heartbeat, the kiddo kept rockin and rollin. I like to imagine a little Bart Simpson attitude in there thinkin’, “Ha, try to find me now!” With how much this baby was all over she jokingly said, “Are you sure there’s not more than one in there?” To which I responded that John always points to one side of my belly and says “Baby Number 1” and then points to the other side “Baby Number 2”. But, that would be one sneaky baby number 2 finding a place to hide through TWO ultrasounds. That just shows you how funny/out of control this baby moves all the time! It took her a while to find the actual heartbeat because of the wiggling (last appt, my regular doctor didn’t even bother to find the actual heartbeat and said the pulse which we could hear was just fine due to the wiggling!). But, there was the heartbeat, all over the place but around 145.

And, the belly is still measuring 2 weeks ahead! So, all of those haters out there saying I need to eat more, my belly is actually bigger than it should be! Therefore, the doctor wants another ultrasound at 34 weeks to check the growth. We’re hoping it means baby comes a little earlier than September 13th rather than a massive baby right on time :o) But, the doctor seems on top of it all. So, I’m not worried about it at all. Instead, I’m super excited because we are ending up with an ultrasound the week of my birthday! So, we get to see the peanut one more time before it’s birthday!

As far as pregnancy woes are concerned, it appears that the nausea has been kicking in worse and worse lately. Blah. I woke up in the middle of the night last night as sick as could be. I remember just freaking out thinking that the hyperemesis was back. But, luckily things haven’t been that bad. Although, instead of gaining weight this appointment, I actually lost 2.5 pounds. We can go ahead and attribute that to nothing ever sounding yummy to eat. It all makes me nauseous. But, the doctor doesn’t seem concerned at all, so I’m not. I am looking forward to the day when I love to eat again!! Man, I miss enjoying food! :o)

That’s it for today! But, a special congratulations goes out to John’s sister! She just delivered their fourth baby on July 5th. His name is Rivers Joseph and he looks super handsome in the pictures we’ve been able to see! We won’t be able to meet him until Christmas :o( but we’re glad he arrived safely into his new family! Welcome, Rivers!

Money and Debt and Things

Before John and I even got engaged, one of the topics we discussed was debt. John had very little debt, while I on the other hand did not have little debt. I remember crying the night I told him about the debt I was in, thinking he wouldn’t want to get involved any further in our relationship. I look back at that now and laugh a little. At the time, John was super supportive and also believed I must have been a million dollars in debt by the way I was acting. When I actually told him the total and the things it was on, his response was, “Seriously? That’s it? I was expecting way worse than that!” To which I sniffled and thought he must not have heard me correctly, haha.

I really did marry a great man. A guy that has listened to me complain several times over about how “I was forced into some of those situations, yet at the same time, I hold myself completely responsible,” and on and on and on. Growing up and not until shortly before I started dating John, I didn’t realize that being debt-free was an option. I mean, if you needed a car, you went to a car place, picked an average car, signed some papers, and then wrote a check every month to someone for the car. I mean, no person (barring celebrities) really walks into a dealership and completely purchases a car. Or, if you want to go to college, you have to get a student loan, because that’s the only way to afford an education. I never really understood about savings accounts or ways to do things without some help from an interest based loan.

I am, by all means, not talking down at all to people that have student loans, car payments, or a credit card payment. Because, I definitely have all of the above and I don’t have any desire to talk bad about my ownself on my own blog. If that were the case, I wouldn’t publish this entry. Because, it’s my own blog and I get to choose how good I want to make myself look :o) Anyways, I digress back to the whole debt really sucks thing…

When John and I got engaged, we decided our family would be one that does things debt-free (with a small loophole in there for potentially purchasing a house one day). For starters, our wedding was completely debt-free. All of the glory goes straight to Jesus on that one because there were so many ways He provided for that to happen. And, since we’ve gotten married (almost one year! in two weeks!), we have not created one ounce of new debt. That’s another “all of the glory goes straight to Jesus” things because there have been times when parents or other family or friends have provided something big or small right when we needed it.

We have also, by the grace and help of the Lord, not missed a tithe since we’ve been married. This is huge for me personally, because the Lord struggled with me for years on this topic. It was an area I had a really tough time of surrender in. Oh, if only I had surrendered sooner, then the Lord would have been able to show off in my life so much sooner. There have been times when I have looked at our bills and thought, “If we don’t tithe, or lessen our giving, we’ll have more for {insert whatever here},” but with the Lord’s help, those thoughts don’t really exist anymore. God has blessed us huge by our obedience in this area.

Over this last year, it wasn’t/hasn’t been easy to live in a teeny, tiny one bedroom apartment. Or to not have cable. Or to not eat out whenever we want. Or to miss out on so many movies on the big screen. Or to not be able to get my nails done (there are some days when I feel like I would murder someone just to enjoy a pedicure, haha). Or to get trendy clothes. Or this or that….blah blah. One thing I’ve learned is that it’s all just stuff. And, I would rather limit my material stuff now to be debt-free in the near future!

As the payoff on our debt is getting smaller, I am amazed at how much progress we’ve made despite all of the medical/dental stuff we’ve paid over this first year, moving into a new town, etc, etc. We still have a long way to go and I so wish we were already there! But, we are praying through some exciting options right now to springboard our debt-free movement even more. I don’t want to say specifics just yet, because we are still seeking the Lord’s will on it, but please pray for us if you don’t mind! We want our sweet child to grow up in a debt-free home and we want the freedom of being debt-free so that we are able to do anything imaginable that the Lord may call us to in the future. It’s amazing how much debt can confine you and limit your possibilities in work for the Lord. (Of course I believe that the Lord could completely deliver us from debt today if He so desired, but I also believe that our sin of allowing debt in our lives has consequences. And, one of those consequences is the limiting of our sphere of influence to impact the world for Christ) But, we are excited to see what God holds financially for this next year of our marriage!

Baby Shower #2!

For some odd reason, we didn’t include John’s parents in this picture! I totally didn’t even realize until later that we didn’t get a picture with them, too! But, here we are with the six Zimmerman’s (inc. baby Rivers in utero!). They hosted this Texan shower at their beautiful new home!
The Phillips Trio…which, ps, did someone put a basketball under my dress?!
**Thanks to Courtney for the pictures!**
John was a groomsman in a good friend’s wedding this past Saturday (the 19th) in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. So, we decided to fly into good ol’ DFW ahead of time and spend some time in Texas visiting family and friends! John’s family threw us a baby shower on Thursday evening, the 17th. It was so great to have lots of family and friends all confined in one space! It’s always tough to see everyone you want to when you have a short trip, but this way, we were able to see lots of people in one spot.

For anyone that has ever stepped inside our living room, dining room or kitchen, they know we are huge fans of black and white decorations. There’s just something about the boldness and contrast that’s so pretty. Well, all of the decorations and food at the shower were black and white themed! Including a ridiculously yummy cake that was chocolate on chocolate, mmm. I may or may not have had several slices of leftovers the days following the shower :o) It was all so pretty! AND, we got to keep the leftover, oh-so-pretty napkins to use in our own kitchen (they match great!).

This shower was also a gift card shower, because let’s face it, it’s near impossible to lug stuff back on airplanes these days. Although, a few people did give us some small gifts, so that was fun to open! The most favorite being, “The Jesus Storybook Bible”. I have given this Bible out as gifts after first discovering it via this awesome blog, Bring The Rain. And, I have been meaning to reorder some copies for other people and especially for out beautiful baby on the way. SO grateful to have been given this gift at the shower. Everyone needs to look up this Bible. I can’t ever put it down. It does such an amazing job at showing how each story in the Bible points to Jesus. Just like it says on the cover, “Every story whispers His name”. So very true and it is easily shown all throughout this amazing Bible.

Once again, we have been overwhelmed with gratitude toward our family and friends. Even if I seemed a little disheveled at this shower (turns out I sprained a rib which then caused a pulled muscle, double the pain! Yikes! So, I was a little out of it), I could not have been more fulfilled to see so many people love on John, myself, and this little baby. Especially since we don’t get to visit Texas as often as we’d like. I can’t even explain how much we love this baby and are so thankful to have yet another chance to celebrate the life God is growing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Oh, and a quick tally on boy or girl votes, two young ladies at the shower told me they think boy! Then, a random stranger in the airport on the way home insisted we were having a boy based on my belly. And, the other day a lady in the grocery store asked if we were having a girl. So, the votes keep coming in, but they keep stacking up on the blue side! Our niece, Anna (the cute little blonde next to her mama in the picture above), made a card for the baby that she gave us at the shower. It says, “Baby, are you a boy or a girl?” John and I often ask the same question to the baby ourselves, Miss. Anna :o)