Blessed

"From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another."

John 1:16

At the beginning of this year I decided to start a little journal of things I am thankful for. My plan was to write one per day so that at the end of the year I would have 365 things I am thankful for. This made me very aware of the many blessings that I daily receive! Simple things like a warm bath and a heater -- that I easily take for granted daily. And things like the Lord's faithfulness, how he constantly draws me to himself, and my husband who loves me daily despite my womanly emotions. Just like many other things in my life, after 4 months of doing my thankful journal I stopped doing it. Back in August, when things weren't going just like "I had planned", I started writing in my thankful journal again. When I was more aware of the many blessings I daily received, I had more of an attitude of gratefulness, which over time filled me with peace. A peace that surpassed all understanding. 

This peace became something I held onto as Matt and I waited month after month to find out we were not pregnant again.... but....

In October, we were blessed with the blessing of all blessings.... A BABY!! Due in June 2013!! 

                        6 week sonogram 10/24/12                                              10 weeks 11/21/12

 Sore hips became a blessing! Nausea and throwing up (which was a 24 hour thing; not sure who named it "morning" sickness) became a blessing! Headaches became a blessing! We told our families about 3 or 4 weeks ago and they were so excited! Here is a video of how we told Matt's family. We told my family over the phone since they don't live here.

These are the signs we put on the dogs to reveal the news to our family! It says "the family I love and protect is growing by one heartbeat!"

The first pair of shoes baby Stanley got from our friends, the Chesshire's! Fits us perfectly! 

 

We are so excited!! Praise Jesus from who all blessing come! And so our journey begins.....

July and August

Its been awhile since I updated our blog....
Life has not slowed down for us at all and it just got busier as I took a teaching/coaching position at Grape Creek. School started on August 27. I. am. not. ready. for. this. I will be teaching elementary PE and coaching all Jr. High Sports. The best part of this job is being able to LOVE on some kids. Thats the whole reason I got into education. I'm ready to love! I'm ready to get to know these kids! Not ready for long hours, waking up early, school extras like planning, attendance, and meetings.

We had a really fun summer and I am so glad we did as it may be awhile before we can take vacation again! At the beginning of July we took a trip to the Guadalupe River in New Branfuels with Kailee and Jakody. We crammed so much into a quick weekend trip. Floated the river and went to Sea World.

JKLM!!!

Sea World here we come! And we were excited!

After sea world, it started a quest for the all the facts we could find about whales. It truly is amazing the the animals God created in their hugeness. Here is one interesting fact: a whale's heart is the size of a small car. Shamu at Sea World is an orca whale and he weighs 7 tons, thats huge. But to make it even more mind blowing a blue whale, the largest whale ever, weighs 200 tons. Wow. God spoke and that HUGE animal came to be. Our God is BIG. 

VEGAS!! With the Chesshire's!! We stayed at The Mirage and it was SO nice! We were there for 3 whole days and it wasn't enough time to see everything. I would definitely like to go back someday! 

Day 1: we spent some time at the pool and went to a Beatles play called Love. 

Day 2: Walked around the strip looking at the different hotels and shopping. That night we saw Carrot Top at the Luxor hotel. 

Day 3: More chill time at the pool, some more sight-seeing, and we went down to Freemont. 

Right when we got back from Vegas, Matt and I repacked our bags cause the next day we were driving to Houston for Reagan's birthday and some family time. We both had a week off from work and it was so nice. We LOVE to travel! 

In August, we went to three weddings! Weddings are so fun to me! And each wedding I go to reminds me of our wedding and why I married Matt! 

Friends from college and we were all together in the same place! Love times like this! 

God has been teaching us a lot about waiting patiently....... Waiting.... Patiently.... without questioning or doubting, and trusting..... It's hard.... But each day we are reminded of God's sovereign will for our life and that his will is good, pleasing, and perfect. (Romans 12:2) "We were given this hope when we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." (Romans 8:24-25)

June '12

June.
June was fun.
June was busy.
Can't believe its over.
This year has gone by so fast.
God has been teaching and growing us.

He has been teaching me a lot about being content in him ALONE and that he promises all things are for my good. Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his  purpose." This is a common thing I have read over and over, but is a hard thing for me to daily believe. I think its easy to ask "if things are for my good, why does bad happen or why does things happen that I don't want."But who am I to question God? Instead I want to glorify God with the things I have now, that I don't deserve anyways. Its ALL for my good.... MY good! I can put my trust in that. "No good thing does God withhold from those who walk with integrity." (Ps. 84:11)

I just finished reading "Don't waste your life" by John Piper. Very good read, I would recommend it! In the book piper says 1.2-1.4 billion people have never had a access to the Gospel. WOW. How can I read those stats and forget about it. I want to give. I want to serve. I want to go. I want to love on someone unreached people in the name of Christ.

Ok, here is what has been going on in the Stanley life:
Our 2 year anniversary was May 29th, but we didn't take an anniversary trip until June 8th-10th. We stayed at this bed and breakfast resort in Castroville near San Antonio. I found the hotel on Groupon for really cheap with a $50 spa credit. What girl doesn't want spa credit! We spent some chill time at the pool, went to the River walk for dinner, and then went shopping at Dick's sporting goods! It was such an awesome time together! Matthew Stanley is definitely a blessing beyond what I could imagine!

On July 23rd, we had a surprise 80th party for my Mema! Celebrating 80 years of life! Wow!

On June 28th my wonderful daddy-o turned 56! I personally think he looks awesome for 56 and definitely doesn't act 56! haha I am so blessed to call this man my dad! 

June 25th - 28th I went as a sponsor to Kids Kamp with our church. I am in awe that God gave me the opportunity to go. Thankful that God equips the called, but doesn't always call the equipped. I had 5th grade girls in my cabin, they were SO fun! I love the camp scene. My heart belongs there and not in an office.

June 29th - July 1st Matt went on a golf weekend with some guys friends. I quote matt before the trip, "I am so excited about this trip that I am beside myself!" Matt doesn't do a good job at taking pictures, therefore we will not get to see the time they had there.
Between kids kamp and Matt's golf trip we were only together for 5 hours out of those 7 days, the longest we have been apart! I could NOT be an army wife.

June was good.
Now on to July and we have lots planned.

Life in May

Life has been so good since I last updated our blog. Busy, like everyone, but good.

To start things off, these pretty girls came to visit me while Matt was camping with the guys. Kailee, is such a sweet blessing from college and Alex is a friend from high school that I haven't spoke to in 5 or 6 years. So neat to catch up on life! We played disc golf, something we REALLY enjoying doing, and did other girl things like painted our toenails and cooked supper! 

At the beginning of May, our puppies celebrated another year of puppy life! Presley (black dog) is 4 and Lola is 1!

We celebrated Mother's day with my momma and brother, Logan (it was his birthday as well) in Lubbock. We played golf, a common thing with my family and being married to Matt. It was a good weekend! And I am so thankful for the support my mom has provided me over the years! 

May 18th-20th we went to Galveston with Matt's family for a weekend at the beach and for our niece, Reagan's dance recital. It was so relaxing to spend time on the beach! Last year, we went on the same trip and I got severely sunburned, but I learned my lesson and this time I put plenty of sunscreen on and re-applied. We played football, volleyball, and built sandcastles on the beach. Wish the beach was closer to us! The mosquitos were so bad, so I definitely don't miss that. Also, we played putt-putt one night and ate at Golden Corral (a family must do with these guys, love it!).

Matt and I at Reagan's Dance recital and the pretty dancing queen with her flowers for doing such a good job! After the dance recital, we went to the Rainforest Cafe - the dancing queen's choice! 

The girls: Dawn, Reagan, Landra, and Judy

The guys: Tibby, Matt, and Toby

As most of you know we have been with 1 car for a year, so we have been searching for another vehicle for the last month. Before going to Houston, we looked at a bunch of cars online and said "We are coming home with a car." So Monday, after our weekend at the beach, we went car shopping. And we made another BIG purchase for the year! Its a 2010 metallic blue Ford escape. We have really enjoyed having 2 vehicles again! Its my "mom" car, so all I need now is some kids to fill up! :) 

I just completed my first year at Joy school! The end of anything is bittersweet. I have enjoyed my kids so much and I am so sad to see them grow up. Next year I will continue teaching at Joy school, but I will teach 5 day 4 year olds (instead of 3 days). These kids will always have a special place in my heart.

On May 29th, Matt and I will celebrate our 2 year anniversary! I can not believe it has already been 2 years! Fall more in love with that man every day! The grass in the backyard, patio furniture, and the escape are our gifts to each other! Here's a pic of our wedding night 2 years ago! 

And that was just the month of May! I post lots of pictures, because I feel like the pictures tell "our story" better than my words ever could.