Just Like Everyone Else...

I'm bad at reflecting back sometimes. I'm very good at forgetting lessons I've learned. But this past year has been a big year for The Parsonage Family...and one of huge change for me spiritually.

I so don't want God to let me forget.

• Started my first Beth Moore Bible Study in 2009. Now into my 2nd one. God has used her tremendously to help me get into His Word and understand it better. I've been so blessed by the annointing He's placed upon her.
• Friendships grew and deepened. I may not get to see some of you often, or ever, but your presence in my life encourages me. For those I do get to see often, thank you for putting up with me.
• I trained for a 1/2 marathon. Something I never thought I could do. Turns out, I was RIGHT! But with His strength, and kick in the butt every now and then I ran distances I never thought possible. I learned spiritual lessons through physical ones. I'm hoping 2010 has more of that in store...because otherwise my clothes may never fit again.
• Saw my oldest son, Noah, desire to be baptized. Saw my husband get to do the honor. Realized that, more than anything, I want my boys to grow up to be men of faith...just like their daddy.
• Decided to host an exchange student. Preparing for Julie, and having her here has been a once in a lifetime experience for us.
• Watched friends and family suffer tremendous loss of loved ones. A good friend's son diagnosed with cancer. Watching them press on, one day at a time...fighting the good fight.
• Unexpected blessing of finding out our family was going to grow by one more. Barfing and sickness for 18 weeks. Choroid Plexus Cyst...and the disappearance of it...news of a healthy baby.
• Torturing others with the "secret" of the baby's gender. A growing belly, pants that won't stay up, and the amazing feeling of that sweet little baby kicking around in there.
• Unexpected expenses, car repairs and stuff. Wondering how it would all work out...and seeing God work it all out. Blessed.
• Learning and adjusting to parenting as the boys get older. Trying to deal with heart issues, school issues, brother issues. Loving them more than they'll ever know.
• Watching a ridiculous amount of football.
• So much other stuff.

As I start this new year today, I plan on cleaning. my. butt. off. Something about January makes me want to organize EVERYTHING. This phase will end. It always does.

But while I'm cleaning, there's one thing that I just can't get out of my head...

What is too big for God?

Nothing that 2010 holds will take Him by surprise. And nothing nothing nothing is too big for Him to handle. Not even me.

With God by my side, bring on what He has in store for 2010.

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It's GONE!

We had our level II ultrasound today and the cyst was COMPLETELY gone.

And the baby looks perfect.

Words really cannot express how much all of your prayers have meant to Ben and I. Seriously. Each and every comment was such a comfort. How amazing to have so many Saints standing in prayer for us for this wee little baby. Thank you.

We are so relieved...there's no other way to put it. I can't think of a better way to end 2009 and usher in 2010. We are so thankful for God's grace.

*insert happy crying* :)

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Finding Words...

Some things are just hard to blog.

Hard to explain. Hard to find words for. Hard to put out there.

Easier to leave blank.

But life is not blank. And if I want to document this journey...it's gonna need words.

Last Tuesday I went into my Dr. for a routine prenatal appointment. There I learned that (from the previous ultrasound) they had found a small Choroid Plexus Cyst on our baby's brain.

Here's what I know:

• They're not all that uncommon. They show up in 1-2% of ultrasounds and most often disappear by 32 weeks of pregnancy.
• They cause no harm to the baby's brain.
• They can be a very "soft" marker for other chromosomal problems. However, the rest of our ultrasound looked completely normal, so they are not very concerned.
• It's still enough to make this pregnant momma dissolve in tears.

We go this Thursday, December 31's to a ginor-mo hospital for a level II ultrasound. My Dr. tells me that most of the time, the little cyst has already gone away. I think that sounds pretty good...let's pray for that.

They'll also take a more complete look at the little babe just to make sure everything is as it should be.

It's been an emotional week to say the least. I find myself trying to stay distracted, although nothing really distracts. Wishing time to go faster so that Thursday arrives sooner...and then the next moment wishing Thursday away. I flip flop from peace to paranoia to peace again.

The only things that brings relief is the time spent worshiping The One who holds it all in His hands. No matter what happens, or what news we get, it doesn't change Him. It doesn't change who He is to me. There's comfort in that.

I know I can count on bloggy friends to join me in prayer...thank you *smile*

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From the Parsonage Family...

Merry Christmas from The Parsonage Family!

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I'm Still Yours

There's songs that God uses to get my attention. They reach into my heart and seem to wrench it till it almost hurts...because He wants me to get it. And sometimes...I don't want to get it. I want to hide from it. But, I have a Father that loves me too much to let me run for long. This song this past week has done exactly that.

I want my hands to stay lifted. During all of life, the joys, the pain, the chaos. Those hands quickly drop during life's busyness. I need this reminder...I need this to be my heart.

If you washed away my vanity

If you took away my words

If all my world was swept away, would You be enough for me?

Would my beating heart still sing...

If I lost it all, would my hands stay lifted

to the God who gives, and takes away

If you take it all, this life you've given

Still my heart will sing to You

When my life is not what I expected

The plans I made have failed

When there's nothing left to steal me away

Will You be enough for me?

Will my broken heart still sing?

Even if you take it all away, you'll never let me go

Take it all away, but I still know...

That I am Yours, I'm still Yours.

I am Yours, I'm still Yours.

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It Looks Like This:

I haven't much time...I'm watching Nacho Libre while Christmas baking.

It's like the movie that goes with every occasion.

Oh, there's some kiddos running around as well.

My kitchen looks like this:

My (21 week) belly (in my MOST favoritist tshirt that I just got on clearance for CHEAP) looks like this:

And my new hair cut like this:

And outside, well it looks like this:

Now if I could stop eating all the treats I'm making, there might actually be some to give away.

Merry Monday Everyone!

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Confession and Cute Stuff...

Your comments on yesterdays post...well they just made my day. Turns out, I enjoy torturing people...who knew?!? I'm kidding, I totally knew that about myself already.

Secrets. My blog friend Jamie blogged about them today. Her sweet post got me thinking...and thinking leads to confession.;)

I'm really good with other peoples secrets. As a pastors wife you either are, or you ruin your ministry. I really think it's that simple.

With my own secrets...not so much. I can hardly wait for Christmas so I can give the boys their presents that I think they'll love. Actually, maybe that has more to do with my patience/instant gratification problem rather than secret keeping...digressing...

Back to point: When I found out I was pregnant I pretty much convinced Ben we should wait till the end of the first trimester to let people know. Which we did

...sorta. I told a few select people that are close to me, our little secret. Running partners, intuitive friends, that kind of thing. It helped my to keep the secret, secret to the general public because I still had a few people to talk with about it.

And so...you should know, that there are indeed 4 other people besides myself, Ben and the ultrasound tech who know the gender of this wee baby. I cannot disclose their identities...for their protection. BUT, they are not family :) They are the close friends who actually seemed like they might explode if I did not tell them.

The reason for the secret...because surprises really are fun. For you.

PS - I do like that some of you bribed me with presents. You're good. Very good. I'm afraid it will disappoint you to know that the color scheme of everything I loved on Etsy was kelly greens, oranges, yellows and reds...otherwise known as gender neutral. They have these sort of 1930's ish prints that are so stinkin' a

dorable!!! I can't get past them.

Like this at Kimoley's on Etsy.

Seriously, let's discuss their cuteness.

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