Some of you may remember a post I wrote back in September about babies and how we were waiting for a while longer but that I hoped it would be a surprise...
Well, we have definately recieved a surprise recently! Ryan and I are going to be parents in June!! This has come as a complete shock as we were planning to wait for another year or so but obviously this is such a happy surprise. It has been a whirlwind of emotions but we feel so blessed that we are being intrusted with this sweet little baby.
Although the timing is not what we were expecting we know that God's plan is so much better than anything we could have ever lined out for ourselves and we are thankful for this new chapter that will be starting in just a few short months!
An extra fun thing that is happening with all of this is that both Ryan's brother and sis-in-law and my sister and bro-in-law have babies that are going to be so close to ours. Our twin niece and nephew were born in September and our niece from my side is due in February- our babies will only be 8 months and 4 months apart! I love that b/c we are both close to our siblings and it is so fun to be going through this all together.
I have been really, really sick. Thankfully it has been getting better the last few days since I am going to be 3 months by the end of this week and I am ready for that 2nd trimester to start! Up until the last week or two I have been in kind of a shock-fog but the thought that we are going to have a little baby next holiday season makes me really excited and we have heard the heart beat twice so it has been such a life-changing, amazing experience.
I ask that you pray for us as we embark on this new journey, all the ups and downs that I know are coming our way and just that we will rely on God and lean on each other. I am so very lucky to have such an amazing husband, everytime I have had a difficult moment thus far he is so calm, happy and everything I could need to get happy again and I don't take that for grantit, not even for a second.
In other news... how great is Pinterest? It is my new BFF.
This Thanksgiving the Jasper family has so much to be thankful for- I hope that you and your family have a wonderful holiday filled with ridiculous amounts of food and loved ones! :-)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
What did you do this weekend?
I had the complete joy of going on a JR High retreat with our youth group. As most of you know my husband is a JR High pastor and we have been part of an absolutely amazing church for about a year and a half.
We moved in view of a call in May of 2010 and it has been a whirlwind of a blessing. We were very lucky to be able to move back to our hometown and be a part of a congregation that we would honestly go to whether or not Ryan was on staff. That might sound weird to say but many times in ministry you are called to a church in spite of the fact that the church is in a super small town and there are no other people your age. I am not saying that joy can't be found in these amazing churches as well, I just believe that God knew Ryan and I needed to be somewhere that we could serve and pour into students as well as making new lasting friendships. I am so thankful for where God has us right now and couldn't imagine us being anywhere else. Serving in the youth and joining a small group has really changed our marriage and for me, strengthened my walk with Christ. We have always been a part of a church but in Fort Worth our schedules didn't allow much time for pouring into people or serving so we never quite felt like we fit. We felt at home from the first time we set foot inside Faith Bible Church and that feeling is indescribable and has been life-changing. I honestly think we have been incredibly spoiled beyond what we deserve in being a part of Faith Bible Church.
Our youth group is amazing. There really is no other word for them- these students have taught Ryan and I so much in such a short period of time and getting to know them has been such a great experience. We spend the most time with JR High but I have also been able to build relationships with some pretty awesome High School and now College freshman girls that I miss so much!
This past weekend we really felt like we had come full circle. I remember last year Ryan and I being so stressed and nervous about retreat, just trying to get everything ready and we were so blessed by a smooth sailing weekend. This year couldn't have gone better! The weather was beautiful, the students were so receptive and our volunteers are just wonderful. Getting to hang-out with the girls until all hours of the night always brings ridiculous laughing and fun and spending time with my fellow volunteers is really encouraging. Just being outside for two days in itself was great because the camp we go to (Carolina Creek) is just gorgeous. From ziplines to tree top obstacle courses to swimming pools there is never a time where you aren't having fun. If you are looking for a place to go you should definately visit Carolina Creek!
One of my friends/fellow volunteers said it best, "if you want to be blessed volunteer in your youth group." I couldn't agree more!
We moved in view of a call in May of 2010 and it has been a whirlwind of a blessing. We were very lucky to be able to move back to our hometown and be a part of a congregation that we would honestly go to whether or not Ryan was on staff. That might sound weird to say but many times in ministry you are called to a church in spite of the fact that the church is in a super small town and there are no other people your age. I am not saying that joy can't be found in these amazing churches as well, I just believe that God knew Ryan and I needed to be somewhere that we could serve and pour into students as well as making new lasting friendships. I am so thankful for where God has us right now and couldn't imagine us being anywhere else. Serving in the youth and joining a small group has really changed our marriage and for me, strengthened my walk with Christ. We have always been a part of a church but in Fort Worth our schedules didn't allow much time for pouring into people or serving so we never quite felt like we fit. We felt at home from the first time we set foot inside Faith Bible Church and that feeling is indescribable and has been life-changing. I honestly think we have been incredibly spoiled beyond what we deserve in being a part of Faith Bible Church.
Our youth group is amazing. There really is no other word for them- these students have taught Ryan and I so much in such a short period of time and getting to know them has been such a great experience. We spend the most time with JR High but I have also been able to build relationships with some pretty awesome High School and now College freshman girls that I miss so much!
This past weekend we really felt like we had come full circle. I remember last year Ryan and I being so stressed and nervous about retreat, just trying to get everything ready and we were so blessed by a smooth sailing weekend. This year couldn't have gone better! The weather was beautiful, the students were so receptive and our volunteers are just wonderful. Getting to hang-out with the girls until all hours of the night always brings ridiculous laughing and fun and spending time with my fellow volunteers is really encouraging. Just being outside for two days in itself was great because the camp we go to (Carolina Creek) is just gorgeous. From ziplines to tree top obstacle courses to swimming pools there is never a time where you aren't having fun. If you are looking for a place to go you should definately visit Carolina Creek!
One of my friends/fellow volunteers said it best, "if you want to be blessed volunteer in your youth group." I couldn't agree more!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Christmas Gift Ideas...
Although I am not a fan of seeing Christmas decor out in stores etc. before Thanksgiving has happened I am a fan of getting a start on all the Christmas presents around this time... I wish I were one of those people that shopped all throughout the year but I am just not!
This year I would really love to make personal gifts for everyone- not just for saving money but just to give something that means a little more than a gift card or an item the person told me they wanted. I have been all over pinterest, etsy and different blogs checking out some pretty adorable things!
I would love to hear of any ideas you might have, the blogworld is always a place I go to for ideas so please share!! I am really concentrating on items for family members, Ryan and I are thinking we would rather go out of town somewhere instead of getting presents so anything you can send my way of things you have made or event items on your list that you love would be greatly appreciated!!
Other than that the Jasper household is just getting ready for our 2nd annual JR High retreat that is this weekend up in our old stomping grounds of Huntsville, TX at a really great camp! I am so excited about spending time with our awesome girls and being outside all weekend! Please pray for us as we prepare and for the hearts of the students- I know that God has huge plans and we are so blessed to play a small role!
Happy Monday! If we got through today the rest of the week should go alot easier right??
This year I would really love to make personal gifts for everyone- not just for saving money but just to give something that means a little more than a gift card or an item the person told me they wanted. I have been all over pinterest, etsy and different blogs checking out some pretty adorable things!
I would love to hear of any ideas you might have, the blogworld is always a place I go to for ideas so please share!! I am really concentrating on items for family members, Ryan and I are thinking we would rather go out of town somewhere instead of getting presents so anything you can send my way of things you have made or event items on your list that you love would be greatly appreciated!!
Other than that the Jasper household is just getting ready for our 2nd annual JR High retreat that is this weekend up in our old stomping grounds of Huntsville, TX at a really great camp! I am so excited about spending time with our awesome girls and being outside all weekend! Please pray for us as we prepare and for the hearts of the students- I know that God has huge plans and we are so blessed to play a small role!
Happy Monday! If we got through today the rest of the week should go alot easier right??
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