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Monday, December 22, 2008

God always provides....

Well the past few months have been insane so I couldn't think of any other appropriate blog title to sum it all up. With 2 moves under our belt, we are finally settled in a nice little apartment, all ready for Kaylie's first Christmas. It has been a hard past few months, but like the title says, God always provides, and has been constantly proving for us every step of the way. He has pushed me to trust him more and more. Moving from a nice townhouse to an apartment has been something that the Lord has been using to really humble me and correct my arrogant heart. It is easy to think that we shouldn't be moving back into an apartment when we have had a bigger townhouse, but what I am learning is that where you live is not as important as who you are living with. I have Bobby and Kaylie and that is what makes a house a home, not how big it is or if you own it or rent it. We will have sweet memories in this apartment and so I am so grateful for it! :)
Little Miss Boo Bear has been doing great. As you can see I just come up with random nicknames for her all the time. She is so much fun, and such a joyful girl. She was sick over the weekend of the move but is doing better now, and she is getting her first TOOTH!! It is so cute, every time we try to look at it she tries to hide it! :) It is coming in on the bottom though, I can't wait to see her with teeth! :) Other than that, we are just enjoying each day with her, and are so excited for her first Christmas!! After Christmas we will be heading out to St. Louis for Bobby's brother Johnny's wedding! We can't wait for all the fun in store for us in the next few weeks!
Here are some pictures for you to enjoy over the past few months!






This is where Kaylie started...then she dissapeared and ended up...

Here!! She is on the move! (Not crawling yet, just rolling!)





You can't really tell, but it was snowing out and it was Kaylie's first encounter with snow! :)








Our prettiest tree yet! Perfect for Kaylie's first Christmas!

Last nights dinner/food fight! :)


Sunday, November 16, 2008

Halloween and thereafter!

Well it's been a while since I have posted, and we have some updates on little Miss Kaylie! She celebrated her first Halloween at our church's harvest party, and she had her 6 month check up! My little baby is half a year old already!!! I seriously can't believe it!
Here are her 6 month stats:

weight: 19.4lbs (95%)
height: 27 3/4 in. (95%)
head: 43cm (50-75th%)

We still have a big girl! I don't mind though, she is so huggable and squishable! :) She is changing so much, she rolls everywhere, sits up all on her own, and has started scooching a little bit when she is on her belly. She loves to play, and always greets mommy and daddy with a smile even if she just saw you 5 minutes ago. She LOVES animals. She loves Roxy and laughs at her often. This past week I took her to petsmart because it was a yucky rainy day. I thought she might like to look at the fish and animals for a little stimulation. They had a large glass cage with 2 chinchilla's in it. Kaylie started hysterically laughing, I thought she was going to cry she was laughing so hard!! The chinchilla's were running around and bouncing everywhere, she thought it was a trip! The best part was everyone in the store thought it was hilarious and started coming over just to watch Kaylie! It was seriously so funny I couldn't believe my little girl! She sure does love animals! Every dog she sees now she smiles or laughs at! It is really fun. I am going to have to get her down to the zoo one day soon.
She is also eating a lot of food! She eats baby food now twice a day. Fruits and vegetables, so far she loves a lot of them! Peas,sweet potato's, carrots,applesauce, banana's, pears. So far she has only hated green beans. This week we are trying some squash so we will see how she likes that!
Kaylie was a ladybug for halloween. Our old neighbor passed this costume down to us. It has a hat but didn't work out so well. I think Kaylie was a little overwhelmed at the harvest party, but she did great and held up for quite some time before she was ready for bed. :)









A day at the park with the swings!



I have more pictures to post but for some reason I am having a hard time getting them to download to the blog, so I will have to try again sometime soon.

Friday, October 31, 2008

A Plea....

I have a lot of friends who have been bold enough to take a stand and post about this important issue on their blogs.
It's my turn now.

This is a plea, to whoever reads it, to whoever disagrees with it, to whoever doesn't care about it.

Next Tuesday will be a day that will go down in history. Either the first black man will become president, or, he will be beaten by a conservative white man. Either way, this election is history in the making. For that alone should motivate us to take part and vote. Here is the thing, I am contstantly hearing over and over again people who are undecided, don't like either McCain or Obama, or they just don't even really care at all about voting. Frankly, I am getting tired of hearing all the different answers and reasons as to why people are going to vote one way, or not even vote at all.

The reason why is that most of these people are christians, and don't even have a clue as to why it is SO important to vote on Tuesday. Beyond how you feel about Obama or McCain, you should care about how God feels. This election is NOT just about the person, it is about some extremely SERIOUS issues. Please people, I challenge you, don't be ignorant. Let's just bring up one of the many issues.

ABORTION: I don't know why it seems like this issue can sorta come and go with many Christians. I was talking with a friend, and we both agreed that it seems like over the years there have been times where it was a really hot topic and a lot of Christians were rallying, taking a stand, and picketing against abortion. Why now has it seemed to waiver? Abortion is murder plain and simple. I have always had a very strong conviction on this issue because my dad being extremely pro-life, was never afraid to show me the discusting ugly truth. Unwanted babies, brutually killed because of inconveniance. It's sick people and for that alone you should stand up and vote against it. Every child is a gift from God and God HATES murder.

"He knit me together in my mother's womb, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Do you even know how brutal abortion is? How about a partial birth abortion where the baby is almost completely delivered except for the head and then surgical scissors are jammed into his skull making a hole. As the babies body is hanging there, his brains are sucked out causing the skull to collapse. It makes me sick to my stomach. Does it to you? Do you care enough to take step further and do something about that sick feeling in your stomach? You should. It is our DUTY as christians to take a stand for the Lord and his commands. Sitting and doing nothing is not standing up for what scripture commands of us. As uncomfortable as it may be at times, we are called to stand and be bold, to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. We must stand up for the Lord. Remember, we are going to be held accountable. When you are standing before the Lord at judgement, will you be able to say that you stood firm in his commands? That you stood up for what was right and that you firmly opposed the wicked? Or will you have to tell God that you just didn't care enough to stand up for him and what his word says?

I'm really not trying to be dramatic, I am trying to be honest. A lot of time, we just want to hide in our little Christian bubble where it is nice and safe. Well what about the fact that our lives are not our own? We are to live for Christ, to be salt and light. Our lives are to stand out, to bring him glory, not to live in our own comfort.

Abortion is just one of the many serious issues that our country is in limbo over right now. But do you really have to feel that strongly about every issue? You should feel strongly about the issues that contradict what scripture says. Please people, look beyond McCain the person, and just see what he stands for. That alone get's my vote. We can make a difference. Either way God will still be sovereign, but I want to know that I did my part. That I obeyed the Lord and stood up for him and didn't sit by and do nothing. Won't you have that conviction as well?

Here is an article written by a famous concert pianist, who happens to be black. Our identity is not based on race, gender, or political affiliation. Please read and remember that our identity is found in Christ alone.




Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown



Dear Friends, A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an email with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before but it's worth repeating...

First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him.

Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness. I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms He does because He is the leader.

I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning to name a few, wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.

We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I don't know Obama so all I can go off is his voting record. His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007.

NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008)

To beat Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with.

There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % rating. There is a reason the homosexual community supports him. There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him. There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court. There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill. There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. There is a reason he voted No on banning partial birth abortion. There is a reason he voted No on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito. These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.

Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue

The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedures:

A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps. (Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.

God help him. There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.

Think about this: You can't give a kid an aspirin without parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.

There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years.

Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why now?

Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 'Go and make disciples of all nations.' This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you; talk like you believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?

Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a ...

1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community.
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.

Would you support a President who went to a church like that?

Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside.

This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discovered he went to a racist church. The church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world.

A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if it is a white church or a black church it's still wrong. Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.

Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of Liberation. Cone once wrote: 'Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him.

Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this?

So what does all this mean for the nation?

In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing - judgment.

Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king. First God says in 1 Samuel 1:9 'Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.'

Then God says

1 Samuel 1:18 ' When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.' 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said. 'We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.' 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, 'Listen to them and give them a king.'

Here is what we know for sure.

God is not schizophrenic

He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God.

Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.

For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look God in the face and say; Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you. I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.

I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions. Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.

Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation,

1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation.

2. Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?

Blessings, Huntley Brown

Thursday, October 30, 2008

He is here!!!

Jess had her baby boy!! Both Mommy and baby are doing great, he is very mellow so far, and looks like daddy!

Ryder Kade Smart

October 29 2008
5:38pm
7 lbs. 2oz
20.5 inches long

Pictures to come...

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Our Little Pumpkin

Well it's been a while since we have posted because we have been in the middle of moving! We are finally all settled in out temporary place which is a basement apartment in Laytonsville. We couldn't ask for a better deal. We rent from a great family, in a great neighborhood, and Roxy and Kaylie have both been acting like we never moved at all! We still continue the house hunt though...hopefully it won't be too long that we find our own place!
Well first of all, Kaylie has a new carseat! Yep, she has already grown out of her baby carrier! I don't think I was quite ready for this one yet!


Here is a shot Daddy took of her sitting in her swing. She is so happy! :)


And now to the pumpkin patch! We went to Butler's Orchard this past Saturday to pick out our first pumpkin with Kaylie. Last year I was just pregnant with her and just starting to show when we went and talked all about how we couldn't wait to bring her for the first time! This trip was so special, and Bobby and I had a blast with her. We took tons of pictures! Here are some of them...















One more thing: Kaylie has been eating vegetables! So far sweet potato's are a hit, green beans? Not so much...carrots? Just tried those yesterday, she loves them!! :)

Until Later...

Monday, September 29, 2008

Kaylie Rolls!

Ok I am a little late posting this...but for the past 2 weeks, Kaylie has been rolling over! The first week it was a little sporatic, but now it is every day, she rolls back and forth like it's no big deal! She also is trying to scoot when she is on her belly...she wants to crawl so bad I can just see it!
She is almost 5 months old now, but here are her 4 month stats:

Almost 17 pounds (above 95th percentile)
Almost 27 in long (above 95th percentile)
Size of head: 50th percentile

She is pretty much off the charts. She looks and acts older than she is! I hope she will grow out of that, otherwise when she hits preteen Daddy and I are in some trouble! :)

Kaylie continues to bring us so much joy every day. We are so busy these days, Bobby working a lot, me picking up work on the side, me starting to sell Silpada jewelry, and STILL trying to buy a house! We gave up on the other house, now we have found a new one that we will be putting an offer on this Wednesday. PLEASE PRAY that we get this house!! We are officially out of this townhouse October 14th and we are so sad to leave it, but really hope we get this house to start a new chapter of our life in! If not, we will probably end up renting an apartment for a while until we can find a place.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of Kaylie from a recent trip to the bay!