Marshall Community Fellowship

Daniel and I have been involved with a church plant near Marshall. It has been really awesome! Pastor Steve (from The Food Revolution - HOLLA!) asked us to commit to helping for a year. So after some prayer, we decided it was what we were supposed to do. I was pretty bummed because I have been at my home church for almost my whole life. I was teary the first morning we drove toward Huntington instead of Ona. But it has ended up being a huge blessing! We have made so many new friends, and made some really deep connections I believe we will have for our whole lives! Praise the Lord.


Right now, Steve is doing a series of sermons on marriage. I am enjoying it SO much!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bfiLuov2cs

We all need to be doing anything and everything we can to protect our marriages. I really feel like that is one area Christians are giving Satan total control. It makes my heart ache.

I could sum up what all I'm learning, but I'd rather you listen to the sermons for youself...

http://www.fbckenova.com/home.aspx?igid=99323

There have been three parts thus far, so be sure to start with the first as they build off each other. Let me know what you think!

I'm not sure where we'll be worshiping next year, but for now I know we are where we're supposed to be. I'm learning "one day at a time!" which is SO hard for the planner in me!

Chicken over curly noodles

I'm back already. I can't believe it. And this time with a yummy recipe! It is SUPER easy and very tasty! I hope the five or six of you try it! ;) It tastes very similar to a dish Daniel and I love at the new Thai restaurant in Huntington!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup of packed brown sugar
1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup of soy sauce
1 teaspoon of minced garlic
1/2 cup of dry bread crumbs
3 packages of chicken ramen noodles (YES, RAMEN NOODLES! HOLLA!)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 tablespoon of olive oil
Add bean sprouts if desired

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, peanut butter, soy sauce and garlic. Set aside.
2. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine bread crumbs and contents of two noodle seasoning packets (discard the third, or save for later use). Add chicken one piece at a time, and shake to coat.
3. In a large skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium heat for 5-6 minutes per side or until juice runs clear.
4. Meanwhile, cook noodles according the package directions.
5. Remove chicken and keep warm.
6. Add peanut butter mixture to skillet. Cook and stir until heated through. Drain noodles and add them to the skillet (also add bean sprouts if desired). Toss to coat and serve with chicken over it.

I hope you try it! Let me know if you do!

i miss this

I was a self declared "non-baby" person... before Piper was born. I always proudly said - give them to me when they can walk and talk and I'll take it from there! But now I sing a new tune. I could literally cry every time I see a newborn in public. I miss this!

4 month portaits

Let it be known I had a hard time adjusting to life when Piper came. Not in a bad way. At least not in my opinion. I was just SO OVERWHELMED WITH HOW MUCH I LOVED HER! I could hardly function, much less talk to someone about her without breaking down in tears because I was so thankful for the blessing I have prayed for since I knew how to pray. Being a mom is the only thing I've ever wanted to "be." Along with a wife, of course. So while I was probably too much of a mess to get newborn pictures.. or one month.. or two or three. I finally realized SHE IS GROWING UP FAST! And Auntie Jerica stepped in and saved the day. Here are a few of my favorites.

Hat and tutu from Auntie Jare, of course.

imperfect

Ok. So I have an issue. I really love the fact that blogs exist. I love that people can use online to archive their memories. I am envious of these people. SO WHY DON'T I DO IT? I know why. I strive for perfection; and when it cannot be accomplished, I completely give up. I am setting a terrible example for my daughter by being this way. I need to change that. No one even reads this blog except for maybe 3 people. And no offense, but the only people I want these memories for are my family. And they love and accept me the way I am. So just because I won't be able to conjure up the most eloquent words, or have the best pictures that are edited, I need to just do this! For me, Daniel, Piper and our future children. It is ok that my blog is imperfect. Ok, so now that I have given myself that pep talk, here I go!

FOUR MONTHS. Piper turned FOUR MONTHS on February 2nd. I cannot believe how quickly she went to a sleepy newborn with few facial expression into this active infant who will barely sit still.

At her four month appointment, she was 25.5 inches long and weighed 14 pounds 9 ounces. She is a BIG GIRL. I always forget head circumference, and to be honest, I don't really care too much about that as long as she is healthy!

She is in 3-6 and just 6 month clothes. I cannot wait for it to warm up. Her cutest stuff is for the summertime :)

She is rolling over - can't remember the date but it is on the calendar. We have to act very silly to get her to laugh, but she will do it readily. She is very clingy and not as outgoing as most of the babies we are around. I find this funny, because I totally pictured Piper being this spunky girl who was very outgoing and who would readily go to anyone. That is not the case! She still struggles with stranger danger. We are praying this gets better - and it definitely has.

She has also been sleeping in her nursery since a little before 3 months old. That was a wonderful transition, and hope and pray it doesn't become an issue when she can realize momma and dada aren't so close.

She has SO much energy. She wants you to hold her in standing position most of the time. She hates to lay back and will try to sit up (even by herself) if you do this. Despite these independent tendencies, she still is very attached. She prefers to be held and loves to cuddle. She will entertain herself in the bumbo or exersaucer (is that how you even spell that?!) for a good while. She also continues to enjoy her swing.

She usually has a VERY pensive or concerning look on her face. She is very much a studier and takes life too serious ;) She is going to be more like Daniel than me, it seems!

I could hurt myself for not blogging about 2 or 3 months, but I really want to be better at this! Blogging maybe 2-3 times a week? That is very doable, is I can just make myself DO IT!