All In God's Timing

Many of you have been praying for a job for Steve here in the Quad Cities. Thank you! Your prayers have been answered. Steve was hired at Heritage Church (Bettendorf, IA campus) as the Children's Ministry Coordinator. For now, the job is 30 hours a week but we are hopeful that the position will go full-time in May when the new budget year begins (if you want to keep praying for that one, please feel free!). Steve is LOVING his new position--it is what God has gifted him for and filled him with a passion for children and families. We are really blessed to be part of the Heritage family. God is really at work here! I think the latest # of salvation decisions is at 15 for 2009 or something like that. Awesome! Many people are being baptized as well. The Bettendorf campus is relatively new and every weekend we are breaking the record of highest attendance! People's lives are being transformed by Jesus and it is so exciting to see!!

We are holding off on buying a house at this point. We are hesitant to buy just yet since there is no guarantee of Steve's being hired on full-time in May. In the meantime, God is continuing to teach us to wait on Him. A great lesson to be learned! My gracious parents seem willing to put up with us for a bit longer so we're laying low at their place until God's timing is right. The plan is to buy a house in Bettendorf, Iowa when that time comes. We'll keep you posted!

Daddy-Son Adventures

Steve is always so good about doing fun things with Judah. Here are a couple of examples...

The Making of a Snowman


You know The Crocodile Hunter...Now meet:
The Snake Hunter

Can it really be...that Judah is now 3?!

On December 30th, Judah "got 3" as he calls turning 3. I can hardly believe that three years have passed since God brought Judah into our lives. As any parent will tell you, life is never the same after you have children. What I never knew though was how much richer my life could possibly be by adding this little guy to it.

As I watched Judah play in his bubble bath this morning, I had a flashback to the very first bath I gave him after bringing him home from the hospital. He was so tiny (and so slippery!) and I was terrified that I would drop him or somehow hurt him. I look at him today and he has grown so much in the last 3 years. He is so strong, intelligent, funny, animated, strong-willed, caring, thoughtful, curious, healthy...

Judah is a little boy that we are so very proud of. Three years ago I wouldn't have even been able to imagine what his personality would be like or what things he would like to play with, what would be his favorite foods, etc. Nor could I have ever imagined how deeply I love this little guy. Somehow it seems as if our very souls are intertwined. I am so very blessed to be your mommy, Judah. Thank you for the laughter, joy, lessons and hugs that you bring into my life each and every day. I pray that I never take one second that I get to spend with you for granted. I love you, Judah!

Here are a few pictures from Judah's birthday parties (one at each grandparents' house). Also a couple of pictures from Christmas since it was just a few days before his birthday. Judah and his cousins put on a Christmas play of the Nativity for us. The photo where they're dressed like sheep, etc. is from that play. I've also included a short video from his party at Grandma and Poppy Meek's house.