You search me and know me!

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart

139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

I awake, and I am still with you.

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!

O men of blood, depart from me!

20 They speak against you with malicious intent;

your enemies take your name in vain!

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with complete hatred;

I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!

Baby Bump

Week 25

Week 25

Week 25

Week 24

Week 23

Week 23 (Halloween) I was Mike Wazowski from Moster's Inc.

Week 22

Week 22

Week 21

Week 21

Week 20

Week 19

So I really do have to be the worst blogger in history, but I will try to do a little better. I thought that some baby bump pictures were in order since I am 25 weeks today, which only leaves a short 15 weeks remaining. Holy Cow! Aaron seems to think the time is creeping by, but I very strongly disagree. When I think of 15 weeks from now, never being able to sleep in on Saturdays with my husband, doing multiple loads of laundry a day, changing on average ten diapers a day, and having a little baby to take care of; it is a bit overwhelming.

Needless to say, I am thrilled to have a little one on the way, but I am soaking in every moment of the present.

As most of you know Aaron has been traveling ALL fall and so we see each other a day here and there. This not only means that I miss him a great deal, but it also means that I have been documenting most of the pregnancy on my own. So be gracious with me. The pictures are not that good, because they were taken with my iPhone in a dorm mirror, but at least it is something.

Also, I realize they posted backwards, but being the novice blogger that I am, I cannot figure out how to switch it correctly. Have a wonderful Wednesday (we will call it bump day today).

My next big project is the nursery so I will post pictures as it progresses. Again, thanks for the patience as I truly am terrible at this blogging thing.

So Much Happening!

In the last 24 hours so much has happened, but I feel too sick to write a very long blog so I will just do a quick update.

We are having a boy! Look at his precious little smile!

We had a reveal party where Aaron and I cut into a cake to show some of our favorite people what gender our precious baby is! It was lots of fun. We have videos and several pictures.

I had a fire drill scheduled for 11:00 PM last night and Paul Niswander came over to see us and show me how to use the fire alarm key. While showing me he accidentally turned the key and the whole thing just fell off the wall. So, we had our drill at 9:30 instead. It was pretty funny actually and it was a good thing we did because I was in the bathroom throwing my brains up at 10:57.

I have been so sick for days and it seems to be getting worse, but I don't know what medicine to take to make it better. My doctor's don't really want me to take antibiotics because of the baby so instead I just lay in bed and feel miserable.

So that is the last 24 hours. I am so happy about the baby and so frustrated with being sick.

3 Years Later

It has been three years since I met my best friend Aaron Wilkinson. It was a week to remember. He was in a TAG group that I was originally planning on joining because they were going to my parent's house for dinner so I just thought I would help mom get things ready. However, at the last minute the seminary assigned me a group because I was a part-time student. I loved my group and met wonderful people, but little did I know that week would change my life. Mom kept telling me about this guy she met at the house that had spent time in India and just seemed to be a really neat boy. I kept blowing her comments off because she thinks everyone is a "nice boy".

The next night I happened to meet Aaron at an Ice Cream social, where he interrupted a conversation I was having with a friend. I was pretty annoyed and thought "who the heck is this guy". That was about all I can say of that interaction.

The following night two girls through the beginning of the year party which happened to be a "hoot-a-nanny" this beautiful September evening. So...I did what any fun 24 year old girl would do. I got dressed up in my most ridiculous over the top redneck outfit I could come up with. I looked very silly. Several girls showed up trying to look all cute, but not me. I was there for no other reason than to have fun and meet all the 10 new people to Wilmore that I didn't already know.

Me and B-O-B! This is minus my trucker hat and fake teeth. I was a vision.

That is when Aaron's TAG leader asked him to play cornhole and a male friend of mine asked me to play. Me being not only the fun 24 year old girl, but also the smart 24 year old girl decided that Aaron was pretty cute and if I wanted to talk with him I should make sure he had to play against me in cornhole (meaning he would have to stand next to me for the duration of the game for all of you who are not familiar). This seemed to work in my favor for two reasons.

1. I WON! Shocker. Not really because I win most everything ;).
2. I met a really great guy who seemed to have quite a bit more to offer than just a handsome face. We talked most of the night and had a great time together.

My first pictures with Aaron! Who could have imagined where we would be now.

It didn't all just fall into place after that however. Aaron and I saw each other at group events and ran around in the same friend circles, but were never really together alone. But one night at 11:00 PM (boys don't do this. Girls do try and get some sleep. Call at a reasonable hour) I got a phone call and I saw that it was him. I was very excited but tried not to act it, which wasn't hard as I was half asleep. He asked me to lunch the coming Saturday.

On October 10th we went to Panera and I wasn't sure if it was a date or not so I paid for mine. (Ladies, don't do this. If he asks you, it's a date and he pays). It was a lot of fun! Over the next few weeks I went on dates with other guys as did Aaron with other girls. We caught up however at a Bible themed halloween party, where I went as Proverbs 31(the perfect woman) or a 50's housewife. He couldn't help but fall for me after that. On a side note, I did win for best costume!

Up close with the 50's housewife

The outfit minus my silver platter of brownies. How could he not resist.

This was when we became more intentional. We stopped seeing others and the rest is history. It is the best decision I have ever made and I am so grateful for every moment I have spent with Aaron. We have now been married for 2 years and are pregnant with our first baby. He is a wonderful husband and I know he will be an even better father.

Leaving My Little Brother at College!

Well Yesterday was the day. Alex is officially a college student and has started his freshman year at Indiana Wesleyan University. He moved into a dorm that just finished being built and it is really awesome. We walked in while mom, dad, and Aaron were parking and we were greeted with a trumpet and a loud "Welcome to South Hall, John!" (they didn't know he went by Alex and not John, but it was the thought that counts.) It was really cool. I got a little teary eyed at this point but I got it together before anyone saw me.

It is so hard to see him leave, but I know he is where the Lord wants him to be. I could not be more proud of Alex. This is a HUGE step for him. He will be pushed to the limits for an introvert and I know in four years he will be a new man. The Lord will use this time of discomfort to challenge and develop him into an even greater man of God. I look forward in four years to the time he walks across the stage at graduation and recognizes what he has accomplished.

If you are reading this and think of it please pray that I would be the best kind of support he could have from afar, as well as his greatest cheerleader. Also, pray I can keep the tears to a minimum. :) Finally, pray that Alex will continue to step out in faith and keep his heart and mind open to how the Lord can use him.

My wedding day!

Myrtle Beach 5 years ago!

I just want to say again, Alex, I am so proud of you!!!

Tour of our little home

The cozy apartment is coming along and I am getting used to life in Kresge dorm. I had my first ALL HALL meeting with 250 woman last night and it was a blast! I had so much fun. We did a dance, covered rules, and just had a great time laughing. I think this is going to be a great year.

A tour of our home...

Our bedroom


The nursery (clearly still in progress till we know what the baby is)


The Kitchen


The kitchen again...


The living room


We love our little place and it will begin to feel more like home in two weeks when we find out what the precious baby in my belly is and can start getting the nursery together. Pottery barn kids here we come!

See you all soon.

Dorm Life

So...we have begun the new adventure.

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I have been so busy. In the last three months Aaron and I have moved 11 people in or out of our old home (now a rental), moved ourselves into a dorm, been to Florida, Indiana, and moved 150 girls into our now current home, Kresge dorm. There are 100 more ladies to come tomorrow and Sunday.

However, it has not only been the most full months of my life, it has also been some of the most blessed months of my life. My RA and RD staff is wonderful! Please look at how gorgeous and lovely each of these girls are. You clearly can't see this from looking but these girls have beautiful souls. I am honored to be working with them.





Also, I cannot wait to see my small group girls. I am missing them terribly. It has been way to long since we have all been together. So I can't wait till Sunday when we are all in one place again.



One more thing...

My husband is a super hero. He has rocked out his first year on the job and has 50 students enrolled in the fall incoming class for our Masters of Social Work program and I could not be more proud of him.

I hope everyone's summer is wrapping up nicely and you are looking forward to the start of the school year. I know I am. Keep your eyes open for more posts to come. I will try and keep up with this a little better.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing Fathers out there. To celebrate with my wonderful dad we went to lunch at Tony Roma's and I had a great Caesar and salmon salad. Following lunch we went to see the movie Toy Story 3!





All of you should see it. It is funny, entertaining, witty, sweet, and just really enjoyable.

Again, Happy Father's Day to all those Dads out there!

ICHTHUS is OVER!!!

It is official! I never have to work another Ichthus again unless I want to. For the last four years I have given my sweat, blood and tears for that festival and as of this week, NO MORE!!! I will begin as the Resident Director of Kresge dorm in two weeks, which relieves me of my duties in Special Events Coordinating. Don't get me wrong, I will miss my ambassadors and a few other details, but not Ichthus! It is hot, rainy, hard work and I look forward to watching it happen from the sidelines next year.

I did however have quite the revelation this week at Ichthus. I have determined my biggest pet peeve...complaining over a free t-shirts. I had grown men complain to me because I didn't have 2XL shirts. I have never been so mad or annoyed. It is a stinkin' FREE t-shirt. If you are mad that I don't have your size then don't take one. AAAAHHHHH...seriously people, they are FREE!!!!

So there you have it. My biggest pet peeve.

I hope everyone is having a beautiful week and I promise my next post will be a more happy and fluffy.

XOXO

My First Blog!!!!

So...I am totally not your typical blogger, hence the name incredibly average. When I think of a blogger, I think of granola eating, etsy site owners, and hybrid driving folks. I am don't eat Kashi cereal, make my clothes or my curtains and I drive an nine year old SUV. I am very happily married to a wonderful man who makes me a better person and make my world a happier place.

Bear with me as I learn how this whole thing works. I don't know how to add pics, videos or even change my background. I know however that my beautiful small group girls will be a wealth of knowledge for me in this area and will set me up in terrific way.

Well here's to this exciting new adventure! I look forward to it!