SLI ~ Week 3 (Chapter 5 & 6)

Goodness!! Where have I been? Sorry this is a little bit late, but here are the questions for our Book Club this week :) Luckily there are still only 2 of us doing it, so I don't feel so bad!

1. After reading these two chapters, what do you believe to be the TWO primary roots of your struggle with insecurity? Keep in mind that more may apply but try to lock in on two that you believe to be most impactful.

2. What, if any, insight did you gain about the roots of insecurity and did you sense that God was trying to speak to you in any specific way through it? (This answer does not need to be limited to the two roots you identified in the previous response.)

Again, these questions are straight from the Beth Moore Blog. If you'd like more info on her, the book, or you're looking for a little bit more in depth discussion, visit her here. My responses to the questions are in the comments section.

Not So Wordless Wednesday!

There is something about Springtime that makes me incredibly happy. I love the blooming flowers and the budding trees. We've been opening our windows lately because the weather has been so gorgeous, and I love listening to the birds in the mornings and the crickets in the evenings. We finally have a house with a garden, and I've learned that I truly enjoy working in it...which is pretty surprising considering how much I loathe getting my hands dirty! I'm looking forward to getting a little baby pool for the backyard, later in the season, so that Elli & I can play in it together. I can't wait to see her splash around in it! Everything just seems new, exciting and fun in the Spring, don't you think?! We have the whole year to look forward to, and good weather to enjoy. I just love it!

I've been working a lot lately. I'm trying to get caught up on data entry, as well as getting lots of crafting in so that something super exciting can happen in May!! More on that later :) But here is what my desk looks like at the moment, what a MESS!!

We're also gearing up for our trip this weekend to see some of my most favorite girls in the world!! The Hilburns!! I can't tell you how excited I am to see them...9 months is way too long in my book! They've never met Elli, and I'm hoping that when they do, they'll all be fast friends :)

Chris's training is winding down, too. He'll be moving on to the next phase in about 2 weeks, and we're anxious to see which "track" he gets. What we're NOT looking forward to is the long hours again...boo! He's at a place right now where he goes into work for about 9-10/day; and though that might seem like a lot for most people, it's a welcome shortening for us! When the next phase starts, it's back to 12 hr days, every day...ughh. And when he DOES get to come home, he has to study for 2-3 hrs/night to prepare for the next day. I have to admit, it gets me down sometimes. On the other hand, I am so thankful to have him here with us at all. We have countless friends who are without their husbands (or wives) at this very moment, and while 12 hr days often seems disheartening, I try to treasure every second that we're together. I guess when you're in the military (or married to it!), you try to "save up" all of those morsels of time that your family has together in order to make it through all of the long months that you know you'll be apart in the future. It doesn't ever make you feel better in the midst of the separation, but I do believe that it keeps you from taking time together for granted when you have it. At least that's the Duncan Motto :)

What has Spring brought to your house this year? Besides lots of yellow pollen, that is!

SLI ~ Week 2 (Chapter 3 & 4)

Okay, we're going to do something different this week. I'll post the questions (still straight from Beth Moore's blog), and I"ll write my responses in the comments section. I think my answers may have been distracting...what do you think? Anyway, you can all post your answers there as well...and we can have discussion. Oh so fun!! I thought we'd continue reading 2 chapters a week, and then discussing on Monday. So, this week is chapter 3 & 4.

Here are the questions/assignments:

1. Based on Chapter 3, what tends to be your prominent false positive?

2. Write out the challenge at the end of Chapter 3 again so that you can pound it into your belief system. Beth says it is CRITICAL to our journey! I believe her :)

3. Based on Chapter 4, what biblical character (or statement about him/her) resonated the most with you? Why?

I really learned a lot about myself this week. Or, not really "learned" as much as "examined". I guess I've always known, deep down, what I struggle with; however, it's a little different when you delve into it a bit deeper and start asking "why?". And really, it's not even about asking "why?" as much as it is about asking what it's keeping you from, and how it limits you from accomplishing all that God has perfectly set out before you. Besides the questions above, did any of you have any great revelations this week? Or anything that just really stood out as important that you'd like to share? I'd love to hear about where you are on your journey!

Easter Weekend

There was something different about Easter this year for me. I don't know if it was because I'm a mommy now, or if it's because I'm just at a different place on my "walk" with the Lord...but whatever it was, it made this year extra special.

Chris and I have been reading Luke together at night, and we made a point to try to match up the dates this week so that each night we could reflect on in Jesus' final days. We decided to also watch The Passion on Good Friday...I hadn't seen it since it came out in theaters. I think that by doing both of those things, our hearts were opened up to an even deeper appreciation of Crucifixion & the Resurrection. Those things, combined w/ a new church home & the excitement of sharing such a blessed day with Elli just really got to me.

The whole weekend was great, actually! We used our new babysitter on Saturday night and tried out a wonderful restaurant in Starkville. If you live in the area and haven't been to The Veranda, I highly recommend going. The risotto was phenomenal. Yum, so good! And afterwards we made a quick stop by Coldstone to get some ice cream. I haven't been to a Coldstone since we lived in Goldsboro. Way too long in my opinion! Elli, sadly, didn't have such a great night. Apparently I spoke to soon when I said that she doesn't have separation anxiety in my last post. Our sweet babysitter said she cried almost the entire time we were gone. Doesn't that just break your heart?! Poor girl! And then, when we picked her up from the church nursery this morning, the first words out of the sweet little old lady's mouth who was rocking her were, "she cries, ALOT!". So sad! Oh Elli girl, mommy is going to have to start leaving you with people more often!

Our afternoon consisted of a nap, washing the car, taking some pictures down by the lake, and snuggling on the couch just enjoying each other. I hope that all of you had a nice, relaxing Easter as well.

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has RISEN!!"

Luke 24:5

It's Friday but SUNDAY is coming!!!

This video was shown at our church last Sunday and it spoke so deeply to me that I thought I'd share it with all of you today. My prayer, on this Good Friday, is that God never allows my heart to harden to these images or these words, but that I might be aware and thankful daily for the sacrifice that Christ Jesus made so that I could be forgiven.

It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming!

Happy 7 Month Birthday, Elliana!!

Chris and I were talking the other day about how "6 months" still sounds super young, like a baby-baby. But 7 months...that's like, I don't know, not baby-baby anymore. She's just getting so big, and smart, and fun! An absolute doll, I tell ya!

She's still a great sleeper, almost to the point of making me forget how sleep-deprived I was for the first 3 months of her life :) She'll sleep 13 hrs a night if I let her, but as it stands now I try to wake her up after 12. She still takes 3 naps a day of about 1-1.5 hrs each, and gives me the biggest, most beautiful smile ever when I walk in her room to get her out of her crib. She wears size 2-3 diapers, and 9 mo. clothes. She's still not crawling, or even rolling really. She can roll both ways, but she doesn't use that skill to move around...she's pretty content to just hang out on whichever side suits her that day. She sleeps on her tummy, with her little hands folded under her head...precious! And in true lady fashion, she crosses her little feet at every opportunity. She crinkles her nose when she smiles, and (like me) usually has her mouth open when she does it. She LOVES her new "buddy Bert", her jump-a-roo, playing "chase mommy", being "SUPER ELLI!!!", and eating her socks. She's not a big fan of loud noises (she has sensitive ears!), or missing her naps. Being a Daddy's Girl is an understatement, I am constantly in awe of the love that Chris & Elli have for one another. She does great at church in the nursery, and doesn't seem to have too much separation anxiety. We just found our first babysitter (that's not family or a close friend), and we're excited (and a little nervous!) to use her this weekend.

Elli will participate in the Baby Dedication at our church in a few weeks and in preparation for that, Chris and I have to write a letter to her expressing our hopes, dreams, and prayers for her life. I've been thinking a lot about what I will write over the past few days, and I'm excited about actually sitting down w/ Chris and putting our thoughts and feelings on paper. The Lord has used these 7 short months to teach me so much about life, unconditional love, having a sensitive heart, the importance of patience and thankfulness, and recognizing His enormous blessings. This sweet little girl has changed me; shown me, in a different way, how God must look at all of mankind. My child is precious and perfect in my eyes. And we, all of us, have that same favor in His.

Happy 7 Month Birthday, my lovely Elliana. You're such a special girl.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Elli's 1st Swing