Dear Baby Girl,

Yes, that's correct! You are a girl moving around like crazy in mommy's belly! I've discovered you love cake! Cake gets you moving and flipping all around in there. Today was such a special day for daddy and I. As our friends and family gathered together wearing pink or blue, we found out you were a girl. We went to the doctor on Friday and she sealed your little picture up in an envelope that said "Girl" and  we gave it to the baker that day. On Sunday, we celebrated you as we cut into the cake and discovered you were a girl. Mommy and Daddy couldn't be happier! Mommy wanted a girl first, but put it in her head you were a boy so I wouldn't be disappointed. We had a boy nursery and name all picked out. Now we have three girl names to choose from and a multitude of nursery ideas. The fun has only just begun! Each and every day we get so excited as the day come closer to meet you and see your sweet little face. It's such a blessing, joy, and honor that God has chosen us to be your mommy and daddy for a lifetime. We love you with all our heart!

Dear Baby...

Dear Baby,

Today I am sixteen weeks pregnant with you and what a joy ride it has been. Mommy and Daddy prayed for you for so long and waited ever so patiently for God to form you and knit you in mommy's womb. Mommy was so excited when she found out she was pregnant. Mommy couldn't wait to tell Daddy and Daddy cried when Mommy told him. Mommy had to take three tests to believe she was pregnant and Daddy had to see the test to fully believe it. What a special miracle you are to us. We were told by the doctor that would need help in having a child of our own, but mommy knew God wanted us to be patient and God was in the process of creating you. Daddy touches mommy's belly every night and prays for you. Daddy prays for you to be healthy and for God to raise you up to be His child. We pray that you will love God with all your being and be a reflection of who He is.

Mommy felt you kick for the first time last night. Mommy got so excited and tried to get you to kick again. You are as big as an iPhone (or an avocado) which is about 4.5 inches long (excluding your legs). You can hear Mommy and Daddy's voice now. Ellie loves to lay her head on Mommy's belly at night. We think she knows you're in there. We can't wait for Ellie to meet you as she will love you and protect you just as Mommy and Daddy does.

Redeemed

I know I've been MIA lately. Since being home from London, it's been busy at work and at home. This past week I decided to take time for myself and read the whole book of Redeeming Love. I must say, this is by far my most favorite book I've read yet. I couldn't put it down. It's portrays such a beautiful picture of our relationship with God. Redeeming Love is a love story based off the book of Hosea. 


Angel has lived through hell. Her life is marked by rejection and hardship. At age eight, her mother dies. She is sold to a child molester, and then eventually into prostitution. As a teenager, she escapes and travels west to California, hoping for a new start. But she doesn't have any useful skills, and so she turns back to prostitution, having no other way to survive. She doesn't know love, and she doesn't believe in God. All she knows is that she should have never been born.

Michael Hosea is a man of God who yearns for a wife. He is excited when God points Angel out to him as the one, and dismayed to learn that she is a prostitute. Still, he marries her, and day by day he courageously pursues her cold, dead heart, believing that one day she will fall in love with him and become the wife he longs for.


The author has captured the essence of the Gospel of Grace. Angel, the orphaned girl turned prostitute, exemplifies the sinful wreckage of humanity, our wanderlust, our hardness of heart. And Michael, however, reminds us of the Eternal God who will not rest in drawing us to Himself. We are redeemed in Christ!

London (Day 7)

I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to do a senior photoshoot in London and use the talent God gave me to bless such a sweet family. Emily Goodman is the daughter of the missionaries we are here serving alongside. Emily is absolutely beautiful inside and out. This picture is unedited and already speaks beauty for itself. I cannot wait to edit her pictures when I get home. Keep on the lookout for her pictures to be posted next week!

London (Day 6)

We are a little over half way done with our trip. My body is beginning to run down from the late nights, early mornings, and constant movement. It's been very rainy and freezing old today. We had the opportunity today to talk to two girls and a guy about Christ. The guy walked up during our conversation with the two girls and he was very interested in knowing more about Jesus. He is from Pakistan and practices the Islamic faith. He informed us that he had many questions and is willing to convert to Christianity as long as we can prove it is the right way. He stated that his parents told him it was okay to covert to another religion as they are willing as well. He set up a lunch date with Josh and I for Friday and he is going to come ready with questions for us. I love seeing how God is working through us and our conversations here in such a dark place. Please pray for this young man and his family. Pray God speaks through Josh and I to reach this young man who will reach his family. 

Tonight we saw Wicked in London. Wicked is my all time favorite broadway show and Josh's first show he has seen. I would have to say Wicked is better in America since it is an American play; however, it was still phenomenal! 

London (Day 5)

We are beginning to see God work in the lives of students and use us to plant seeds into the hearts of the students here. Josh met up with the guys from yesterday and one of them brought a friend. They plan on having lunch again this week to continue their conversations. I met a girl today who says she is atheist (which I really think she is agnostic, meaning she doesn't believe in anything). She told me that her mother is prebyterian and her father is Roman Catholic. She stated that both parents are practicing Christians. She stated that she has tried to believe in God and wants to, but when she tried to be religious she did not feel anything. Through our conversation I could tell that she does believe in God, but is unsure about how to have a true relationship with Him. She is engaged and wants to get married in a church and even wanted a ring with three stones symbolizing the Trinity; however, her finance is atheist and doesn't want to have anything to do with God which is holding her back. Please pray for Dani and that I can continue to build a relationship with her this week and be able to give her an ounce of water to water the seed that is already planted in her.

Tonight we met at the student bar on campus and two guys from the South Carolina team were the music entertainment for the night. The students on campus loved them and it was a lot of fun to be able to continue building relationships with the students on campus. London is very much a melting pot of different cultures (more than America). It is muslim week on campus and it has different stretched Josh and I and we've had to rely even more on Christ to speak through us and guide our conversations.

London (Day 4)

Today began our first official day on the Roehampton University campus which is absolutely beautiful. We began our day with worship and prayer before heading out on the campus. It's amazing how God worked today through conversations we had with some of the students. Our team is split into different groups around the University campus either playing games or giving out coffee, tea, and donuts. Josh and I are with four students from the South Carolina team that is here and we attempting to teach the students how to joust. It didn't go so well since it was cold outside and the psychology campus ia mainly female. We quickly put the game aside and decided to go into the cafeteria and begin talking to the students and building relationships with him. Josh had a great conversation with a Muslim and Athiest today who is interested in knowing more about about Christianity and is going to meet Josh tomorrow. Pray for Josh and the two men who will be meeting back up with Josh tomorrow.