john mark-isms

John Mark is probably the funniest kid alive.
He never ceases to have us rolling on the floor in laughter.
Besides just saying hilarious things,
he has a newfound obsession with making up his own words.

And so in honor of this...
Here's a few of my recent favorites!

-"Mommy, your a girl. I'm a boy."
-"It's really, really tasty."
-"Just one more time..."
-he can't make the "v" sound, so everything with a v is hysterical-
"glubs" (gloves)
"lub" (love)
"up abub" (up above)
-"sneak... sneak... sneak... RAWWWWRRR!!"
(he actually says sneak)
-"no daddy, i not misinformed, i just little"
-"crazy hair. need a haircut?"
-"don't know"
(said with a lip smack noise that makes it!)

And if I were telling you this outloud,
he would say-
"I say dat, mommy"
and give you the biggest smile you've ever seen!

break my chains

"so Christ has truly set us free.
now make sure that you stay free,
and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law."
Galatians 5:1

blog award

I was awarded this very cute blog award from the Pettijohn's.

Here are the steps:

1. Say one nice thing to the man in your life:
Micah is hands-down the most amazing man in the world. He has been the picture of Christ and his love to me every single day. I couldn't have asked for someone to love me more sacrificially and with everything he has. Plus he is funny and keeps me grounded when I'm freaking out!

2. List at least 6 ways you measure success in your life:
consistently spending time with Christ through his Word and prayer
loving Micah & John Mark patiently and gently
pushing my friends to be more like Christ
using my gifts and talents to serve others
easily running 3 miles
always looking for ways to grow and become a better wife, mommy and friend

3. Assign 5 other blogs this award:

Fawn
Sunny
Micayla
Lisa
Sarah Shelton

yesterday

Yesterday Kelly and I took off to run the 5K to support a local high school. It was ridiculously cold. We were bundled up in a million different layers... but we were going for it.

When we got to the park, we signed in and got our numbers. We went back to the car to put our shirts up. It was then we realized... Kelly had her house key tied to her shoe, not her car key. Oh, and our cell phones were locked in the car. And her husband doesn't have a car, just a motorcycle.

So we bummed cell phones off some girls there. I called Micah to tell him to stay at his parents house until we got there (we were planning to run 6 after the 5K) and have him take us to get a key. It wasn't my phone and the wind was blowing so my message got all messed up. He told me later he thought "bethany" had called and he needed to stay there until she got there.

Anyway, at this point we decided there was really nothing else we could do. So we lined up at the starting line, jumping and attempting to be semi-warm. The gun blasted and we took off. It was then that my ankle popped and I knew I was in trouble. I started running anyway and made it a mile. At 1 mile, I had to stop. Kelly was sweet enough to limp with me back to another point and get a phone from someone else.

Micah picked us up and I've been following "RICE" that my PT friends told me- rest, ice, compression and elevation. Well, following is probably not the right word. Arguing with Micah that I'm fine is more like it... Even though my left ankle is twice as big as my right ankle. I've never been one to admit when I'm hurt and do things to make myself better.

I have been instructed that I need to make an appointment with a running specialist tomorrow to have my ankles checked out before I carry on my marathon training. We'll see how that goes...

seahorse

Last night, John Mark had a BIG first.
He pooped in the potty.
When he stood up and came to tell me,
he looked at me and said:
"look mommy, it's a seahorse.
John Mark pooped a seahorse."

Sure enough...
it looked like a little seahorse.

MS Mission Trip

We just got home from a long weekend in Arlington, TX.
Here's a few of the highlights:

-50 MS students
-11 adults
-600+ bags of leaves
-5+ hours spent loving kiddos
-200 doors knocked on
-500 bible study flyers handed out
-10+ gospel presentations by students
-many hours spent bonding with our kids
-countless games of gotcha
-5 games of gotcha won by me

It was a great weekend.
I'll post pictures later when I've slept in a real bed!

just john mark

Last night we were getting John Mark ready for bed.
He looked up and me and said:
"My name is John Mark.
Not John.
Just John Mark."

We laughed.
Then told him it's a good thing he's learning this early,
since that will be the story of his life.

26.2... Nashville bound

That's right friends.
Instead of running the OKC Marathon,
we'll be lacing up our running shoes in the grand state of Tennessee!!

Kelly found the totally awesome Rock & Roll marathon in Nashville-
and since her parents live there...
which makes for a great place to stay...
and our very own photographer to take our pictures along the way...
we decided that we were going for it!

So at 5AM yesterday morning, we began our early morning training.
Running, weights, biking and more running will be the sound of my days for the next several months.
But the payoff will be sweet!

a merry little christmas

why

It's strange how in one instant life can change.
The decisions we make,
those made by others,
can turn a life completely upside down.

Why did he decide to drive the wrong way down that road?
Why is a precious baby girl in the hospital over Christmas?
Why are my sweet friends caught in a web of paperwork, waiting anxiously for their son?
Why do babies die and marriages break?

Why? Why? Why?

Why gets in your head, in your heart.
Why can mess with the very foundation you've always stood on.
Why creates some very sticky situations.

The answers aren't always easy to come by.
Sometimes they hurt.
Sometimes you can do nothing but fall on your face before the One Who holds every "why" in His eternal hands.

I used to be scared of WHY.
I thought God didn't like me to question His way.
Then through studying the scriptures I have seen many heroes of the faith who asked why.
Jacob wrestled.
David asked.
Jesus wept.

And I've learned by these examples-
He's big enough.
He's not scared of the "whys".
All He asks is that we trust Him.
Rest in Him.
Believe that He is good.
Surrender to His plan.

"not my will, but Yours be done."
luke 22:42

sleepy boy

This is John Mark, all snuggled in with his stuffed animals he sleeps with-

Froggie (aka baby Jesus)

Kung Fu Panda

Nemo

Eeyore

Monkey

Cocoa (aka Cuckoo)

silly boy

Tonight I was cleaning up the kitchen and I could hear John Mark talking to someone in the living room. Knowing we were the only ones home, I went to investigate. What I found was the funniest, sweetest thing in the world. He had his stuffed frog wrapped in a red snowman dishtowel and was singing to the frog.

Upon further listening I could hear him saying "it's okay, baby Jesus. don't cry."

Man, I love this kid!

what the heck is TWITTER?

My eyes have recently been opened to a whole new world of technology... It's this totally awesome thing called TWITTER. What is this, you may ask? Well, technically speaking Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service, that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length. In everyday terms- it's a really fun way to stay connected with those around you.

It really isn't complicated- all you have to do is sign up for a free twitter account, choose some people to follow and start updating! The super fun part is that you can update from your phone (via text) and also receive updates from all your friends.

All that being said, you should twitter.
And you should probably follow me.
So I can follow you.

You can follow me by clicking here.

everything worth keeping

"everything worth keeping
comes through dying"
--derek webb

"so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

teach me to fix my eyes on You-
on the things that truly matter.
help me die to myself.
that i may gain that which i cannot lose.

2008 Top Fives

Books Read in 2008:
1.) Twilight Series
2.) Chronicles of the King series
3.) Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide
4.) Shepherding the Child's Heart
5.) The Chronological Bible (well, I'll finish that on December 31, hopefully!)

Songs Listened to:
1.) Ain't No Reason- Brett Dennen
2.) Bleeding Love- Leona Lewis
3.) Come Home- OneRepublic
4.) Grace- Addison Road
5.) What If You- Joshua Radin

People I’ve Received Personal E-mails From:
1.) Kim
2.) Sara
3.) Kelly
4.) Lesley
5.) Micah

People I’ve Spent Time With:
1.) Micah & John Mark
2.) Lesley
3.) Kelly
4.) MS Students
5.) Beth

Places I’ve Spent My Time(excluding friends’ houses):
1.) Target
2.) Tao Cafe
3.) Starbucks
4.) HHBC
5.) Transformation Fitness

Places to Eat:
1.) Tao Cafe
2.) Zorba's
3.) Chipotle
4.) Bagel Cafe
5.) Spicy Pickle

First Christmas Party

I love Christmas.
Love it, love it, love it.
The lights, the parties, the food...
every single bit of it is great!

I kicked off the holiday party season today with our office ladies Christmas party. We had awesome food and played dirty Santa. Here's some of the best pictures!

mine & Lesley's plates of food

don't worry, they were happy plates when all was said and done

Me & my sweet friend Sara

This is our precious receptionist, Cathy.
She is hiding under the table so her gift won't be stolen...

Unfortunately, she wasn't successful.

Lesley with HER stack of tissue paper.
This is mostly due to the fact that I stole all 4
(yes FOUR) blankets that she opened,
only to have them stolen from me...

Us girls, showing off our fabulous gifts
And yes, Kelly IS holding the new Britney CD
and yes, she DID bring that as her gift to the party

You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne
--wonderful, merciful savior

just call me "aunt stephie"

Welcome, Elliana Brooke Townley!
Born November 28, 2008 @ 12:12 PM
7 pounds, 20.5 inches
Dark curly hair.
Beautiful.

TWILIGHT!

As some of you may have heard, a new movie came out this weekend- TWILIGHT! Now, being beyond obsessed with the books, of course I went to the midnight premiere with my good friends Lesley, Jamie and Lindsey. You might notice in these pictures that we are characters from the book. That's right, we are just THAT cool. :o)

just some pictures