Thursday, February 10, 2011

Thankful Thursday #4

Thanking God for...

31. A spotlessly clean house
32. Allowing my Momma and sister to come up for a couple of days to help get my house spotlessly clean
33. The will to want to keep it clean!
34. A sweet little girl that sometimes keeps me from cleaning :)
35. His faithfulness in providing for our every need
36. Sleep in the night when I need it the most
37. Hot coffee when I don't get enough sleep
38. Wisdom
39. Old hymns of the Faith
40. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you..." (Isaiah 43:2a)

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Thankful Thursday #3

Thanking God for...

21. Our visit with family and friends this past weekend
22. Long, encouraging phone conversations with my very wise Momma
23. Grace to persevere
24. The fruit that is borne out of said perseverance
25. Other nursing mothers that are encouraging me and praying for me
26. Egg sandwiches for supper when no one feels like cooking
27. Ruth Anne's usually cheery disposition
28. Tiny fingers and toes
29. Flannel sheets
30. The coming weekend

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

This...

...is what makes every struggle of motherhood absolutely worth it.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Thankful Thursday #2

Thanking God for:

12. These quiet moments in which to blog, eat breakfast, and read Scripture
13. The wisdom He gives to doctors to treat rashes on babies faces
14. Free formula from the pediatrician!
15. The help and encouragement He has given me through my lactation consultant
16. Babies and the blessed chaos that comes with them :)
17. My handyman husband, who just built some more shelves for the pantry...
18. And the way he makes me laugh, even in the midst of stress...
19. And his kisses :)
20. The mercy of Christ that is new every morning.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Thankful Thursday #1

I have at least 3 blogger friends who are currently doing a series of posts in which they list things in their lives that they are thanking God for. I don't want to seem like a copy cat here, but I have truly been inspired by these ladies to do the same. They usually do theirs on Mondays, but I have decided to do mine each Thursday. Each time I read their lists, I am convicted that I am not more thankful to my good God for all that He has given to and done for me. So this is my attempt to be thankful...not just for God's general kindness to me, but specific blessings.

Thanking God for:
  1. The snow that is falling outside my widow as I type.
  2. My beautiful baby girl...
  3. And the way she just falls asleep when I put her down for a nap
  4. And her adorable little smiles :)
  5. Grace to begin (and stay on track with) a chronological Bible reading plan
  6. Grace to search out and see Jesus in the book of Job
  7. The amazing way He is providing the finances to pay medical bills from Ruth Anne's birth
  8. A husband who loves to play with his daughter
  9. The way He continues to grow our marriage
  10. This 2nd cup of coffee :)
  11. Jesus Christ, "in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace..." (Ephesians 1:7)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Isn't She Lovely?

I know. It has been way too long since I have posted here. Three months and 4 days to be exact...but who's counting? :) As many of you know, there has been a recent addition to our family since my last post. We now have an adorable, precious little girl! Ruth Anne Virginia Taylor was born on Wednesday, October 20, at 7:13 p.m., weighing 6 lb. 10 oz. and measuring 19 3/4 inches long. Labor and delivery was quite an experience for me, but I will save that (long) story for a future post.

The past 3 months have been a huge adjustment for me (is that stating the obvious?). I am still learning how to juggle all of my responsibilities as both wife and mother, and sometimes I feel like I will never get it together. There have been some unforeseeable challenges that have arisen with breastfeeding, which many times leaves me very frustrated and completely exhausted at the end of the day. I have been to see a lactation consultant several times, am taking herbal supplements along with a prescription medication in order to increase my milk supply. But my supply is still not adequate enough for Ruth Anne, and I am having to supplement with formula at every feeding. This all has left me feeling disappointed and sometimes even guilty. I was so hoping that I could exclusively breastfeed Ruth Anne for her first year of life. Sometimes I feel like I have failed her in some way...but I have to remember that God is sovereign even over my milk production. He has some purpose in this, though I may never know what that purpose is. I must trust Him, and I must believe that He is faithful. And if giving my baby formula along with breast milk is what I must do for her to grow and develop, then so be it.

And let me just say that through all of this struggle, my husband has been absolutely amazing and so supportive. If it weren't for him, I would have given up breastfeeding completely about 3 weeks ago. I am so thankful for Matthew. And he is a wonderful daddy!! I love watching him play with Ruth Anne...melts my heart every time.

Having said all of this, I love being a mother. Ruth Anne is such a sweet little girl. She is really starting to smile a lot and getting more and more animated each day. I love it when she "talks" to us...so cute! I love her more every day, and am truly thankful to our good God for giving us this incredible blessing. I can hardly believe that she will be 3 months old in a couple of weeks...time flies when you're having fun! :)

(The picture I have posted was taken on Christmas Eve at Matt's parent's house.)

Friday, October 1, 2010

Sweet Provision

This morning I was reading in the gospel of Mark the account of Jesus calming a storm on the sea. The cross references led me to Psalm 65, which talks about the Lord being the provider and sustainer of His people. I am humbled and comforted to know that Christ is in control of all things, and that I have nothing to fear. Here are the words of Psalm 65.

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
(Psalm 65 ESV)