Gratitude

In the past year, I have tried to be grateful....but, I fail miserably. But, on those days/hours/minutes/MOMENTS where I am successful, I've noticed that the Lord blesses that obedience. Honestly, if I wanted to dwell, there is plenty to complain about in life. But, if I check my perspective and realize the true blessings in my life, they out weigh the 'negatives' every single time!

Cody and I don't live an extravagant life, we are comfortable and far from poverty. But, I would find myself always finding what I was 'without'. Often times, I would complain or just have a nasty attitude towards Cody, but I realized that I needed to start taking my complaints to the Lord, first and foremost! In all reality, He is the one to change my circumstance, if that is what really needs to be corrected. Then again, it's usually my attitude that needs an 'adjustment' and He is the one to do that, as well :)

I've started to turn my 'complaining' into prayers--and honestly, my complaining has decreased significantly! It's something about talking to the Creator of the universe about how 'bad your life is' that seems to put things into perspective, huh?

Hope this helps you today, like it has me :)

It's a.....GIRL!

This past Friday, we had a little get together with some family and friends to reveal the gender of our first little tot!

We had such a great time and are truly grateful for everyone who came to celebrate with us and rejoice in God's workmanship! In true 'gender reveal fashion' we had everyone wear pink or blue to signify their 'vote' of what the gender would be!


Team BLUE!

Team PINK!

After we had everyone enjoy some food and festivities, we headed outside to have the big REVEAL! Since Cody and I found out earlier in the day, we took the color balloons of the gender and put them in a box--we wrapped the box and then opened it and all the balloons floated up! It was quite fun!!



We are so excited and really shocked at the news of a baby girl, but we are gradually getting our head's around it! :) We are still thinking of names, so I'll let you know when we have settled on one for sure!

Thanks for all the love and well wishes, we are so grateful for those! Please be praying for us as we continue to prepare for parenthood, labor & delivery and being the parents to a little girl!

Love & Blessings,
Cody, LaRae & little baby GIRL Davenport :)

Recent Happenings

This Friday is our appointment to find out the gender of our little dino. We're so excited, but I just hope the little tyke cooperates and isn't shy with showing us the goods, haha!

We will be SURE to let EVERYONE know when we find out :)

As far as names, we haven't settled on anything for certain, but here are some that we love!

BOYS:
Boston Cole
Hollis
Boone (but for a middle name)

GIRLS:
Harper Gray
Hollis
Abigail
Henley
Madeline

After Friday, I guess we will have to get cracking on this name stuff :)


On a non-baby note: I'm heading down to FL at the end of July (for a baby shower, haha), so prayers for safe travel are MUCH appreciated....and the intense heat down there...definitely not looking forward to that!! Also, Cody is going to start recording his album at the end of July, too, so we're very excited about beginning this new venture! Also, please pray for him and those involve, that they will make it a collaboration that's glorifying to the Lord and ultimately reflects His goodness and grace! Plus, pray for Cody choosing songs and songwriting; he's wanting to include some familiar worship songs, as well as some originals, too!

Well, that about wraps it up here! Hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying the gorgeous summer!!

Blessings,
LaRae

A cool God story

Before I became pregnant, Cody and I had discussed the possibility of having children and what that would look like in various circumstances: socially, relationally, physically and financially. Honestly, all of the other areas I was perfectly fine with the changes and had really thought about the changes. The aspect I was most 'concerned' with was financially.

So, when I did become pregnant some realities were about to start taking place! We had both discussed and desired for me to quit my job and prayed that the Lord would honor that request, but never really knew!

So, I had started crunching the numbers and began a hypothetical budget with just Cody's income... It didn't look good! We had a deficit that we had to have in order to pay our bills. It was small, but still a deficit! So, I began to pray and just give it over to the Lord. I knew He would either change something, provide in another way or simply change our hearts for me to return to work.

Going back a few months, I wrote about Cody's ordination, here. It was an awesome day that I feel God smiled on. To tie it all together, when someone is ordained they are able to claim 'clergy' status on our taxes and it changes a few things about our taxes (honestly I have no clue about the ins and outs). But, I finally got around to updating our taxes (right around the time I began praying for God to show us direction with this budget/one income stuff). Well, a few weeks went by and we didn't really talk about it anymore. But, around the end of May Cody said he got an email where his paycheck amount would change a certain amount starting the next pay period. The amount it would increase was nearly the EXACT number that we needed to have to survive on one income.

It was such a cool feeling! God had provided and had confirmed this decision we felt was from Him. To be super honest, when the discussion about going to one income began, The Lord was really working in my heart about materialism and how tightly I hold our finances. Aside from tithing, this was the largest decision (about finances) I had really just let go and let God take over. Who knows what the future will hold, but it's amazing to know that the Father has His hands wrapped all around us! So grateful to serve a might God!

Life in our House!

Well, it's been quite a while--life has taken some incredible and crazy turns, we've been so busy with the end of the semester and our College kids graduating and going on to the 'real world' and then there's the big news :)

If you read this blog, you probably already know, but Cody and I are going to be parents (pause for screams of the possible 1 person who doesn't know). Yup, it's true. Our little one is scheduled to make its appearance December 11, 2011 (12.11.11) that shouldn't be too hard to remember :)

But, more than just incubating a human, life has been so busy for us! We have been traveling to see family and friends, working our tails off towards the end of the semester and just plain BUSY!

One incredible thing that has been occurring in our home since last Thanksgiving is weight loss! Cody and I both have been really working on getting in shape and losing weight. We both packed on some pounds in college and the first few years of marriage and we knew we wanted to be healthier, especially if the Lord ever blessed us with a child. We really started back in August of 2010, but really got his tail in gear this past Thanksgiving. Pregnancy aside we both have been able to lose lots of weight--25 lbs for me and 100 lbs (and still counting) for Cody. Here's a picture from Easter.

Since then, I've gained about 7 of those lbs back with the pregnancy, but I'm still so happy that I got down 25 lbs before I actually had a reason to gain some back :)

Anyways, on to the next.... as many of you probably know, aside from the Worship Pastor, Cody is also the College Pastor at Northstar. We have had an incredible time getting to know so many amazing college students. We are surely going to miss those who just graduated, but excited that some are sticking around or coming back in the fall for jobs! A much belated, but still hearty CONGRATS to:

Emily Reed Love
Josh Wilson
Emily Bailey

We love you each so much and are so excited for God's plan for your future :)

Well, I guess on to the elephant....errr...baby, in the room....I'm pregnant! Yup, for whatever reason, God saw it fit to let Cody and I bring life into this world. Sometimes I'm still wondering if He made the right decision! But, nonetheless, we're on this train that doesn't stop until December and we're striving to enjoy every minute of it (minus the nausea, food aversions and exhaustion). I must give a shout out to my hubby--he's been seriously incredible. It's been so cool to see God begin to shape his heart and mold his character into becoming a father. He has always had such a loving, thoughtful and tender heart, but this new chapter has brought on new and incredible dimensions to our relationship. We (mostly me) are still adjusting to the idea of being a parent--so surreal! I am officially 12 weeks and 4 days...each Sunday is my 'week renewal'. So, starting Sunday I'll officially be in my 2nd trimester! Just in time for our vacation to California!!

Well, that about wraps it up--hope everyone is doing incredible and starting to enjoy the heat--oh boy, I know I am!!

Grateful,

LaRae

What's cookin' lately...

These are lemon cupcakes with fresh (organic) raspberry icing! I started selling them with my at-home bakery "Bloom {a cupcakery}"!

Hope this makes you anticipate the spring!

Seasons

This past week, there's been a very obvious transition from Winter to Spring (thankfully the weather cooperated with the First Day of Spring memo)! It's been so encouraging to see the changes! Aside from the typical exchange in shoe attire (HELLO, FLIP FLOPS! You have been so dearly missed!) a deeper change is occuring. I've been so aware of seasons within our lives as humans; single, married, children, empty-nesters, etc. The season we are in can be described in a few different ways, but most prominently we are labeled "Quasi-young married with no kids" (we're closer to thirty, now, so I felt obligated to write quasi-young).

I must admit, I'm so grateful for this stage. The past two years and nine months (we're 3 months away from 3 years, PEOPLE!) have taught me so much about myself and about my Lord, Jesus Christ. I have finally come to terms with the fact that I'm selfish and not as amazing of a spouse and I thought I was. I have flaws, way too many that I want to admit, and I have deep sins in my life that I never wanted to 'fess up' to. I have finally come to terms with God's plan being so much better and sweeter than I could ever imagine one of my own and I've finally begun to learn what true, deep forgiveness and grace looks like.

But, one of my absolute favorite parts of this season has been realizing that Jesus truly is my best friend and ever faithful Father. It seems so obvious and I knew it was true before, but really relishing in it and LIVING it is something completely different. I've begun to learn to worship and love on Christ, even when I don't feel like it or even when I have a million thoughts going on in my head. Laying those at His feet, KNOWING and being so utterly confident that He has them under control has given me a peace that truly passes all understanding. Seeing verses come to life within your life is astounding and amazing.

Another incredible season that I'm stuck smack in the middle of, is learning to be loved. I think once you begin to creep out of the 'honeymoon' stage of marriage, you begin to really see that this person loves you and even LIKES you for who you are. You don't have to be perfect or sweet (well, it's usually appreciated to be those things), but you can truly be yourself, in your good and bad. It really has been amazing how many times I think, "Wow, I would not be surprised if Cody threw in the towel today and did not want to be married to this monster!" His love for me has been a wonderful example of Christ's love for His bride, the Church. I am beyond grateful for his grace and love, his never ending apologies and even apologies when I should be giving them! He still has not stopped pursuing me and 'dating' me, even three years in!

Even when life is hard and even when times are tough, I am reminded that Jesus is faithful and He loves us with every ounce of His being.....He DIED for me; a concept I still have a hard time wrapping my head around, but something I'm ever so grateful for each day.

So, I guess my question for you is, what season does God have you in? How are you seeing Him work in that season and using you for His glory?

Hope y'all have a great day and enjoy some sunshine :)

In Him,
LaRae