Snow Day

We had a little bit of snow last week (Jan 20th) and of course in the South a half inch of snow closes the schools down! It was also VERY cold and a great day to stay inside and watch the inaugural events. Since it was Thomas' first snow, Josh took him out see a little bit of it. They weren't out there for long, but Josh managed to get a few pictures. Josh said Thomas didn't like the snow very much. In one of the pictures he is standing beside his swing and he was upset because snow was in the swing! He must feel the same way I do about snow - it is a hinderance!

Playing & Naming

I realized earlier this week that Thomas has reached a new milestone. When I walked into the nursery to get him on Sunday morning he was playing with the other kids. Up until now he has been with other kids, but never playing with them. It is neat seeing him interact with other children now and even better that he will soon have a little brother to play with - well, it will be a while before he can "play" with little brother. I had read at some point that at about 18 months toddlers begin playing with others, instead of playing alongside, and I'm glad to see he has now reached that point - yes, I'm a "by the book mom" as Josh likes to say!

Thomas is also doing great learning how to play alone in his room. We bought a gate this week to teach him he has to stay in his room for an allotted time. Yesterday, he was in there for over an hour and even shut the door! I listened in and he was having a great time. We are working hard on having a consistent schedule and thus far he is responding well to it. I really want some consistency in his day for him and for me.

On other news, still no name for this baby boy. We don't wait until the baby is born and you have to go the hospital and see the baby before you can know his name (just had to throw that in Chris & Amy!), but we just don't have a name yet. Josh always wanted a son named Joshua Thomas, and once he agreed we would call him Thomas, the name was settled. However, neither one of us are passionate about a particular name, and while I have given MANY ideas, Josh is still undecided. In fact, he told me today it would be "some time." He is still thinking about it, but I'm going to try to get him to make a decision by my birthday. If any of you have any (serious) ideas, we are listening!

A Model Prayer

I just finished reading Dr. Albert Mohler's blog today and I wanted to encourage any who read my blog to read it as well. This has been a hard day for me politically, because I find myself not wanting to support this president for many reasons (lack of experience, economic plans, defense, etc.). It has also been difficult spiritually for I am sinning against Almighty God when I fail to pray and respect the office President Obama holds. After reading this prayer, I have committed anew to pray for the president and for our nation.

The most disturbing part of Obama's agenda is to overturn executive orders that protect the unborn - it makes me sick to even think of it. Part of Dr. Mohler's prayer address this:

Father, we pray that you will change this president's heart and mind on issues of urgent concern. We are so thankful for his gifts and talents, for his intellect and power of influence. Father, bend his heart to see the dignity and sanctity of every single human life, from the moment of conception until natural death. Father, lead him to see abortion, not as a matter of misconstrued rights, but as a murderous violation of the right to life. May he come to see every aborted life as a violation of human dignity and every abortion as an abhorrent blight upon this nation's moral witness. May he pledge himself to protect every human life at every stage of development. He has declared himself as an energetic defender of abortion rights, and we fear that his election will lead directly to the deaths of countless unborn human beings. Protect us from this unspeakable evil, we pray. Most urgently, we pray that you will bring the reign of abortion to an end, even as you are the defender of the defenseless.

-

I hope you will join with me in praying for our new president and remembering that our God is sovereign in ALL things.

The Baby Is A....

Boy!!!

That's right - Thomas is going to have a little brother. Josh knew from the moment we first saw the baby's face that he was a boy. His first comment was, "That looks like a boy's face." And then when we saw his arm, "Yep, that is a boy's arm too." Of course I wasn't convinced until I saw the evidence. Just like Thomas, this baby boy wasn't shy one bit! You can clearly tell we are having a boy.

Many of you know that I was hoping for a girl (I had even dreamt this baby was a girl), but I am thrilled to have another boy! Josh is excited that Thomas will have a brother close to his age and that they can grow up together. I'm beginning to wonder what a house full of boys might look like. Josh's mom had two boys, my grandmother (dad's mom) had three boys...but we hope the Lord blesses us with many children so I'll get a girl one day, right?

We haven't decided on a name yet. We had a girl's name picked out, but we are unsure on a boy's name. And for those of you who knew what we were thinking for a boy's name - it is totally out. We have started the process all over, but I do think we have a good idea. I really like a name and Josh is pondering it. He just wants to make sure it "fits together."

And no we didn't go to Target today, but I do plan on buying a few baby boy outfits. This baby has to have something new - especially to wear home from the hospital.

Here is Baby Boy Culbertson's profile picture from the ultrasound - I hope he looks like Thomas!

Little Movements

Last Friday, while sitting at the computer, I finally felt the baby move! Since I'm not really sick anymore, I want "proof" (other than my expanding belly) that a baby is in there. Thankfully, baby is big enough and strong enough now for me to feel some movement. One of my favorite parts of pregnancy is feeling the baby and trying to figure out what body part baby is moving - a hand, foot, elbow, etc? I just love it! I'm not feeling baby move every day, but it is definitely becoming more frequent.

Tomorrow we get to see baby move for the first time! The ultrasound is at 9am in the morning and I can hardly wait! Of course I am anxious to find out if baby is a boy or a girl - and praying that baby won't be shy. I told Josh if this baby is a girl, we need to go to Target as soon as we leave the doctor's office so I can get something pink! He thinks I'm crazy, but he'll indulge me!

For all of you anxious to know if Thomas is going to have a brother or a sister, check back tomorrow!

A Woman After God's Own Heart

The title for this blog is the title of the book we are studying in our women's bible study. Last night was the first meeting and it went great! There are 22 women signed up and last night we had 15 (some of them I knew where they were...the rest I have to track down). Also, our ages range from 81 to 25 - Titus 2 is taking place! Since the ladies didn't receive the book until Wednesday night or last night, we just had an intro and getting to know you time.

I began by giving a brief testimony of how I came to know the Lord and my passion for teaching women the Word. This has been my heart's longing for sometime now and I'm so thrilled that so many other women wanted to participate. I really didn't expect for the other women to give a brief testimony, but most of them did. It was wonderful to hear a room full of women testify to the Lord's goodness in the midst of their trials, as well as how the Lord had brought them to Himself.

We are planning on meeting for 12 weeks and reading two chapters a week. The agenda is to discuss the chapters and the Scripture for 45 mins and then to break into groups of two or three for accountability and to share personal prayer needs. My hope is that we will hold each other accountable for reading the Word daily, as well as spur one another on to godliness.

The women who were there last night have a hunger to learn more of the Word and to know God more. This book is all about pursuing God and I think it will give us encouragement to follow diligently after our Savior. I'll leave you with the best quote of the night by an older lady, "I just began studying God's Word a few months ago and I realized I was missing so much and now I want more of it." Praise The Lord and may it be true for all of us!

Encouragment for Stay-At-Home Moms!

I just came across this great article on FamilyLife MomBlog entitled "Five Reasons You Didn't Waste Your Degree." The world, and for many of us family and friends, believe that women who are educated are wasting their time staying at home. My extended family have made comments about my dad "wasting all that money" sending me to college. And I know for sure the women's college I attended would think they didn't teach me the feminist agenda well enough. If you are struggling with the role God has called you to or have in the past, I hope this article is an encouragment to you!

http://www.familylifemomblog.com/2009/01/five-reasons-yo.html

By the way, I would highly recommend this website. They have helpful articles for women from many different godly ladies.

New Year and New Habits

Yes, it is almost a week into the new year and I'm just now posting! The only time I have to blog is now and most days I would rather be sleeping or reading. However, I have been meaning to post about some of the new habits I have begun this year and pray I can continue.

Personally - The Lord has given me a hunger recently to be in the Word more. It is easy to spend a certain allotted time with the Lord in the morning and then not to even reach for the Word throughout the day. This year I have committed to read the bible through using D.A. Carson's plan For The Love of God, which I commend to anyone. He gives you the Scripture to read each day and it will take you through the OT once and the NT & Psalms twice. Carson has also written a short theological devotion (not fluff that you find in many devotionals) corresponding to one of the passages.

I'm also committing to memorizing more Scripture. Last September, I decided I wanted to memorize Colossians because it is one of my favorite books. Thus far I have memorized chapters 1 & 2, so I'm halfway there! I did slack off some when I had the waves of nausea in the first trimester.

Family - Josh & I have committed to spending more quality time together and not simply sitting down in front of the television when Thomas goes to bed. It is so easy to zone out and let your mind dwell on trivial things. We are considering dropping cable all together, but we really like the news shows! However, we have the Internet and we can get all our news there.

Thomas has just dropped his morning nap and I've realized the need to have a schedule for him. Too often he is just wandering around the house playing with toys, but there is no structure to his routine. I just finished the book Toddlerwise and I'm taking some of the principles mentioned there to create a schedule that works for him. Right now he plays by himself if he wants to, but the goal is for him to play in his room for an allotted time that I set. Also, I want to be more deliberate in "mommy" time. By nature, I'm very task-oriented and it is easy for me to become so engrossed in cleaning or laundry or planning that I don't take the time I need with Thomas.

There is just a smattering of what I'm praying about and thinking through for this new year. Hopefully at the end of the year, by God's grace, I will have a deeper love for my Lord and my family!