Grace Beyond Measure

It has been a long time since our last post but there is good reason for this. Truly these past few weeks have been physically demanding and extremely hard. I have lost about 14 pounds due to nausea and dehydration (visiting the emergency room once). Many days I am too sick to get out of bed. I've also experienced sever abdominal pain caused by constipation. Headaches and many other numerous problems have occured. And I have longed to be near family and friends from N.C., as during these trials they seem so far away!

But even in this and in all things, God is so good! And I have so much to praise Him for! I am so thankful for a husband who purposefully and diligently loves and cares for me everyday! I am thankful for the many prayers of those brothers and sisters in Christ, both near and far! And, of course, I am so very thankful for the blessing that God is kniting together in my womb!

No words can describe the emotions felt when I saw our child for the first time! Tears streamed down my face as we heard the heart beat, and as we saw our quite active little one moving about! Joy overcame me! Though I believed God was growing a child in me, nothing could describe what it was like to see and hear the child... these trials endured over the past weeks had not been in vain! Ah, what a sweet foretaste of what is to come when I see my Savior for the first time! When my faith shall be sight!

I remember turning to the Whitney (the ultrasound lady) and telling her, "It is nice to know that I am going through all of this for a purpose." Once again, a reminder... for every trial we endure really is for a purpose and that purpose is to be conformed into the image of Christ! Praise God!


Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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. II Corinthians 4: 16-18

Happy Turkey Day!

Our Thanksgiving started early! This is because the company where Carlos works had a huge Thanksgiving meal for all their employees and for the families of their employees on the Friday before Thanksgiving. There was a plethora of food. My contribution to this was a macaroni and cheese casserole, and I do have to say that Paula Deen did not let me down... it was delicious!

This was taken by Eric (Carlos's neighbor at work)

at Carlos's company's Thanksgiving Lunch

When the official week of Thanksgiving rolled around, I was one sick girl. Carlos was so diligent to love and care for me. I was reminded, yet again, of how he is an amazing gift from the One who gives such gifts! Carlos really wanted our first Thanksgiving to be just the two of us and I was looking forward to spending the day with him. Even once I got sick, Carlos was still determined that we would have our first Thanksgiving meal together and did all the grocery shopping!

Carlos manned the Turkey,
while I was in charge of fixing all the sides!

We have so much to be thankful for this year! The Lord has blessed us in so many ways... God provided us with such an awesome church family in Raleigh, NC and many authentic (most accurate word I could think of) friendships. Friends whom we still love dearly! It was so hard to move to Alabama, but God is so good!! It truly amazes me to ponder how quickly He has filled our life here in Alabama. We praise God for the church family He has provided for us here and the friendships already formed that have become so precious to us. Huntsville, AL is starting to feel like home!

WE HOPE EVERYONE HAD A THANKSGIVING FULL OF THANKFULNESS!

Our First Tree and Our First Post

Carlos and I went out the day after Thanksgiving to get our first Christmas Tree. It was so much fun! The setting was very beautiful! We went to Valley Christmas Tree Plantation, which is here in Huntsville (though it did take us about 30 minutes to get there). It was my first journey out of the house (because I have been sick) this week. Though I have been sick, we really enjoyed our first holiday together!! I will post on our Thanksgiving later!

This is a video of our experience.
Sorry it is sideways half the time!