Showers of Blessings

I know, I know... It's been a while since the last post. Sometimes it feels like there are not enough days in the week or hours in the day! Maybe it's just that everything is taking  me longer and longer to accomplish. As my body is stretching and growing, it just doesn't have the ability to move as quickly and swiftly as it used to. 

I do have to say these last couple of weeks of pregnancy have provided me with a good reminder that I need to slow down. I have to remind myself that it's ok if I don't say yes to every invitation, or bake every type of cookie on my Pinterest board. Especially because I might will be the one to eat them all! Its comforting to know that my biggest responsibility right now is to my family and keeping Camden happy and healthy.

One invitation that I knew I didn't want to turn down though was the one for my baby shower! A few friends of mine got together to plan and throw my shower. It was perfect. I got to spend the morning with women that I have grown to love and appreciate over the last few months. We talked, enjoyed some games, ate, laughed and prayed. They all laid their hands on my belly and prayed over me and Camden. It is so fun to be a part of a group of friends that take the time to do that. What a blessing!

These ladies showered us with diapers,wipes, clothes, lotions, shampoos and lots of other baby necessities. It's amazing how much stuff you use and need for such a tiny human being. I feel so blessed to have these women do something special like this for us.

Another event that Philip and I didn't want to miss was our prodigy Christmas party. We had a night where the other guys in the prodigy program and their spouses decided to have dinner together, and then have a small gift exchange afterwards. It was a night full of delicious Italian food, laughter and encouraging one another. Going through something like the prodigy program is one of those things that you can't fully understand unless you go through it also. It is such a blessing to know that we have been able to do that with this wonderful group of people.  They have helped make this experience one that we will look back on and never forget.

As this season of prodigy ends, and we gear up for the next season of 3 AM feedings and dirty diapers, I can't help but wonder if God has been using these last six months to help prepare us for what this next season holds in store. I can't tell you right now what that even looks like. But I do pray that God will use the many things we've learned and the friends we've made to continue to grow, shape and mold us into His image.

I pray that you will take a few minutes to look at the way that God may have showered you with blessings in this last season, and how he might use them in the next. Hey, maybe you could even take some advice from this very pregnant mama and waddle through these next couple weeks rather than run.  When you slow down and remove things that don't matter as much,  its easier to see where and how He's working!

With Love, From Charlotte

Traveling For Turkey

This year Our soon to be bigger family did something we haven't done for Thanksgiving before. We weren't able to fly home for this fun holiday, due to needing to be here in Charlotte for the weekend and the fact that the turkey in my oven is about ready. My belly button has been poking out, and Philip often tells people that that is how we know that Camden's getting close to being done :) Anyways, back to our new Thanksgiving experience. We drove to Ohio to spend a few days with my mom's side of the family. We got to see aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. It was so nice to be able to spend time in the comfort of Grandma and Grandpa's home, while eating Grandma's yummy food and snacking on Grandpa's popcorn. 

We drove halfway there on Tuesday night and finished the trip Wednesday morning. Upon our arrival, Grandma had a big pot of taco soup waiting for us, and then we all crashed for an afternoon nap. I think Parker and Philip were competing with how long they could nap :) they tied at about 3 hours! We finished the lazy afternoon with ordering pizza and chatting with the family. Philip and I got to go to the late showing of Hunger games after we put Parker down for the night. It was almost like what life was like before kids... I'm just lucky I didn't fall asleep in the movie!

Thursday was filled with prepping the Thanksgiving meal, and playing in the freshly fallen snow.  It was Parker's first experience with snow, and it was hard to pull him away from it as we got ready to eat. 

Lunch was followed up with some football, and in and out dozing as we browsed the ads for Black Friday. I decided to brave a couple stores with my aunt while Philip took Parker to the movie Frozen that evening. Parker had a blast and got to eat popcorn throughout the movie. He would say "popcorn please" and then "thank you Daddy" after every bite. Hard to say no to that, right?  

On Friday we headed over to my aunt's house where we took some family pictures with my cousin Nicole. She had been practicing taking pictures of couples and families, and I asked if she wouldn't mind practicing on us. She captured some really sweet moments, and made my life much easier by supplying us with our Christmas pictures and maternity pictures all at once. The rest of the day consisted of naps and reading. Philip also got to go to the shooting range with my Uncle Tom. Overall , it was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip. We did make the trek back home on Saturday pretty quickly since Philip needed to be back for church in the evening.

We ended our weekend with a wonderful morning of worship and start to our Christmas series, Times and Seasons.   As we all enter into this especially busy season, Philip and I pray that we don't wish it away, but that we see God's blessings and ever present grace in each and every season. We know that it is so easy to get caught up in the lists of things to do, especially with a baby coming, but I plan to try to live in this time as much as I can.  As we wrap up the Prodigy Program, we will soon know where God will have us in this next season. But until then we have faith that God is in control, and that he will provide us with each next step. We pray to be obedient and respond to his callings. Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement!  We pray you will also hear and obey God's calling in your life! Happy Thanksgiving!

With love, from Charlotte