the one about the big day

Lots of fun things happening today-should have an awesome post tomorrow.

Today is Adam's 27th birthday! Yay for my husband!!! He is my absolute favorite thing on earth. Hopefully we'll have a fun day celebrating him.

and then...tonight is my 10 year high school reunion? Can you believe it? Clearly, I'm not going. But, I am excited that my three all-time favorite high school friends are coming over here for lunch today. hoorah! I LOVE Bethany, Patrick, and Kevin!!!

[this is patrick, kevin, me, bethany, and brandon the night of our last hhs choir concert. those were the days!]

the one where she stands

Chloe Belle can stand on her own. for reals. I mean, she needs something to hold on to, but let's face it, she's a rockin awesome big girl.

the one with a verse

this has a hold of my life right now:

God said to Abraham in Genesis 17:1:
“I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless”

blameless:
-without defect
-perfect
>complete
>whole
-sound
-integrity
-innocent
-full

walk with God in wholeness. I feel like this is the theme to my life right now. I desire this wholeness with all that I am.

the one where I'm cooking

I'm making all of Chloe Belle's baby food. I love knowing exactly what she's eating, and it makes me feel all Betty-Crockerish. She loves it! Eats every last bite!!

the one where I have lots of catching up to do

It's been nearly a week since I posted. Sorry for the blog silence. I promise to make it up to you today and have tons of fun.

Gotta go fold laundry and spend some time with Jesus during CB's morning nap. Just wanted to put this up because its precious. I mean, really. My life is so stinkin rich.

the one where I remind you

to read the other blog that I write for: UMin.

UMin is the deal. love it.

the one with the beautiful girl

Yesterday we celebrated six months of life with Chloe Belle! We had a great day: we went to Aldridge Gardens [man was it hot!!], and then on a date [without Chloe, hee hee!].

I love my beautiful girl. Here are my favorite 6 things about the last 6 months:

1. I love all the fun I'm having. The laughing, giggling, awesome play time with CB is just great. A smile is permanently attached to my face.

2. I love being a family of three. I love the deeper level of companionship that has grown between Adam and I as we work together to raise a baby.

3. I love watching sweet Chloe grow. I love when she discovers new things, when outfits grow too small overnight, and watching her get stronger and smarter by the day.

4. I love how much she loves Adam.

5. I love how life as a mommy has deepened and strengthened my life as a child of God.

6. Most of all, I just love this relationship. My little girl and I are good buddies. I love loving her, and I love feeling our relationship strengthen. Its incredible joy to watch her face light up when she sees me. She's incredible, and this journey has been a blast.

Praise God for my beautiful child and for His glorious riches!

the one about grandaddy

My parents are out of town for a weekend at the lake [good for them]. I went by their house today to check on Grandaddy. I love my Grandaddy.

It's so hard to watch him these days. He can't hear, he has trouble getting out a complete sentence, his balance is horrible, and he struggles with some simple day-to-day tasks. As I was hanging out with him, I had an internal struggle going on with the Lord. Why is it fair that my Grandaddy lives like this? He loves Jesus, I mean loves Him. Why can't he just go on to be with Him? After all, Scripture says to die is gain, and nothing could be more true than that right now for Grandaddy.

I made us lunch and called him in to eat. When he sat down I wondered if I was going to need to say the prayer. But then he surprised me. He grabbed my hand and prayed a robust and totally with-it prayer to the Lord. Just when I was wondering where God's mercy was, it showed up. My Grandaddy may struggle to have a conversation with me, but he didn't struggle in the slightest when talking with his Savior.
As we started eating I thought about the prayer list my Grandaddy prays over each and every day. I was reminded of another Scripture, "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

To die is gain, but to live is Christ. For now, I trust that my Grandaddy lives to glorify God. And while he lives, his prayers are powerful and effective. That, my friends, is one full and rich life.

the one where I miss my husband

Adam is in NOLA for 5 days for a seminary workshop. He's taking Romans and Preaching from the Epistles. I'm so glad he's there learning about God's Word, but I miss him. I don't like waking up without him, spending my day without him, and I hate falling asleep without him. [Jimmie and Max do try hard to be a snuggle substitute, but its just not quite the same]

I miss my man. He's my best friend, my favorite companion, the partner of my life. Things just aren't as sweet unless they are experienced side by side with him.


I miss my Adam.

[this picture is old old. we had only been married about a month when we took this, but I love it. we were stinking happy]

the one that'll change your life

Follow this link and listen to this sermon. It's Bryan Gunn from Shades this past Sunday. It'll change your life-and I'm not being trite.

this. is. the. deal.

the one with my birthday surprise

Wowzer. I got a BIG surprise on my birthday. Adam came home from his school workshop this past Thursday (the day before my birthday) and told me my birthday present was on the front porch. I opened the door and there was Mandy!!!
In the summer of 2003 I spent 3 months in Brisbane, Australia with the IMB doing summer missions at Cleveland Baptist Church. I stayed with three families that summer-three of the MOST AMAZING families I have ever known. The first family I stayed with was the Heinrichs-Doug, Mandy, Ben, Mikaela, and Josh. That was seven years ago! I've seen the Heinrichs twice since then; once the next summer in 2004 when I came to visit and once a year and a half ago when they spent two months traveling the US visiting all their summer daughters.

Mandy is an amazing servant of God. She has taught me so much about what it means to be a godly wife, a loving mother, and a giving servant of God.

She was in the states for a wedding and kept it all a secret just so she could come down to Bham for my birthday and surprise me! That is love. I am overwhelmed that she loves me so.

I remember that summer in 2003. I remember thinking how amazing my God was. He took me across the world and showed me His greatness. Now, seven years later, He continues to amaze me. I serve a mighty Lord!!!

boy was I surprised.

i love her.

bday dinner at california pizza kitchen.
[i have the most beautiful daughter in the world]

family.

thank you Mandy and Adam for the best bday surprise I've ever had! I am blessed to have a husband and an Aussie mom who love me like you two do. I do not deserve God's gracious gifts!!

the one where I seriously love my husband

I love him. That's all I wanted to say.

the one where Chloe Belle likes to eat...or maybe just ham for the camera

the one with a happy morning

We spent about 24 hours in Beulah this weekend for the 4th. Have I ever told you that Chloe doesn't like to travel? I have so hyper-scheduled her that she goes off her rocker when things change. Great for a day at home-I can predict her sleeping, eating, playing to the minute-but not great for trips to Beulah.
So we put her in the car Friday night after her last feeding, let her fall asleep on the way, and then transferred her to the packnplay once we got there. I thought all had gone well until about 4:30am. She's up and she's unhappy. Well, normally, being the by-the-book Babywise momma I am, I would just let her cry. But, we're in someone else's home and I'm afraid she's going to wake someone up. So we're trying to comfort her to no avail. She's mad. So, I break all rules and feed her about 5am. This makes her very happy and she goes back to sleep. All in all, it was a high intensity frustrated hour. Did I mention that all 3 Keels plus 2 Keel dogs were all in one small bedroom together???

Anyway, just a few hours later I go to pick up my babygirl out of the packnplay to start a new day. I reach down and grab her, singing her sweet songs, telling her she looked more beautiful that morning than ever, dancing with her, and covering her with kisses.

It's funny that at 4am we were so frustrated with caring for her, but with the morning a new loved was ushered in. I fall in love with her all over again each and every morning. Its like nothing I've ever known.

Lamentations 3: 22-23 says:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Saturday morning as I was loving my sweet daughter, I thought about my great Father who lavishes me with mercy and compassion anew each morning. He rejoices over me with singing and remembers my transgressions no more.

I love being a parent. I am understanding more each day how much my God loves me. It overwhelms me.

the one with a messy baby