2012 Resolutions

2011 was a year of many accomplishments! 

1. Celebrate the blessing and gift of five years of marriage to my best friend! (July 15).
2. Conceive our first child, Annelisa Grace, due April 10, 2012.
3. Buy our first home!
4. Seek and find a new church home to be a part of in our new community!
5. Celebrate 5 years of teaching 5th grade English Language Arts, Reading, and Social Studies at Northwood Hills Elementary.

I've never been good at making resolutions and keeping up with them throughout a year; however, I have made goals throughout my life and then by the grace of God, made strides toward reaching them! 2012 will be a year of major transition in our family...and in so being a good time to lay out some of my goals, hopes, and a prayer for the year ahead.

Goals:

1. Read for encouragement and spiritual growth
2. Read for pleasure
3. Read in preparation of my new job: Motherhood

Hopes:

1. to be a true helpmate, partner, and friend to my husband
2. to learn to be content within our new budget in preparation of living on one income
3. to be creative in shopping for necessities and 'wants'
4. to bless others through and with the blessings God has given us
5. to discover balance in my daily life through seeking God above all else
6. to develop new friendships through our new church home and small group
7. to transition gracefully to working within our home instead of outside it

My prayer for 2012:

Comes from Colossians 1:9-14, this is my paraphrase:

I pray asking that I may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May I be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified me to share in in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered me from the domain of darkness and transferred me to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom I have full redemption and the forgiveness of  my sins. 

After recording all of these goals, hopes, and my prayer, I have discovered my theme for 2012...Seek God, Strive to know Him more intimately and all of the other pieces of this life will fall into place according to His will for me and my family. 

May God bless you and your family with special memories of His love and blessings throughout the year ahead!  

Annelisa's Nursery: Update #2

It has been a very, very busy week around the Pailes' house! Needless to say, we just might need a vacation from this "week of vacation!" 

Since Monday there have been many changes to the nursery! Let's first review the completed items from the "to-do" list:

1. Paint the room...it will be a light green to coordinate with the fabrics we've selected. 
2. Find a book case. Ikea was a bust for the book case, but a win for the floating shelf...except the size we need was out of stock! Target proved the best, most cost effective choice for the book case! 
3. Install a dimmer switch on the overhead light to help for future middle of the night feedings and changings. 
4. Organize the closet...enough said! We started this process by first emptying it of all the items waiting to be donated! We donated it all today! 
5. Register!!! Amazon.com and Buy, Buy, Baby....there are still a few things for us (mainly me) to decide on...but it's mostly finished!! 

Some pictures of the nursery changes:

The book case; the door on the left is the closet, the door on the right goes to the hallway. 

The dresser, side table (for me!), and lamp! We absolutely love the paint, Sienna Laurel by Benjamin Moore!! 

The crib and side table! 

The dimmer switch!! I know that this feature will be sooooo helpful!! 

View from the doorway into the nursery! 

We still have some work to do...but it feels like the 'big' stuff is getting there!

Still to do:

1. Order/buy the  floating shelf from Ikea. The floating shelf will go above the dresser to display various items. 
2. Purchase the crib mattress from Amazon, it's currently on our registry...but needs to be bought sooner than later! 
3. I want to find some sort of wall art, perhaps a wall decal customized with her name from Etsy or something to go above her crib. Maybe frame some of my future maternity pictures to go above her book case...we'll have to wait and see what we come up with! :) 
4. Come up with window treatments!  Especially for the eye brow window. The eye brow window provides great natural light...however, it could bring in too much light...all of the photos above were taken with only natural light! So some sort of solution must be found! 
5. Finalize the registry with the last odds and ends....baby showers are coming soon!! :)
6. Put the glider/rocker into place once it arrives! (Only 5 to 6 weeks to wait!) 

Annelisa has received quite the collection of clothing, books, and stuffed animals thus far! Lots of people already love our little girl! I can't wait to introduce her to her family and many admirers! :)

Her stuffed animal collection! 

Her books! 

Some of her clothes! 

Her cute A&M rhinestone socks!

Three different A&M Onesies, they are also two different sizes. She's an Aggie already! :) 

A precious cardigan outfit she received for Christmas! 

Her first bows and a precious towel my mom gave me for Christmas! I can't wait to be a mom! 

Her first bibs!

Stay tuned for more updates in the future! Only 14 more weeks (give or take) until we get to meet our little girl! :)

Annelisa's Nursery

Annelisa's Nursery is very much underway! When we moved into our house in June, we knew which room would be the nursery; however, we never expected to be pregnant as quickly as we were...so the room began as a work out room.

At the beginning of December, we picked up the crib and the dresser was delivered! I had earlier posted that we had selected furniture from Lonestar Baby and Kids...then when shopping for some birthday gifts we walked through Pottery Barn Kids, just to look...when my husband found the Kendall Crib on sale. See, I had browsed their website earlier in the pregnancy, but had eliminated them based on the price point. When we discovered the sale price and found that the Kendall double wide dresser was also on sale, we were sold! We ordered both in the Espresso stain and are thrilled with the simple lines and functionality of each piece.

There are two items we have ordered that we are currently waiting on...

1. The side table, the weekend before Christmas we ordered it from Pottery Barn Kids and got a great deal thanks to reward dollars and a couple of coupons. (It was $5.10!!) This is going to be my 'mommy table.' The place for me to store snacks, water, and things to read while nursing Annelisa. It will go next to the glider. 
2. The glider...we ordered it today from J C Penny. It is bonded leather and it will hopefully transition to the game room when it's not needed in the nursery. It will go between the crib and the dresser, below the eye brow window. 

Things we need to do...

1. Paint the room...it will be a light green to coordinate with the fabrics we've selected. 
2. Find a book case and a floating shelf. The floating shelf will go above the dresser to display items for Annelisa and the book case is to store all of her books and toys (of which she's getting quite the collection). The book case will go next to the closet. A shopping trip to IKEA, should solve this dilemma for us, hopefully! 
3. Purchase the crib mattress from Amazon. 
4. I want to find some sort of wall art, perhaps a wall decal customized with her name from Etsy or something to go above her crib. Maybe frame some of my future maternity pictures to go above her book case...we'll have wait and see what we come up with! :) 
5. Install a dimmer switch on the overhead light to help for future middle of the night feedings and changings. 
6. Change out the window treatment and come up with some sort of solution for the eye brow window. The eye brow window provides great natural light...however, it could bring in too much light, especially early in the morning! So some sort of solution must be found! 
7. Organize the closet...enough said! 
8. Register!!! This is planned for later this week...it's still very overwhelming! However, I've had lots of good advice from other moms and we've been reading Baby Bargains, The 11th Edition. Hopefully, this process will work itself out with our efforts! 

I am most excited and blessed by my mom! She has offered to make all of the bedding for Annelisa's room. She helped us find the fabrics on-line. They are perfect! We wanted a pink and green scheme for a girl all along! 

The pink stripes will be the crib skirt, the floral will be the bumper, the green polka dot will be a ruffle on the bumper and the inspiration for the paint color. There are several other fabrics from the collection that will be going into the quilt, and that will be used in a couple of sheets. It will be lovely and girly when it's all finished! I can't wait to see it all come together! 

I'm looking forward to meeting our little lady, Annelisa Grace! 

24 Weeks and Counting

24 weeks complete, approximately 16 weeks to go! 

It's been a while since I've updated the blog with pregnancy details...

At this point, I'm closer to 25 weeks complete in my first pregnancy. We are having a little girl, Annelisa (pronounced: Anna Lisa) Grace Pailes....and with each passing week I look forward to meeting her more and more!

Since my last update, lots of changes have occurred...

24 Weeks 

The week of Thanksgiving, I measured 19 cm, this past Thursday I measured 27 cm...yes, I grew almost 10 cm in about four weeks. This explains a lot of the ligament pain I've experienced. I seem to grow in waves, every couple of days I seem to expand and then balance out for a day or two.

I've gained 14 pounds (according to my doctor's office) total thus far.

Annelisa is becoming the quite the mover and shaker, especially at night or early in the morning when I'm still. New this week, some of her kicks shake my whole abdomen...which feels really funny and looks even funnier! She really likes going to church...I think it's the music combined with the stillness of me sitting for an extended period of time.

My next appointment is January 19, 2012. I'll be having an ultra sound to check Annelisa's growth since I grew more than expected during the last four weeks. I'll also receive the Rhogam shot since I'm O- and my husband is O+, then I'll be tested for gestational diabetes and anemia. Most importantly, I'll see my doctor for the first time in almost 12 weeks, since she's been on maternity leave herself. I'm not worried about the need for an ultra sound, yet. We'll have to see what they find, and it's very likely that I just popped out this month and I'm praying that God continues to grow our little girl healthy and strong!

Tomorrow, I will update the blog with the status of the Nursery...lots of changes here too!

Merry Christmas!

The Best Christmas, Yet! 

On this Christmas night, I'm feeling quite blessed with where God has me! A few short years ago Christmas away from 'home' was still new, uncomfortable, and difficult. Yet, I've grown and matured and come to covet Christmas with my husband at our home, with our traditions, and the joy of sharing those with our families.  2011 has been an eventful year of many firsts: we bought our first home, we conceived our first child, we hosted our first Christmas. 

To recap our Christmas:

Tuesday, December 20: My sisters arrived to share and help in the joy of Christmas, primarily making dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies. Between Tuesday evening and Thursday evening we made (they did a lot of the work) 2 batches of sugar cookies (approximately 100+ cut-outs that were then iced and decorated!), 2 batches of gingerbread cookies (approximately 50+ cut outs that were iced and decorated), 4 dozen peanut butter blossoms, a jam cake, and muddy buddies (a.k.a. puppy chow). Don't worry too much, this was all for good purpose...to ship to our grandparents, to feed, and delight our families for Christmas Eve and day. Most importantly, I was closely monitored in my sugar consumption! 

Friday, December 23: My mom and dad arrived...we all visited family friends from forever in my memory and enjoyed an afternoon of catching up. 

Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve! 

We went to church at what is becoming our new church home, Allen Bible Church. The service was wonderful, filled with carols, the story of Christmas adapted from the Jesus Story Book Bible (which I highly recommend!), and the conclusion of advent with the Lord's Supper. This Christmas season will be remembered for many years to come as I feel a close kinship to Mary. Last night as the pastor walked through the five candles of Advent (grace, light, redemption, humility, and Christ), I was reminded of the little girl growing inside me with lively kicks. Mary was a trooper, riding a donkey at near full term, giving birth in a stable amid the animals, welcoming the King of Heaven in human form to this earth....I can't imagine how she felt as she "pondered these things quietly in her heart." I am so thankful to know my King and the reason for this season as Philippians 2 so adequately describes...not the birth of Jesus, but why Jesus came, to save each of us. 

Phil. 2:6 ¹⁰ 

who though he existed in the form of God ¹¹ 

did not regard equality with God

as something to be grasped,

2:7 but emptied himself

by taking on the form of a slave, ¹² 

by looking like other men, ¹³ 

and by sharing in human nature. ¹⁴ 

2:8 He humbled himself,

by becoming obedient to the point of death

– even death on a cross!

2:9 As a result God exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

2:10 so that at the name of Jesus

every knee will bow

– in heaven and on earth and under the earth –

2:11 and every tongue confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord

to the glory of God the Father.

Then we hosted both sides of our families for Christmas Eve dinner! Over the last several years I've enjoyed developing our tradition of hosting my husband's family for Christmas Eve, making tons of cookies for dessert, and watching everyone enjoy themselves. This year was extra special because my family was here too! Our house was full of people! It was glorious! Watching people eat, talk, and share life together! I don't think I enjoy many things as much as blessing people through hosting them. Our families hadn't been together like this since our wedding almost 5 and 1/2 years ago! The overall consensus was that the evening was a great success! 

Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day! 

It was so fun to have Christmas with my family in our living room! Opening presents, laughing, playing Santa, and having breakfast together! My family left to go home and we were able to sit and process the blessings of this Christmas thus far. Then we prepared to go to my sister and brother-in-law's house for Christmas dinner and more gifts with my husband's family. 

We were immensely blessed by our families in the gifts we received today! However, in the midst of the getting, I know I'm enjoying the giving more! Watching my family members light up with excitement as they open each gift is priceless. 

Next Christmas, my pleasure will be to help our little girl experience the joys of Christmas! To begin to teach her the meaning of this season and to watch her discover this part of our life! 

Merry Christmas everyone! I pray that God has blessed you through this season of celebrating His birth! 

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Currently, we've been forced by circumstances to find our way through a jungle of possibilities to make various decisions! Decisions of what baby furniture to buy, which church to attend, and how to balance this stage of life with grace.

So, a week ago, we decided to start looking in earnest for baby furniture...we headed to Stacy's Furniture in Allen, having heard about their Ooh, Baby section. Well, this section is no longer in their stores...alas, we looked at area rugs. (I must caveat this statement by saying, that since we started working on furnishing our dining room, I've wanted, or even strongly desired a rug to go under the table and chairs.) We had never looked at area rugs before and really had no idea how the process would work; so with plenty of help from our sales agent and the rug professionals, we proceeded to look through an almost five foot tall stack of rugs. Finally, deciding on the one we brought home....We really think it makes the room! Most importantly, Farley agrees, since he will actually go in the dining room because there is a rug, instead of the cold ceramic tile floor!

Someday, we will have some sort of art on the walls, a fun center piece, and possibly a buffet....but for now, we could have twelve people for dinner and everyone be able to sit at a table!! Which I find very exciting!

Since we were unsuccessful in selecting baby furniture last weekend, we set out again yesterday to look at Lonestar Baby and Kids. We found their selection to be plenty overwhelming but their sales staff to be courteous and honest about the quality of various brands without being pushy. We spent a couple of hours in their store and by the time we left we had a quote for the collection we liked best (more deciding!). We will likely order it the first part of  December, so delivery happens by the beginning of February at the latest.

More pictures of the Baby's Dream Legendary collection can be seen here.

We have been prayerfully searching for a new a church home since June when we moved into our new home. During the past five months we visited six different churches in the Plano, Allen, and McKinney area. We definitely saw in each venue how God was using it to reach and teach His people; however, none seemed like a fit until five weeks ago! See five weeks ago we were beginning to feel like perhaps we were too picky, or that we had not found all the options, or maybe it just wasn't time yet. Then that Saturday night, my husband began researching online again, and looked more closely at one we had seemingly crossed off the list without really learning about it. So, he decided that we should visit it the next morning and we've been every week since! The church is Allen Bible Church and from the first moment we felt right at home, each week we've been greeted and welcomed by a different person or family and have left with an increasing sense that this is where we belong. I know that God will continue to grow us and this church and I trust Him to guide us to a change in the future if and when it is needed. I am very excited to begin the process of getting plugged into this church and building new relationships!

Finally, the preggo update!

How far along am I?
18 weeks, 5 days.

Are you going to find out the gender?
Yes, on Monday, November 21.

Have you decided on names yet?
Sort of....we are close on a boy's name and working on a girl's name. Keep in mind, though, we are keeping the name a secret until birth in April!

How are you feeling?
I can  tell a difference in my energy level increasing over the last several weeks, however during the week I'm usually asleep by 8:30 or 9:00....I consider it a hazard of my job combined with pregnancy.

Have you felt the baby yet?
Yes, the first time was on Thursday, November 3, on my way home in traffic. This past week I was feeling the baby even when I was doing something. Friday night, I felt like our baby was playing soccer as I was falling asleep in bed. I marvel each time I feel it! Pregnancy is a miraculous process.

Pictures!


Mom sent me this in the mail! (17 weeks)



17 weeks



18 Weeks, Five Days, Four months Complete

Check back around Thanksgiving for a REVEALING post!!

14 Weeks and counting!

A secret has been kept from some...at this point most know...WE'RE GOING TO BE PARENTS!!

After five years of marriage and a wonderful 3 year old Westie pup, we've taken the plunge into becoming parents (to a human). I'm 14 weeks, 4 days, due April 10, 2012. The first trimester was interesting...I felt "normal" for the first 7 weeks or so...

At the end of July we confirmed that we would have our own little one. 

Then as school was beginning to start back, I started to feel, well simply put, not like myself. I felt "green" as in seasick "green." I had almost no appetite, everything tasted different and bad, and I was nauseous most of every day for about six weeks. I lost weight...which was not something to be super concerned about since the baby would take whatever it needed from me regardless of how I felt, but needless to say, it made me concerned. Then on August 30, we got to see our little bucket for the first time and hear it's heart beat (154 beats per minute)! Simply put, AMAZING!! How something so small can be seen and heard. Everything looked great, and developing according to plan. I am so thankful to God that our baby is growing and that I am not classified as a high risk pregnancy!

One of our first baby pictures! 

Fast forward to October 4, 13 weeks pregnant....start of 2nd trimester! I was definitely starting to feel better and find my groove. At this point, I must brag on my wonderful husband...without his constant love and support I wouldn't have found "my groove." He is why we made it through the first six weeks of school, he was the one who made sure we ate, made sure dishes were clean and put away, that laundry got done, and that I was ready to face each day of school. If it had just been up to me, we wouldn't have had any of those things or been ready for anything! God blessed me immensely through my husband's unconditional love to care for me and our baby so well...and this love hasn't stopped, either! :)

13 Weeks, I'm starting to show! 

14 Weeks, 3 days...a better view of the baby bump. 

Even though we've entered the rumored "best trimester," I've still not felt well on some days over the last couple of weeks. However, I have faith, especially after today, that I'll be having more good days in the future than bad!

FAQ's:
Will you find out the gender? 
Yes, on November 23! Happy Thanksgiving!

Do you want it to be a boy or girl?
A happy healthy baby, please! AKA...we won't tell you!

Are you thinking about names?
Yes, but again, they are secret...until birth! So you'll just have to live with the baby, being called baby, the little bucket, or Optimus (or Optima) Pailes!

What are you craving?
This week...Chocolate Milk....which was very surprising since I have had HUGE aversions to all things chocolate since August!

What was the biggest food aversion?
Meat: raw or cooked...just didn't want to taste, see, smell large quantities....which was weird. Sweets: I've always had a sweet tooth and it has basically left the building....I have to really be in the mood for a dessert!

What was your most annoying symptom?
Nausea
Extreme Exhaustion
Motion Sensitivity
Extra Saliva...brushing my teeth was really interesting for a couple of weeks.

What are you most looking forward to during the next six months, aka before baby?
Getting to spend quality time with my hubby! I love doing life with him!

The First Days of School

The first day of school was August 22, 2011 and this is bound to be my most interesting year so far. For starters, our fifth grade is full! I mean so full that six children who wanted to be at our little school have been transferred elsewhere, so full that I have 30 wonderful, funny children in my homeroom, and 29 wonderful, funny children in my teammates homeroom. Needless to say, space is a premium within the four walls of my classroom.

With the passing of the first two weeks of school, I've learned several things about my students.

1. They are very funny and sweet! 
2. They don't think they like to read! (Warning: this is a generality!) 
3. My expectations have blown their socks off! 
4. Learning how to think is crucial skill that will be practiced many times a day. 

I'm am very excited to see their progress this year and watch them obtain and exceed the goals I've set for them and the goals they will set for themselves. 

Now, let me introduce you to my classroom, B-113! 

This view is from the back of the room, next to my desk. 

Looking from the back of the room to the south, my wall of windows! 

Looking towards the North, the hallway. I think all classrooms should start blank and then as you go through the year the walls fill up!
Two weeks into school none of my walls are looking empty! 

The back of the room, my desk and small group reading area. 

Welcome to B-113! 

The view into my room from the doorway. 

Lots of learning, reading, and THINKING happens here! 

Enter at your own risk!! 

End of Summer Friday Five

Today is the last day of my summer! It's been an interesting 12 weeks of life in the Pailes' household. So as I prepare to return to my classroom on Monday morning, this Friday Five is themed around summer, more specifically, the top five events of summer of 2011!

# 5. Galveston--Family Beach Getaway
Sadly, it was a beautiful weekend! No clouds, clear cool Gulf waters, and a gorgeous condo resort! And I ate nearly all the shrimp I could find for the two dinners we ate on the Island. However, my family became very ill with a vicious stomach bug, so my very wise husband made the decision that we should leave early in order to make it home before it hit us, or even better to avoid the bug altogether. We never got sick, in case you're curious, but this trip to the beach totaled a BUST! There's always next year!! Which we've always started talking about!! :)

#4. Fourth of July Weekend
My family came and stayed with us for the 4th of July. A couple of things you should know about my family....the 4th of July is my dad's favorite holiday, thus growing up we have possibly more traditions for the 4th than any other holiday. We make homemade ice cream outside in the big ice cream maker with the rock salt and all. We go to a parade (above picture of my sisters and I at the McKinney Parade this year!). We also eat hamburgers, potato salad, and lots of watermelon. It was so fun to have a full house for the first time and celebrate the fourth with all the usual Canon family traditions. One side note to the fun weekend....Christopher was still recovering from sinus surgery....so his involvement steadily increased throughout the weekend. We look forward to many more "full house" family weekends!

#3. Girls Trip!! 

These lovely ladies and I go back seven years to my junior year at A&M when we met in a Growth Group Bible study at Grace Bible Church. God has immensely blessed our friendship! It was fun to reconnect in Austin for a fun get away of shopping, eating, room service, and of course chatting! We are all married now, and live in three separate cities...so our lives are beginning to take different paths, yet we could still chat, laugh, and connect. These ladies are special uncommon friends for me! 

#2. Our First House!! 

We closed on our house May 9, and moved in the first weekend of summer, June 4!! With lots of help from my parents!! We have settled in completely and feel immensely blessed to live here! When we started the process to look for a new home, I had a mental wish list that I didn't believe would be found in one house in our price range! Well, God blessed us with a house that checks every box on that mental wish list!! Our prayer has been all along to bless others with the home that God blessed us with! This summer we've been able to use our home to bless others with fellowship through family get-to-gethers for both sides of our family, a baby shower for dear friends, and a lunch with my bible study ladies to conclude the summer. I'm excited to live here and see what God has in store for us within these walls! I have a feeling it will never be dull! :) 

#1. Fifth Anniversary Surprise! 

We celebrated five wonderful years as husband and wife on July 15. My darling husband planned a wonderful surprise for our celebration! He planned it all and kept the details a secret!! All he told me is what to pack! The weekend included reservations at the Worthington in downtown Fort Worth , reservations at Del Frisco's for our anniversary dinner, and in-room couples massage on Saturday morning!! We also enjoyed Sundance Square and all the restaurants and entertainment available there! It was a weekend that will never be forgotten!! 

What are your top five events of the summer? Is there something that stands out about one of them to make it better than the rest? Until June 1, 2012, Summer is concluding!! Stand by for funny fifth grade outtakes!! I hope and pray that this is my best year yet! :) 

First Friday Five

Hopefully, all the changes I've made (over and over again) haven't been too distracting. Apparently looking at free blog templates has consumed many hours of my life during the previous 24....I think I'm happy now....we'll have to wait and see. I was hoping for a beachy scene to go with "Buckets of Insight." Not only am I now a Pailes (lovingly called a Bucket from time to time), but buckets are almost always used at the beach when building sandcastles....which is one of my favorite things to do while at one of my favorite places on earth. 

Now to the Friday Five! 

I must admit that this is not the most original idea out there, since I've seen it from time to time on a blog I have followed for over a year....Treasures from the Cardboard Box. Plus some radio stations across our great country have a daily five at five for the drive home. (This concept has always confused me....since most people I know don't consistently leave their job at 5 PM....but this is a different topic!)

So for my first Friday Five I'm going to focus on five things I've learned from David (as in the author of many Psalms, and the man who is described in great detail in 1 and 2 Samuel).

This summer I've been blessed with an "uncommon" group of ladies to study and learn about David, through the Beth Moore study entitled David: Seeking a Heart Like His.  I must say that having grown up in the church, attending Sunday School, and summer camps I felt like I already knew a lot about David. However, the beauty of following Christ and studying the scriptures is that no matter how much I think I know, God makes the scripture come alive in new ways to suit whatever stage of life I'm in.

5. Jealousy hurts! (From Weeks 1 and 2)
Saul was the first King of Israel, and became quickly jealous of David, whom God had anointed to be the next King. (For more of the story see 1 Samuel 18.)
My lesson learned....jealousy hurts relationships whether or not the words are spoken or kept inside our own minds. Jealousy hurts when you feel it may be directed at you. Jealousy is a real emotion, that I'm guilty of at times...more often than I'd like to admit. Saul's example in 1 Samuel 18...teaches an important lesson because he continued to harbor jealousy towards David that eventually lead to his death at the beginning of 2 Samuel. Not that our own jealousies will lead to our death physically, but how many relationships in our lives do we kill slowly with jealousy?

4. Common Bonds, Uncommon Friends (Week 2, Day 4)
David became once-in-a-lifetime friends with King Saul's son Jonathan. Despite David's life on the run to avoid Saul's jealousy, Jonathan and David enjoyed a relationship that rivals most (if not all) of my friend relationships. Beth Moore made three big points during this lesson that helped me reflect on the relationships in my life.
#1: Uncommon friends can speak their minds without fear. 
In how many relationships can you honestly speak your mind without fear? I know that this fear can come in various packages....will they make fun of my comment, what will they think when I speak up, will my thoughts be respected no matter if they agree, and on and on the list of fears can go....
#2 Uncommon friends can speak their minds without shame. 
How vulnerable are you in your relationships? I mentioned in my first post that I don't like to reflect, well I, also, am not a fan of putting all of me out there to be vulnerable with others. This is hard! I think because it so closely connects to Beth Moore's first point....fear! I'm afraid to be vulnerable due to fear of how I'll be received and whether or not I'll be met likewise by those I'm with.
#3 Uncommon friends stay close even at a distance. 
David and Jonathan weren't often together to hang out and be friends in person. David spent much of his youth running from Saul, Jonathan's father, and living in caves. Yet, whenever David and Jonathan were together they could pick up where they left off.
I've realized that this type of relationship is very difficult to come by... because as we live the lives God has for us, our friends are living theirs... and sometimes our lives start to take different paths. We can still connect, but our interests could change, changing our bonds.

3. Why I've continued to feel lonely....
This lesson came from the fifth DVD video session. I know that each of us in our group were greatly impacted by this lesson for a variety of reasons, which is why studying scripture in a small group is so amazing....it can touch each of us in a different way!

This lesson began with a target that Beth Moore used to illustrate Christ's model of relationships for which we, as Christians, should follow. So visualize a target, one like at Target (the store), it will need to have more rings....but I think you get the idea.
The outermost ring: The World--Christ knew and loved the whole world. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believes in him will have everlasting life. The purpose of having a world view is to witness to the world by being aware that others are out there in the world in need of a savior! Christ was globally focused...he came to seek and save the lost! All of the Lost! 
The next ring in: The 72--represented today as the local church body. Within the body of Christ we are to serve. (Luke 10:1-2) This is something I'm missing in my heart.  At the beginning of the summer we moved into our new home! YEA! But with that came the realization we both knew in our hearts that we wanted to serve, worship, and build community with fellow believers in our new community. So this leaves me missing Northwest Bible Church....very much....I'm missing everything from the people (a lot) to the pastor's heart to the worship on Sundays.
The next ring in: The 12--Discipleship (small group of believers to study and grow with in the Word of God). I've been blessed with a couple of groups of women that have provided discipleship in my life....and with the coming of a new school year the time to meet and study and pray together gets shorter and more difficult to arrange. Not impossible...simply more difficult....again finding and building relationships with women in a local church in our community could fill this coming hole in my target.
The next ring in: The 3--Transparency...these are the people closest to you, the ones that really, really know you, they know your good stuff and your really bad stuff. They probably know things about you that most people wouldn't know unless they lived in our house for a couple of weeks, dare I say months. Christ had a group of three out of his twelve that went with him further into the Garden of Gethsemane the night of his crucifixion to pray...they were his closest friends on earth that he wanted to be prayer warriors by his side as he prepared for the ultimate sacrifice....to save you and me!
The inner most ring: The 1, intimacy with God....for some stages of our lives God needs to take us deeper still beyond our relationships on earth to a place where He alone can suffice! This can be a difficult road for us to travel with Him, it requires trust of His plan at work in our lives knowing as scripture tells us in Romans that He works all things together for our good....even the painful things, that we may never know the good behind are for our good! Praise be to God the maker of all things!

Why do I feel lonely....well I think it's due to having some "holes" in my target! I haven't reached a place in many years where I haven't felt lonely....it's a strange thing since I'm often with people (and ones I care about a lot) yet, I feel lonely. This lesson spoke volumes to me as to possible causes of my lonesomeness and a way to begin to seek Christ to fill this very real feeling in me. {This does connect to David...however that was not my biggest lesson learned from this session.}

2. God has promised good things to me. I know that God has brought me "so far" because I've become convinced that God ONLY wants to do good. (My paraphrase from teaching point 3, of the session's notes.)
This lesson is from DVD session 6...Beth Moore paired these scriptures with each phrase to drive home the point that God is interested in doing good in believers lives. The theology of each truth could be difficult for some to believe...that is why one must have faith in a very big God who only wants to do good in our lives!

• Romans 12:2: God's will for us is good.
• Phil. 2:13: God's purpose for us is good.
• Phil. 1:6: God's work in us is good.
• 2 Thess. 2:16: The hope God has given us is good. 
• Eph. 2:10: The works God created for us are good. 
• 1 Tim. 1:18-19: The fight God calls us to fight is good.
• James 3:17: The fruit God produces in us is good.
• James 1:16: The gifts God gives us are good.
• Hebrews 13:21: God equips us with everything good.
• Romans 8:28: God works all things together in our lives for good.

1. I am righteous! (Psalms 32: 6,11 and Romans 4:1-8) 

This is from DVD session 8....

I have a hard time believing with faith (as mentioned in #2) that God has really made me righteous....I think this is due to all the work I do in my own strength and self to try to make myself  "righteous" by being good....when in reality I'm righteous because of my belief in Christ and His ability to make me a new creation, NOT my behavior or attempts to be "good enough!" 

This is a lesson that God has been teaching me for many years....and each time it hits me square between the eyes. I can't do enough to earn God's favor! I can't say enough nice things, or do enough good things for others to guarantee eternity with my Savior.

Instead I must believe that Christ was sent to save me and all my faults from eternity separated from HIM! Praise God for his Saving Grace! 

If any of my reflections have left you with questions about what I believe...please comment a question or talk to me in person. I would love to share my heart in person behind these lessons from David.