This is a guest post that I am very excited to share! A few years ago I can across a blog called A Rather Unusual Maiden for God and met a girl named Rebecca :)

We quickly became very good friends and over the years she became a sister of my heart :) Jason and I were so excited to actually get to meet her in real life along with her now husband Justin! You can read about that visit here: "Meeting Katy and Jason".

God has been doing some really neat things in her life including her marrying her prince and to chronicle this new chapter of her life she has started a new blog entitled Butterfly Days. Please feel free to stop by and meet her :) She is an amazing person and truly a blessing from God in my life :) And now without further ado-here is her guest post:


One beautiful spring day last year my brother was outside when he heard strange noises coming from a bush. Being the ever curious one, he set out to investigate. He found a Robin trapped. Some string was tied around her leg and had snagged onto a branch. Try as she might, the Robin could not get free.

My brother managed to catch the robin, and gently untangle the string and remove it from her leg. Then he let her go. She was free!!

I sometimes feel trapped by problems, and end up making a fine mess of it on my own. Thinking of the Robin makes me realize- I too can't get out of trouble alone!! Just like when the robin couldn't free herself. She needed a rescuer. My brother rescued that little bird and she was free!
So when troubles come I turn to my Redeemer, and He "frees" me.


I have trouble with.... Worrying. I worry and worry and worry….. lol. Many young ladies tell me they suffer the same affliction. I often become tangled in this web called "worry" till I am so consumed in my worrying that I forget to call upon my Savior.

I know the Lord is in Control of every situation- but I need to make this "head knowledge" into "heart knowledge".

Psalm 27 is one of my favorite passages to read when I am worrying, it is a beautiful comfort to me.
It is also a blessing to go to my husband when worries come. Justin will always stop what he is doing and hold me close and remind me that I don't need to worry. I am blessed!!

If you ever find yourself worrying, the best way to stop is…

-pray!
-read a few psalms
-talk to someone who you can count on for encouragement.

(Source)

IT IS COLD!!!!!!

Tonight we went over to a friends house and watched this movie:


And all the sudden-I was in the Christmas spirit.  I sat there and pondered what my Savior went through to come to this world as a little one. What his parents went through as they followed God and chose to trust Him.

It was made even more special as my own little man kicked me the entire time we were watching the movie! What a miracle life is and even more so a life in Christ!

So tonight-I am pondering-my Savior. And I am thankful, so very thankful, that He CHOSE to come to this would to save a wretch like me!

Christmas.

A time to ponder our Savior :)

Blessings!

Ps: I do not have time to do my weekly update but I did do the picture. I have been compared to Pooh bear, a teletubby and Santa Claus. Lol :) I am so thankful my son is growing! I can hardly wait to meet my little man!!! :)

My first give away ever!!!! :) I am so excited about this but could use YOUR help!! :)

Do you have any suggestions for how to get my post written, ways people can enter and how to ultimately choose the winner?

I would love to hear your suggestions! :)

What will I be giving away? Well, I am going to give you a little hint:

I got this idea from Anna at Hope Road and Anna (different one) at Young and Married :) I am on my last day of my 22nd week so here we go:

My baby is the size of a spaghetti squash this week! It is about 11 inches long. I love how Baby Center has weekly updates it is so much fun to see how much a week makes a difference in the baby! :)

(Source)

I have probably gained about 15ish pounds at this point. EEP! It is definitely all baby though at this point still (thankfully lol). Honestly, I have really started looking pregnant without a shadow of a doubt and it seems to have happened overnight!!! Today my sweet husband looked at me and said: "I love you...even if you do look like Pooh Bear." LOL :) I love him so much! Can hardly wait to see what my family has to say when they see this belly when we are back in NY in TEN DAYS!

Maternity clothes:
I was so so blessed my a friend named Katie who owns Katie's Merchantile. She unexpectedly sent me a BOX FULL or baby clothes AND of maternity skirts (which I wanted desperately) as well as other maternity outfits. It was such a blessing! Then yesterday another friend gave me a pair of JEANS that, while they are not maternity, fit me PERFECTLY and were something I had been needing since NY is a frigid state and we will be going there for two weeks and I have no winter clothes anymore. Why you ask? Well, I live in Fl. Enough said. Lol :)
Movement:
Elijah is kicking up a storm! A few nights ago Jason put his hand on my belly and out of the blue Elijah kicked him and hard! It was the first one Jason had really felt. So special :) Last night I was talking to him and he was moving all over! I am so excited to see what happens in the next few weeks! He sure is active like his Daddy! :)

Sleep:
Still sleeping really well so far! I am thankful for that :)

What I miss:
I miss...what do I miss? Honestly, I really have gotten to the point where my pregnancy is becoming the norm! I do miss not having acid reflux (any tips for that ladies) and also being able to bend over without feeling like there is a rubber tire around my stomach! Lol :) Other than that I am loving being pregnant!

Cravings:
I am not really like craving sugar if anything I am more salty stuff (ok so, tortilla chips with melted cheese oh wow amazing!).

Symptoms:
Other then acid reflux...things are going great!!!

What I am looking forward to:
When Elijah kicks and I will be able to SEE my belly move! I can hardly wait for that!!!! :)

Milestone(s):
Honestly I am feeling great! Which is awesome! And we set up Elijah's crib as well as figured out how we are going to set up the house :) That is always fun! :)

Best moment this week:
Probably last night when I was talking to Elijah and it really did seem like he was kicking in response :) And when I put on that pair of jeans and they FIT! What an answer to prayer that was! :)

Ok, so that is my latest update! Just a few tidbits :)

I am going to be hosting a give away soon! Stay tuned for details!! :)

My brother has started a blog:
Changing One Week At A Time
please take some time to visit him and give him some encouragement :)

Encouragement.

Have you ever been through a time in your life where you are just weary? Weary of trying and yet still being judged. Weary of ministering. Weary of not living up to the standard you feel you need to live up to? Weary of giving in to things that you know the Lord wants you to give up in order to spend more time with Him?

Weary.

I think that we all get weary.

But what do we do with that weariness? I find myself so often go to anything but the place that I KNOW I will find rest. People. Things. Activities.

Anything but Jesus.

I was reminded of that tonight as I was having a time of sweet fellowship with another women and she took my problem and discouragement-straight to Jesus in prayer.

I was reminded how I have not been going to Him for comfort but rather the internet (where I stay in contact with so many people that are so encouraging) which ,in and of itself, is not a bad thing but when it is priority of Jesus and my husband...not the right place to go.

So I am meditating on this verse tonight and tomorrow as I re-prioritize some things in my life:

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

So, I have been working on this series of our story for like-well, forever. Ahem. But tonight I feel as though I need to go a little out of order. See, in 19 days we will be heading back to NY to celebrate Christmas with our families. The fact that I can hardly wait is an understatement!

Christmas. I have been thinking about it lately. Somewhat hard to here in Florida. Seriously, I turned on the radio the other day and "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" began to play. I looked around at the blue skies, sunshine and thought about the fact it was in the 70's and smiled. Yeah right! I love the weather in Florida BUT there is something about snow to put one in the mood for Christmas! :)

So then I have been thinking about last Christmas. What a difference this year! Last year I wasn't even engaged-yet! And this year? Married almost seven months with our little man on the way!

So how did it all happen? Well, I will tell you. So settle back for a story:

Our whole Family including our dogs :)

My sister Jen and I

Stocking Candy is a SERIOUS business ;)

Jason and I with my actually OUR candy that he ate so much of! :)

A few days before Christmas Eve you had given me a few "half-kisses" as you called them. I had told you not to kiss me till you were absolutely 100% certain that I was the one you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. So after those half kisses I knew you were going to propose pretty soon that that is what you kept telling me too! :)  I told you that I would be content with a rubber band for a ring and a tent for a house and I meant it! :)

So on Christmas day (ok, it was like 12:05 am) in my kitchen at my house we had just read the Bible and I went to get up off the floor and you gave me my first real kiss. See, you were the only man who ever kissed me and the last! :) I saved my lips for you alone Jason Samuel. And oh-was it worth it...

So, you kissed me Christmas day 2010 and I knew for sure then that you were going to ask me to marry you very soon. You even said that night that maybe you should propose on Christmas Day instead of in Key West (where we were going to be heading on a missions trip in January) because you would be able to remember it better.

I was definitely expecting a proposal Christmas day especially when you kept saying you were going to just buy a silly band ring off Connor and Emma (or niece and nephew).

So the day stretched on. We were at your families and it was getting later and later but I hadn't gotten proposed to yet so I was trying to not be as excited. I figured you would do it some other day. Well, 6pm rolled around and I was in the living room with Meghan, Lydia and Liz and you were not there. In fact, I had not seen you in quite awhile which was kind of weird because normally we are always together.

I was sitting there wondering where you were and finally you came in and asked it I minded if we went to your brothers to watch a movie because "Emma wants us to". I was tired but said yes anyway :) So we watched a bit of a comedy DVD then-we left.

The whole way over to their house you talked about the house and the steps we needed to take to build it and the time line. You would think I would have gotten a little bit suspicious but I was (thankfully) totally and completely oblivious!

We get to their house and we walk in only to find it was totally quiet which actually I did not think anything of. I just figured they were down in the basement. Then I noticed the lighting was dim (candlelight and Christmas tree lights) but I still did not even really think about that! Well then I walked in and there you were in the dining room. "Look what someone left us," you said quite smugly and there was candles and tea and cookies. I was in shock! 

So we sit down and by this time I just KNEW and so I am on the edge of my seat and you-start eating calmly! Lol :) Then you go, "Are you waiting for something"? I don't remember if I said anything or just stared at you! Either way you started clearing dishes away. Honestly the next part is kind of a blur but this is what I remember-

"I have a question to ask you," you said, and you pulled out a ring box and opened it. Nestled inside was a green (both of our favorite colors) silly band giraffe rind. "Now I am not going to be traditional and get down on one knee because I only bow my knee to our King (Jesus) but I am truly asking-will you marry me"? The words I had wanted to hear all my life.

"Well, you will have to put the ring on," I said. So you put that green silly band on my finger (which I was completely content with) when all the sudden you went: "Hmmmm, that looks like it doesn't fit very well." And you handed me the most beautiful diamond ring that looked like it was tailor made just for me.

I gasped and as you slid it on my finger you asked it that was a yes and I said "YES!!!". Then you gave me a hug, sweetly kissed me and then we prayed right there just surrendering our future to God. Then we read the Bible and just wow! It was perfect!
We went home later on to show my family and they were so excited for us! We were so excited and even though we had no idea what the Lord had in store for us-we were ready to take whatever came next together.
Truly it has been a journey and an adventure! I am so thankful though that I saved myself for Jason and that God saw fit to bring him into my life! I am truly blessed among women! So, the Christmas season is now very special to me for many reasons :) One of them being the sweet memories of 2010 :)

Ok. So as you all know we have been in the midst of remodeling our home-well for the last five-ish months! My man worked so hard yesterday and today to trasform our bathroom from this: