My hubby!

This month marks a lot of milestones in our lives. It was in May of 2006 that Jeff graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville KY. It was May of 2007 that Jeff was brought on as the full time student minister at Gray Gables. It was May of 2007 that Jeff was ordained. It was also May of 2007 that we found out we were expanding our family. I'm starting to think that May might be a good luck month for us...or just God's perfect timing...yeah I'll go with that one!

This photo was taken at Jeff's graduation ceremony in KY.

Wordless Wednesday

Expect the Unexpected

I have always believed that you are put in certain situations for a reason. I also believe that you are taken out of situations for a reason. Thus, I also believe about people being in your life for a reason, season or lifetime. I believe that when we are first put in a new situation that maybe we can't see the reasoning behind it, but eventually God shows us.



I received an e-mail from someone in my past from when I lived in Virginia. It was from a guy that I dated for a long time and it was not a pretty break up. We "found" each other again on Facebook through mutual friends. He is married with a little boy who was born three months after we had Luke. Anyways. We hadn't talked in at least 3 years. I thought that we were way past the break up by that point since we were both married in 2005. I know I was. (reason, season, lifetime kind of thing). We've had very little common conversation on facebook: you have a beautiful family! How's your mom and dad doing? That kind of conversation. But today I got a full message from him. He mentioned to begin with that this was possibly going to be looked at as stupid or silly but to just let him say it. He spoke of how after we broke up (8 years ago) that I had said I always belonged in Florida. He went on to say about how angry and upset that had made him and that he had held on to that for so long. He wanted to let me know that he was working on finding "the plank in his own eye" and that he needed to apologize for holding on to that anger and for being upset about it. I almost fell out of my chair when I read it. But I guess that I also owe him an explanation about what I meant by the fact that "I always belonged in Florida."

I believe that we moved to Virginia for a reason. There was purpose behind meeting all of the wonderful friends that I have from there. There is also purpose behind the relationship that I had with him while I was there. But all in all, none of those things were meant to be a lifetime event. Those were seasons. I met those people, had that relationship, and lived there for only a season and then God said it was time to move on to my lifetime. By saying that "I always belonged in Florida" was not meant to be hurtful...but looking back it was the truth. I have an amazing husband that I found here in Florida. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy here in Florida. I spent the last 8 years being close to my father here in Florida. I have a home, a great job and a wonderful church family here in Florida.

While yes, I believe that I belonged in Florida, I don't regret being in Virginia. What God has "put us through" or "brought us out of" is what makes us who we are today. So I feel very blessed that I was in that season because if not...I wouldn't be in my lifetime now.

Could this be...

the longest week in history? Oh, wait, no that might have been the week leading up to our wedding! But seriously I really don't know how much longer the week could've gotten.

We had Stanford 10 testing this week for all 1st and 2nd graders in the county. Two weeks ago the state decided to spring a surprise on all of the teachers: instead of the usual two days of testing, we're gonna change it to 4 days of testing! :) Ok seriously?! Oh and there was more: we're going to add a whole new section and days worth of testing! WHAT?! Ok, ok...breathe...it's all good. And you know what? It was! I am very proud of my kids. I had a couple that did the typical add when they should've subtracted...but what do you expect when you are taking a test that all you have in front of you are answers and the teacher is only allowed to read the question 1 time?! (Not kidding here...really wish I was)

Anyways...Jeff has spent a lot of time up at Shand's this week as we had church family dealing with death. We haven't gotten to spend too much time together which is why we are having a date tonight...a REAL going out to dinner, do something, got a baby sitter date! YAY!

One week from today momma will be closing on her house in Callahan and will be only a few steps away from my front door. We really are happy about this as we are still mourning the loss of daddy and grandma...and anyone who has gone through something like this knows what some of the best medicine is: a baby! and Luke will be available for plenty of play dates with his Gammy.

Meanwhile business is picking up with the photography company. We're getting ready to announce a great deal for sittings. It'll be good on senior sessions, family portraits, etc. Loving the new equipment we've been getting and am getting ready to order a shootsac (can't wait...got it picked out and everything!). Super excited that we have a wedding coming up in 2 weeks to shoot. It's going to be a great opportunity to try new things and to scratch the itch I've had since Charlene's wedding, with all of my mental notes I took. (Not stealing ideas from ya'll Chris and Ros...I promise! :-) just an over active mind at work!)

Until later...


Love ya!

We're All Tourists

This was in a book that I happened to look at today. It was just a book that had all these little sayings in it...nothing that would constitute the book as being religious or spiritual but it caused me to think that way a little and thus...this blog.
In the grand scheme of what we call life that's what we are: ALL Tourists. This world is just a place for us to visit for a short amount of time and then we return (hopefully if you know Christ) to the One who created us. In no way can I say that the last four months have been easy for me...but in no way can I say that it's the most difficult thing I will ever face in my life. Something I've learned is that you have no idea what the next five minutes hold, let alone the next day. If the last four months is the worse I will experience then Praise God! But if not, then in the end of it let me say Praise God! We come into this world knowing nothing and still in all honesty, leave it not knowing much more than when we started...this world is not our home. My home is with Christ. Christ allowed me to come to this world, be born to David and Pat Willwerth, grow up with a loving family, get an education, marry a fabulous husband, and have a beautiful baby...but in the grand scheme of God's Plan...this isn't it. God is allowing me to spend my days here with a loving family, educating little ones for their future, teaching students, and seeing my son grow on a daily basis... But it boils down to the fact that I am just a tourist here. My home is with Him. It has taken me these past four months to begin seeing that...and I'm still not as close as I want to be in understanding it.
I am going to enjoy the opporunity that God is giving me to look around and "take it all in" (so to speak, not literally). But I want to be reminded that in the end...He is my home.

My baby can see!

I know I am so behind in blogging that I haven't even posted pictures from Luke's birthday party but they are coming. However we had an opportunity this week to have Grace cut his hair. Now I battled all day and kept saying I was going to call and cancel it. Every time I though about how it would change him I'd start to tear up. But all in all...at least he can see now!

The Before Shot while waiting on Mrs. Grace.


Hey! I can see!


That tickles!


"That's what you look like!"


My handsome little man

Life changed...

A year ago today...

I woke up around 4 AM
I made the "long" trip to St. Vincent's hospital at 6:00 AM.
I took 3 pills with one swallow of water.
I met the best nurse named Christy.
I had my closest family with me.
I walked into an OR as a family of two.
I heard my sons first cry at 10:19 AM.
I was rolled out of the OR as a family of three.
I received God's second biggest blessing in my life. (Jeff being my first)
I held my miracle for the first time...and never wanted to let him go.
I received news that my miracle had a heart murmur.
I felt God's loving, promising presence.

A year ago today we welcomed Lukas Bona Walker into our family. He has changed our lives for the better everyday. We love him more today than yesterday...but less than tomorrow.
God blessed us with him at His perfect timing. God knew that this past year would be a difficult one for us...and he allowed Luke to be a part of the bright side of the year. I really don't remember what life was like before him...and I don't think I want to.
<-- Minutes after you were born!

My baby boy was born weighing 8lbs 4 oz...and now at 12 months weighs 24 lbs 6 oz!
He is a crawlin, cruisin baby boy that likes to discover how things work.
He knows who his mama, dada, gammy, poppy, grandma and grandpa are.
He knows who Harley is (my moms dog) and calls her Dardy.
He smiles at you when you want to cry...and you can't help but smile back!

I am amazed at how God poured His love out to my family a year ago today. His timing is perfect and for that...I wish my little man a Happy First Birthday on today February 1st 2009.

Slowly am I...

going crazy! So much to do and the feeling of no time to do it in...ever felt that way? Luke's small birthday party is Saturday and the cake just got ordered today! It has really crept up on me. I knew that it was coming, had all of it planned...and then Tuesday afternoon my mom asks "so what kind of cake did you order?" Aw, crud! I forgot about the cake! Really?! How did I manage that? Oh, that's right...life happened! So Jeff and I went out to dinner and cake shopping. (On a side note the best Mexican restaraunt is Casa Maria on Main Street...AMAZING!!!) Back to the cake...we didn't really see anything that fit the "jungle animal" stuff that we had gotten...so back to square one on the cake situation. Anyways...a trip to WInn Dixie and a trip to Walmart sent us back to Publix. Luke will be having a "pull apart" (cupcakes) Monkey cake! It's the only thing that came closest to what we were looking for. Anyways...pictures will follow.

Love ya!

Christmas...better late than never!

Where did my son go?



Opening a gift up with daddy





I managed to hide myself quite well!

Bitter Sweet

That is the way I feel about the year 2008. We had an amazing, crazy, whirlwind of a year.

January: I was on bed rest so I did not get to go with our youth group to Myrtle Beach for Winter Rush. However, through that ministry 10 students came to know Christ, including a couple of adults...AWESOME!
February: On the first day of February Jeff and I, along with our families, welcomed our first child, Lukas Bona Walker, into the world. It was the sweetest point for me in the year and since it was at the beginning it allowed me to feel like the year would be great. I also ended up in the emergency room a week after Luke was born and diagnosed with Post Term Pre-eclampsia. However I also celebrated my 25th birthday in February!
I don't remember a whole lot of significance for March or April except that Luke's first girlfriend was born.
May: We started having church services in our fellowship hall because God was allowing us to extend and remodel our sanctuary. Being in the fellowship hall for services was an amazing experience!
June: We had youth camp at Blue Springs. It was also the first time I had left Luke...and it was hard! I didn't even sleep that well while I was gone... My parents celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary! They have been an amazing example for me. My brother also got married in June and I absolutely adore my new sister in law. Mom had major back surgery in June and would be recovering for the rest of the year.
July: Not much happened except we stayed with my parents for 2 weeks so that daddy could be at work and someone still take care of momma.
August: I started a wonderful new job...well, same job, new place. Jeff and I celebrated our 3rd year of wedded bliss! Jeff also had a birthday and turned the big 3 2.
September went by rather quickly without any major events. (That i can remember!)
October: Daddy lost his battle with Parkinsonisms MSA and Shy Draggers Disease. No, I changed my mind...he didn't lose a battle, God delivered him from his battle. It has been very difficult to accept that daddy is gone...It is a daily battle that I will struggle with for years to come.
November: My brother turned 29 on the 1st. Towards the end momma signed papers to build a house out here in Callahan down from us. It was something that she and daddy had planned on doing and she was going through with it.
December: Luke started crawling! ( I know, about time right!?) And we celebrated 2 firsts...Luke's first Christmas, and the first Christmas without daddy.

So, bitter sweet... I welcomed a new life into the world...and said goodbye to another life... I have hopes that 2009 will be great and I know that it will, because God's Sovreignty is an amazing thing...and He has shown me that greatly over this year...but that is a blog entry for another time.

Thirty-Onederful

Through a wonderful friend of mine who now lives in TN, I got involved with a Christian based company called Thirty-One. I haven't shared too much about the experience and thought here would be a great place to do it. The company has just over 5,000 consultants nationwide! This was one of the reasons why I chose it over some of the other at home businesses that are out there. We sell everything from home decor to purses to totes to thermal items...definately not your typical home sales!
I really love working for them on top of being a teacher, wife and mother. It actually enables me to have a little extra time with my family and still get all of my school work done. How often do you get to go to a friends house, sit around talking and eating and sharing a few products. It's like having a shopping spree in your home with your friends around!
I've held several parties so far and feel that each of them have gone great. Each hostess has come away with several free products and a large percentage off of the rest.
If you are interested in hosting a party or would even like to hear a little bit more about Thirty-One Gifts please feel free to contact me. Take a look at my site as well: www.mythirtyone.com/5287

Now he's done it...

My baby...10 months and 11 days old has hit a mile stone. It's not teeth, although we're up to 7 now. It's not pulling up...we've been doing that for a little while... No...he's crawling! We thought the day would never come because he seems more interested in walking...but he's doing it!
About 5 minutes before Jeff got home from the church Luke took about 3 "crawls." After Jeff got home he went around the corner to the bathroom and Luke tried following him!
My little stinker is growing so fast...of course someone told me he's making room for the next one...we'll see about that.
In the process of what happened today it has had me thinking a lot about my daddy. I called and told my mom about it, and normally would tell her don't tell daddy I want to tell him. But, now I can't even do that. I told Jeff that when it happened I had this thought of, "I have to go call daddy and tell him." So in honor of my little stinker hitting a mile stone and me feeling the sadness of not being able to share it with my dad, I'm going to post this photo of him and my dad from the day he was born.

Jennifer

It Finally Happened...Again!

Luke has always been a good baby. (every now and then the nursery workers may disagree...) He started sleeping through the night at about 4 weeks, but then stopped when he started teething. He would wake up in the crib crying, lay down on the couch with his daddy and be back out for the night...but not if you put him back in his crib.
Well...last night...he went down at 9:30 and slept in his crib all night until about 5:50 this morning!!! YAY!!!
So we're gonna try and do everything the same way again tonight...which also means that daddy has officially lost his nice feather pillow!

Jennifer