Just a little hello. I have many new pictures to share, just have to load them on. Thanks to all who check often. Until our new pictures, here are some of D and Mike a few weeks ago promptly after she used him as a jungle gym. That's what dads are for after all. Look at that little hand reaching up, so sweet!

Journey to Contentment

So, I don't think I ever really explained why I named my little blog here "Finding Contentment". I kind of explain in my profile to the right. When I was preparing to teach that class at church a couple weeks ago I felt like I should address my so called journey to contentment. So here is what I shared in the class:

As I approached motherhood, I was encouraged to search my heart and deal with sin issues that would hinder me raising my children. I always knew I was a worrier, as far back as I can remember I worried. I like so many others had believed that worrying was normal, everybody worries right? In a conversation with my mom I asked her what I was like when I was little she said lots of sweet things, and one thing stuck out. She told me I was kind of whiny. I don't know about you but there a few things harder to hear than you are whiny. Nobody like whiners and nobody wants to be labeled as one. I also realized that the Proverbs discuss wives who whine. What do I mean? Nagging. I began a journey with two dear friends into this concept of worry, whining, and nagging. As I studied with them I began to realize my language was all wrong. I wasn't just a worrisome person. I was discontent. My discontentment was lack of satisfaction in my situation around me. Here are some examples of my racing mind and discontentment. I worried when Mike was out of town that someone might break in. I worried that my aches and pains before I was diagnosed with RA were MS, Lupus, or Cancer. I worried if I was pregnant, that I might miscarry. I worried that if I had kids that they would get lost or hurt. My mind rarely focused on the goodness and grace from God above. My mind raced constantly about what might happen.

Our worries reveal our lack of faith. When we think about something more than we do about our Lord and Savior, we are not trusting God to be God. Our worries become idols
I was making an idol out of what might happen in my life. My worry was causing me to sin.

Webster's Dictionary defines Contented as :
Feeling or showing satisfaction with one's situation

My definition of Contentment is :
Satisfaction with one's situation, because of their trust in Christ

Flash forward to pregnancy. It was a time that I could have given in to my temptations and worried and I did some but I had victory and growth. I was learning to be content in Christ alone. Our dear friends, Rob and Chandi Plummer encouraged us to pray daily for our babies contentment, that she would be content before she was born and throughout her life. You see I wasn't getting over my worry to check it off my list before I had a baby. I was fighting my tendency to worry so that they themselves wouldn't grow to be discontent.

Due to my RA and my hip being a problem area. I was scheduled for a c-section. Mike being an amazing student and supportive husband watched a documentary and knew how the c-section should go. He talked me through it and told me it was pretty quick, just about 10 minutes. Prior to leaving for the hospital I printed up from the bible:

Philippians 4:4-8

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

As soon as they began the surgery I began reciting verses 6 and 7. My C-section was an unusual one. Due to the size of our Dorothy and the size of her head they could not get her out. Mike and the anesthesiologist were all I could see. They were both in a panic. I think it's normal for a husband to be anxious but pretty unusual for the anesthesiologist to seem worried.

I kept reciting verses 6-7 as if to assure them that all was going to be OK. The peace of God was protecting me at that moment. I knew that my doctor was yelling, I knew that there was chaos all around me but God was protecting me. I was free from worry because I had finally learned to put ALL my trust in God. After about 25 minutes they had Dorothy out safe and sound. I got to see her and when I did I saw the most beautiful baby. The pediatric neurologist was quickly on hand to tell Mike and I they were going to check her head. I was like OK. I wonder if they thought I didn't care, or didn't understand but that wasn't it. God was working in my mind covering me with his peace, reminding that he was in control. Praise God for how he grew me and protected me and praise God that Dorothy is perfectly healthy.

I share this all with you so that you might be encouraged in your own journey with contentment or if there is another issue in your life that is preventing you from be the parent, spouse, or person Christ has called you to be. Know that the power of God and his word will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

ironic

oh the irony...I was at Target the other day when I saw a shirt in the clearance section. It said, in huge lettering "BUY LOCAL, THINK GLOBAL".

What?

I really like buying local, I really like Target, and I like that idea on the shirt, but how ironic to see that shirt in the clearance section at one of the biggest department stores in North America...and that it was made over seas.

So sorry it's been so long!!!

So sorry it's been so long!!! Oh and I was doing so well! Life got busy. Last Saturday we celebrated Dorothy's six months. Tomorrow, My friend Mandy and I are filling in for our friend Karen by teaching the women's book study of Feminine Appeal. The chapter we are teaching on is titled "The Blessings of Loving My Children". It has been such a crazy time preparing. I love teaching but would rather it be with little kids. If you read this before Wed. night say a prayer for us!

I signed up for sitereader a few weeks ago. It tracks who visits, where they visit from (as in what site are they linked from), and where they live. It has been so interesting to see who is visiting this little site. I know some of who is here ie. Miami is my in laws(Dorothy says hi Nana and Papa!), Naperville is certaintly my dear aunt Jane, Wisconsin is probably my friend from high school, Andy. Anyway. It's good to see people are visiting, but please say hi if you can.

Here are some pictures of Dorothy. The first one is her in the hospital the second is at six months. Same baby, same quilt, same sweet but clashing nightgown, only difference is the six month time span!












God Bless you this week friends and family!

6 Months Old!

Our good friend Bobby, who oversees Sojourn Music's website does an amazing job. He just posted another of Mike's talks.

Here is what Bobby posted:
"On October 18, 2006, shortly before Sojourn moved into The 930, our art center and home, Mike Cosper gave a presentation in Troy, NY at a conference for the Acts 29 church planting network. Here is the first part of this two-part presentation on “Missional strategies for the arts.”

In this mp3, Mike provides a summary of Sojourn’s early attempts at engaging in the arts, primarily through our first gallery, Aslan’s How. You’ll learn how a group of very young Christians “just dived in” to the young, artistic culture of their city, making mistakes and learning lessons along the way.

You’ll hear him describe some thorny issues that cropped up, decisions on what kind of art a church should allow in their gallery, what happens when you bring in a hot indie band for a show and 500 kids cram into a building meant for 100, and other factors contributing to the successes and failures of Sojourn’s initial attempts at cultural engagement.

You’ll also learn how things changed, how the leaders decided when to pull back and when to thrust forward, what Sojourn’s strategy is for freeing up artists within the church to use their gifts, and more.

Mike then talks about a theology of art and a theology of culture: what does the Gospel have to say about these things?

Other tricky issues come up, like our tendency to unintentionally make “art” into a mediator between us and God — and how Christian artists and worship leaders can combat this tendency by continually asking things like “Do I feel hindered from worship when I’m not playing in the band?” and consider the danger in statements like “Playing drums is how I worship.”

Warning, in case you listen to this audio in the presence of children: four minutes and thirty-nine seconds into this lecture, there is an anecdote that you may judge inappropriate for children to hear. It’s concerning a piece of art that a visual artist wanted to display in Aslan’s How, and what the Sojourn leaders decided to do about it. It’s only about a minute."

TEETH

I've read several places that once you finally get your baby sleeping through the night, then they will basically begin popping out teeth. Yep. It happened to us. D slept all night 10-12 hours for about five days and then...you could tell something was up: she was off schedule, she's start crying in the middle of laughing, drooling buckets, gnawing on everything... This morning I caught a glimpse and there it is, her first tooth... oh me oh my. Just a week short of her six month birthday too.

My best friends baby...

Madelyn Kate Quillo
Born January 29, to Jeremy and Carrie Quillo
8 lb. 19 1/2 inches

Camera Phone Picture: 25 weeks

Mike took this before he left town so he could show friends D. Oh and how do I know she's 25 weeks? I get an email every Thursday from Parents magazine telling me how many weeks old she is and what milestone she might be hitting or what medical advice I might need. Look it up!

Swap

I am doing my first swap! Check it out at Mobile Swap!

Hello to my swap friend Anna. She is in Brisbane, Australia (a five hour drive south of the Great Barrier Reef).

This swap is already closed but if you want to try to get in on another swap check out Sew Mama Sew. They post new swaps often. Keep warm Louisville! It's a low of 1 degree tonight!

Psalm 51

Sojournmusic.com recently posted my favorite sermon of Mike's (thanks Bobby). He spoke a while back on Psalm 51. Mike explores this passage and what it teaches on repentance, saying your sorry, and confession. I learned the importance of asking for forgiveness (beyond just saying I'm sorry) when I wrong someone.

You can also go and listen to the song Psalm 51. It is fitting that we listen to the album that was dedicated to our dear friend Aaron Marrs. Aaron, a faithful friend to many was lost at sea three years ago this week. I thank God for our time with him.

"Focus on the good"

If you are a mom I really want you to go here and read this entry. It is by a lovely lady that I go to church with, Courtney Bell. OK go, read it and then come back.

Are you back? Good. I really needed that the other day. You see when I am shopping, at church, or at any public place, D stares at people. She loves watching them. I had gotten in the habit of calling her nosey in front of perfect strangers. I didn't realize I was doing this until I read Courtney's entry. So I was challenged to "Focus on the Good". I want to say, "You love people so much, don't you?"

This also reminds me a few weeks ago someone asked Mike if Dorothy was a good baby. He said yes, he spoke of how content and joyful she is. They then said, Oh so she sleeps through the night"? He looked at me. We were both like, what? Does sleeping throughout the night equate a "good baby". D doesn't sleep throughout the night. For the most part she can sleep about 8 or 9 hours and then go back to sleep for another 3. Sometimes she wakes up every 3 or 4 hours. It has worn on me. I was bit sleep deprived there for a while but, I still thing she is a "good baby". So here I go I am focusing on the good. It reminds me of another Courtney (Paris) and how she blogs little notes to her kids, I have always loved that.

Dear D,
You are five months. I love how you:

• wrinkle your nose when you see your daddy
• look back and forth at daddy and I when we pray
• sing when you hear music
• cry at the vacuum sweeper
  
• love people so much you can't take your eyes off of them
• grab your blanket and rub your face in it then get sleepy
  
• cross your eyes when you take you pacifier out and look at it
  
• have joy and contenment throughout your days
  
• listen to Nana, grandma, and daddy on the phone
• hate to lay on your stomach
  
• puke a little when you sit up by yourself
• laugh with joy when I come in the room
• listen to books and look at the pictures
• dance and sing during worship on Sundays

I love you!

Eating, Sitting, and Nagging...

EATING
One of D's first meals last week. She crosses her eyes at the spoon.

SITTING
She sits up about a fourth of the time but only for a few seconds.


NAGGING
We had that leaking roof a few weeks ago. Remember? It was on the day that my family celebrated Christmas. Anyway. The ice froze on our new roof on our new house, pooled and then leaked through the ceiling of our utility room. I remember discovering it and thinking how I didn't want it to worry Mike. I wanted to guard him from the worry, stress and overall nuisance of the leak. He climbed up during a snowy icy weather and broke the ice and in the end all was well and fixed. Our home warranty covered another leak that was in our skylight. So it was all taken care of. Whew. But our dear friend and Daniel did a sermon series on gender and he used some verses in Proverbs.

Proverbs 27:15 (New International Version).

15 A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day;

Now read this (Amplified Bible)

Proverbs 21:9

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a nagging, quarrelsome, and faultfinding woman

I have learned that women are good at nagging. To be fair men can nag but women can really take a point and harp on it all ding dang day. So anyway. My point is that the scriptures are telling me that Mike would rather see and hear his new house have a ceiling leak and THEN CLIMB UP ON THE ICY WET ROOF, than stay in the house and hear me harp, nag, quarrel... That is just a little lesson I have been reminded of lately. Thought I should share it. Also you can listen to Daniel's Sermons here.

Flickr or Shutterfly

Flickr or Shutterfly? Which do you recommend? I think I know which one I want to use. But first! Give me pros or cons of both. Is there another photo sharing/printing site that I should consider? Post or email me and let me know.


PS That red background was making me nuts. Here is a snowy blue, from my thematic teacher's heart to you.

5 months old

Remember this at one month?






Here she is yesterday at FIVE! (please ignore the string or drool:)
and a few moments later after she rolled...

12

12 degrees + Rheumatoid Arthritis = flair up.
Luckily there was a run of movies on a HD channel that was made for me.
A League of Their Own, Rudy, The Goonies, and Empire Records (extended fan edition)!

A year in pictures...

A look back on 2007
...reconnected with the girls in January...we actually got together three times this year!



Quite a bit of crafting and sewing... this was a Valentine gift for my mom.














Beautiful Gracie came in March



Ginger in the spring

An spring afternoon at the park.



August 2nd we got our beautiful Dorothy Jean















D and her friends in the fall



A new home



A growing girl at three months in November



Eight wonderful years this December


...and a very sweet Christmas...

Gracie (9 months) Sadie (4 years) Dorothy (4 months)

My Family's Christmas was an unusual one that will probably go down in history. Little things were different from normal. It was a nice time with family. It left me wanting more quality time. Here are some of the things that took place:

The Dale and Sue Huff Family

Uncle Randy and Aunt Janie (HI JANIE:)

• Dorothy was sick
• Uncle Randy and Aunt Janie had two flat tires
• We were without power for several hours
• The dinner my mom prepared could not be heated up
• We had Bearno's pizza for Christmas dinner
• We all had to go home soon after the lights came back on due to the weather

All that aside Santa visited. My four year niece, Sadie was a-dor-a-ble when he showed up.

Who is coming to our house?

Who is coming to our house?
That is the name of the board book we have been reading to D before bed. It is about all of the animals in the stable as they prepare for Mary and Joseph's stay.
OK so I was really getting anxious about Christmas tonight. I was worried about my parents, brothers, and aunt and uncle coming for breakfast on Saturday, and getting presents bought, made, and wrapped...and then we don't have a tree yet...and when will we decorate it? But, and this will sound trite to some of you- I remembered none of that matters, because Jesus is the reason for the season. Reading that book to Dorothy again tonight just simplified it in my mind. All that matters is the fact that Christ came for us. This is a time to celebrate, not stress. So I know that others have made this point before and much more eloquently but I just wanted to bring it up again. Christ is the reason we celebrate this time of year. May God bless you this week.

8 years!

Our Wedding Day. On the way to our reception in our Model A. December 4, 1999. Ages- 19!

I know, I know, I already announced it on Sojourn's message board and Facebook but this past Tuesday was our Eighth Wedding Anniversary. To put that into perspective, consider this. We got married before Y2K and while Bill Clinton was still president.

I was going to scan some photos but I just couldn't pull that off as my pictures are still packed from the move and in temporary storage for now. So, I was so excited then when I found a CD with our wedding slide show that my father in law made me right after our wedding. It was with our CDs and kinda scratched but I found two pictures for your viewing enjoyment.


My first Christmas with the Cospers 1998!