Identity in What?

This week I came across a blog post shared by a friend on Facebook. Read if you'd like, but I'll give you the gist of it. It's by a 25-year-old mom that, like me, grew up as social media grew up. We were the target group for MySpace and Xanga and then Facebook came out just as we were headed to college. The parents that have pre-teens and teenagers may not know social media as well or even care to use it. Their kids, however, are a part of it and haven't known life without it. The woman writing the post had to come up with a lesson/talk to some middle school girls at her church about finding your identity in Christ. Through this, she realized that young girls and boys alike are now finding out their popularity and cool factor through social media. Even media as simple as Instagram. How many followers they have and/or how many likes they got on a photo is determining to them their self worth and value. I think it was a great wake up call to many parents who may not realize that a little app of sharing photos could be so influential in their kids' lives.

What I did not think about when deciding to read the post, was how convicted I would be, at 24 years old, that I am allowing social media to determine my self worth and value. 

Sometimes I post pictures of our daughter Evelyn, hoping to get more likes than that other mom's pic of her kid. I make statuses about something she did or our family did and hope that it gets comments and feedback.  I compare myself, my home, my life to others and how they portray it through social media. I get frustrated when people don't like my articles I share about Christ and His glory or abortion and its wickedness. If someone were to skim my Facebook profile, they may think I find my identity in being a mom over being a Christian because that is what you see more. I'd rather see a high number of "thumbs up" than to spread news about Christ, not realizing how many might read it, but not "like" it.  I sat reading Proverbs 31 and Ecclesiastics 2 this morning. I was reflecting on what characteristics a woman of God has and was reminded not to be chasing after the wind. I can't be chasing after media popularity. Or any popularity for that matter. The only identity that matters, is my identity in Christ. "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." Nothing less. I have no hope in my statuses, my instragram photos, my blog comments, etc. No hope. I must "wholly lean on Jesus' name." I pray that I would daily seek to know God better by knowing his Son better. I will be able to stand face to face with God because of a mediator I have in Christ and that has nothing to do with who I am or what I have done. Apart from Christ, I have nothing. Apart from Christ, I am nothing. I need to rest in Him. My identity should proclaim Christ's goodness and grace. My identity should not involve an equation that involves being "liked."

So as I have recently come back to blogging, I want to make sure that I am doing it for the right reasons. I wanted a place to rattle some thoughts, to journal some public memories and allow friends to be more "caught up" with our lives as we are farther away. I don't expect to become some famous blog that women are following all over the world. I highly doubt that. I do love to share life though and this is a way I'd like to do that.

Glorifying Him by resting in Him and making Him known.

I'm Back!

I'm not sure what compels me to write or to not write, but I have decided I'd like to give it another go.  So much has happened since I was last blogging. We found out in December 2011 that we were pregnant with our first child due to arrive August 2012. Nausea was prominent in the first trimester, the second trimester was energetic and enjoyable, and the third trimester was during the heat of the summer with swollen feet and an achey back! Evelyn JoAnn arrived 5 days early on August 9, 2012 at 8lbs 3 oz and 20.5 inches long. She had and still has a full head of hair that gets us more compliments and strangers talking to us/her than I ever imagined would come along with a baby. We had a great labor and birth and were able (by the grace of God) to go naturally. We loved our midwife at OU and our sweet doula. They were great support!

The first few months were rough. Evelyn is what we have considered a pretty needy baby, when comparing her to friends and family.  If she was awake she wanted to be held, bounced, and "shh'd" or nursing. She wouldn't take a bottle even if she was starving. It resulted in hiccups, crying, screaming, etc. Making me one tired momma... without any breaks. Newborns and newborn pictures are not the peace and quiet they end up portraying. 

She has grown up so quickly though and we have enjoyed watching her learn new things and become this little person with characteristics, qualities, likes and dislikes. She loved "daddy spa time" with Korey. Her changing table was in the bathroom and when you turned the water faucet on, she went into a mesmerized state. She loves to walk around being held facing outward and kicks her legs like crazy when she is excited! Bath time is a favorite as well. Life keeps moving. 8 months old now.

We decided in October 2012 that we would be moving to Memphis, TN in January 2013 to be apart of Grace Church Memphis. We found out on Christmas Eve 2012 that we would be expecting Henry Baby #2 August 2013. Evelyn is a big sister and has NO IDEA! Also meant that nursing supply was diminishing/changing and we started to try formula/bottles again. It finally worked... and we never looked back. I wanted to be able to nurse her longer for the health benefits, connection, etc. Not to mention, formula is EXPENSIVE!!! However, she seemed to be much more content after switching. Then we moved!

We have been in Memphis for 3 months and Evelyn has gotten 6 teeth, starting babbling, and started worming/army crawling/moving across the floor with her various methods. She can sit up and is eating all sorts of food. We cloth diapered from about 6 weeks-5 months. With the switch toformula, the diapers were unbearable for a bit and having just moved, laundry was obnoxious to keep up with. We are just now trying to get back into cloth diapering at 8 months old.

Loving Memphis and the sweet brothers and sisters at Grace church. We are preparing for baby #2, which we found out this week is another precious girl and her name is Felicity Ruth.

Our goal here in Memphis is to bring the most glory we can to Christ. We pray that we will begin to invite unbelievers into our home, to befriend them, feed them, and share the gospel with them.

Trying my utmost to glorify Him as a wife and a mother here in Memphis.

Home Decor Project

First of all: this is not my area. I like to scrap book. That is usually the extent of my craftiness.

Thanks to pinterest, I am being more crafty. Yesterday I saw this on pinterest:



Decided to make an H for the Henry household.
Bought:
Canvas
Paint
Buttons (most expensive item- try to catch them on sale instead of getting them same day bc you can't wait to be crafty!)
Thread (had some but wanted heavier)
Ribbon

And below is the progress:














I arranged buttons, superglued them so they would stay, then sewed them on. I wanted the sewing look and to make sure they would stay, but needed them to stay in place. I started off free sewing with out them glued and noticed I started getting crooked.

I could have ordered one for $60 on etsy, but instead made it a Rainy day project...

$30 supplies at hobby lobby
(have a lot of left over buttons bc they don't sell black by itself and I didn't wait for a sale)
And 3 hours of work (while also doing laundry and other projects while canvas dried)

I am getting craftier.. Started crocheting today.



Dog hat instead of human hat= need more practice!

Craftiness for His glory...

I finally went to ALDI

I admit it--- it's pretty great. I don't exactly how much I saved, but I know I won't have to shop for 2 weeks and only spent $100. We on average spend that much a week. So looking pretty beneficial. My experience also gave me a sweet reminder of China. All the grocery stores we went to there-- you have to use recycle bags or pay for some and you also have to bag it yourself after you check out at a counter. I will be returning....to say the least. Refer to Mary Rachel or Emily's ALDI blogs for the detailed lay out of ALDI. (not sure how to insert link from my phone)

Glorifying Christ in groceries....

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First Day

I knew tomorrow was my first day of teaching as a graduated, certified teacher. I started working about a month ago... Working on enrollment, supply orders, organizing, etc. I felt ready and prepared, when we got a few curve balls that put us down a student teacher and then temporarily down the director, too. We had undergrad orientation this week along with open house. They both went wonderfully. I am a teacher. That just really clicked a couple hours ago that I am a grown up. I am making money that pays for the water coming out of the faucet I just did dishes in. Even though I've been married and helping provide those things the past 2 years, it just became surreal and real for the first time. Not sure if any of that makes sense...
I'll never be rid of "first days of school" but this year I'm on the other side of the classroom door...

Glorifying Him in "first days"....

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news from the phone to the blog

A few things...
1- testing out the ability to post from the phone! Hopefully I will reflect more with the ability to blog anywhere.
2- listen to that first point in your head.... I am so overly blessed by the Lord and therefore over fortunate and "wealthy" compared to over 75% of this world. How can I ever complain about anything?! -- seriously! May we serve those around us and far from us, daily.
3- Korey, his stepdad Clint, and one of his best friends Jeff are finishing our month long project of a fence! We built it for our landlord and are excited for our dog (and maybe someday our first child) to have a yard to play in!
5- University Fellowship Church (our church) has moved onto campus in Stubbeman Village/Place. We are just west of the dorm towers. Our store front/room will be used as the church office and for anyone study/hangout. We'll also hopefully have a Wednesday night discussion group. Korey and I are excited to be a part of this extension with Andrew and Mary Rachel Fenrick and the rest of UFC.
4- working for OU in the fall is official! I am a mentor teacher full time at the OU Institute of Child Development (preschool on campus but open to anyone).


I am looking forward to meeting all the new children and families and reuniting with those from the spring!

Read this summer: Safely Home, Treasuring God in Our Traditions
Currently reading: Radical Together, 10 Things Every Minister's Wife Needs to Know, Fields of the Fatherless

Chief end of blogging, growing, working, reading... Glorify Christ.
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So it's been a while...

The Spring was full and busy...

--I was student teaching full time and taking the grad research class that goes along with it. I was first at Capitol Hill Elementary in Oklahoma City Public Schools. It was in a wonderful first grade class and loved every minute of it. I really wanted a job in that area. The second half I student taught at the Institute of Child Development on OU's campus that is part of our program. There I worked with 2-5 year olds and loved the variety, the flexibility, and the families. 

--During the job search and interviewing process, I found out about the need for a temporary Mentor teacher at OU's preschool. After praying about the new opportunity, Korey and I felt that having a job here in Norman that involves working with some really great people among other blessings would be the best thing for us this year. I'm very excited to be working there with such amazing staff and families. 

--Korey finished up his semester at Southwestern's extension at OBU. 

--Then we packed and headed to China for 6 weeks! God really blessed us with the opportunity to see what He was doing there already! We met some awesome people and hope to continue our relationships with them even though we are back in the states. I have pictures posted on facebook. 

--Korey was offered the opportunity to become staff at our church and be a part of our movement into the campus. The things that God has laid on the hearts of our church's leaders have been so biblical and true to why we are a part of that church. There was a reason God lead us to stay in Oklahoma and not move to Kentucky. I pray daily that the Lord would guide our steps and he sure is revealing some of his purpose for keeping us here.

--Korey and I have been married for two years... CRAZY!  Those two whole years we have had a roommate living in our back bedroom. This past weekend Jeff moved out :(  It is bitter-sweet. Korey and I are excited to be a married couple living alone, yet at times the house seems empty not having a good friend always hanging around. We are excited for Jeff though because he will be getting married to our great friend GinnyAnn on September 17!! I have to admit, turning that back bedroom into an office and ridding the living room of a computer desk and bookshelf has been nice. 

--I plan on trying to blog more. I am debating the phone app that will allow me to blog from it... thoughts?

Glorifying Christ as a married couple living alone...