The Wonderful World of The Williams

Baby News

2011-02-02T20:17:00.003-07:00

You read that title right!

We have some baby news!

Little gummy bear Williams is due Sept. 15th 2011!

We are all kinds of excited.

I am not all kinds of excited to know that this summer I will be large and in charge and very pregnant and HOT. But at least with having a baby in September, fall and winter will be soon to follow and I won't have to put a bathing suite on for at least 8 months.

You should all be relieved about that. Take a deep breath. Go ahead.

I am eight weeks along. We just had our first DR appointment and were relieved to find that so far everything is looking good. We were also relieved to see ONE cute little baby inside me. Adam is always teasing me "how are the twins?" He says it so much I was starting to worry I had twins. Now, if we had twins, we would welcome them with delight, but I would PREFER to have babies one wonderful little blessing at a time.

So far other than being excited I have been nauseous and just a wonderful delight to be around:)

Seriously though, I have to give a big thanks to the hubster for being sensitive and kind and understanding. We could not be more thrilled about being pregnant but I am just all kinds of a big baby about the first trimester. If you are reading this and you have never had children, fear not. Not everyone feels bad. My mom always tells me how she never got sick with five children. My older sister had no morning sick symptoms either. These people are wonderfully blessed.

Others of us throw up when we open the refrigerator. Adam has also started sleeping on his right side with his back to me. I was complaining I could not sleep with him breathing near me. I have to tell you, Adam in general smells WONDERFUL. I always tell him be he is the best smelling man in the world. Next time you see him just inhale very strongly and you will love it! But when pregnant, he stinks. Not just him, most everything stinks. Even Josiah freshly washed little baby head stinks. I think baby shampoo stinks. Who am I?

Pregnant in the first trimester I am:).

Thanksgiving

2010-12-18T13:48:00.008-07:00

This year we returned to my hometown of Houston for the annual Tune Thanksgiving festivities. It was slightly smaller this year as it was just we Tune siblings, spouses, and family. All five us were there which always means a good time. We were excited to have Stacy, Jose, and Olivia there from Spain as it is quite a trip to make it. This year was special as it was the last year we celebrated in my parents house as they are currently building their "dream" home out in Plantersville, TX. If you aren't sure where that is, no worries not many people do. It is out in the middle of nowhere. I think there MAY be a gas station and that is about it. This truly is their dream to be out on the land where my mom can work her garden and be with the horses and my dad can do "man" things having to do with tractors and chasing wild hogs AND Rowdy and Winslow (the dogs) can be free to roam as God intended:).

I am excited for them to pursue their dreams but sad to lose the house I grew up in. I remember picking my room out very late at night when we arrived in Houston after driving from Pensacola, Florida in a tropical rain storm with us kids, a few horses in the trailer behind us, and a few cats and one very special dog named Goofy in the car. Actually, I know Goofy came because he moved with us, but I have NO recollection of him being in the car. I assume he had to have been but I DO remember the cats. Possibly we came close to losing one cat at a gas station, but then again, I was seven years old and I can't remember the details of it and I am not entirely positive it happened on that that trip so I won't tell that story:)

Back to what I was saying. We all got to pick our rooms. Since I am the youngest I just ended up with the room Sarah and Anna didn't want. I really lucked out as somehow, in my opinion, neither wanted the BEST room of the house and it became mine:) Thanks sisters! I remember running around the neighborhood like I was a lunatic all through my elementary and middle school years. I remember SWIMMING in the flood waters when our neighborhood would flood and taking a canoe down the rapids of the flooded creek. I remember our wonderful, amazing, incredible pool being built and all the parties and fun and...oh, some memories I just shouldn't mention like Jenny M. losing her top skinning dipping and my DAD coming outside:) I hope you appreciate that shout out Jenn! Or when Anna threw that ONE party when Mom and Dad were out of town and got caught for it. Poor sweet Anna you always got caught. I remember dreaming of how to decorate my room for months and months and then I decided on this(now looking back) horrible pepto bismo color. I went and bought all the bedding and Daddy you put up with looking at the horrible color as you painted my room.

I remember heart breaks and laughter. I remember when boy friends were stolen and good friends passed away. I remember talking on the phone very late at night under my covers. I remember exactly what I wore on my first day of public school and my first day of high school. I remember trying on that BRIGHT PINK, very large, puffy prom dress and my dad telling me we could just dye it white when I got married. I remember going off to college and coming home on vacation and sleeping endlessly. I remember when Adam was invited for dinner for the first time. We were just friends and my mom made a pot roast (BIG DEAL for a vegetarian). I remember lots of back rubs with sisters, lots of fights with sisters, and Lots of laughter with sisters. I remember trying my wedding dress on in the living room. I remember ALL the animals we had, loved, and lost. Seriously, looking back we had more animals than anyone I have ever known. I could go on about them but there are just too many for this already way too long of a post.

I loved that house. I loved growing up in that house, and I loved being with my family in that house. I suppose being that I have my own little family and my own house little house now, I will give my parents my blessing to move, but I still don't entirely like it:)

Moving on back to Thanksgiving, through ALL my memories of growing up in that wonderful home on Lakecrest Drive some of my ALL TIME favorites were Thanksgivings. Every year EVERYONE came to our house and we ate pie and delicious breads and rode the horses and made hay forts and played hide in go seek in the dark and gave lots of back rubs and played lots of games. Thanksgiving has changed a lot now that I am an adult and don't really want to run around outside anymore. Now there is a lot more kissing babies, taking care of babies, laughing with sisters, and enjoying those nieces and nephews that grow too fast. Of course, we still have back rubs because that just will never change:)

Here are some photos of our "last" year celebrating Thanksgiving in Houston.

Of course we spent time with the horses. This was Josiah's first time on a full sized horse. I was worried as he had an allergic reaction the last time he had been to the stable. Turns out we are pretty sure he is allergic to hay and not horses. He was slightly terrified and one hundred percent curious.

This year we spent a lot of time in the hot tub just so we could seal it into our memories. Josiah LOVES the "wata" as he would say. He was dying to go into the big pool with the big cousins and go down the slide for the last time. Being that it was freezing and I am no spring chicken anymore, we stayed in the hot tub.

We spent a lot of time giving love to this precious Baby Ben, the newest family member. Josiah liked to touch Ben's head and toes and say "babee". He also gave him lot of kisses.

Josiah loves his "prima" Olivia and strawberries. They had fun swimming and playing together.

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We all had fun enjoying us some nieces and nephews. They are all so adorable! Mathew and Francesca are so big now and Anna..well, she is just as beautiful as ever.

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This photo was technically taken before Thanksgiving. We were at a friends house for dinner and Josiah got bathed with their clan of kids and then got his jammies on. Then it was time to go home and it was freezing so on went his jacket. His mis-matched cuteness was just too much for me to leave out:)

Halloween

2010-11-07T21:47:00.004-07:00

Josiah just loves Elmo these days. Every night after Josiah is sleeping I go in and check on him. Being a first time mom, I have to make sure he is breathing before I go to bed. I have actually found him laying in throw up numerous times so checking on him is a ritual for me. Well, last night while checking on him he began stirring and saying "Elmo". I just could not help cracking up! Josiah dreaming about Elmo does not surprise me one bit! This Halloween Elmo was the first thought I had for Josiah's costume because it is the only thing that would really mean anything to him, besides being some sort of sports ball. Below is a video of Josiah wearing the Elmo costume for the first time. We went to a costume party and be brought along his own Elmo just in case any one was confused he could show them who he was supposed to be. He just loved every minute of it! Every night Josiah sleeps holding the little Elmo in the video in one arm but not without his little nurf football in the other arm. It cracks us up but he sleeps 12 hours a night with one item in each arm so we just go with it!

This next video is the orange sweater video. We were having a pumpkin dinner party. In case you are wondering what a pumpkin dinner part is, it is a dinner party where all the food has pumpkin in it. We had pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin delight. Of course we all had to wear orange as well. I got hot cooking in my orange sweater and took it off. Josiah then grabbed it and insisted on putting it on. He looks like a little orange ghost. Now whenever I wear that sweater he whines for me to take it off so he can wear it.

Pictures From Balloon Fiesta...

2010-10-10T13:33:00.005-06:00

So, just in case you didn't believe me - check out these photos we took on the way out of our neighborhood yesterday on the way to the Love Life conference at Mars Hill ABQ!

Balloon Fiesta

2010-10-08T20:21:00.003-06:00

Balloon fiesta is a time I look forward to all year. It normally means the official beginning of fall, cool weather, jackets, pumpkin spiced lattes, and funnel cake:) We attended the balloon glow last night which is when all the balloons are lighted and floating barely off the ground. Josiah enjoyed it enough last year when he barely knew what was going on so we were excited to see his reaction this year. Unfortunately, last night it was too windy for the balloons to go up. We did the only thing left to do and hung out with friends, let the kids run around and play, and ate funnel cake. I ate a whole funnel cake by myself. This was a first for me in my life. I deeply regretted that decision later when I wanted to throw up. Balloon fiesta is normally the only time I get funnel cake and I was just all kinds of excited I couldn't control myself!

We live super close to the balloon fields and every morning the balloons pass over our house. Yesterday one landed in the street in front of our house. Josiah was pretty excited! To be honest, I'm not sure if he was excited about the balloon or that his friends the Wallace babies had just arrived. Either way, there was excitement.

I would love to show you photos of the beautiful balloons. Unfortunately, all I have are photos on my phone. I don't care enough about technology to know how to get the photos off my phone to the computer...sorry folks it is the truth.

Instead, I leave you with a video of Josiah. It is totally unrelated but you people have not seen this man baby in forever!

It's Been A Long Time...

2010-10-04T20:31:00.001-06:00

Howdy All!

I'm pretty sure nobody checks our blog anymore. I'm pretty sure I can't blame you as obviously I haven't been checking it myself or updating it or even thinking about it. Actually I do THINK about updating it and that is as far as I have gotten. I have to say most of the reasons are because as much as I do love having written memories and sharing with friends and family, Josiah's one nap a day can only hold so many activities for mommy and blogging has fallen to the end of the list...or second to the end as painting the baseboards still remains dead last and unfinished!

One issue was that we were using a very old lap top that took about 24 hours to load anything. We now have a new, shiny computer that is much quicker and I am hoping with this I can be better about posting. It would be hard to be any worse so I don't have that much to live up to:)

I can't make any blogging promises for surely I will break them. When I make promises blogging becomes a burden and I feel stressed to keep up. I even thought about just ending the blog forever but I really want to share our lives with those that live far away. So here is to blogging more often and taking baby steps and we will see....

Being that a lot has happened since the last post in May, I get all overwhelmed trying to do a proper update. Instead, I shall start with a recent even, my birthday! I turned the big 26! Adam planned a wonderfully relaxing day which included sleeping in, coffee, time at a spa, and a fun dinner date to end the evening. He is so good about getting excited about my birthday! Thank you baby!

He also made this video in order to keep his birthday video tradition. Josiah just loves it and watches it over and over again!

Long story short...new computer...more pictures...more blogging...I'm back! :-)

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T21:28:00.004-06:00

To my dear wife Emily...

To the one who birthed and raised me...

To all mother's who have impacted my life...

Some words that reflect my heart for you.

Happy Mother's Day!

"In a field of yellow flowers,
underneath the sun,
bluest eyes that spark with lightning,
boy with shoes undone.
He is young, so full of hope,
reveling in tiny dreams,
filling up, his arms with flowers,
right for giving any queen.

Running to her beaming bright,
while cradling his prize.
A flickering of yellow light,
within his mother's eyes.
She holds them to her heart,
keeping them where they'll be safe,
clasped within her very marrow,
dandelions in a vase.

She sees love, where anyone else would see weeds.
all hope is found.
Here is everything he needs."

-- "Dandelions," by Five Iron Frenzy

ADW

Kissing Fool

2010-04-10T14:53:00.005-06:00

For the longest time Josiah did not know how to close him mouth and pucker for a kiss. He understood that a kiss was a way we showed our affection to him. He wanted to show his affection for us as well and for his friends and for anyone that would get too close to his face. He gave the sweetest, most wet kisses ever. I loved them but I think you have to be a parent, or at least a relative, to not get a little bit grossed out by another individual licking your lips (even if he is a cute Josiah baby). He had a habit of kissing his friends. Many of his friends did not like the slobber and began screaming in his face or pulling their heads away to avoid his wet kisses. I was secretly worried about him. Every girl knows wet kisses are gross..eww.

Well, things have changed. Josiah now puckers and says "mmm" when he leans in for a sweet kiss. He is also in the process of learning how to blow kisses. Right now he puts his hand over his mouth but doesn't pull it away. It is the the thought that counts right?

We have ourselves one sweet, affectionate boy. He likes to kiss any child he meets, especially little girls and babies. My question is how does he instinctively know that a little baby is smaller than him and how does he know that babies need kisses? I mean he isn't that big himself.

Enjoy the sweet kissing boy!

PS. Rylea is the sweet baby girl in the video. She is one of Josiah's best friends. She is awful patient with him:) We love you Rylea. Sorry you have to get kissed so much!

My apologies that you have to tilt your head to watch the video. I can't rotate it.

New "Activities"

2010-03-10T12:36:00.005-07:00

It has been crazy how over the last few months Josiah has just been becoming more and more independent and adventurous.

Nobody worry, he still attacks us with hugs and and those precious open mouth slobber kisses. He will never be too independent for that right?

Seriously though, watching this little boy grow is amazing and horrifyingly scary at the same time. I assume these feelings are typical of parents of both boys and girls, but since all I have is a little boy, he is all I know. I hope and pray that in the future we will have a little girl and she won't be quite so...umm..."active". Seriously, almost every day I think, "I'm so glad he didn't just die". No one ever told me having a toddler was so dangerous! Before I had Josiah I thought that a one year old was clearly a BABY and they just sat on your lap and let you snuggle them all day. I can't deny there is some major snuggling that happens in this house, but Josiah attacking me with a hug and then pushing me over so he can jump on me is much more the norm.

Below are some examples of the many discoveries Josiah has been making. One of Adam and I's favorite comedians is Brian Reagan. Brian will sometimes talk about when he was growing up his mom would tell him and his siblings to go find a "good activity". Being children, they were always like "is this a good activity?" while doing something ridiculous. It is a lot funnier when you hear Brian tell you about it. Anyway, I feel that is what Josiah does now. Is this a good activity mom? And then I scream NO if I think he is endangering his life or smile in approval if he is indeed doing a good "activity".

one of those days

2010-03-02T10:34:00.004-07:00

It is very possible I am quite moody today.

Being moody is wrong. The Bible says to be joyful always and to worry about nothing. It basically says, home girl, you don't got the right to whine about and be moody...under no circumstances. At least that is how I read it.

I am working on becoming un-moody today. I am currently making myself a cup of coffee. This could help my moodiness incredibly.

Last night was a hard night. Josiah was up most of the morning after 2 AM screaming. I don't think there is a worse feeling than holding your baby and having him scream and scream inconsolably. I couldn't blame him.

His ears hurt. I would scream too.

Sunday AM around five Josiah had a fever of 105. We took him to the ER and his fever went down very quickly. They ran many tests but the only thing they found was this earache. This is his fourth earache of his life...poor baby. Usually within hours of his antibiotics he starts feeling better. This time the earache must be worse. He seems pretty happy in the day, but the nights seem very painful. Hopefully within a few days the infection will be gone.

Anyway, back to me being moody.

I decided that the thing I need today is a microplane zester. In fact, I just wrote Adam about how I really want to make lemon pasta tonight from the Pioneer Woman's website but I can't without a microplane zester. In fact, I may not ever be able to cook dinner again without one. This has been on my want list for a while. I just always forget to get one. I always try to use my regular grater to zest fruit. It just never works. I also want to be cool like Rachel Ray and zest my garlic. She makes it look so easy and it never works for me! I guess today my moodiness just caught up with me.

You may laugh but I'm being serious.

Am I dramatic much? Maybe...especially when moody.

Dear God, please help my husband and thank you for microplane zesters and for lemon pasta.

Emily

HELP!

2010-02-26T13:46:00.004-07:00

I know I promised a lot of stuff about being better about writing.

I know I haven't been so good lately.

I haven't said anything about Adam and I's second anniversary or Josiah's first birthday party.

The big stuff often gets skipped because I'm too busy with all the details that comes with the big stuff you know?

I actually have a long list of excuses. My biggest excuse is that we have an old, ghetto computer that takes about 24 hours to load photos. This annoys me so much that I just give up and decide not to put any photos up. This means I decide to not even post anything because the photos show what I want to say much better than my words.

This old lap top also frequently has missing keys. For instance the k is gone. I have to punch it ever so lightly with my finger on the rubber thing under the key. Time is limited for me, so again I get annoyed and give up.The loss of keys is Josiah's fault. However, recently I have cracked down on him not touching the computer under any circumstances. This is why only one key is gone at the moment.

Those are really all my valid reasons. Basically, I also can be lazy. Yea, I said it.

You every day bloggers who have the awesome, trendy layouts and win awards and get money for your blogs because so many people read them, well y'all are just way over achievers. And you probably don't have an old computer either do you????

Anyway, the real point that I wanted to write about today is decorating.

I am in a slump y'all.

I am having one of those moments in life when I just wish Nate Berkus was one of my best friends (If you are lost, he is the adorable and very talented decorator that is always helping Oprah). I could just call him up and say, "Hey, Nate! My house decorating is starting to depress me and I feel helpless. Let's go grab lunch and then you can come over and give me ideas and we can go shop and you can re-decorate my house and fix all my mistakes. Then we'll play with Josiah together and you can stay for dinner. I am making chili".

Oh man! If only I was an over achiever and had an award winning blog MAYBE Nate Berkus would read it and want to be my friend and come create the cozy, inviting, oasis of a house environment I want!

Specifically, I am am in the slumps over my bedroom. I decided yesterday that I hate it and have to start over. I decided it depresses me. Yes, I am over dramatic. That is just how I roll.

My favorite room in the house is Josiah's room. I love his room. I just sit in his room because it is so cute! I succeeded with his room. I failed with our bedroom. This makes me very sad because I have always believed that the master bedroom should be the most relaxing, put together room in the house. I think it should be a place where the exhausted parents find retreat, a kid free zone that is a little haven of sanity and relaxation. I am very passionate about my ideas about what this room should be, but I'm stuck.

Our bedroom is cluttered, dark, and a little bit stressful because I just lay on the bed trying to figure out how to fix it and how much money it will cost AND what would Adam say if I mentioned re-painting?

My sweet hubs has spent a LONG time finishing the paint in our bedroom and bathroom. How do I break it to him that it just isn't working.

Adam, if you read this, it just isn't working:)

HELP!

What do y'all do when you find yourself stuck in un-oasis of a room???

You May Need to Sit Down!

2010-02-10T08:59:00.002-07:00

I don't know what has been going on lately but CRAZY things have been happening, especially when I am driving.

Something happened last week that I have been needing to blog about and just haven't gotten around to it. I also haven't gotten around to getting up at 5:30 in the AM to work out with my hott husband. Hold me to it that I start tomorrow? My goal is to have rock hard abs by July. For this to happen I have to get out of my bed and and sweat it up with my husband doing P90X. It is the first step I am having problems with!

Anyway, back to the story.

It was last week and Adam was out of town. It was a hard week as Josiah got sick. It turns out he had an ear infection and thankfully I took him to the Dr. After the visit I had to pick up his prescription and run a few errands.

I was stopped at a stop light when I felt the car next to me staring. Whenever this happens I get REALLY awkward. I am one of those people that can make even the most awkward moments more awkward. It is my gift. I decided the best thing to do was to not look at the car and turn around and play with my baby. Josiah began giggling and smiling in delight with the game of peek-a-boo. Then the car next to me honked and I looked over to see a car of young highs school/middle school boys. The boy in the passenger seat was giggling at Josiah an said "cute baby".

I then felt royally stupid for not looking over earlier and seeing the car was filled with boys! These kids couldn't even shave yet. If they were staring, it was at my baby! I smiled in relief that I didn't have to be awkward anymore.

And then the car honked again.

The boy in the passenger seat who looked like he was about twelve held out his cell phone and mouthed, "can I have your number?".

Deer in the headlights....

My eyes got big and I think I made the same face that I make when I think about eating raw fish.

In disbelief I mouthed, "I have a baby". Surely, this boy thought I was the high school babysitter. I did have my hair in a pony tail. This must be a mistake.

He replied,"it is okay".
Still making the weird face, I raised my left hand to show off the bling on my wedding ring finger. I pointed to my ring and said, "I'm married".

Then the shocker...

The boy said "I don't care".

Again, I made the eating raw fish face.

I was thinking really boy you don't care? Do you want to pay for Josiah's college? Do you want to pay a mortgage? Can you even drive?

By this time I just didn't know what to say. The light was about to change.

I looked at Mr. twelve year old for the last time and I said, "you are twelve".

Then I drove away.

I think I laughed for a straight twenty minutes.

It was the funniest/strangest/most disturbing thing that has happened to me in a long time!

Just Have to Share!

2010-02-04T20:54:00.002-07:00

Hello All!

I just have to share what I heard today.

I was driving in the car with the radio on and the traffic report came on. The DJ in a very calm, normal tone announced that I-40 was backed up and also there was a cow loose causing back up on Las Lomas. The cow was being loaded up.

A COW.

A loose, COW.

Excuse me?

This is not normal. How do you just slip that in there without at least a laugh?

CRAZY!

I guess that is Albuquerque for ya!

2010-02-02T21:59:00.005-07:00

This takes time.

Please take the time and grab some tissues to watch this.

The reality that is shown here is heart breaking.

One Year Ago...

2010-01-28T11:24:00.001-07:00

It was 6:07 in the morning. I heard rhythmic whining. I pulled my eye lids apart and strained my eyes to look at the monitor by my bed. Josiah was sleep whimpering, head still down on his mattress.

In my head I told myself, "good! He isn't up yet. You probably have at least a half hour more of sleep".

For the next fifty minutes I was sprawled out across the bed using Adam's pillow as he had gotten up to work out. Yes, my husband gets up every morning to work out. No, I don't get up with him. Don't judge me! I have plans of re-joining him (meaning I actually have done it before) and have been waiting for the "proper" timing...meaning, Josiah had to be out of his waking up at night because he is excited he can walk phase. This phase has ended...I am preparing myself mentally and physically for the 5:30 AM workouts...soon it will happen:)

I was woken up again by loud crying mixed with loud EEEEE noises and laughing. After looking at the monitor, I realized it was time to start the day as Josiah was standing up in his crib. This is always the sign that sleep is over.

Approximately four minutes later Adam walked into the bedroom holding Josiah who was chirping. Adam said, "Look! It is Momma girl" and Josiah did a dive for my face to give me one of his sweet, wet kisses. I cuddled him at my side and said "let's nap sweet boy". He laid still cuddling with me for a blissful fifteen seconds and then sat up and started grabbing my lips...the day had began. After that it was breakfast, changing pants, cleaning throw up, saying good bye to Daddy, and then Josiah and me for the rest of the day.

It is a good day.

Josiah is happy. He is walking around, nearly running everywhere. He is opening cupboards, climbing on anything and everything, and attacking me every few minutes with his huge bear hugs.

Last year today was a different morning than this morning. This day last year after waking up and Adam leaving, my water broke...or leaked actually. It began the terribly long process of Josiah's birth. It is so weird that at this time last year I didn't know my baby. I knew I had a baby in my tummy. I knew he would be a precious, a marvelous blessing, but I didn't know him.

I didn't know that he would be terribly strong and arch his back, so his tummy nearly touches the ceiling of the car, when he is put in his car seat one too many times.

I didn't know he would have the most contagious, belly laugh I have ever heard.

I didn't know he would roll his tongue for the fun of it or make a "trilling" noise in the back of his throat when really mad.

I didn't know he would adore kisses and hugs and affection.

I didn't know he would love smoothies just like his Daddy.

I didn't know he would be born with the longest, most adorable, out of control, curly hair I had every seen an infant have.

I didn't know this little baby boy that is so precious. This year is much different. This weekend we won't be at the hospital. We will be at home with friends and family, all wearing jungle animal birthday hats celebrating the birth of a very special little boy.

I am so glad you were born Josiah. You have blessed me more than I could have imagined. I love you more than I thought possible. I am so excited to see your little personality grow over the years to come! You are my gift from God!

Love,
Your Momma Girl

Cuteness for Friday

2010-01-15T20:20:00.003-07:00

Here are some photos that are a few weeks old but too cute to not be seen! I was a horrible mommy and barely took any photos during our holiday traveling. Josiah saw a BUNCH of family that all got to love on him I just don't have any photos of it...except of him with Tia Anna.

He just loved Tia Anna's scarf and she just loved naked baby Josiah playing with her girly scarf. I didn't have the guts to tell him that boys don't normally play with pinkish scarfs.

Why does pink have to be a girl color anyway? Adam looks GREAT in pink. Girls can wear blue why can't boys wear pink scarfs? Josiah clearly doesn't care about social constructs and is so confidant in his cute boyish baby-ness that he can be naked and wear a pink scarf with a smile and be STYLIN the whole time!

We love you Tia Anna! Josiah loved playing with you and your scarf. By the way, it is super cute!

Tired of Christmas

2010-01-08T09:18:00.003-07:00

Yay for 2010!

I'm sorry but that just sounds so weird! One very exciting thing about 2010 is Josiah will be ONE on the 31st of January. I have had many thoughts about planning his party and have even written out a list of "friends". Most of the list consists of my friends as he has a few but it isn't like they call each other or anything. The boy is dependent on me to make friends for him. I do my best:)

All I really wanted to to tell you guys today is that I don't have energy to write anything funny, witty, or interesting. The point of this post is to tell you that I am tired. It is Josiah's nap time and the fact that I have sacrificed this much time away from my possible rest time is a BIG deal...ya'll should feel loved. With all the travelling we did over the holidays Josiah got royally messed up as far as sleeping goes. We were getting things back to normal and I was so happy!

And then...

Josiah started walking.

This changed everything.

Yes, walking changed his sleeping at night...weird I know.

Talk to the baby about it.

I asked his Dr. about it and she said this is very typical and he is "too excited about walking" to sleep well. He also practices his walking in his sleep.

When she said that, I go it. Basically, learning to walk for Josiah is like what Christmas is to other kids. Can you imagine having the excitement of Christmas every time you went to bed? What if every morning was Christmas?

I think Josiah's excitement is cute but it is getting old. If you didn't know I need sleep. I get cranky and can't think straight. Right now I feel that way and am going to go rest while I can. Hopefully, tonight will better!

But I still keep thinking this is just the beginning. Josiah still has so many things to learn to do! They surely can't all be like Christmas to him!

Only time will tell...

He Is A Walking Man!

2010-01-04T09:13:00.003-07:00

After being very close for quite some time, Josiah built up his confidence to start walking. He still does the straight knee walk because he is a little too timid to bend his knees. It is just adorable. This was a few days ago and now he is walking all around the house with his knees straight and hands out in front like Frankenstein. We are so proud of you Josiah!

Friends, Snow, and Throw Up

2009-12-30T16:22:00.005-07:00

Hello Friends!

We made it back from skiing all in one peice with only slight bumps and bruises! We were truly blessed by our time with the Smith family. Adam and I met on a mission trip to Nicaragua with our old pastor and friend Butch Smith so being back all together with his family was a little bit like old times. When I say BLESSED by them I am not exaggerating one bit. Jalie, the youngest of the clan, offered to change ALL diapers and Butch babysat each day while Adam and I had crazy fun on the mountain. We enjoyed Michelle's good cooking each night and then just hung out together in the living room and went to bed early out of sheer exhaustion!

One thing I am still not living down is when I told Josiah, "stop touching the electronics" as he was standing up trying to poke the TV. I thought this was perfectly normal as he doesn't know the word for TV yet, he might as well learn electronics. The whole Smith family, and Adam too, had a BIG laugh the rest of the trip over it. They are laughing now but who is going to be laughing when Josiah says electronics as his first word? Yea...I am going to be laughing and hollering with excitement when Josiah shows them up! But really, I'll take any word as his first word so we'll see:)

We drove home from Angel Fire Christmas Eve and it was beautiful with all the snow on the mountains. The stench from Josiah throwing up ALL over himself in his car seat made it a little bit less enjoyable but it makes good, smelly memories! I can't complain because little Josiah got sick in Texas, then got sick right when we got back to NM, and was just recovering while we were in Angel Fire. He was still his jovial little self but threw up almost every day for about two weeks. Fortunately, he hasn't thrown up since Christmas:) His Christmas night throw up was the worst as we were at a friends house and both Josiah and I had to borrow clothes to wear home.

Is this post about Christmas or throw up? I got confused for a second. Josiah's first Christmas sure was a special one. He didn't really care about the presents we helped him unwrap and he was more into biting the Bible as we read him the Christmas story then really understanding it, but I know each year his understanding of our Savior's birth will grow and grow! We had so much fun starting traditions even when he won't remember them! I really enjoyed getting to sleep in on Christmas as Adam was so good to me and got up with Josiah. I have a feeling sooner than I think we will be pounced on by Josiah in the early morning to get up and celebrate!

Enjoy the photos!

What Happened Yesterday

2009-12-20T21:04:00.003-07:00

Hi, my name is Emily you may not know who I am because it has been so long since I have written a post.

Ya'll I have just been TOO busy having fun to write about it! I have been in Texas for a little over 3 weeks and just returned home a few days ago. During my trip I got to reunite with Jenny, Lindsee, and Claire over dinner and they got to flirt with Josiah...he LOVED it. The three of us are just a few of a group of girls that pretty much grew up together(for me it was since 3rd grade) at Cypress Bible Church. Jenny and Lindsee are just the best bloggers. When I am having a boring day or just need something to make me smile Jenny or Lindsee's blogs usually does the trick. Claire's blog unfortunately has been a little bit too much like mine...empty....love ya Claire! During our conversation my lack of blogging came up. I admitted I was just too overwhelmed with everything I wanted to write about. Jenn said, "just write about what happened yesterday". So that is exactly what I'm going to do:) This is for you Jenn:).

Yesterday I slept in! Sweet Adam got up at seven with the baby and I got some much needed rest. When I did get up we made pigs in a blanket and had coffee by the fire. It was perfectly relaxing and made me so happy to be HOME! After that we took Josiah to the Dr. as he has been fighting a cold for a few weeks now. It turns out the little baby had the beginnings of an earache. During Josiah's afternoon nap I drove frantically to Target to try to get something that matched Josiah's ADORABLE picture outfit. We were having a family picture done and I hadn't really thought about what we would wear until that day. Recently I cleaned out my closet and maybe I did a little too good of a job because my closet is very organized but there aren't many clothes in it:). I was a mad woman at Target running through the woman's section looking for something blue, white, and gray. I had a picture in my head of a long sweater dress that was dark gray with a thick long collar. I found nothing of the sort but settled for a blue sweater thing. It all worked out and I was FAST. At home I was able to get showered, hair fixed, and makeup on in 25 minutes. Can I have a cookie or something?

We haven't seen the photos yet but I am anxious to. Josiah was scared of the photographer and just had this look of confusion on his face most the time. The more the man made noises trying to get him to laugh the more serious he got. Oh well, he is still a cutie even without a smile.

Right now I am trying to write as fast as I can as I need to go pack my bags again. Tomorrow we leave to go skiing in Angel Fire with good friends....whoop! I just took out my ski stuff which I haven't worn since our honeymoon (almost two years ago). It is actually my mom's ski outfit from when she and my Dad were first married. It is at least 30 years old. You don't have to tell me I'm styling:) I promise photos in the next post.

Love and Hugs!

When Mom's Away...

2009-12-08T12:29:00.004-07:00

The boys will play!!! Enjoy our adorable son!!!

Josiah Standing...

Josiah being SUPER excited (check out what happens right about the 1-minute mark)!!!

I miss you Emily and Josiah!!! Come home SOON!!! :-)

A Not So Scary Lion

2009-11-03T08:16:00.002-07:00

Recap

2009-10-16T14:17:00.003-06:00

Since we moved into our house we have been BUSY! I have so many things to fill ya'll in on I am slightly overwhelmed. That said, this post will be bullets to make this quick and easy.

*We have been PAINTING. Every single wall of our new house has been re-painted excluding the guest bedroom and guest bathroom. Those are the rooms I still have to paint. I know ya'll want photos. When it is finished (AKA pictures on the wall) I will do a before and after post. I don't see the point in doing a before and half way done post. So far, I love it but it is a lot of work.

*Tia Sarah came to visit last week. Tia means "Aunt" in Spanish. My brothers kids are bilingual and refer to us sister as "Tias" so it has stuck. Whenever I refer to Tia/Tia I mean Aunt/Uncle. We had so much fun with Tia Sarah. She got to see the famous Balloon Fiesta. The balloons literally fly over our house every morning. I know one day Josiah will really love it. We went to a balloon glow at dusk where all the special shape balloons were about 2 feet off the air and lit. It was beautiful. Again, Josiah wasn't that excited, but Tia Sarah and I got funnel cake! We also used the week to paint Josiah's room. Once I get his wall hangings up I will post a photo. Thanks for the help Sarah! It is so cute! Josiah loves and misses you!

* A few weekends ago I left Josiah (with his Daddy) for the first time for a weekend. I flew to San Antonio to see my old roommate Beth also known as "sweets" get MARRIED! I'm so glad I could make it. It was such a fun weekend! Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Harvey!

* The week before I left Josiah got sick for the first time. He had a ear ache, a cold, and a yeast infection on his bottom from his constant diarrhea. It was SO SAD! Thankfully once he got some antibiotics he recovered quickly.

*We need to buy a lawn mower. We only have grass in the backyard but we haven't mowed it yet. It is VERY long.

*Josiah has hist first tooth coming in! He is also now eating a big array of fruits, vegetables, and yogurt. He has even learned to put his "puffs" in his mouth by himself.

*I love fall! Adam loves fall because it is pumpkin season. He has lovingly requested that he have a pumpkin dish every week from October through December. I have been behind so today I will make pumpkin muffins to start off fall in a belated fashion!

*Josiah is in the process of learning the word "NO" and boundaries. When he touches something he isn't supposed to he is told "NO" (in a stern, calm voice) and flicked on the hand. I was TERRIBLE at it at first. Terrible as in he wasn't learning the word "No" because he couldn't feel my flicks. But the past few days I have gotten much more serious after beginning the book To Train Up A Child by Michael and Debi Pearl. Josiah is actually learning. When I say "NO" he usually backs away from the dangerous object. I am so proud of him! I am also amazed with how early training begins. Literally from Josiah first days home he is being trained by my actions toward him as well as my responses whether or not I am conscientiously training him or not. I guess I just always assumed you had a few years before that began. Goodness, was I wrong. I really am loving every second of it though. I love watching him grow and develop and become more affectionate. My baby loves kisses. Is anyone surprised? That is one aspect I have definitely been training him in for quite a while:)

Okay...there is more but no one like to read super long posts. I'm off to work on the muffins. Feel free to leave pumpkin recipes if you want!

It Is About That Time...

2009-10-04T16:15:00.005-06:00

Josiah is such a sweet baby. Really, sweet would be the FIRST word I would use to describe him. I know all moms say that, but really, my baby is SWEET. Now that everyone knows that.

It is about that time.

It is about that time when Josiah is big enough to explore everything. He is doing just that! He has been crawling for a while now but in the last few weeks he has turned into a speed demon. He goes all around the house. He used to follow me where I went but now he just goes off on his own. His new favorite things are the kitchen trashcans, any kind of cord, and then he still has his old favorites, the remote controls. The toilet would be his favorite but he has only experienced it one or two times as Adam and I learned quickly that the bathroom doors need to be SHUT at all times.

It can be exhausting at times but that is why God made babies so cute right? We are just learning how to baby proof everything and keep him out of trouble but that is pretty difficult as he looks for trouble.

All of these photos happened while I was cooking dinner and Josiah rolled out into the hallway for about thirty seconds. It took him thirty seconds for him to pull the box of pictures off the bench, unload the diaper bag, and find a pen to suck on. The first picture is of Josiah right after the fact in the kitchen so HAPPY about what he did. The towels on his lap are the kitchen towels. He loves to pull them down over and over again.

Let the good times begin.

What happens when he is walking???

Yay for Birthdays!

2009-09-30T17:26:00.005-06:00

I owe a big thank you to my husband, my baby, my family, and all my great friends. As you know, my birthday was this last weekend. Getting older is not really a positive thing for most people. I can't say I love getting older (today I thought about buying under eye cream for WRINKLES), but I LOVE birthdays. That said, they keep getting better and better! My husband celebrated my birthday all week. I always joke about having a birthday month but really no one has ever celebrated it. But I can honestly say Adam did something special for me every day of the week leading up to my birthday. I can't forget about my momma either. She remembered my birthday week too as I started getting e-cards from her on Monday (love ya momma!). I don't know why I love birthdays so much, but I do!

Oh I remember why...cake! I love cake! Why not have cake all week? Actually, we were pretty good and didn't have cake all week but we did have Adam's home-made milkshakes. I'll take either:).

Okay, time to brag on the hubs. He planned the best day ever. Friday the 25Th started off by him getting up at seven with the baby and letting me SLEEP in. Oh bless my soul, it was marvelous. When I got up at NINE AM I came out to a table with flowers, home-made crepes with Nutella (delicious), and the computer out with my birthday video playing. I was so impressed!

After I had showered and we got Josiah ready we dropped him off with dear friends down the street the Wallaces. Adam then took me to see the movie Fame. Oh my gosh, it was AWESOME. I don't even know how I sat in my seat the whole time. I'm not going to lie, I did a little shaking it as we were leaving. That movie needs to be watched with an interactive audience so everybody can dance along while watching!

Then, we went to Sonic where I enjoyed a strawberry shake...yum yum. Then Adam got REALLY impressive. He then took me to a ballroom dance studio where we had a private dance lesson. When he pulled into the parking lot I just started crying I was so happy. We learned a bit of swing and rumba. I enjoyed every minute of it and we have another lesson next week!

We then picked up Josiah and Adam blind folded me and took me to the Olive Garden where a bunch of sweet friends were waiting! Then Missy Erin Goodman landed at the airport to come visit for the weekend. I had not seen that sweet girl since my wedding. We had so much catching up to do and finally time to do it! It was indeed such a sweet weekend.

I can't express enough how blessed I am by all the people in my life. I love all of you.

Also, September really is a great month as my sister Anna was born the day after me! Happy Birthday month to you Anna! I wish I could of been in Houston to celebrate with you. I love you and am so proud of you!

Happy 25th Birthday Emily!

2009-09-25T11:47:00.002-06:00

I want you all out there in the blogoshpere to join me in celebrating the precious birth of my beautiful wife! Call her...e-mail her...facebook her...or leave a comment here on the blog - but let her know that how ABSOLUTELY AMAZING she is!!!

Emily...I know one thing...

I LOVE YOU!!!

California!

2009-09-15T18:33:00.005-06:00

I'm going to begin by back tracking about three weeks. Adam, Josiah, and I all went to La Jolla, CA to stay at a beach house that my sister Stacy and her family rented for all of us. My whole immediate family was there. We had so much fun. Josiah just LOVED all the attention he got from Grandma, Grandpa, Tias (aunts), his Tios, and all his cousins. He was constantly entertained. My whole family got to spend time together eating, hanging out, and yes doing a little swimming in the COLD pacific ocean. Unfortunately, the sun really wasn't out much but we still got in the water. I have to say I LOVE the ocean. What I love more than swimming in the ocean is getting CRUSHED by the waves. I came home with bruises all over my body from the waves dragging me against the sand but I LOVED it! Josiah wasn't thrilled about the beach. He looked adorable with his little sun hat on but he didn't really like being confined to the towel. He didn't like the cold water when we put his toes in it and he puts everything in his mouth so he couldn't play in the sand. Oh well, maybe in a few years he will change his mind. We had a great vacation and were so blessed by all the family we saw. Not only was my family there but much of my extended family lives there. Every night we got to share dinner with precious faces we see too seldom. We also got In N Out Burger which was just AMAZING. I'm still thinking about it:) Enjoy the photos!

We Have Internet!

2009-09-14T20:14:00.011-06:00

I have written at least five blogs in my head over the last few weeks. Since we began moving into our new house so many things have happened and we didn't have internet so I couldn't update the blog! You guys have been missing out on a lot! I will do my best to catch you up on all Josiah's cuteness!

Josiah got a hair cut!!! He is only 7 months and I wanted to wait at least a year but his hair was just too crazy.
I mean his hair looked like this when he was born. So he started off with more hair than many full size men:).

It got very cute as it grew long and curled and I sure did enjoy styling those curls.

No one can deny this baby had crazy style!

But then as he got crazy when he slept at night and lost most of the hair on the back of his head. At the same time this happened, his hair was still growing like crazy on the top and sides of his head. It didn't help that Josiah can not stop slobbering and also pulls his hair when tired or bored. So he would pull his hair in his face and it would stick to his slobbery cheeks. This is when we knew he needed a hair cut.

So we took Josiah to MopTops and his precious curls got cut!

And this is the result!

He is such a handsome little BOY! It doesn't help that the same time he got his boy haircut he started crawling EVERYWHERE, pulling himself up to a standing position, and eating in his big boy high chair.

Don't stay away long because I have lot more updates on the way!

Moving!

2009-08-26T20:43:00.004-06:00

No more climbing three flights of stairs. No more carrying groceries, Josiah, and a diaper bag across a parking lot to get "home". No more taking Josiah's car seat in and out of the car. We have a HOUSE. Most importantly, we have a garage where the car can hold Josiah's car seat without it becoming scorchingly hot. We have closets. We have a whole closet just for linens.

Linens!

Can you believe houses have closets for linens? Right now in our apartment Josiah doesn't even have a closet because his closet is filled with boxes of Adam and I's books from college that take up the whole thing. Having a closet just for linens seems like indulgence at it's finest. But I'll take it!

I have big plans of cooking big meals in a kitchen with 4 counters! I plan on filling all 4 counters up with different food dishes. Who would of thought you could cook different things on different counters!?

I really can't complain. We have loved our little apartment. So many things have happened here in this apartment. We went from renting a two bedroom apartment so we could have a guest room to turning our guest room into a baby room. We became parents here. It has been nice to be in a small place where the trek to Josiah's room at night wasn't very long. I have tripped over many things in this living room as I have sleepily tried to run into Josiah's room. Just last week when I was packing for vacation I hopped out of bed in my sleep as Josiah was screaming (he had a burp) and I ended up tripping over the suitcase that was on the floor and falling INSIDE of it. I screamed and Adam came running to find me sprawled in the suitcase! It is those moment I won't forget about this apartment.

We have outgrown this apartment, but just this week truly realized it as Josiah is crawling. He began officially crawling a few days ago and must feel cramped trying to navigate around the boxes. A while back I was writing about a short sale house that we put an offer on. It is a really long story but that house fell through. I was sad at first but God has given us an even BETTER house at exactly the right time. I am too tired to write more. Adam and I have been painting, packing, cleaning and trying to keep Josiah happy while not getting into the paint or cleaning supplies:).

I am off to bed to dream about all the first we are going to have in this house. Josiah is going to walk, run, poop in the potty, etc. We are so excited! We are moving ourselves (with the help of great friends) and will spend our first night at "home" Saturday. If any of you want to visit, we have a guest room and would LOVE to practice some hospitality!

Option 8

2009-08-13T17:48:00.002-06:00

This is option 8. This my best try at baby dreads. This one is dedicated to Daddy!

Happy Voting!

Hair Stylin

2009-08-13T10:08:00.005-06:00

option 1

option 2

option 3

option 4

option 5

option 6

option 7

Everyone knows Josiah's hair is CRAZY! He was born that way. My sweet little baby was born with about two inches of hair that went EVERY direction. It has continued to grow and is always a topic for a good laugh. He rolls around like crazy when he sleeps and has lost most of his hair in the back. The result is that he has long hair on the top and sides of his head and then short hair in the back...poor baby. My Momma always asks me if I have brushed his hair. Yes, I brush Josiah's hair every day but it just doesn't matter. His hair goes in whatever direction it wants to. I know he needs a hair cut soon. Well, he has NEEDED a haircut since he was born but he will be getting one soon. I'm just not quite ready yet. In the mean time, vote for your favorite hairstyle! How many babies can wear different hair styles? This baby has so many crazy adorable options! Even though his hair is crazy, I wouldn't have it any other way! We love Josiah and his crazy head of hair!

Mommy Talk

2009-08-06T12:59:00.002-06:00

I must share a recent NORMAL conversation I had with good friend Kelly. This is what a lot of my conversations sound like. Until it was pointed out, I didn't think it was the slightest bit odd at all. (This is a synopsis and is not exactly word for word as my memory is not that good)

Me: Kelly, is Derek's poop firm and formed like real poo or is it still soft?
Kelly: It is firmer but not hard.
Me: Did it suddenly change when he started eating cereals or did it take longer?
Kelly: Oh it definitely changes with the fiber of cereal. But it should be a bit gooey. It shouldn't be hard and they shouldn't have to make all sorts of noises to get it out.
Me: Hmmm...ever since Josiah began eating cereal I have been thinking he is constipated. He stopped pooping every day and it is formed like a normal person's poop. I think it should be more liquid-like. He does make some crazy sounds when he poops too.
Kelly: It is okay if he poops every other day or every 48 hours
Me: Hmm...I guess it has been every other day but it was just a baby poo that is why I thought he was constipated. And it was very formed, almost like play dough. He used to poop a lot more. I have been giving him prunes for his constipation but maybe he isn't even constipated. Maybe his poop is just changing and I am wanting his poo to stay like his baby poo and he is growing into big boy poo and I don't' know how to handle it.
Kelly: Emily, his poop is going to change and become more and more firm, like nuggets...it is going to happen.

(Josiah then had diarrhea for several days after I thought he was constipated as a result of his prunes)

I always knew I was a talker and could go on and on about most anything but poop??? Really??? Nothing is off limits anymore:)

A Half A Year!

2009-08-02T17:15:00.005-06:00

Josiah is 6 months!
6 months!
I feel like that is so big! What am I going to do when he is 4, 8, or 10 YEARS old?
I don't know where the time has gone! I have to say I am enjoying this little blessing more and more each day. I love seeing his personality develop and getting to know him as a person with a unique personality more each day. He is getting happier and happier. My favorite attribute about him is that smile. When he smiles his big, toothless smile I think my heart really skips a beat. It just gets to me every time. If I were to describe his personality in one word it would be SWEET. He is just sweet, I don't know what else to say. He really has a gentle, sweet spirit and loves being loved. The words that would quickly follow sweet are crazy, wild, mobile, energetic, and restless. He has turned all boy! I have to be quick to get my momma snuggles in as he constantly just wants to MOVE. He can't crawl yet but he sure tries. When he is held he is constantly diving forward or backward (he wants to do a back bend) trying to move.

At six months these are Josiah's favorite things to do:

Rolling from the right or left to get wherever he wants
Flipping over backwards on the bobby when on the ground
Lifting up his play gym with his feet
Playing with his toes
Sitting up while holding himself on his hands
Attacking all his toys on his Baby Einstein
Laying on Momma and Daddy's bed and pushing pillows off his face with his feet
Laughing while being tickled
Being sang to
Doing the "airplane" with Mom or Dad
Nap time
Being read to
Putting any toy in him mouth and chewing on it
Drinking water from a real cup or just grabbing any cup he sees
Eating cereal, he can't get enough
Stealing the phone from Momma and putting it in his mouth

Josiah Eats Cereal!

2009-07-27T15:02:00.004-06:00

I am terribly sad. I had the CUTEST video of Josiah and his friend Rylea playing. Josiah kept grabbing Rylea's leg and Rylea kept patting Josiah on the head. She was flat out amazed with all his hair. Josiah was just amazed with Rylea. The sad story is the video seems to be gone. I can't find it anywhere on the computer. So in order to make this post not so sad, I leave you with Josiah' first time eating cereal.

Things I wish I Knew...

2009-07-23T11:39:00.002-06:00

Today is the first time Josiah has really fallen. It was a terrible feeling as a parent. I had him in my lap and was feeding him in his boppy. Adam called me and needed me to look up some important information regarding the house we are trying to buy. I moved the boppy next to me and set Josiah in it. I was lost in thought trying to remember the correct password with the correct letters/numbers in either upper or lower case. A few seconds went buy and FLIP Josiah was on the floor. He had flipped to his right over his boppy, did a 360 and landed on the carpet on his back. Our couch isn't that tall so he was okay. He was a little stunned but didn't cry and I quickly picked him up and snuggled him thanking God I hadn't killed this precious gift.

Well, later that day I was talking to my Dad. You just have to hear the conversation. Listen in, it went something like this.

(I explain Josiah's fall to my Dad)
Emily: Dad, did I ever fall off the couch when I was a baby?
Dad: Oh yea, you guys fell all the time.
Emily: Really? Were we okay? (Me thinking...oh that is what is wrong with me!)
Dad: Yea, you guys would just go BOOM on your head. It happened a lot. I would just tell you not to cry and you wouldn't. You were very compliant. You would go BOOM and I would say, "no cry" and you would just get up. You fell all the time. Really, on your head.

I think I laughed for a whole five minutes after this conversation. He made it sound so normal that I was always falling on my head and never crying. He also said he didn't tolerate crying...so I didn't. These are the stories a mom needs to know about before she has babies and freaks out at every ouchy. This explains so much about me you don't even know!

The Journey of Saying Goodbye...

2009-07-20T15:28:00.002-06:00

Recently in the Williams house we had to say goodbye to something very precious.
It was something that was near to us everywhere we went. It made night time easier and naps more peaceful. It was especially hard goodbye for Josiah. I didn't know if he would be able to bear saying goodbye. Yes, this precious thing I am speaking of is his beloved pacifier (may it rest in peace).

It is gone. All five of them actually were placed very lovingly in the trash can. I know you must be shaking your head in disgust. How can a loving mother take away such a precious item from a baby not even 6 months? I must say it was difficult. It was one of my first lessons in tough love and I just didn't know if I could be that tough. Josiah had a pacifier addiction. I affectionately called his pacifier Josiah's "drug". He absolutely could not fall asleep without it. I didn't mind him sleeping with it. He started maybe on his second day in the hospital. I never explained my milk problems after Josiah's birth but the bottom line is, I couldn't give Josiah enough milk. I didn't know this for a few days so he quickly attached himself to a pacifier for the relief of the sucking sensation. Poor baby was a crazy sucker as he wanted more food! Fortunately we figured this out rather quickly and he soon started formula, but the pacifier had stuck.

I was totally fine with it as it made him sleep (along with a down blanket in his crib). I was all about having this baby sleep through the night which he did at 8 weeks. All was well until we started realizing the pacifier was turning from a comfort item to an addiction. The pacifier would fall out in the night and Josiah was not able to go back to sleep without it. So I would come back and re-insert it into his mouth and he would be back to dreamland. This was okay occasionally but it began to happen more and more, sometimes every hour. At this point, we knew we had to take the pacifier away.

I was terrified! We decided to do it on a long weekend when Adam would be home more to help support. Well, it only took 3 days! The first 2 nights Josiah cried for about an hour in the middle of the night. I would go in about every 3 minutes and pick him up and pat him until he stopped crying and then lay him back down. I would do this until he fell asleep again. This was to reassure him that he was not alone and to make sure he didn't begin to fear his crib. By the third night he slept the whole night long!

He used to have to sleep on his side squished between two blankets as to not let the pacifier fall out easily. It was quite a production to get him in the right spot. Now he sleeps in all different positions his back, side, tummy,and end of bed etc. He is a much better sleeper now and is free to be a wiggle maniac.

To all you moms debating if you should do this. Just be strong and patient and it will happen!

In loving memory of the Josiah paci. You are no longer missed!

Happy Birthday Adam!

2009-07-02T21:36:00.003-06:00

Today twenty seven years ago Adam David Williams...AKA...my love was born! I am so glad he was born and so glad that he picked me to be his wife!

Adam, I love you. I can't wait to celebrate you everyday for many, many, many, many, many years to come. I can't wait until Josiah can say "Happy Birthday Daddy". I can't wait until grandchildren can say the same. I can't wait until we are that old couple with all of our kids gone, holding hands and still enjoying each other each day...each birthday. I'm excited to grow old with you and enjoy each moment...the trials and the joys. I loved you yesterday, I love you today, and I love you tomorrow and each day after.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

PS. You are HOT!

Daddy Hands

2009-06-20T16:49:00.003-06:00

Daddy Hands

The first time your fingers interlaced with mine I held my breath
And then talked really fast
Because, that is what I do
When your big fingers held that small ring in front of my face
I laughed
Because, that is what I do
I fell in love with you, all of you
But maybe your hands first
Those long fingers were strong but soft
They enveloped my hand and felt secure and safe
Warm but never sweaty
After all, that is a bit gross and not what you do
When I was in labor you caressed my face and said it would be okay
Because, that is what you do
You held Josiah and your large hands wrapped around him
Engulfing his tiny body
And shaked with love
Maybe a bit of fright
You made him feel safe, secure, and loved
Because, that is what you do
Now I watch him with you and your daddy hands constantly mean more
They mean playful tickles
Big laughs
They mean night time snuggles
Back scratches before bed
They mean firm pats
Relieving those painful burps
They mean safety and trust
Always catching
Always holding
Always protecting
Always loving

Happy First Fathers Day Adam
Josiah loves you just like I do!!

Josiah's Birth Story

2009-06-19T21:59:00.004-06:00

Midnight moonlight shining through the curtain lace
Paints a perfect picture on your perfect face
One sweet angel sleeping in my arms
You are the promise I knew God would keep
You are the gift that makes my world complete

And you'll never know how much I love you
But I'll keep on telling you my whole life through
Now I believe in miracles, and you're the reason why
So dream on while I sing you my angel's lullaby

-Reba Mcentire

Yes, Josiah is now 20 weeks old, but I just now finished his birth story. It is extremely long. I warn only read it if you want to know all the details of his birth. Also know birth can be a bit gross. You were warned, proceed with caution.

Well, it was a Thursday morning and I awoke around 8:30 AM. I was just laying in bed thinking about what things in the house I needed to clean that day when suddenly a liquid was running down my leg. I ran to the bathroom and realized my water broke. At least, I THOUGHT it was my water. It was a clear gush of liquid. I then called my mom. She told me my water broke and I was in labor! I then called Jenn Bacak, she said " your water broke, go to the hospital!". I think she was very shocked that I didn't see the need to go the hospital because I wasn't having contractions. One of the first things you learn in birthing class is when your water breaks, go to the hospital. I just had always imagined pain and contraction being associated with that so I was a little confused. So after calling the nurse and her saying, "go to the hospital!", I called Adam and told him we needed to go! So then I started packing. It is no surprise that I'm not a super organized person. I know you are supposed to have your bag pre-packed. I found this impossible. I knew what I was going to pack, it just wasn't done. The problem was I wanted to take my favorite pajama tops to the hospital, but I also wanted to wear them at home. Thus, I could not pack them until the last minute. My dear husband had already packed. This is typical, he is way more organized than me. I need to be more like him!

So we went to the hospital. This is when the story really started to get LONG. We were admitted to triage. They hooked me up to the fetal monitor and I found out although I couldn't feel them, I was having pretty consistent contractions...weird. We also found out that they test you to see if your water has actually broken. Well, they could pick up no amniotic fluid on me. But they said my story sounded true. We were in triage until four PM (without eating) while the Dr. was trying to decide if I was in labor. It was suggested that maybe I peed on myself and my water hadn't broken! I'm not saying this is impossible as I was getting up to pee every hour, but I KNEW I hadn't peed on myself! After so many hours of lying there though I was beginning to wonder if I was crazy. Maybe I just had a gush of clear other liquid. I didn't know what other liquids could gush out of my body but i knew SOMETHING had. I know how gross is that? I told you child birth is gross.

Well, finally, we were told indeed the Dr. "thinks" I'm in labor and I would be admitted to labor and deliver. I was also told I could have food. I was thrilled beyond belief. Unfortunately, right as my dear friend Melody was bringing me food, my orders were changed and I was on a all liquid diet...SAD moment in my life! I think I almost cried. I just didn't know how I could push out a baby and be that hungry. Melody literally had just gotten to the hospital with precious chik-fil-a. Adam went out of the room to eat his as to not taunt me. I'm not going to lie, I insisted he feed me a few fries! Well, turns out no baby was coming. My contractions got a little more steady and a little more uncomfortable but still NOT painful and then stopped around 10 PM. I was thinking surely labor was more painful than this. Around 11:30 we were eventually discharged but told we had to come back in the AM to check Josiah out again. At this point I just wanted FOOD and to not be hooked up to all these things. In triage Josiah's heart rate had dipped so they really wanted to watch him. Because of this, I was not allowed to walk around which was really uncomfortable. I was also hooked up to penicillin and an IV so I just wanted everything attached to me to be unhooked! My bed felt WONDERFUL that night and the subway sandwich Adam bought me was one of the best foods that had ever touched my lips!

Well, the test in the morning showed that my amniotic fluid was lower than the day before by one half. On one hand, I was worried that Josiah didn't have enough fluid, and on the other hand I was SO RELIEVED that I hadn't been crazy. My water had broke...or at least part of it leaked as I still had water, just less. It was then decided after seeing my Dr. that I would be induced that evening. I went home, we unplugged our phones, and I slept!

Friday evening Adam and I got packed up again this time knowing when we came home we would have our baby! This time I was sure to go the hospital with a full stomach as I knew I probably wouldn't be eating. Josiah was a big fan of Scholtsky's. When we got to my room I met Juan my nurse. He was such a gift from God. He was an amazing nurse who took wonderful care of me! He had been an OB in Columbia and moved here and became a nurse. You could really tell he knew what he was doing. He also really loves his patients. He did more than just take care of my physical needs he took care of Adam and I as a whole and really got to know us. God knew I need a people person nurse:). Again, things were delayed as my heart rate was too high and they had to stabilize it before I got pitosin. Once that was taken care of I got pitosin and my contractions got stronger and faster and yes, more painful. Meg, Kelly, and Ashley were all there to support me. It was our hope that I would birth Josiah before 7 AM as that is when my doctor's shift was over. Well, Josiah had other plans.

I had a long way to go as I was almost 100% effaced but only dilated to a 2! I hoped my strong contractions were making a difference. I stayed pretty much on the birthing ball with Adam behind me rubbing my lower back as I was having back labor until around 4 AM when I got an epidural. Can I tell you I love epidurals. I think they are one of God' greatest blessings! I went from extreme pain to taking a nap in the matter of 20 minutes it took the epidural to take affect. I know many moms are big advocates of the all natural birthing process. To those people, I offer my up most respect and I think they are a bit like a superhero, but I'm very comfortable being relaxed and pain free while in labor!The way I see it is, you can be in the most pain of your life and have your baby or you can be in almost no pain and have your baby. Being the baby that I am, pain free is great! I mean I already carried this human in my body for 40 weeks, that is superhero enough for me:).

By the time our Dr. and dear nurse Juan left at 7 I had only progressed to 4 cm. My doctor told me it would probably be about another 6 hours. This was longer than I thought, but at least he was coming. Well, at four when I was checked again I was ready to hear that I was almost a ten, but no I was still at a four. This was weird as I was having hard (painless) contraction every three minutes and had for a long time. Two hours later when they checked me again and I still hadn't progressed they also found out that Josiah's head was swollen as he was getting rammed into my pelvic bone. Either because of his size or position, he couldn't get past my pelvic bone but the contractions were still hard so they were pushing him into it. It was then we decided I needed a c-section.

In birthing classes I closed my eyes during the c-section part of the birthing videos we watched. I figured that part didn't apply to me. You see that is not what I was PLANNING. Well, I learned my lesson and will always have an open mind when it comes to giving birth. I definitely don't have control! The news of the c-section made me scared and a bit disappointed that I couldn't give birth "naturally", but at that point, my labor had been so long I just wanted to hold my baby and know he was okay.

My friends and Adam were such a support leading up to my c-section. Also to my delight, nurse Juan came back on duty at 7 PM which was right when I was getting prepped for surgery. He actually came right around the time my first epidural was wearing off. To suddenly feel labor pains after being in labor for almost 24 hours is a HORRIBLE pain. Juan was quick to give me another epidural but it still took another 15-20 minutes to take affect...that was not exciting to say the least. Then they took me back for surgery. The hardest thing for me was to stay awake. My body had been in so much stress and then with the extra anesthesia for surgery, I was FIGHTING to keep my eyes open. I wanted to remember everything but my body was just trying to tell me to sleep. The surgery was not painful. I could feel my body moving and could feel intense pressure but no pain...thank the Lord. Adam stayed right by my head and talked to me the whole time. He even helped catch my throw up when I had to throw up in the middle of surgery. He must love me:). He was able to look up right in time to see little Josiah be taken out. I remember hearing Josiah's cry and it was the best sound that ever hit my ears. I kept asking if he was healthy and what he looked like. Adam just said, "He has a lot of hair." Adam was able to watch as they cleaned Josiah up and stretched his legs in all directions to make sure he was healthy. Then Adam brought him to my face and said this is our son. I was SHOCKED with how much he looked just like his daddy. He was born 7 lb. and 9 oz. and was as perfect as he could be, well, besides his cone head. Because his head was getting squeezed by my pelvic bone it was a little misshapen but it went back to normal and he now has a perfect little head:).

That is the terribly long story of Josiah David Williams, the sweet baby that would not come:).

Warms My Heart

2009-06-17T11:17:00.005-06:00

This is from a while ago when Josiah first started laughing. It is just the sweetest thing in the world, but I'm not bias or anything. I just now downloaded it and had to share!

Friends, Family, and travel!

2009-06-01T13:24:00.003-06:00

I'm sure some you doubted, but Team Williams is still alive and well! We have been extremely busy lately with a trip to College Station and Houston, a visit from Aunt Dani, and all the busyness that comes with the beginning of summer. Adam had to go to College Station with work and it just worked out perfectly that Josiah and I were able to come along. We got to celebrate Mothers Day with both Grammy Rose and Grandma Nancy on different days. It was a fast trip but it was so fun to see so many missed faces! Our apologies to all those we didn't get to see. The trip was just too fast to see everyone and we hate that we missed some precious friends! Josiah loved all the hugs, kisses, and love he received from everyone he got to see. He did really well traveling and we were very proud of him. Grandma Rose had a fun time spoiling him while we stayed with her in College Station during the week. We even got to make it to Tia Sarah's nursing school graduation over the weekend we were in Houston! We are so proud of you Sarah!

Well, since a picture is worth a thousand words I will leave ya'll with a slide show of our busy month!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Kicking and Screaming

2009-04-30T12:41:00.003-06:00

The time right now is 12:42.

Josiah David Williams went down for his nap at 10:40.

He has not slept longer than fifteen minutest straight without waking up crying, screaming, and kicking.

The reason? His pacifier.

He LOVES his pacifier. If it falls out of his mouth while falling asleep he wakes up whaling. It is normally an easy fix of sticking his pacifier back in and he is back to dreamland. Today it just has been a bad nap time. He is overtired so instead of an "easy" fix it has meant me coming into his room picking his screaming, kicking body up and rocking him for a few minutes until he is back to being relaxed baby. I lay him back in his crib and he'll usually sleep for another six minutes and then the process begins again. I have to say this is not Josiah's norm. He normally is a great napper and takes at least two, two-ish hour naps a day and sleeps eight hours a night. But he is just a baby, and he has his days when sleeping is just really hard and today is one of them.

Today when I went into his room for the fourth time I was reminded of how many times I act like Josiah. You see Josiah's problem is not his pacifier it is his actions. He will will jolt his head from side to side forcing his pacifier out of his mouth or sometimes he will take his hand and jerk it over his mouth which pushes his pacifier out. The result is a very upset baby. I came into Josiah's room and with one look realized he was already too distressed for a simple putting his pacifier back in his mouth to work. He needed his momma to help him calm himself. I picked up his little body and his cute little thighs that I love were kicking like mad. His sweet little mouth that can make the most adorable smiles and sounds was contorted in a downright ugly manner. I put him to my shoulder and kissed him and told him to just not push his pacifier out of his mouth and he wouldn't be mad. I rocked him and held him and he slowly calmed down to to be a peaceful sleepy baby. I couldn't help but think how many times do I do that with God?

How many times do I insist that my ways are the best. When they don't work I kick my legs and scream and holler in my exhaustion of doing things on my own. How many times does God have to pick me up, hold my arms down so I don't hit myself in the head, and rock me and calm me with His truth? I was was reminded of God' patience with me as I put my sleeping baby back in his crib and started the process again six minutes later. How stubborn am I sometimes? I keep thinking if this baby would just stop knocking his pacifier out of his mouth and sleep like his body wants and needs to, he won't be distressed. How many times would I miss out on my distress if I accepted God' truth and consistently lived it?

Ouch!

I'm learning patience.

I'm learning I can cry and whine like a little baby.

I can be so foolish.

But my God is so faithful. He is so loving. He is so consistent to pick me up and calm me down. Sometimes I mess up as often as Josiah wakes up.

Ouch!

After Easter Musings....

2009-04-13T21:53:00.013-06:00

Hey everybody! This is Josiah here, and I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy (albeit belated) Easter! (HE IS RISEN!)

I was chatting with my dad the other day (I know, it sounds surprising, but he is remarkably good at speaking and understanding baby gibberish!), and we were discussing the meaning of Easter. After a great conversation, we decided that one of the best ways that Easter can be described as...Jesus is the Messiah! :-)

He became sin
Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing
Love so amazing

Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

His body the bread
His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn

Love so amazing
Love so amazing, yeah

Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world

Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

And, as an added bonus for my faithful readers, here are some Easter pics!!!

Me & My friend, Bunny

My Easter Outfit (it SNOWED on me on my 1st Easter)

MOMMY!!!

DADDY!!!

Alright everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the new pictures! I had a great Easter...and I'm so glad that Jesus rose again from the grave. Are you as excited as I am? I doubt it!

Me, expressing my excitement over the true meaning of Easter - Christ defeating sin & death!

Until next time...

jdw

PS...an added bonus video! Look how high I can hold my head up! Yep, I'm pretty much awesome...:-)

Swagbucks...& a Surprise!!!

2009-04-05T21:05:00.006-06:00

So...I must confess...I too was skeptical at first...but once I tried it...I found out it wasn't so bad...

What am I talking about - SWAGBUCKS of course! Swagbucks are a type of online-money that you can use to redeem for prizes - like Apple, Target, Southwest, Amazon, Starbucks and MORE! How do you earn Swagbucks? Great question!

The easiest way to earn Swagbucks is simply to use the Swagbucks search engine. Yeah, you got it...they give you Swagbucks simply for using their search engine! And the best part...it's a serach engine supported by Google - so the searches are almost as thorough as a straight Google search!

If you are interested in signing up (again, registering is FREE), simply click the link the left of our blog. And, if you sign up through our blog, you help us earn a little more Swag money. Fill out the few blanks, and you're ready to start Swagging! If you would like some more information on how to earn Swagbucks, click here, here, and here!

We know this really works...a friend of ours already earned a $100 gift card to Target - all by searching on the internet as she normally would have! It's that easy!!!

Questions? Just drop a quick note!

OK...and now a word from Mr. Josiah himself:

"Hello World! Well, I'm another week older - another week cuter - and another week MORE awesome! So, in a testament to the greatness of God's design in making baby boys, I present to you my first COMPLETE rollover! Yes...be amazed, for it is truly impressive! So, until my next great feat - have a blessed evening!" - josiah

I'm Double Dating!

2009-03-31T11:27:00.002-06:00

I just can't handle it.

I'm double dating!

In college this happened occasionally. I'm not proud of it. I had the problem of not being able to say no, not wanting to hurt a guy's feelings, and thinking I was "friends" with everyone. I would find out later the poor guy thought we were dating. I thought this poor guy just liked being "friends" and then I would start dating someone else. I would then feel horrible! I get nauseous just remembering it. Warning to younger girls: most guys don't just want to be "friends". And never let yourself "accidentally" date. Make the guy be purposeful and don't be afraid to be honest!

Okay...so moving on. I have that SAME nauseous feeling now. When we were beginning to look at houses I would call Realtors inquiring on certain houses I saw while I was running or driving. I called two specifically. One realtor after telling me the house I inquired about was out of my price rang by $300,000 told me she would like to meet with me and explain the home buying process in detail. I said okay. It sounded innocent enough.

Another realtor after telling me the house I was interested in was again out of our price range, asked if she could e-mail me houses in my price range. I thought since I apparently can't pick a house that isn't drastically out of our price range, this help would be much needed! Well, after meeting with both Realtors (one to look at houses she e-mailed and the other to talk about the process) I found out that both women thought we were "dating" them. Oh, it gets worse. They both told us about the house we are now trying to buy. We had seen the house with one realtor and the other realtor was telling us about it and what a good deal it was. When did this happen? I agreed to meet with these ladies I never agreed to a relationship! Oh, flashbacks of horribly stupid situations I got myself into in college came leaping into my head. I can't handle it!

We actually made an offer on a house last night. Yes...big and scary decision! And today the other realtor who we just met and talked with called me and wants us to send her all our financial information so she can check and make sure we will be getting a good rate from our lender WHEN we "pick" a home. She is also waiting to go house hunting next week. Oh, there is a knot in my stomach. I just couldn't tell her we are already pursuing a house with the other realtor and that indeed we are not dating her!

I just called Adam and put him in charge of breaking up with this precious woman. I don't know how we started dating two Realtors. It just happened without us being aware. I'm afraid to break this woman's heart!

Oh man, I'm so glad I'm married and NEVER have to date again. I thought this horrible feeling was over.

Who knew you actually dated realtors!?

Oh My Goodness...I'm an Adult!

2009-03-30T14:17:00.003-06:00

I have felt the exact same since I was fifteen. I'm serious. Certain aspects of my life have changed drastically of course, but all in all, I still feel fifteen. Growing up I think I looked forward the most to becoming sixteen and driving. I thought with a license I would gain some kind of halo of maturity. I thought sixteen was SO OLD! I also looked forward to the amazing powers of being able to go to sonic whenever I wanted. This went hand in hand with my license and I just didn't know if life could get better! Of course by the time I actually turned sixteen, I was too busy with ballet to actually go to sonic and let's just be honest...ballerinas didn't eat sonic. Let's be really honest...ballerinas don't really eat much at all. I will say I did eat but drastically less then I wanted to and sonic was out...along with carbohydrates, ice cream, and all my favorite things. But this post is not about ballet or eating, so I shall move on.

Next, I thought surely in college I would become really mature. I mean not only would I know I was mature but everyone I told I was in college would know how mature I was. Well, in college I must say some of my most non-mature moments shined for the world to see. I made rap songs on my answering machine. Instead of just saying "leave a message" I rapped a message. It was great, especially with my whiteness and my lack of all things "ghetto". My roommates and I hardly ever spoke to each other in normal voices. Oh no, we had our own very "mature" voice we would do to communicate. We sounded a bit like baby frogs. We also frequently made music videos of ourselves lip singing to our favorite songs. We also would make up skits and video ourselves and laugh for hours watching them. My best skit was when I starred as the "Wachiwachitawa" the woman of the sewer. I had my own dance that went along with it. It was a highly mature moment:).

Well after graduation, I got married. Now if I hadn't been mature in college I SURELY was then. Well, I have been married for a year and it hasn't happened yet. What really proved this to me what birthing classes. I was "mature" enough to get pregnant surely I was mature enough for birthing classes. Imagine this: a room full of pregnant woman bouncing on birthing balls with bellies protruding. Beside them sits their "supportive" husbands looking awkward and nervous. We all were trying to relax every part of our bodies and listening as the Douala smoothly told us to relax our heads, fingers, necks etc. I was TRYING to relax and breath but all I could think of was if Adam was really doing this. I would peek my eyes open and almost burst out laughing as I could tell he wasn't even trying but just pretending. It was all I could do to keep my laughter in. Another very "mature" habit of mine is laughing. If a situation is slightly awkward or makes me nervous, I laugh. It is horrible and gets me into trouble way too often.

Well, I am finally in a very mature state of life. We are house hunting! Now, maybe being able to buy cheddar peppers from sonic on my own wasn't mature but surely buying a house is! With every house we look at or think about I feel like I'm being yelled at "You are an adult! Look how big you are!" The problem is I'm still the same old me. I still laugh uncontrollably at all the wrong moments and would LOVE to still make music videos. This is a very adult step in life but I think I have to admit, I'm just never going to be truly mature.

That said, I could barely sleep last night because I was dreaming about what color paint to put in each room of our future home. I woke up excited but a bit stressed. I had a lot of ideas that are going to take a LONG time as in my dreams each room was at least two different colors. I even dreamed the whole process of buying the paint, taping the rooms, and painting with a baby. Wow... no wonder I woke up exhausted!

Yay for house hunting and moving on to my next not so mature stage of life! It is fun and a bit scary! It makes me just want to go to sonic!

So, Perhaps I'm Just Awesome...

2009-03-22T15:46:00.015-06:00

What's going on people!?!?! This is Mr. Josiah D. Williams here, and, since both mommy and daddy have NOT updated this blog in a while, I figure I would take the initiative and do so. I mean c'mon, I've been alive for 7 weeks and I've been up to a LOT! :-)

Let's see, where to start...well, I suppose I'll just give you all a few new pictures. What I can tell you is that I'm growing...and growing...and growing! I'm now wearing 0-3 month clothes - which is great, because now I've got some STYLIN' clothes!

OK, so, I like to sleep with the blanket OVER my face!

Like I said, AWESOME new clothes!

And, I'm smiling a lot know because I love life!

OK, so, those were just some warm up pictures. Since the last time I updated the blog, a lot has happened in my young life. As you can see from the previous picture, I've started smiling...which both mommy and daddy love! I'm starting to sleep for longer periods while its dark outside - apparently that's called "night time" and people sleep when its dark outside. That was news to me...I mean, I had a nice thing going on while I was in mommy's tummy...but, in any case, mommy and daddy are really proud of me because I'm sleeping more and more at night.

But, I have to admit, one of the biggest things that has happened to me was that I took my first trip on an airplane! Which was my first trip to Texas! Which was my first time to meet Grammy Rose and the crazy Tune Clan! Which was also my first wedding! Phew...I'm getting tired just writing about it. So, yeah, Aunt Sarah got married two weeks ago, so that gave me an opportunity to travel to mommy and daddy's home state and meet a bunch of people! The airplane ride was fine - I mean, I slept the entire time, so, I was fine! Meeting everyone was, well, quite a trip! I really enjoyed meeting Grammy Rose - we had some good time together. I also really enjoyed meeting everyone - and I do mean EVERYONE - on mommy's side of the family. Oh, the wedding was nice as well - though I kinda screamed through the ENTIRE ceremony, so neither daddy or I really saw much of it! But, mommy looked STUNNING in her dress! Here are some pictures of that adventure...

Me and Mommy at the Wedding Reception - How beautiful is she!

Daddy taking care of me at the wedding reception...

And, eventhough Sarah was the bride, I was the center of attention - there was normally a line just to hold me!

So, after all of that, I was quite tired!

So folks, there ya go! That's just a quick overview of all of the fun and excitement that I have been up to these past few weeks. But, before I leave, I shall leave you with my two NEWEST feats...

I'm a smiling machine! And...

Alright folks...that's all I've got for today. Thanks for checking up on me!!! I'm off to take a nap...:-)

josiah

We Are Still Here...

2009-03-12T13:27:00.004-06:00

Josiah is after his bath...one of his favorite times!

Striking a pose!

Modeling after his bath...owow!

This is Josiah when his hair is wet and momma got to the brush! Note: His hair will not stay like this when it drys. But isn't it cuter than the crazy hair?

He is precious when he sleeps! This is an example of the crazy hair!

He loves his Daddy!

I am a blog loser.

LOSER!

My deepest apologies for those that are trying to keep up with our life and see Josiah grow on the blog. Someday when I have slept more I will be better at this:).

I started Josiah's really long birth story and haven't finished it yet and so I haven't posted anything else. Well, I will just get to it when I get to it and keep posting photos of our sweet guy.

He is five and a half weeks! I can't believe it. He smiles at me everyday now. He is a lot more alert. He can hold his head up when he gets burped on my lap. Some of his favorite things are cuddling (he may look like his Daddy but he has a heart after his Momma), his bath, eating, and being burped. Seriously, this baby could be burped for hours. He just loves it! He just went on his first airplane ride to Houston to go to Tia (Aunt in spanish) Sarah's wedding. He did wonderful and slept the whole flight both ways. He was a BIG hit at the wedding. I have a huge family so there was actually a line to hold him because there isn't enough time in the day to be held by my whole family. He loved meeting all the family and being hugged and loved by all! Photos of the wedding will be posted when I get them off the camera. For now, enjoy these!

Hello World...Here I Come! :-)

2009-02-08T11:07:00.002-07:00

josiah david williams

01.31.2009

9:29 p.m.

7lbs 9 oz
20 in

Hello Everybody! Since Mom and Dad are either constantly changing me, feeding me, putting me to sleep, or desperately trying to catch a few minutes of sleep themselves, I figured I would introduce myself to the blogosphere. My name is Josiah and I hear that I look a LOT like my Dad. Maybe in time when my vision comes into focus I'll be able to tell for myself! Though life outside the womb was very different and, frankly, terrifying at first, I'm settling into my new life just fine. My life is pretty nice right now...all I do is sleep, eat, and soil my diapers! But, I am a curious little boy, and I love to keep my bright eyes open and observe what's going on around me. Oh, and I also a grasper! I have big hands (I assume like my Daddy!) and I like to grab onto whatever is within my reach. My Mom and Dad love me a lot and treat me like a prince. I have lots of cool clothes - even if there are a little big for me right now! :-) My room is really cool too...I can't wait until I get to sleep in it all the time! Well, that's all about me for right now. I'm sure there will be much more written about me (or by me!) in the near future. So, until next time, enjoy the slideshow! :-)

Make a Smilebox photobook

I was Tagged...

2009-01-21T18:49:00.002-07:00

I was tagged quite a bit ago so I think it is time I fill this out!

8 TV Shows I Watch:
1) The Office
2) 24
3) Every Day Italian (I LOVE these recipes)
4) Okay...ANYTHING on Food Network
5)Bridezilla

Okay...those are the main shows I watch...I can't come up with 8...sorry!

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1) Chik- fil- A (yumm yumm)
2) Chilis (did anyone say quesadilla explosion salad??)
3) P.F. Chang's
4) Papadeax (this is a new discovery for me...love me some fondeax)
5) Sonic (I'm sorry but cheddar peppers are some of the best things in the world)
6) Chipotle
7) Free Birds
8) Square One (Whoop!)

8 Things that Happened to Me Today:

1) I couphed really hard and it made me throw up...I blame pregnancy
2) I wrote down 10 new recipes!
3) I ate this amazing cinnamon nut bread for breakfast...it was divine!
4) I forgot to eat lunch until 2 and got really light headed.
5) I went walking on the treadmill.
6) My organs got kicked by Baby "J"
7) I hugged good friends!
8) I found out I can buy freshly ground wheat flour!! This means I can make my own bread! This may not be a big deal but it was the HIGHLIGHT of my day. I'm still smiling:)!!!

8 Things I Look Forward To:
1) Baby "J" coming
2) Not being pregnant
3) Moving to a house
4) My sister Sarah getting married!
5) Having a big family
6) Making my Gram's amazing home-made bread with freshly ground wheat flour!
7) Watching Adam be a Dad
8) I think Baby "J" coming should be listed twice...:)

8 Things I Wish For:
1) For labor that is quick, easy, and painless
2) A baby that sleeps through the night on his own:)
3) That I lose baby weight without even trying to...and in less than a month (before my sister's wedding)
4) That pumpkin creamer was sold all year long
5) That baseboards would not continually collect dust:)
6) That my family would stay healthy and safe
7) That I would always have the perfect recipe for dinner...and energy to create it!
8) That Albuquerque had more chik-fil- A's and a Chipotle:)

I know my answers are a little slanted toward pregnancy. I can't help it. I'm 38.5 weeks pregnant and there is very little on my mind besides getting this precious thing out of me! He now weighs between 6.5-7 pounds (I am told) and I think that is quite big enough to grow on his own outside of my body! I am ready to meet him, hold him, kiss him, and for goodness sake stop carrying him around on my bladder:).

I tag Sally, Lindsee, Ashley, and Joanna!

Williams Christmas in ABQ!

2008-12-27T11:50:00.008-07:00

We had a lovely, peaceful Christmas here in our cozy apartment in Albuquerque. Things had been quite chaotic leading up to Christmas with all of our traveling that staying home and just being "us" was exactly what we needed! Our Christmas celebrations began with going to church on Christmas Eve. We both really enjoyed this service. Pastor Wayne talked about how to "identify a Christian". He spoke how "Christians" are known by how they display the fruits of the spirit. Unfortunately, he also had to apologize for most of us who say we are "Christians" but then don't show or bear that fruit in our life. It was convicting! I especially like how he went through each fruit of the spirit and defined what it means. For example he defined patience as the divine ability to graciously forebear people who get on your nerves. Do we all need to hear that at Christmas or what? How many times do we secretly want to run over the people in the Wal-Mart aisle who are blocking the whole aisle and taking five minutes to peruse the different box stuffing options? How many times do we want to yell at the guy who steals your parking space in the mall parking lot after you have waited five minutes for it? I know families look forward to Christmas all year and then sadly when it comes and you are with your family in a condensed space for more than an hour those people that are so special can suddenly become "annoying." I know everyone who reads this blog always has a gracious response in these circumstances, but it was convicting to me! Do people know me by my patience? Does my family know me by my patience? Does my husband know me by my patience?

Ouch...I'm not so sure.

After the service we then went to IHOP. Last year Adam and I were visiting his best friend in Tyler, Texas and drove back to Houston on Christmas Eve. We got really hungry and stopped by IHOP for dinner. We had these amazing pumpkin pancakes that we both have been thinking about all year since then!

Unfortunately, upon looking at the menu and ordering our pumpkin pancakes...

we found out they had run out! There were no pumpkin pancakes at IHOP!

We then settled for omelette's and berry pancakes. I'm not going to lie. My omelet made me a little sick and I could only eat half of it. We are currently re-thinking if we want IHOP to be a family tradition on Christmas Eve...we'll keep you posted:). We then came home to our decorated apartment! These are the lights Adam hung up!

These are our stockings. Both our parents had given us stockings last year so we decided to hang them all up even though there are only two of us currently...someday there will be four we hope. :-)

This is our nativity set that we received as a wedding gift last year...what a great gift!

This is our little tree sitting on our kitchen table. It looks large in this photo but don't be fooled, it is only three feet tall.
This is Adam on Christmas morning. Poor thing was tired as he woke up at six AM to take the cinnamon roll dough out of the fridge for me! I love you baby!

This is our finished product of our cinnamon rolls. Only half of them have icing because Adam doesn't like icing...I know weird....I just go with it.

I got the recipe from my good friend Kelly Dunn so I can't take credit for it but they were delicious! Here is the recipe if you want to make them:

Dough:

1 pckg. active dry east

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup luke warm milk

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter softened

1 t salt

1 egg

4 cups flour

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 T milk

1/2 t vanilla

(double this recipe for 13x9) pan

Dissolve yeast in H20

Stir in milk, sugar, butter, salt, egg, and 2 cups flour

Beat until smooth-5 minutes

Stir in the rest of the flour

Kneed for 5 minutes

Place in fridge over night

Roll dough into rectangle

Spread with melted or softened butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon

Roll into log and cut into sections

Bake in buttered 13x9 pan at 375 degrees fir 25-30 minutes

Top with glaze!

We ate our rolls with pumpkin lattes! We have an espresso machine and buy lots of pumpkin creamer during the holiday season...so good!This was our little tree with our stockings! Me and my stocking...I got lots of socks which is great because all my socks were falling apart and my toes were COLD!Here is Adam with his stocking! He was excited to get Madagascar the movie! We then read the Christmas story to Baby "J" in his baby Bible and then read it in the normal Bible for us.

We then went to our friend's - the Bassetts - house. We had a huge Christmas lunch with turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and more!Our good friends the Dunns were there too. They are from Vermont and have lived here just about the same time as us. We enjoyed bonding together as friends since we were all away from our families. I brought this spinach salad. Here is the recipe:

Dressing:

5 slices bacon

1 T minced shallot

1 t minced garlic

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 T Dijon mustard

1-2 t honey to taste

kosher salt and pepper to taste

Salad:

1/2 lb. fresh baby spinach

6 ounces thinly sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

To make vinaigrette, in skillet cook bacon. Discard all but two tablespoons of fat. Crumble bacon on salad when done.

In remaining fat, saute shallot, and garlic. Whisk in vinegar, mustard, honey, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then remove from heat.

Combine salad ingredients together and then toss with dressing.

I really liked the salad but the dressing was slightly too strong for me. A little amount of dressing goes a LONG way on this salad. I think if I make it again I would put in half as much of minced onion.

We stayed at the Bassetts for the afternoon and then came home and rested a bit. We then went over to the Dunns for games and dessert. I brought these Christmas meatballs. I really liked them. I got the recipe from good friend Meg Wallace. Here it is:

1 (16 0z) can whole-berry cranberry sauce

3/4 cups ketchup

1/2 cup beef broth

3 T brown sugar

2 T minced onion

2 t cider vinegar

Mix all ingredients and pour over browned frozen meatballs, or make home-made meatballs. I left it in the crock pot all day.

For dessert at the Dunns we brought an old family favorite of the Tune household-Cherry Cheese Pie. I didn't get a photo of it until it had already been eaten...oops. It looks better whole:).

Here is the recipe: It is from my momma:)

Filling:

8 oz. cream cheese softened

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 t vanilla

Blend this until smooth and refrigerate in crust over night or for several hours

Make graham cracker crust-cooking in oven

Top with cherry pie filling

This is so easy and so good! Adam actually made the crust and did a GREAT job. Christmas Eve I was cooking a bunch and he asked if he could help. I told him that he could make the crust. His eyes got so big! I could have asked him to solve global warming and he would be like "okay, I'll get on it," but baking put him totally out of his comfort zone! He was a trooper though and did it with love. I have to say it was a great crust!

Adam doesn't like things too sweet. I think when I make this again I may top it with fresh strawberries instead of canned cherries to reduce the amount of sugar. I love it but it is a pie you have to eat in small amounts because it is SWEET!

After game night, we came home and fell into our beds. It was a great Christmas! We are so blessed to have each other, have sweet, great friends, have wonderful families even if weren't with them, and to have a loving and living Savior!

Silly Commercials

2008-12-26T12:05:00.003-07:00

This post is about a very annoying, silly commercial. Before I elaborate on it though, it must be known that it is snowing HARD in Albuquerque RIGHT NOW! It just started about twenty minutes ago. I'm ecstatic!

Moving on, there is this little thing called the Bender Ball that has a commercial that has come on television three times in the last hour. This incredibly fit young woman says happily to the camera "I love my abdominals. I love my tummy. I love my abdominals." Really, is this necessary? I will be 35 weeks pregnant on Monday. I don't even think my skin can stretch more. I tried to do some abdominal exercises with my exercise ball the other day just to see if I have any Abs. I was able to do it, but then Baby "J" started freaking out and I was scared I was damaging my baby or ripping the interior of my body and decided to not try that again until after Baby "J" comes!

I just don't think people who make these "I love my tummy" commercials think about the pregnant women of the world who can't even sit up straight out of bed. We have to do the awkward roll around the tummy and have your husband push you out of bed move. How insensitive can the media be these days:).

Cathing up!

2008-12-21T19:44:00.003-07:00

The photos aren't actually in order but they show what I'm going to be catching you guys up on. Adam and I have been busy! We went to College Station for his work, then to Houston For T- Day (the above photo shows my sis Anna with cousin Havannah on T Day), then to Orlando as Adam had a conference and we enjoyed ourselves at Sea World. Then, I returned to Houston for a Baby Shower my precious Momma and Melinad Dericek gave me, and then to College Station again for Amanda Price's wedding...yes, I was a bridesmaid prego and all:).

It was SO GOOD to see family and friends but we were ready to come home. When we came home we returned to SNOW (rotate your head to the left to see above photo of our apartment complex covered in snow)! I also returned to a decorated apartment as Adam decorated when he was in ABQ without me. I promise photos will be posted of our decorations. I am going to do a full documentary on our Christmas Day...no worries, you will see our little, decorated apartment. Since we have been back we have been catching up on things, sorting through Baby J's things, and getting Christmas stuff done. I know this post is a bit of a teaser, but now you know what you will be filled in on! I'm off to watch a movie with my hubby and eat a bit of Ben and Jerry's because....well, Baby "J" needs calcium (I know Mom, leafy plants have calcium too. No worries, I eat salad as well).

Emily

Hubby Look Alike

2008-12-17T19:53:00.003-07:00

My gorgeous hubby
Adam Williams and father of
Baby "J":

Eric Benet:
R&B singer and
Halle Berry's ex-hubby:

I had heard of Eric Benet but I had never seen him. Knowing the names of singers has never been my strongpoint. Knowing the names and faces of R&B singers is pretty much impossible for me. Today I saw him on TV and immediately sent Adam and e-mail asking if this is how he would look without dreads. Apparently, Adam has known for awhile that he looked like Eric Benet, but it was all knew to me. I have never seen my handsome husband (besides highschool photos) without dreads. I am way excited to have a better idea of how he would look. I have a hottie husband!

Update On The Belly...

2008-11-23T21:45:00.004-07:00

This is Adam and with one of our favorite baby's Kai. How cute are they? Adam is actually really good with Kai. When we hang out I think Kai prefers Adam...so sad!

This is us just before one of our date nights. We went to a Sandia dinner in Santa Fe and listened to a scientist who was on one of the apollo missions. It was really interesting and we got to get dressed up:).

Here is a full view of the belly...I told you it was big!

This is us at the Wallaces for the OU v. A&M game. Yes, the Aggies got slaughtered, but Adam and I were still supporting our Alma Matter. I even pulled out a college shirt and pulled it over my belly. I was just excited I got it on!

We had to teach the Wallaces how to whoop. I think we scared them a little bit!

I haven't done a good job of updating belly photos. Although I have truly failed at updating at all, I must let ya'll know it is an impossible task. Every single day my belly is BIGGER...scary. Baby J is growing and developing on schedule it seems. He has started kicking like crazy, normally at night when I'm trying to sleep. It has made me lose sleep, but I can't say I mind too much. I love knowing he is active and moving!

Adam and I are packing and getting everything ready to leave for a bit for the holidays. We will be in Houston, College Station, and Orlando. We are able to combine Adam's work with Thanksgiving, family and friends, and even a wedding! I don't have time to update now, but I'll update when we return!

Enjoy the photos!

Nesting....Oh My!

2008-11-14T10:02:00.004-07:00

I've heard about the whole nesting instinct that comes over pregnant moms. I always thought that would be a good experience of pregnancy. Your house would get really clean and your husband's tummy would be full with great food, even more than normal:). Well, I think it has begun.

The problem for me is it began simultaneously with the mood swings. I have heard about pregnant people crying a lot and how they can be really emotional. I had secretly wondered if this was just an excuse for uncomfortable, hungry women to get moody. I can honestly say I hadn't felt my emotional state had really changed much. I didn't find myself wanting to cry or suddenly getting emotional with Adam.

Well, it all changed. Please pray for Adam. He did so great and went through my first MAJOR mood swing and nesting instinct craze all at once. Being that I work quite a lot now, it is really important for me to get cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, and chores done on my off days. Well, that is a lot to do in one day. I had Wednesday off and had decided in my mind I wanted to get all those things done. My day started calmly until around four when I had just finished dinner, our weekly must of pumpkin bread, and a few chores but NONE of the mandatory cleaning (in my head at least). I then looked around the house and realized not only did it need to be cleaned, but I found it repulsive. I felt like it was the most unorganized space ever. I then could barely clean because I went into a state of shock of how unorganized my home was. My thought progressed from "Wow, I need to re-organize our shoes" to "Baby J can't come home to a house like this!!" I went into panic mode.

Adam arrive happily from work to a wife on her knees cleaning out the bottom of the book shelf...you know the way back parts that are never seen. It didn't take him long to notice I was distressed. When he asked me why, my eyes filled with almost tears as I read off a list of things I had just decided our "cluttered" home needed. You see, Baby J would just not be a happy, loved baby unless we had some greenery! Adam was quick to see I was being nonsensical. When he pointed out to me that really greenery was not a "must" right now, the full on tears came streaming in!

Thank goodness I have a loving, PATIENT husband. He didn't make fun of me (although now he would). He just held me in his arms and had me talk to him about the "clutter". I then told him I hated small things. I wanted every "small" thing from our house removed. I decided it was clutter, and it had to be gone. I don't know how Adam kept from full out just laughing at me. We then spent the rest of the evening organizing together. He even organized the bottom shelf of the pantry...every girl knows that is a must before a new baby arrives!

Today is another cleaning day for me but at least I'm not emotional. I just hope this emotional state passes quickly because I'm the first to admit I was crazy the other day! Who would of thought greenery could be a tearful topic!

Thanks Adam for being so patient! I love you!!

Baby J Baby J!

2008-10-30T11:21:00.003-06:00

It occurred to me that I have referred to Baby Williams as Baby J in previous blog posts and never explained myself. No "J" is not the name of Baby Williams, but it is his nickname for now. Adam and I finally decided on a name. Picking out a boy's name was much harder than I imagined. I guess growing up with girls something happened to where I only like girl names. It took us quite a bit to come up with a selection of boy names I liked for us to pick from.

That said, it has been picked and is at the tip of my tongue! I want to scream it as loud as i can. Oh wait, maybe I will being that none of you can hear me:). Adam and I have decided to keep Baby J's name under wraps until he is born. Then we will present to you Baby Williams with his name! I am horrible at keeping anything under wraps. I am way too open and loud to keep things to myself so this is difficult for me.

We are revealing that his name starts with a J and ends with an H and is from the Bible. Feel free to make your guesses! We will neither be able to confirm nor deny any of the names, but when Baby J is born and his name revealed, the winner will win the satisfaction of knowing they guessed the right name!

I am getting quite attached to calling this sweet baby "Baby J". I think I'm going to have a problem calling him his real name when he is born. I'm going to have to get over that as we can't someday have an eighteen year old son being called "Baby J" by his momma!

Happy Guessing!

D-Now Weekend!

2008-10-24T11:15:00.006-06:00

This last weekend I left Adam instead of the other way around. Fret not dear friends! There was no fight! Our marriage is doing just fine:). I was a leader for the 10th grade girls at Disciple Now Weekend at our church. I have been a student at this numerous times in high school and have such great memories of it, but this was my first time to do anything with the youth here in ABQ.

I would like to make a SHOUT OUT to all my cypress girls because doing D- Now made me think of ya'll!!! I love Jenn, Claire, Sally, Lindsee, and the plethora of you other sweet girls! It would be fun to be a sophomore girl again JUST for a day so we could all hang out again. On another note, I am just fine being passed the confusing age of fifteen and dealing with high school boys and taking chemistry.

I was a little nervous about the weekend because I didn't know any of my girls. God blessed me so much because I got the absolute sweetest group of girls possible. I thought our group sessions would be like pulling teeth to get them to open up to me and to each other. Man, was I wrong. We had the opposite problem of not having time to get through all the questions because everyone had something to share. I love the vulnerability of these girls. My heart went out to them as they shared about real problems such as being made fun of at school for being virgins, liking school, or being nice to people. Everyone has to face this to a certain extent in public school, but I can honestly say I never faced the type of persecution these girls faced. I wanted to lay my hands on them and zap them with all the wisdom I have learned since high school. I wanted them desperately to not make as many stupid decisions as I did. I was only with them a weekend and I don't know if I had time to impart much to them besides my goofiness, but God worked in them. They all were drawn closer to him after the weekend, and it was such a blessing to watch!

After the weekend, I was TIRED. I wish there was another word to adequately describe how tired I was. D-Weekend reminded me that I'm not in high school anymore. I need sleep!! Baby J needs sleep! My husband needs me to sleep!

One of the games we played was a couch scavenger hunt where we transported a random couch all around ABQ and took photos with it at different locations. Well, I was wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and had my hair in a ponytail just like I always did in high school. Being around all the youngness, I was feeling pretty young. Later that night a slide show was made of all our photos. At first I couldn't find myself in any of the photos. Then I realized....I am the goofy looking pregnant lady! I so don't look like I'm in high school! It was a humbling experience:)

On another note, each and everyone can be praying that Adam and I would know if we are called to youth ministry. They need more leaders and both of us were told that we are needed. Please pray for our guidance and wisdom!

Hot Cocoa Anyone?

2008-10-14T10:31:00.002-06:00

Today it's cold! I mean COLD! The type of cold where in the morning peeling back the sheet and the heavenly warm, down comforter is like throwing ice water on my face. I ask Adam every morning if he can please just stay in bed with me, and we could keep each other warm all day. Everyday he says he has to go to work. He gets up around six and then around 6:45 when I have finally just recovered the warmth lost from Adam getting out of bed, it is time to get ready for school. This morning after creeping out of bed. I do creep. Adam says I look like ET...you know, the alien. I was so ready to go to work. I was awake, my hair was fixed, and the bed had already grown cold so work better call!! Well, they didn't. That is why I'm sitting here curled up in a blanket reporting about the cold weather:).

As much as getting out of bed is truly a traumatic experience for me, I LOVE the cold! I am about to put chili in the crockpot for dinner, I plan on having at least one cup of hot cocoa today, and Adam looks so handsome in sweaters:). Now that it is cold there is a whole new bunch of cold weather recipes I need to try. I feel like cold weather makes me a better wife. When it is so hott, I struggle still making yummy meals or doing anything in the kitchen for too long.

I apologize to those in Texas who are not experiencing cold weather and quite frankly won't for a long time. We have a guest bedroom/Baby Williams' room. Come visit and we can make warm soup together!!

Belly Shots!

2008-10-02T12:03:00.004-06:00

I don't know why it is so hard to get a photo of my tummy! I thought about it all the time but it was always when Adam was at work. Whenever he was home, neither one of us would remember to photo my belly! So I hope ya'll enjoy! I feel like the photo doesn't show how big I am! I feel huge! We have glass mirrors in our dining area, and I'll be walking around the house and turn and see the mirror and jump with a gasp in shock at my protruding belly! Adam always says "Em, your pregnant. Calm down". We will keep you updated with photos as I grow daily...it is crazy!

On another note, I have finally started substitute teaching!!! I was so tired of always getting up and ready in the AM and then not getting called. I was ready for the change!

I have worked so far with 8th and 2nd graders. I wasn't sure about middle school as I have never worked with middle schoolers. They weren't as awkward as I imagined. I actually really enjoyed them! I had to definitely be strict Mrs. Williams as they were ready to get out of doing their work as soon as possible. My favorite question was "are you you married?" When I responded indeed I was I heard them whispering "She is old enough to get married?" I thought can't they tell I'm old enough to be married and pregnant!?

Second grade so far is my favorite! They just want to please! Although as far as substitute teaching, 2nd grade is much more work, I just loved them. My favorite comment from them was "Mrs. Williams you smell like bubble gum". I guess it is a good smell because I had about three children trying to get unusually close to me to smell me all day!

Enjoy the belly shots sweet friends!

ERW

Thanks...

2008-09-28T20:50:00.003-06:00

I have to say thanks to everybody who left a message or called on my Birthday. I had such a good day. I have to say a big thanks to my hubby! He was amazing. I don't have time to explain as I'm about to fall asleep right now I'm so tired. This week has been so good but incredibly BUSY. Adam and I just haven't stopped, and it is all weighing down on me at this exact moment. Before I shower and get ready for bed I want to post the video Adam made for me THIS year. He is so creative! He started making me videos when we were dating. I loved them and the tradition stuck.

Thanks Adam for being amazing!

HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY, MY LOVE!!!

2008-09-25T06:33:00.004-06:00

Good morning all! I would like to invite everyone to join me in celebrating the birth of my lovely and wonderful wife! 24 years ago today, the Lord blessed this Earth with a precious, beautiful, and wonderful gift...MY WIFE! So, if you have a few minutes today, take some time to drop her a note...pray for her...or even give her a call! But, if nothing else, please join me in saying...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!!!

Here's to a lifetime of sharing birthdays together...

ADW

(Here's a little something I made for Emily's 23rd birthday last year...)

Hunger Pains..

2008-09-18T10:27:00.002-06:00

Okay I need all you lovely women who have been with child before to confirm if my body is normal or if indeed I'm a freak.

I am five months pregnant and I thought I had gone through all the stages. I went through the puking stage, the eww food is gross stage, the oh my gosh my pantry smells stage, the food is okay stage, the I can cook again stage, and the food is just fine in fact I want Chik-Fil-A stage. I thought I would just stay in this stage for the next half of my pregnancy.

Although, I still dream about Chik-Fil- every week I am in a whole new stage. I hope this present stage is fleeting because frankly it could get expensive. I am in the I'm starving stage! I'm starving all the time. I wake up early in the morning to get ready in case I get called to substitute teach and eat breakfast. My stomach always feels slightly upset because after all it has been in bed for aproximately eight hours without any food...horrible. Then after waiting by the phone and not being called, I try to go back to sleep for about an hour. Then when I wake up my stomach has the horrible hunger pains AGAIN. So then I need another breakfast type snack. Then I tell you not even two hours later the hunger pains are back and they can make me cranky.

This all started yesterday. When I think about yesterday, I think about a blurr of being hungry. I ate more than I usually do, I was definitely not starving. Does this mean the baby is growing really fast and taking all my food? Does this go away? I want to stop being hungry! Help!

Pumpkin, Cookies, and Sweaters....oh joy!

2008-09-05T10:39:00.002-06:00

I absolutelly LOVE the fall. I love it.

In Texas we didn't experience it until ....November? I'm not sure exactly when we experienced it but it is coming earlier here! I am absolutely thrilled.

Don't get me wrong, it isn't here yet. My poor mom came yesterday to spend the afternoon/evening here before flying to Las Vegas for the Deeper Still Conference with Beth Moore and Kay Author. I picked her up in my little red hombre which has a broken airconditioner. She had a light jacket on and I think she was pretty hott! She didn't complain though, but I was sad she hadn't come the day before which was cool and windy all day. We had a great, short visit. She saw our apartment, and I got to try Jenn's Zuchinni Manicotti out on her since my momma is a vegetarian. I struggle to like the food I cook, but it was pretty tasty:). All I have to say is Jenn's home-made creamy italian dressing was AMAZING. I could write a whole blog about it...but let's get back to fall:).

The nights here are starting to get cool and windy. We haven't used the airconditioner for weeks! At night we have the windows open and Adam I turn on the ceiling fan and a portable fan we have by the bed. I get to wrap up in my comforter and be nice and toasty while my nose sticks out and gets cold....I love it! I think Adam is freezing, but he is getting used to it:). I tell him I'll keep him warm but he says I steal his heat...highly unlikely:).

To top of the feeling of fall coming, I stopped by Starbucks today and ....drumroll....they have the pumpkin spiced latte! That pretty much means it's fall. I'm totally in the mood to make oatmeal cookies and pull out out my box of sweaters! I'm not sure exactly why fall makes me want to bake, but it does! Nothing sounds better to me than warm oatmeal cookies on a windy fall day with a spiced pupmkin latte.

I welcome fall!

Thinking in blue....

2008-09-02T14:11:00.002-06:00

Today was a big day for us.

Today we had the big ultra sound where they check the baby's organs and "parts" and tell us the sex! I have been so excited all week about this day!

Adam met me me at the office and the nurse began the ultrasound. At first I was worried we were having an anorexic child. It looked so skinny! I was then informed if it was chubby now I would be in for trouble! I sighed a big sigh of relief each time the nurse would say something like "beautiful spine!" or "wonderful heart beat!". Our baby Williams seems to be a very active, healthy baby BOY! I couldn't believe it!

But then again I had to...the picture was crystal clear that this baby is a BOY! Being from a family of four girls and one boy, I had secretly hoped to have a boy first but figured my chances were low. Adam and I are just thrilled about Baby BOY Williams!

I am 18 weeks pregnant and due Feb. 1st. However, Baby Boy Williams seems to be growing fast as he is already about the size of a 20 week old...aye aye aye. I blame Adam for that. He already seems to have Adam's active personality as he would not stay in the same place. He also had Adam's long fingers. Most of you know, I LOVE my husband's hands. He has a pair of the most handsome hands I have ever seen. It thrilled my heart to see those same long fingers on the baby!

The nurse kept poking him in the head trying to get him to move his head so she could look at his brain. He REALLY did not want to do this. He would actually swat his hand over his face when poked at as if he was so annoyed. I could have died laughing. Someone may have a stubborn streak....from his father of course:)

Happy Labor Day!

2008-09-01T11:32:00.003-06:00

Yay for three day weekends! Adam and I have had a ball hanging out this weekend. It has included shopping, soft pretzels at the mall (yumm), watching The Office (we are renting all the seasons), and much organizing and cleaning. I actually don't have a ton to say. I'm very bad at writing short little posts and very good at writing epic ones. According to Sally, I'm not very good at keeping everyone updated...so here is an attempt to be better:).

On Friday Adam and I babysat for some dear friends of ours. Matt and Meg Wallace were some of our first friends here in ABQ and continue to be some of our closest. Matt is the young marrieds pastor at our church Hoffmantown Church. Meg is his adorable wife who has just been a ray of sunshine to me from the moment I met her. They have a two year old Kate and a three month old Malachi. Well, on Friday Adam and I tried out our parenting skills and babysat so the Wallaces could have a hot date. Chi had never been left alone and I was honored to be his first babysitter! Things went okay. The kids are still alive and did all the normal things like have their bottles, take baths, and go to bed! I must say I was impressed with Adam. He was basically in charge of Kate while I watched Chi. He is absolutely great with her. The above picture is of he and Kate at a church cook out. She asked him to sit down so he did. He basically does anything she asks him to do. He is a sucker for girls:)

I would also like to announce that I officially have a baby bump! In my opinion, it is a BIG baby bump. I have been in that stage for a while now where people who don't know me just think I'm constipated or drink a lot of beer. I have had this little "gut" which I thought screamed pregnant but everyone else just laughed at it. Now people actually reach for my belly and acknowledge that I'm not just chubby... there is a baby in there! It all happened this week. My belly was growing like crazy every single day. I was actually worried because I was having all sorts of pain which I guess is just from everything having to stretch FAST. I even have pulled out some maternity clothes! I also bought my first maternity pants...elastic waste band and all. Pictures will be posted soon!

Okay...gotta run and finish the Labor Day organizing of the Williams' household which has begun!

Ready for Home Again...

2008-08-26T09:37:00.004-06:00

I have to apologize because recently I have been a plain awful blog updater. Since Nicaragua things have been crazy (in the good way) and haven't stopped. Well, now they are calming down, and I have quite a few updates to make.

We were home from Nicaragua barely a week doing laundry, organizing, and going to Dr. appointments when I left for San Diego and Adam left for Colorado. Adam plays on a club ultimate Frisbee team here in the ABQ. They are a really good team and very serious about their tournaments. We have already driven to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a tournament where we had a wonderful visit with my cousins Vanessa and DJ Clay and their fam!

Adam was gone for the weekend then had to put in a few days of work (being that we just took vacation in Nicaragua, his days of days were low) and then we met mid week in CA. We had a semi-family reunion. All my immediate family except poor Sarah (Sarah had to take nursing school finals) were there, including Stacy and Jose who rented a house right by the beach. All my immediate family stayed in the beach house! It is amazing my whole family can fit anywhere! We would spend our days at the pool or the beach and then at night a different person would cook. Different family members from San Diego (where we have a plethora) would come each afternoon/evening.

It was such a great time to see everyone and relax except I think we need another week to hang out individually with everybody! I hate cold water, but I loved the beach. My nephew Mathew and cousin Noah would say "Come, get crashed by the waves dude". I laughed at them until I joined them and surely did get crashed by the waves. I would get drug on the bottom of the ocean with my head in the sand. But it was absolutely a blast!

A huge highlight was just seeing all the "babies" as I call them. Some of them are babies, some of them haven't been babies for many years now, but they are all the "babies" to me. In the house we had my nephews Mathew and Jacob who are my brother's sons, Francesca T. my brother's little girl, and Olivia and Francesca who are my sister Stacy's kids. They were always together having a ball and usually quite a few CA cousins were with them. It reminded me of when I was a kid and all the Thanksgivings at our house. There was a whole big group of us cousins that just ran around and played all day everyday at the barn or in the pool...it is fun to see a younger group doing the same thing! Why can't we do that anymore? Why don't we wake up and jump in the pool and play games all day? Kids really are better at having fun!

After CA, Adam and I came home for about another week. It was catch up week for me. Again...I did a lot more laundry. I also had a few job interviews and spent a lot of time filing out applications. I also shopped at Trader Joes for the first time! I hear about it constantly and about how cheap and healthy it is so I went ahead and tried it! Well, my results found it to be a much better shopping experience. The only problem was even though it is much cheaper then a Whole Foods, I still spent much MORE than I do at Walmart. They had most everything I needed but not all, so then after shopping there I still had to go to Walmart and Smith's to get all the groceries. I have to say the food was good but it can't beat Walmart prices. We have decided to keep shopping at Walmart for our basics and then go to Trader Joes or Whole Foods for meat, bagels, and bread. Meat in general can gross me out. I think it is worth paying more for. Bagels....well, I just really love some good fresh bagels, and Adam was a huge fan of the fresh bread. Well, at least until I get my wheat cracker and can start making it from scratch...mmmm, that gets me hungry just thinking about it! More on that later!

Then this last Friday we got up to leave by car at 6 AM to drive to Dallas. Adam had another ultimate tournament. It was also a special trip because my best friend/cousin Danica Brown is back from India and is in Dallas! We stayed with my Aunt Elaine and Dani and I would hang out in the morning while Adam played and then go see him in the afternoon. His team did really well! They were undefeated the first day but lost their first game the second day. The team only had seven players, which is how many one needs to play, so they didn't have people trading in and out to put in fresh legs. I was quite amazed they did as well as they did. It was HOTT! I was sitting under the tent, drinking water, and thought I was going to faint. I hope this is just because I am pregnant. I have NEVER been that sensitive to heat my whole life and grew up in Houston....does it get hotter?

We all had a great time! Aunt Elaine was a champ and put up with all the stinky Frisbee boys coming back over to her house where they watched the Olympics and then went swimming. My time with Dani was so precious! I missed that girl more than words can describe and seeing her was just surreal. I also got to see two other very special people! My old roomy Ms. Sarah Leininger lives in Dallas so we met for some Chipotle. I love Chipotle. I had it twice while in Dallas because they don't have it here in ABQ, and I think it is some of my favorite food in the world! Sarah and I talked and talked and it felt so good to see her beautiful face! I also go to see Ms. Tiffany, a very close wrangler friend of mine. Our time was short as she had to get to the airport, but so special! I am so thankful for this weekend and this time I got to see such precious faces! It makes my heart happy and fills me with joy!

Yesterday Adam and I got back in the car and made the ten hour drive back home. I don't mind long car rides with Adam. We are able to talk and talk and play the question game until neither of us can think of any more questions. When we got home we just crashed. Both of us were exhausted! We are ready for some time at home with no travels for a bit. I am ready to start having people over for dinner again, really CLEAN this house, and catch up with sweet friends here. God is so good and we are making relationships. As much as I have loved our travels, I have missed people HERE in ABQ. That is such an answer to prayer that we have people to miss!

More on the job situation later....hugs and kisses!

Six Months and Counting...

2008-08-15T11:29:00.003-06:00

Today is a very special day us.

Adam and I were married six months ago today!

I just can't believe we are already at out half anniversary!

I know many of you more "mature" married couples have been married for decades and are laughing at us celebrating our half anniversary.

I say why not celebrate the gift of marriage as often as possible?

I actually have to confess in this instance it was my Adam who reminded me on Monday "Em, our six month anniversary is Friday. Get excited!" I acted excited and tried to to not let it show that if he had not reminded me, I probably would have realized this...umm...maybe tomorrow. It is not that I don't think it is is incredibly important, I'm just not much of a counter. Recently we have been very busy so I was also slightly surprised August was already upon us!

Plus the last six months have just flown! It is hard to believe it has already been half a year. Immediately after getting married we moved to ABQ, went on our honeymoon (whoop!), began unpacking our first "home", Adam started a new job, found a new church, and just a few short months later, became the future parents of our "pumpkin" as we call the baby. It has been a little crazy but filled with such amazing experiences for us.

It is funny to think that six months ago today at this exact time I was in a hotel room with my girls doing makeup and hair and absolutely filled with excitement about that day! Okay, I was a little scared to death...but in the good kind of way. I was probably also blowing my nose. I came down with a terrible cold a few days before the wedding. It was just one of those things one doesn't plan and that is rather inconvenient, but later really just makes you laugh. After my makeup was done, I was told to try not to blow my nose for the rest of the day. Oh my....how difficult! Adam married me and loved me sick an all!!! Now, every time I get a cold I'm reminded of our wedding, and it makes me smile!

Being that this much has happened in the first six months, I can't wait until we have years under our belt and so many more stories to share! I can honestly say, I love marriage. I always tell my single friends, "I am so pro marriage!". Seriously, it has made me grow so much as a person and as a Christian. God made marriage to be beautiful, and it makes me so sad when I hear people (sometimes even Christians) speaking of marriage like it is a weight or an annoyance. I know I am still a newbie, and there are so many experiences ahead I have yet to experience, but what is more beautiful than having a man want to love you like Christ loves the church? Adam teaches me everyday about love. He does such a good job of loving me! I see him striving to love me everyday and in new ways. I don't know how I got this blessed to have the husband I do. I certainly don't deserve him one bit.

Our next anniversary update will be in six months and the pumpkin will be born! I know I'm only just starting to learn what God has to teach me about love. I'll update you the on what I have learned!

Happy Half Anniversary Adam! I love you and am excited about growing old with you!

Missions in Nicaragua - 2008

2008-08-06T01:22:00.010-06:00

Hey everyone! Well, let us apologize for how long it has taken me to get this post up…hopefully, after reading about our adventure, you’ll understand why I needed a little bit of time to digest it all!

The most difficult part about good story is deciding where to begin…so, here we go!

Before we left the country, we were able to spend about a day in Houston with Emily’s family. It was a good time for her to reconnect with them and it was a good chance for me to repack our stuff since we left ABQ in a quite a mad rush. Then, after a phone call or two back and forth with our team from Fredonia Hill, we went to sleep dreaming of all that God was going to do during this trip…and, the Bible doesn’t say that He’s capable of doing “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20) for nothing. We had NO idea the ride for us that He had planned.

DAY ONE: Team Williams (Emily, Adam, and Baby Williams, aka li’l Pumpkin) woke up at the crack of dawn to make sure we could get on our 9am international flight…and, oddly enough, we met the rest of our team for the first time zigzagging through the security line! Since our compadres from Fredonia Hill Baptist Church (in Nacogdoches, TX) had to drive an ADDITIONAL 2 hours just to get to the airport, they were all understandably tired. It was an exciting time in the airport, however, since it was the first chance that Team Williams got to know the kiddos from Fredonia Hill…oh, and I do mean kiddos! Our team consisted of 5 kids from the Fred Hill youth group, their youth pastor (B.J.), the official “team mom” (Mindy), and George – guru of all things related to Operation GO: Nicaragua. In the mix of kids, you had your super goofy guy (Jeff), your super funny guy (Brian), the quiet-until-you-play-her-in-cards girl (Alli), the fun-to-mess-with-girl (Katie), and the fun-to-mess-with-girl’s-friend/sidekick (Emberlen). All of these kids were SO EXCITED about missions – that in and of itself was a Day One Blessing! All of them had done some kind of missions before, but the extent of international experience was border towns in Mexico. For some, in addition to this being the first time REALLY out of the country, it was their first time on an airplane. Despite some nerves, anxieties, and flat out fear, everyone boarded the plane and we had an uneventful flight down south.

Praise God…the flight went ok, no one got sick or scared and everyone seemed excited about the adventure set before us. Shoot…the TEN of us got off the plane, through customs, AND got all of our luggage in about a 15 minute span (now, if you’ve never flown overseas, you won’t truly appreciate that last sentence…but, WOW!). After that, we met up with Loren (the husband of the husband and wife team that lead Operation GO: Nicaragua), Callie and Stephen (2 of the 5 summer missionaries), and headed on our way to lunch. Well, even though Team Williams had remembered how crazy the driving was in Managua (I kinda misses those crazy driving days from last summer!), the kiddos from Fred Hill were an odd mix of scared and fascinated. Fifteen minutes or so into our adventure through the heart of downtown Managua, God decided to teach us all a lesson in spiritual warfare and the reality of being in the mission field…and it’s a lesson we will not soon forget.

For now, I don’t want to go into any specific details so that we can protect those who were directly involved and those who might be tangentially effected. While the specifics of the incident don’t necessarily matter (if you have our number, call us and we’ll tell you in person, we just don’t want to post it), what matters is the reality of what career missionaries deal with probably much more so than the rest of us…spiritual warfare. That day, God made the spiritual battle real, He put flesh on it, and He made it sting right at our very hearts. In this single attack, the Enemy was trying to destroy a powerful missions project in Nicaragua and damage other missions efforts in South American. How? He was attacking the missions FAMILY. You see, our dear friend Lydia (with whom I was summer missionary in Nicaragua last summer) was in Peru as a summer missionary and suffered through a terrible ordeal because Satan knows God is using her as a powerful force to spread the Gospel. Satan must have thought the same thing about what was happening in Nicaragua…but we, as believers, know that Christ has already defeated evil – once and for all – by His death, burial, and resurrection. Thank you Father for reminding those of us on the trip of your power, grace, mercy, and love. (NOTE: I have to take a moment to brag on my wife. Her natural, God-given gifts of compassion and comforting people who are hurting were perfectly suited to match the needs of the moment! It warmed my heart to see my beautiful bride use her talents to glorify God – and comfort a sister in need – in a crisis situation. I love you Emily!!!)

That afternoon, after the initial incident, our team ended up at the IMB’s Guest House. Everyone had been shaken by the events of the day – the youth were digesting their rude-welcome to foreign missions, the adults were trying to figure out how to explain things to the youth, and Team Williams was hurting for those involved. But, through this time of confusion, anxiety, uneasiness, and even fear, God worked a miracle. God began a work in all of our hearts that day to prepare us for what He had planned. Isn’t it amazing how His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).

DAY TWO: The next day was a low-key day of rest, reflection, and team-building. Basically, in His infinite wisdom, God allowed all of us to more completely process the incident; help folks most affected by it to reflect on and deal with some other spiritual issues; and gave our small team a chance to spend some time getting to know each other better. We had some sweet time of fellowship…and though some of us were chomping at the bit to get out and start distributing the Gospel, God blessed this day to make us a more cohesive unit, ready to seek His plan and spread His glory. It was, for me, a HUGE blessing because I got to know see how missions-minded God has made the kiddos from Fred Hill. I also got to learn first-hand how to seek God in the face of immediate and potentially devastating circumstances. Spiritual warfare, when it puts on flesh, makes it absolutely clear that life is not about US and what WE can do, but rather life is about submitting to Him to see what HE will do.

DAY THREE: We woke up to a beautiful morning, and finally hit the road! We spent the day driving out to Las Communidades de Los Pimones – a set of small, rural, mountainside (and mountain-top) villages just northwest of Matagalpa and San Ramon (if you’re looking for it on a map, it’s in the north-central mountains of Nicaragua). Fourish hours, lots of bumps, a few bruises, and quite a bit of four-wheel driving later, we arrived at our home for the next few days. We settled in, set up our cots, made some dinner, enjoyed the sunset, and then spent an evening reflecting on a wonderful devotional led by Cody on spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6). The evening ended with all of us spending time with the Lord and listening to some praise and worship music – it was a great way to continue (for me at least) to let God work on our hearts in preparation for the next few days.

DAYS FOUR & FIVE: HALLELUJAH! We finally made it into the field, we were finally able to become the beautiful feet who spread the good news (Romans 10:15)! Now, typically what happens is that Loren and/or Karen will work with the US team leader and the local Nicaraguan pastor to split us (both the US team and local Nica believers) into small groups of 6-8 and tell us which group will distribute to which area of the community. Well, due to our previous incident and some other events out of our control, neither Loren nor Karen were able to come with us to Los Pimones! That left the summer missionaries (Cody – who is fluent in speak Spanish; Stephen – who is a work horse; and Hakim – who is the pirate) and me to run the show! Ha…God has such a sense of humor! We ended up splitting into 3 groups – Cody was the translator for one group; Emily was the translator for another group; and yes, YOURS TRULY was the translator for the last group! I know both Cody and Emily did a MUCH better job translating than I did, but God got the job done through me!

Even in just the hiking portion of our trip, God was able to reveal to some of our team just how much MORE we are able to do, even physically, when we stop trying to do it all on our own and we trust in His strength. On mission, when you really get to deny yourself and focus on Him, you see SO MANY BLESSINGS each and every day! Such blessings weren’t contained to just my group, folks in Emily’s group came back proclaiming how good God was to support them and help them finish after each hard day of hiking. (NOTE: I'm really proud of how far my wife and baby-mama hiked!!! After what I saw in Nicaragua, I think she's ready for Everest!)

And alas, after hiking the mountains of Los Pimones for two days…our ministry was completed! Even though we did not get to minister to the larger numbers of people that I am used to (my first trip here in Spring 2006 we handed out thousands of Gospels!), it was a blessing to continue to be faithful to the great commission to reach the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20). We were able to share the Jesus Film with about 200 people from Los Pimones – and at least one person got saved! Hallelujah! I know God is going to continue working in those communities through a strong church in nearby Matagalpa.

It truly is amazing how quickly God can meld our hearts with His when we serve Him! Even after only two days in Los Pimones, none of us wanted to leave! We grew attached to the wonderfully kind local believers that worked with us, the gracious homes we where we were able to share the Good News, and the absolute splendor of God’s creation! Here are just a few pictures that will hopefully begin to convey what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful locales in Nicaragua…

The rest of the trip was basically a day of recuperation and site-seeing. It was really good for Emily and I to spend some time with Loren and Karen…we really do miss them! We got to share with them about newlywed life and swap married-life stories and what not. For Emily and I, it was an extra special time of reconnecting with some folks who were indirectly involved in the creation of Team Williams! And, of course, they were both excited about their first missions grandbaby…man, EVERYONE’s going crazy for this kid!

The highlight of the trip, at least for me, was a very special ceremony that we (Loren, Karen, and the summer missionaries) put on for the high school students. In short, we had a sort of “Young Missionaries Commissioning Service.” While Loren read some scripture and began to talk about what it means to be on career missions and spread the Kingdom of God, the four summer missionaries and I each washed the feet of and prayed over one of the high school students. Loren explained to the students what it truly means when Paul says “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news” (Romans 10:15) and encouraged them with some stories from his own missions experience. It was a beautiful time of pray, fellowship, and allowing the Holy Spirit to move in all of our hearts. It is a moment in the mission field that will always be on my heart and a great set of memories that I will never forget.

So, what else can I say…we had a FANTASTIC trip. God is amazing and even though Emily and I had been on this trip before and “knew” what to expect, God still stretched and shaped us further than I ever could have imagined. We get to see spiritual warfare in its basest form…and we experienced God’s faithfulness in ways like never before. I am excited to see how much more my life changes as I learn to walk – and learn to lead our family to walk – in closer intimacy with our Lord and Savior.

And so, to Erle...Kathy...Saltamontes...BriON...Alli G...Bejota...Uncle George...Stephen/Billy/Cid...Dr. Cody...Hakim the Pirate...Poppa Loren...Mama Karen…

From Team Williams...Thanks for a great trip.

See...what had happened was...

2008-08-05T07:49:00.003-06:00

Hey Everybody!

Well, yes we are alive...yes we are doing fine...and yes there will be a blog post about our missions trip to Nicaragua coming soon! And by soon, I mean tonight...I have to wait until tonight so I can include pictures - which is a must!

Anyhow, the past two weeks have been really good for us. It has also been very busy, which is why there has been NO activity on our blog. That should change, though, as Emily and I begin to work back into a "normal" routine. Let's see...work is starting to pick up for me...we are close to finding some really neat job opportunities for Emily...and we are starting to make some real friends that actually want to hang out with us...and Baby (aka "Pumpkin") Williams is healthy and growing away!

Well, we miss everyone...and I promise to get the epic tale our trip to Nicaragua out sometime tonight.

After that, I'm off to Cali to meet up with my wife who is attending her family's reunion. Miss you guys!!!

ADW

The Power of Prayer

2008-07-14T08:18:00.003-06:00

Hey all!!!

Thanks for the prayers...they have been heard!!! But, Satan's attacks are coming...hard, fast, and frequent! Praise the Lord...we (our team from Texas, the summer missionaries, and the Dickey's) have come through unscathed, but that is just making the Enemy mad. The Lord is WORKING IN MIGHTY WAYS and have something H-U-G-E planned for us this week.

Please, please, please, PLEASE be praying that God's Word will reach farther and beyond what our feeble minds can understand. I am excited about the great things that God is going to do this week. We will ALL come back changed forever at the wonderful, miraculous work that God is waiting to do.

Please pray...prayer is powerful...and we need it!

We love you all...
ADW

Team Williams is Going to Nicaragua!!!

2008-07-11T22:02:00.004-06:00

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for 'WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.' How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!'"

And, so we're off! (This is Adam by the way...I'm in no way as talented at blogging as my PHENOMENAL wife, but since she is getting ready for bed, I figure I'd give it a try!!!)

Emily and I are excited about this opportunity...it kind of brings our relationship full circle. We will be "leavin', on a jet plane" tomorrow (Saturday) morning for Nicaragua to work with our dear friends Loren and Karen Dickey who run the "Operation: GO" ministry for the International Missions Board. Emily and I are tagging along with a group from Fredonia Hill Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, TX...a great church with wonderful people that I got to work with last year during my time as a summer missionary in Nicaragua.

So, the "full circle" bit...in the spring of 2006, Emily and I both went on Living Hope Baptist Church's (first ever!) mission trip to Nicaragua. We had never met before, had never heard of each other before, and we not interested in anything more than friendship. Long story short...God had other plans! So, although not your stereotypical, Hollywoodized-version of romance, we are returning NOT to the place where we first fell in love, but to the place that God began to intertwine our hearts together. [Enter sappy "ahhhhh" sound from our female readers here]

So, as I said, Emily has been to Nicaragua once before, and I have been three times - once with Emily, again the next Spring Break, and then the summer after I finished grad school. Operation: GO stands for "Gospel Outreach," and its premise is to saturate a village/area/country with the gospel. Yep, that's right...I'm talkin' about door-to-door, in your face, even if we speak different languages type evangelism. Each day, we will be walking in groups of 3 or 4 (gringos and local Nicaraguan believers) going to each and every door/person we see and handing them a book of Luke. During each conversation, we will invite them to central location where we will show them VeggieTales and the Jesus Film (both en espanol, por supuesto!!!). Each night after the film, a local pastor will give a short message and alter call. It really is quite an amazing experience...

Anyhow, as with any trip/project/endeavor that is focused on spreading the loving compassion and truth and eternal life that lies in Christ Jesus, this trip for us has been mired in spiritual battle almost from the beginning. I don't have time to go into ALL of it, but the clearest sign of this is that Emily (who is carrying Baby Williams) has been experiencing her worst bout of sickness/nausea THIS WEEK. It got SO bad, that we were seriously considering having her stay stateside. But, our God is so good, so powerful, and so in love with us, that He has provided us with several ways of controlling her nausea and really has given us peace that she is supposed to go. Exciting stuff, huh!??!

Well, since you're reading this you are either a friend who cares about us or it was Divine Intervention that you stumbled upon our blog talking about missions (this is where the Holy Spirit does His thing in your life...some friendly advice...LISTEN!). In either case, Emily and I would ask that you pray for us (and our team and Nicaragua) this week. OK, here are some specifics:

Pray for team unity - we've all never met before!!!
Pray for each team member: George M. (team leader), Mindy L., Kathy L., Alli G., Brian F., Jeffrey A., B.J. M, Emberlen B., and us.
Pray for Loren & Karen Dickey - they have each had some physical setbacks the past few weeks (she had a nasty parasite and he separated his bicep from his elbow)
Pray for Emily, especially her nausea. She is SO GIFTED in Spanish and has been looking forward to this for some time. Pray that she gets the right balance of food, sleep and medicine to help her ministry.
Pray for me, that I would have wisdom in how to help my lovely bride accomplish our joint desire to see Nicaragua reached for the Kingdom of God
Pray for physical stamina for the team...it's HOT in Central America
Pray for BOLDNESS for each of us, that each of us would allow God to speak to us and stretch us in ways that bring Him in glory (for example...pray that I would step WAY out of my comfort and speak more Spanish that is "required")
Pray for softened hears among the Nicaraguans to whom we will be witnessing
Pray for the local Nicaraguan church with whom we will be working...they are SO inspiring with their hearts to serve the Lord
Pray that each of us (yes, even you, our dear readers) would grow closer to God, learn how to communicate with Him more intimately, and have our lives RADICALLY changed for the furthering of His kingdom

Thanks again for your prayers!!! We know we go with a POWERFUL team of prayer warriors. We are excited to see what God does this week...

Dios Le Bendiga! (God Bless You!)

ADW

Happy Birthday My Love

2008-07-02T11:52:00.004-06:00

Today is such a special day.

Today twenty-six years ago my love, Adam David Williams was born into this world!!
I feel an extra need to really celebrate his birth.
You see with my birthday, I like to celebrate the whole week. Well, I like to celebrate the whole month, but I just can’t get people to do that.

But not my Adam.
He would rather not celebrate at all. He doesn’t really think it is that special.
How can he not think it is special? Today is the birthday of the most amazing man I have ever met!

Who wants to help me celebrate?

I’m not over exaggerating when I say he is the most amazing man I have ever met. It is true, and he gets more amazing every day!
Today on his birthday morning he spent it patting my back as I threw up his birthday breakfast. Then he spent the next ten minutes before leaving making sure I was okay. I was sad. I wanted to baby him on his birthday morning.

But that isn’t all. I love Birthday Eves. I think everyone should celebrate their Birthday Eve and then at 12 Am burst into song. This was my plan. Well, I threw up the Birthday Eve dinner. Adam offered to clean it up! Wow….how amazing is he? Of course I wouldn’t let him. Throw up is gross not matter who’s it is but your own is way less gross than someone else’s. I firmly believe all that are able should clean up their own throw up (I’m going to have to tell the baby this). After that incident, I was feeling awful. Adam helped me finish making his birthday breakfast (his favorite thing in the world…pumpkin bread). That totally breaks the rules. One should not have to help bake their own birthday breakfast. But he did.

Those are just his last few example of amazing-ness. The list goes on. However, recently most of them have to do something with throw up which is just a gross topic to talk about. I can tell all of you are slightly uncomfortable. But if throw up was this wonderful, pretty thing than Adam wouldn’t be nearly as amazing for always dealing with it.

I love you Adam! I am so blessed that you were born! You are an amazing husband, and I can’t wait to see you be an amazing father! My life is so blessed because you are in it! I am ecstatic to continue to celebrate a life of birthdays with you!

WHOOP for My Love Adam. You are so worth getting excited about!

I'm Going to Like New Mexico

2008-06-25T11:18:00.005-06:00

I’m going to like New Mexico.
Once I set my mind to something, it usually happens.
I have been that way my whole life.

When I was seven I would have dreams about my room. I have always loved furniture and decorating. I would have dreams for months and months about the cute ways to decorate my room. Well, I was only 7….or maybe 8. The point is I was young. So I began using my job as “horse girl” to save my money to decorate my room. I would “pick” which means remove all the poop of about 5 stalls a day. But that isn’t it.

I was a perfectionist “picker”. After I picked a stall, a human being could sleep in it. I charged a dollar per stall. I would spend sometimes an hour per stall (on the bad ones) for a dollar. It didn’t matter how much I got payed. I think I did it for my sheer love of taking something completely poop ridden and making it beautiful. But then I got paid fifty cents for feeding and fifty cents for taking the horses out to the pen and fifty cents for bring the horse in from the pen. I rarely spent money unless I could convince someone to take me to sonic which I also dreamed about and I would splurge in a cherry limeade and maybe even some mozzarella sticks.

Well, before I knew it I was a wealthy poop picking horse girl, and I had my mom take me to target where I picked out my new bedding. That bedding has stayed on my bed until I just moved my bed here to ABQ. I think it is a little bit tacky now, but when I was 8 I thought it was just gorgeous. I then convinced my dad to paint my room pink…a lovely ballerina pink. I felt so girly in my pink room even though after all, I was a poop picking horse girl.

My point is, when my mind is set I usually do whatever it takes to make what needs to happen happen…even when poop is involved.
I am going to like New Mexico. It is going to happen. Some of you may be in shock.

Wait, you don’t already like New Mexico?

Well…I did….sorda
You see New Mexico isn’t a bad place to visit. There is no humidity. There is a breeze. If you stand in the shade it is at least 10 degrees cooler. We have an adorable apartment that looks out to the mountains and my guapo husband is here. Really, it is fantastic!

But we have lived here four months. It is feeling a lot more like we live here than we are visiting. I don’t know if I fully knew I disliked New Mexico until I found out I was pregnant. Living your life with your husband can really happen anywhere but when raising a family comes into the picture, I got a lot pickier.

Okay….let's just be honest.

I got a lot naggier. I became a nag. It’s true…how gross is that?

The thought of raising my kids in New Mexico just made me want to puke….or wait, maybe the puke thing is just from the smell of last night’s left overs? Goodness, the puke thing could be from any smell. Let’s be honest.

The truth is I just couldn’t imagine having babies in New Mexico. I had always imagined being pregnant and being close to all my friends and family. They would all be around me and grab my stomach all the time. My friends and I would take funny prego photos and my family would be close to help me practice breathing. When I would have cravings I would call a sweet girlfriend, and we would go to Square One and get French onion soup or Free Birds or I would just meet my sister at Chuy’s in Houston, and we would have fajitas and that amazing green dip.

The baby would be born and everyone around it would love it and tell it that it was beautiful (because after all, mom would be close by ready to punch if anything else was said). But if we are honest, how many new borns are beautiful? I’m sure I’ll think mine will be but usually they look like aliens, at least the first month.

I would have a plethora of wise women to call when I don’t know how to nurse or know how to do anything. My mom would be close, Jenn would be close, Sonja would be close, and Heather could be my nursing helper in the middle of the night. Doesn’t she do that? Plus there would be at least a few Aggie Wranglers close by to help me teach the baby dance moves from an early age. If the baby sees other people doing funny dance moves, it will think they are cool and want to do them.

But New Mexico?

The people don’t smile in the grocery store.

No one says Ya’ll.

The food…aye I want to puke again.

I know one really cool mom that is wise.

That is not even close to a plethora.

It is so dry that the boogers in your nose always dry and hurt.

The baby is always going to have dry boogers poor thing.

We are making friends and learning to love people but ya know…it takes time. If people don’t love us, how are they going to love the baby?

My family and friends have to love me and have to love the baby. I’m going to have to have some stranger nurse lady come over in the night when I cry and can’t feed my baby instead of a familiar face…booo.

I could go on. But didn’t I say I was going to love New Mexico?

I am.

I am going to stop thinking about the food or the fact that people don’t smile at me and just start putting more Vaseline in my nose for the dryness.

I have always liked Texas. But what I miss are the people. The community…the comfort I had in the amazingly, precious people around me. When you have that, it doesn’t matter if it is 100 with 99% humidly or if there is crazy traffic.

God called Adam here.

Called me to marry Adam.

Thus, God called me here.

He knew I would fit in better with people who smiled all the time and enjoyed country dancing. But he called me to New Mexico. I have to be happy. I have to support my husband.

I have to apologize to Adam. I apologize for being a complaining nagger. I apologize for not being a help mate. I was like a Nag Mate.

Right now it is uncomfortable. We are still making friends and just picked a church and are those awkward new people that smile a lot and hug people way too fast. But maybe God doesn’t want us comfortable. Maybe he wants us to rely on him and cling together. I’m so social, I think it is very possible for me to cling to my precious girls. But he took me away from all my comfortable, precious friends. I’m here now to cling to my husband and be a light here in New Mexico where it uncomfortable.

I know in time, I’ll love New Mexico. I’m going to start loving it a little more today.

Happy First Fathers Day, Adam!

2008-06-15T20:34:00.009-06:00

Today is a very special fathers day. I have two fathers to celebrate! I celebrated my dad from afar since my family lives in Houston. It was very sad not to be home and share in fathers day activities. I love you Dad, and wish I could have been there. But it was also a very special day here in the Williams family.

Today was Adam's first fathers day! I know what ya'll are thinking. No, there are no secret children that we have been hiding. But there is a little baby growing insided of me...

We are pregnent!

We just found out recently by the above home pregnancy test. Yesterday I went to my first OB/GYN appointment and had the news confirmed. It was very welcoming news that I wasn't crazy and making up feeling nauseous. We even have a very small photo for proof. Judging by the strong heartbeat, I think this baby has rhthym:).

Adam, your going to be the most amazing father. This precious baby is so blessed to have a man in its life like you. No more just playing with other peoples kids, we are going to have our own! I can't wait to see you shine as a father.

I love you and the baby will soon love you too!

I have the best "baby daddy" ever!:)

A week of firsts...

2008-06-03T09:36:00.002-06:00

The view walking into the apartment...
The living room...(with the candles on plate...Sarah's idea)
Living room showing the tv and bookshelf we stained...
The guest bedroom...come visit
Our amazing bed that Adam and Barney made!

Sarah and I freezing!

This whole blog thing is such a great way to keep people informed. On the other hand, when one is not consistent about blogging then it can be slightly overwhelming to catch everyone up. That is how I’m feeling at the moment. I’m just going to backtrack a few weeks and not rush myself.

Well, my sweet sister Sarah came to visit about three weeks ago I guess. She was our first visitor. We had an absolute blast. She was on break between nursing class courses, and I convinced her to come visit ABQ. I promised beautiful weather, good food, and hopefully good company. Well the first day we had great weather. After picking her up from the airport (first time to go by myself and No I didn’t get lost!! Turns out it is a lot simpler than Houston) and after Adam got home, we drove up the mountain. We live at the base of the Sandia Mountains but neither Adam nor I had been to the crest yet. We all had summer-ish clothes on as it was hot outside. Well, good thing we brought jackets because there was still snow at the different parts of the crest, and it was windy and COLD! But it was a beautiful view! ( see photos at beginning)

Well, I turned out to be a liar because the rest of the week Sarah was here was not “great weather”. It snowed, rained, stormed, and hailed a bit. Yes, in the middle of May! I was completely shocked. We still had a great time. We just hung out, and she did everything I did. We went to the 2-3 grocery stores I go to in order to get the best food prices, we spend two days ironing (I think at this point being a wife overwhelmed Sarah), we cooked, and she helped me organize my bathroom so that both Adam and my stuff fits and I don’t have to get ready in the guest bathroom…yay Sarah! Don’t worry there was plenty of chatting and laughing too. I got to make her my favorite cherry scones for breakfast and make her espresso every morning. I love visitors.

People come visit, and I promise I’ll spoil you! Ya’ll won’t even have to help with the ironing!:) Sarah’s visit was a week of firsts. The house was finally ready for visitors ( a big first), Sarah was our first visitor, we had our first snow in May, and we had our first dinner guests. Our neighbors Rebecca and Tucker came over for dinner with Adam, Sarah, and I. It was the first time our table had ever been completely filled! Rebecca went to Grace Bible at A&M at the same time Sarah did, and they knew each other. How random is that?

I really like Rebecca and Tucker. They both are A&M grads, Tucker works at Sandia as well, and Rebecca just stopped being a bilingual elementary teacher. We have way too much in common. It is a little freaky. It is okay though; Tucker doesn’t have dread locks so we are not complete clones!

Sarah also had a couple good ideas of last minute touches for the casa. She helped me decide where to put all the candles. She also had the great idea to use my expresso plates (which are small and say espresso on the sides in cute letters) as candle holders. She also helped me decide to place them on a Nicaragua plate we had and put them on our leather ottoman. I had been waiting to find a circular tray but this is just as cute, at least for now. Yay Sarah!

Thanks for coming to visit Sarah. We loved our time with you! I hope you come back soon sweet sister!!

P.S. To all you blog experts: how do post photos where I want them in my post and not all at the top? Sorry for the disorder. It was the only way I could get the photos to post.

Cool skills

2008-05-07T12:59:00.002-06:00

I have written some about my time in Texas.

I have written some about my return to Adam and the famous “airport scene”.

I have cleverly left out my mini break down I had the second night after Adam and I returned.

Funny one could leave out a break down.

I started this post to write about our lovely shelf we just bought (hence the photo), but God is leading me elsewhere. Maybe I can tie the shelf in…we’ll see.

So I had a wonderful time in Texas. I was ecstatic to see my husband again upon returning. We had a relaxing evening together and then the next day we were back to real life.

I began planning to clean the base boards, planning where the new book shelf would go, and debating in my mind if we should even put up drapes in the living room being that we probably won’t live here more than two years. And if we do….what color should they be???

I thought about that for quite some time, I can’t lie. I can stay up half the night just contemplating colors.

Then as my brain rolled on, I freaked out.

You see Adam was getting ready to go back to work. He was returning to his job as an International Security Technical Systems Analyst.

Yea…just TRY to say that fast.

I had spent the week before Texas preparing my resume, bringing my resume to numerous elementary schools near us, and applying to APS (ABQ School System) which is the first step in the long process in getting a job with APS. ABQ is called the land of manana (tomorrow), if that tells you anything.

So my husband was getting ready for his important job that I can’t even say without stuttering, and I was….preparing to do at least two days of laundry as I cleaned his three weeks worth of stinky clothes.

I felt unimportant.

I felt useless.

I felt skill-less.

Then the breakdown began.

I was worn out of people asking me “are you just going to stay at home? Or are you looking for a job?” I was tired of explaining the whole process.

How I THINK I want to work with bilingual students learning to read in English, how I think I have a passion for that, and I want to start substitute teaching to explore it further. If I do, then I will follow the steps to become certified to do that. I could go on to explain my love of Spanish phonetics and how Spanish vowels are so much simpler than English vowels and how confused a six year old Hispanic child must be trying to read in English after already learning the vowels in Spanish. I could go on to tell the statistics of students not learning to read fluently before 3rd grade usually drop out of school. I could go on about Latin American history or Spanish history, or the Aztecs and how I get excited about them. We could talk about the Hapsburgs and how they fascinate me but didn’t I just say I was tired?

But what I’m really tired of is the phrase “just stay at home”. It makes my stomach queasy, and I go into defense mode.
I go into Emily freak out “I have to find a job right now” mode.

This was the mode I went into during my breakdown.

Adam looked at me as I was spouting out job options and problems and what about this, and that, and that… and he said “Emily, why are you in such a hurry? Why do you have to have a job?”

I looked at him stunned that he wasn’t holding the “get a job anvil” over my head and replied “well, if I don’t have a job how will anyone know I have a skill?”

After that comment, I wanted to laugh.

My job search was about ME. It was about me not being uncomfortable answering people’s questions. It was about ME being educated, having a degree, and having a skill and people knowing it.

Where was God?
Where was God’ glory?

I was praying God bring me the right job, the job where I would be serving Him, doing what he made me to do, but I was looking for a job to glorify ME.

I started thinking about what I KNOW is truth and what I KNOW God wants me to do. Let me share:

I KNOW he wants me to:
Build my house: Proverbs 14: 1
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down”.

Teach younger women. Yes even at the age of 23 I’m supposed to be teaching: Titus 2:3-5 (AMP)

3Bid the older women similarly to be reverent and devout in their deportment as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and noble,
4So that they will wisely train the young women to be [a]sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their husbands and their children,
5To be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good-natured (kindhearted), adapting and subordinating themselves to their husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited).

At my young age I have been blessed to have had very WISE counsel. Living Hope Baptist Church, Sonja Olsen, my mom, Jenn Bacak and more… I’m supposed to be using that wisdom to be pouring into other women.

I’m supposed to be building the foundation of my home forever: Proverbs 24:3 (AMP)

3Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],

I should be following what Jesus did: John 17:4 (AMP)

4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

He completed the work his father game him to do. Hmm, I wonder if by doing this people saw his cool skills? It doesn’t seem like Jesus was worried about HIS skills or what people said about him, he was occupied with the work of his father.

I should do all things for the glory of God: 1 Cor. 10:31 (AMP)

31So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.

It is becoming so clear to me how silly I was. God isn’t concerned about my skills at all, even if they are cool. He is concerned about His glory.

I should be following the will of Christ for my life: 1 Thess. 5:16-18

16Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);
17Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];
18Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

Rejoicing always hmm…it is funny “mini breakdowns” is not listed even as a “sometimes” option.

In fact, quite the opposite is REQUIRED ALL the time.

I am to be in constant prayer: Phil. 4:6 (AMP)

6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ([a]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Again, this whole don’t fret thing. God wants us to be worry free. What would that look like if everyone did that? Christians would stop being stressed out. We would look RADICALLY different from the stressed out world. He doesn’t want us to have break downs and cry and WORRY. He wants us to trust him and pray about everything and be joyful ALWAYS. This is hard stuff.

I feel the conviction.

I also know some clear things I’m not supposed to do: Eph. 4:31(AMP)

31Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).
32And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

Useful and helpful to one another, forgiving one another freely…that is just as hard as being worry free all the time.

Wow, God has MY plate full.

But there is more: Col. 3:8-10, 12-14 (AMP)

8But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!
9Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,
10And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect [a]knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.(A)
12Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].
13Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].
14And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].

I’m overwhelmed. There is so much I need to be working on, I need to be doing, fixing in my own heart. How silly I was to think my “job” was about my “skill”.

I still love Spanish.

I still love kids and want to help them read.

But I have been re-focused.

I see God is concerned first with my heart. My plate should always be full by praying constantly, being joyful always, lifting people up, and giving wisdom.

In my “break down” I kept telling Adam that the skills God has given me didn’t fit in a job. I kept telling him God made me to love people, to love encouraging, to love diving into others lives, to listen to their problems and offer spiritual encouragement”.

I was frustrated about these “gifts”. Why couldn’t God give me gifts that I could put on my resume?

I am so thankful I have such a loving husband who showed me my ridiculousness.

He kept asking me why I had to have a job?

I don’t have to have one. But I do have to do what the Bible says, I do have to encourage, I do have to help train women in righteousness. God has given me the gift of being good with people, the gift of loving people, and yet I complain about it because I can’t use it in a job that will show off a “skill”.

Yea…I was foolish.

I feel free now.

I feel free to be the wife the Bible calls me to be.
Prov. 19:14 (AMP)

14House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding, and prudent wife is from the Lord.(A)

I feel free to set out to become wiser in order to be the gift from the Lord that He wants me to be to Adam. Having any cool “skill” with a cool job title won’t bring that. But being wise, understanding, and prudent will.

I don’t know what lies ahead of me in the job field.

I’m not anti- helping children to read now.

But I am pro supporting my husband.

What God calls me to do in the home is not useless.

It is a gift.

I am now trying to consume myself with what I KNOW God calls me to do and let the job he places in front of me come about in his timing not in my frantic search to be “skilled”.

I haven’t even begun to dive in to the fact that God calls us to take care of the orphans, the elderly, and always be hospitable.

I now feel like my plate is full just as it is, and I’m content right where I am. I’m excited to see what else God brings, whatever it is!

One thing I am sure of is that what he brings me to do job-wise or ministry-wise will to bring him glory. He wants to use my “skills” and gifts yes, that is why he gave them to me. But he wants to use them for his glory and not for my own sake of having a “skill”.

I guess, simpler put…it isn’t about me.

Thanks to everyone especially every woman who has obeyed God’ word and trained ME. I cannot say it enough. Mom, Sonja, Jenn and classes like her Her Hands and Countdown (at living hope) strive to do exactly what the Bible says and train younger women in righteousness.

Oh, and the book shelf. Enjoy the photo…there is more to come:).

My home + your home= OUR HOME

2008-04-30T11:26:00.002-06:00

We have a “home”.
It is “our” home.
Is anyone smiling ear to ear about that statement except me?
Just saying “our home” makes me want to jump up and down and hug people. Come on, you KNOW you want to.
It hit me as I traveling back “home” to ABQ from my trip in Texas. I kept thinking “It will be so good to be home”. It will be so good to curl up in my bed, make Adam espresso in the morning, take a shower in the bathtub with the super powerful shower nozzle, and go running outside without humidity. And then it hit me, wait…I just came from home, I was just visiting home.

Visiting home? Does one do that?

NO

I was visiting my old home….I have a new home and now I realize it and claim it…whoop!

It took me awhile to claim it. The first week of living here we got our phone land line installed. I quickly edited my “home” number in my cell phone from Texas to our land line. I changed my Texas number to “Texas Home”. Well that was all fine and dandy except every time I went to call my parents on my cell our house phone would be ringing. I would even pick it up and answer it only to find I was calling it. I had indeed just dialed “home” instead of “Texas Home”…Adam laughed at me every time.

Something about me being away from “home” made me realize this strange land of enchantment (yes, land of enchantment is our motto) is my home. It made me realize home is more than a stationary place. My home is with Adam, my husband. Being away just wasn’t right. I was missing something….oh, my better half.

It felt great to be home, at my old home that is, but odd because Adam wasn’t there with me. Everyone knows me as single Emily, or Emo, or the crazy Aggie Wrangler girl that makes everyone point their toes, but now I’m Mrs. Williams and although I still hug every one and say silly things and sometimes snort when I laugh too loud.
I’m different.
I’m not whole by myself.

One of the best parts of leaving is returning. Oh, I enjoyed the returning. Adam landed at the airport about 15 minutes before me and was waiting outside of security. I walked out of security and got to do it.
Yes, I got to do the “airport scene”.

I got to run and jump in his arms, and he swung me around several times. This is one of my favorite things in life, airport scenes that is.

I have been practicing since I was a little girl. My sister Anna and I would trade off “the boy part” and take turns jumping and spinning. I didn’t stop practicing when I got too big for Anna to pick me up.

No, basically any of my friends who could pick me up were forced to practice it, at least occasionally.

If you run fast enough you can fling your legs out to the side and the pick up momentum as you the guy spins you. Everyone go out and try it!

Warning: Make sure you jump directly at the guy, sometimes if you jump to the side too early (desiring the leg flinging affect) he can entirely miss you. Also, it is better with your husband.

In the past, I would have to say “pretend like you love me”. But now, I can do airport scenes and I know Adam loves me…no pretending.
God is good, and it is good to be home sweet home!

Bienvenidos!

2008-04-23T22:38:00.000-06:00

We did it.
Some said we wouldn't.
But look at us, we are here blogging.
It has been my "Chore" to set up, and I have been waiting for just that right time to be "inspired". I'm still not quite inspired, but I want to be like all my other super cool friends who I blog stalk!

Do we get some kind of cookie or award from all those people who have been making blog requests? How do I even find all you lovely people? I don't know how to add friends. I may be asking Jenn since she is the blog queen.

This first blog is a happy one because...well, because it our first one...and I am happy to have finally sat down and conquered the blog setting up. But this blog is also a sad one because my husband is gone. He is in Asia and has been for 2 weeks. That is a big deal.

Stop laughing you long time married people. That is 1/4 of our marriage time so far! I think there should be a rule that a newly married couple cannot leave eachother until they have been married a year at LEAST.

Although my heart hurt's with missing my Adam, I am so enjoying my family and friends. You see it just happend to work out that Adam had to leave the country at the exact time that my dear friend Amanda Price got engaged. I got to come to College Station just in time to be apart of the event and make it to Kyle and Kristin's (wrangler and ABQ friends) wedding.

I have also gotten to spend precious time with my family in Houston. My Dad is quick to request me cooking every night. I have been practing this cooking thing quite intensely for the past 2 months. He was quite EXCITED to enjoy it. Here is the thing about cooking. It just takes the right recipe! Believe me, I have found quite a few good recipes and quite a few bad ones. Good thing Adam eats really fast when he is hungry. He has barely noticed the bad ones when I have sat there almost in tears unable to eat the nastyness.

That said, who of my lovely married friends wants to start a good recipe blog?? How great would that be? We could ALL be making good recipes. Let me know what ya'll think!

I can't possibly update ya'll on our first 2 months of marriage or this past week and a half all in this post. I shall leave all that to mystery and slowly begin tackling each topic by topic.

That said, I do miss my husband. I want to list my favorite things about him because he just has so many things to like.
Here it goes:
His awesome dread locks, you know you want them
His laugh
His HANDS...omg...have you ever seen them? He needs to be a hand model
His smell...it is so good!
The way he holds me
His smile
The way he prays for us
His heart for kids
The expresso he makes for me on the weekends
The way he makes excel spreads sheets and organizes everything....so adorable...who does that?
Running with him
His encouraging words
Him tickling me...I admit it, I actually enjoy it...shhhh
Everything about his character...
His love of God
The way he oh so gently wakes me up in the morning with kisses when I'm moaning and growning for sure. He is just so sweet to me!

I know single ladies, ya'll are jealous. I sure do have a catch. There is hope. Find ya'll a God loving man, and he will treat ya'll just as good!!

LOVE,

Emily