Impact Fall Retreat 2013

The only way to describe this year’s fall retreat is "Amazing".  When we first thought about hosting our own fall retreat 3 years ago it was with knowledge that it might not work.  I thought charging $55 for a weekend at the beach was a good idea, but college students wouldn't want to travel several hours to hear about Jesus, especially freshmen or Would they?  God would show us in big ways.

Several months ago our team said we wanted to trust the Lord to see about 125 students come to this year’s fall retreat.  Two years ago we had about 50 and last year around 80 students show up.  The numbers were increasing and we were excited and grateful, yet our hope was always to capture some of the momentum from our 6 week freshmen outreach efforts, and see more underclassmen attend.

Weeks before the fall retreat registration looked as if we probably would hit the 80 student mark.  This was still great, but we really wanted to see God do exceedingly more.  A week before the first registration deadline we got to see our Lord move in ways I haven't see him move in quite some time.  Our sold out point for the retreat was 130 people and that week God had about 150 people sign up for our fall retreat.  This posed issues for us logistically, but it amazed me to see how God was moving and increasing our faith to believe him.  We ended up with 160 students showing up to the fall retreat and with about half of those students being freshmen.  It helped us see that God is truly moving on college students lives.  The other exciting element was that we had four historically black colleges and universities represented at the retreat. 

Another highlight of the retreat was meeting Dylan. He saw I was wearing a medallion in the shape of Ohio.  He shared he was from their and of coarse I let him know that I'm from there as well.  As we began to talk about our hometown, I asked him what university he went to and he said North Carolina A&T.  This made me super excited and the reason being is that we had been trying for the last 2 years to re-launch a chapter on their campus and every single time it fizzled out some how.  It was great to connect with Dylan because he came at the last moment to the conference.  He wasn't even supposed to come.   After the conference I spoke with a volunteer at NC A&T and he mentioned there was a leader surfaced and he was going through the process of getting Impact recognized as a student organization.  I asked him with a surprised tone who this student was and he said a kid named Dylan.  I praised Jesus, because He again was faithful to raise up another leader who will understand their mission is to spread the gospel.   — Moe

Day 3: C-section factors

First off, I really did not want to have another c-section.  In my last post I shared Elisha's birth story and that we ended up having another c-section (had one with Josiah).  This was not an easy decision to come to but there were factors that Moe and I shared that made us feel like this was the best decision for my situation.  

- Having a previous c-section.  This was a factor for both us and the doctors. They do not give women with previous c-sections Pitocin because this medicine makes the contractions more intense.  In my case they could have helped me progress more but the danger is that they can cause the previous incision to rupture.  So the factor for us here was that even though the doctor was willing to give us a small dosage we were at a 3 and not very confident that a little would do the job to get us to a 10.  We also were concerned with the possibility of rupturing.

- We did not feel pressure by our doctors.  While there  i had 2 doctors and they were amazing - ready to do all in their power to help me have the birth i wanted to have.  Nowadays you hear a lot about doctors who almost force a c-section on their patients but this was not our experience and we truly appreciated that.

- All day with no food.  I had not eaten or drank anything since the previous evening - so not sure where the energy was going to come from to push a baby out.

- The next day was Sept 11 - Josiah's birthday.  If i continued to labor it probably would have been the next day before I had the baby or would have had to have an emergency c-section (like with Josiah - labored for 2 days had emergency c-section the evening of the 2nd day).  Yes, even though this was not at all a deciding factor nor something we discussed - in the back of my mind i did not want our boys to have the same birthday.

Now, do I sometimes wonder what if - i could write a book on the what ifs that I have (more like a wordy pamphlet :) ).  Cause maybe the pitocin would have helped, maybe i should have walked more, maybe maybe maybe.  We believe we made the best decision with the information we had and by the end of the day we had our sweet healthy Elisha to hold in our arms - and thats what was most important.

day 2 - Elisha's Birth Story

Before we get into the thick of how our days are going, i figured it would be a good to share how Elisha came into this world.

On September the 9th I began having contractions so much so that i didn't go to church that day.  They were very random so i knew it wasn't time to go to the hospital but they were painful enough to where i did not want to be in public.  I progress really slow - with Josiah i stayed at a 4 for two days.  At my last doctor appt i was a 2 so i was progressing but figured i should labor at home for a while and do some walking before i even called the doctor.  Around midnight is when the contractions began to come 5 -7 minutes a part and by 3(i think) in the morning we had made our way to the hospital and i was in tears. Why? because after all the pain of the contractions and the walking - i was still at a 2 and the contractions where like bad, like really bad.  Because i was feeling some pain in my previous c-section area they didn't want me to walk anymore just in case i ruptured.

Usually they send people home in my condition with only being at a 2 but because my contractions where regular and my previous c-section they let me stay - Praise God!  They admitted me and gave me meds so i could sleep - Ohhh sweet sleep :).  Another sweet thing at this point is that the doctor on call was the same doctor that took care of me with my miscarriage and i really like her.

To speed this story up - hours later i'm woke, the meds have worn off, and i'm feelin' the contractions and asking (begging and pleading on the inside but trying to keep my desperation in) for an epidural.  But guess what - I'm at a 3 (at some point she broke my water but not sure when and that got me to a 3).  They graciously gave me the epidural and all seemed right with the world until around 3 or 4.  I was still at a three and the doctors talked with us about other options that may help me to progress along but there was some risks.  Moe and I talked about our options, weighed them and decided that I would go ahead and have a c-section - so at 5:01 our sweet Elisha was born and we were thrilled.  He was born Sept 10th the day before Josiah's birthday Sept 11th :).

Tomorrow i will elaborate on what our deciding factors where to go ahead with a c-section.

I'm Back - Full Circle & 31 days

Its amazing!  I'm so grateful!  This time last year i was mourning the miscarriage of our second baby.  Today we celebrate our third child being 3 weeks old.  Yep, 3 weeks ago Elisha was born!  We are now a family of 4, Moe and I are parents of 2 boys - sweet craziness!  So here i am blogging again - it only took me a year :). The plan is to blog everyday this month.  A blog i read at thenester.com put out a challenge for bloggers to do 31 days of something - its where you blog everyday about a particular topic.  So i have decided to blog about how we are adjusting and growing since Elisha entered our world.  The only thing is i'm not sure what to call it .  .  .

31 days of Elisha
31 days of our new day to day
31 days of life as we now know it

see i got nothing that has a ring to it, so for now it will just be 31 days of our lives (corny :)) until i'm hit with a bolt of creativity - hope that happens soon.

Its Been A While - I Know

Yes - it has been some time since i have written an update.  I'm happy to say that i have been fine.  Here and there i definitely still experience sadness and wonder if it was a boy or girl, i actually would not want to know for sure, but i wonder.  I wonder how big i would be now.  I hung up my maternity clothes last weekend - even the ones I had when i was pregnant with Josiah - they are all hanging up in my closet to the far left side.  They are in view - my hope is that I will be wearing them in the spring :).

What am i up to now?  Trying to loose weight. We are all friends here - right, and i've never been one to be sensitive about telling people how much i weigh.  I was looking at Josiah's baby book and the records kept when i was going for my regular visits during the pregnancy.  On my first visit I weighed 160.  I presently weigh 185 - you do the math.  If i keep this trend up - well, you can do that math also.  I started going to the gym at our complex last week - please pray that i continue.  Also pray that i would make wise food choices - this is the big thing since i don't have "a  sweet tooth"  i have a "a whole set of sweet teeth" :).

Love Yall and I plan to post some new recipes i'm going to try this week so stop back by :)

Birthday in Review and Fall decor pictures

Yesterday  (my bday) was great! The morning started with Josiah and i laying in the bed singing songs at his request - ABC song, itsy bitsy spider and patty cake - good sweet times. I spent the morning at MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) - its a mom's group that meets every other Tuesday for all the moms involved and have playdates in our small groups on the off Tuesdays.  Yesterday was the large group and we had a speaker on couponing - which was good cause i need a kick in the pants to get back on that.  Anyhoo, while there my sweet friend Melissa gave me a bday card.

Afterwards i took Josiah home and Moe was waiting for me with a birthday gift - a lovely fall plate that you will see in a pic below and a gift card to my favorite local coffee shop (seriously- they make the coffee to order using a pour over technique plus they have some seriously good waffles - amazing) so i was super happy about that.  The man knows what his woman likes :).

I then left cause my sweet friend Lauren made me lunch.  It was some seriously good chicken salad.  She also hand painted - yes people - hand painted a picture frame with a scripture verse. Yep, i cried.

After that I came home and spent some time with my guys, did some crafts (including the wreath in the pic below) and we had (by my request) pizza hut pan pizza - a childhood fav - and ate my little wop-sided cake pic below.  Moe ended the night with a bang by giving me a certificate that had 33 reasons why he loves and likes me - the man hit a home run - i mean knocked it out of the park :).

In between all these activities i talked with all my brothers and sisters, dear friends, got texts, a supreme amount of facebook shot outs, and a phone call from my Mom at the time i was born and she sang "you r my sunshine" and "have i told u lately that i love you".  Am i wealthy or what!

Josiah with our first ever pumpkin and fall mums we got from the farmers market on Saturday

The fall wreath i made yesterday. I bought the twig wreath from Michael's and just stuck the waxed leaves i already had in the wreath - super easy.  You can also buy leaves like this at a craft store.  Stay tuned - i may stick a turkey in it for Nov - then take the leaves out and put berries around it for Christmas - Oh the possibilities :).

Our Fall door all put together - i like it.  Its my first time doing one.

Last but not least my bday cake - strawberry with strawberry cream cheese icing.  I made a small one  for us and used the rest of the batter for cupcakes for my women's small group and a girl at church whose bday is Thursday.  This was a great idea for our fam cause we would never eat awhole cake on our own (or shouldn't :)) - an opp to share the cake love.
Oh, check our the platter with the candle on it that Moe got me for my bday!

The great thing about my bday is that its all month - friends and family will be mailing cards and gifts out all month - and even next. - Gotta love it!  Thanks Yall

Its My Birthday!

Yep today i turned 33 - yay!  It was such a good day - going to blog about it tomorrow with pictures :).  Tonight I want to celebrate and confess:  celebrate that this weekend i did get out of the house and go to the farmers market and get a pumpkin and flowers.  I also made my birthday cake - strawberry - super yummy (pictures of both to come).  But i have to confess that i have not put away my maternity clothes.  I'm not sure why.  Some of them i'm wondering if i want to take back to the store because they are cold weather maternity clothes and I don't know what God's will is for when we will have another baby.  On the other hand this could be me stalling or procrastinating. In Process.