Baby Sprinkle

We have the best friends in the whole world. Seriously. Our Sunday School class hosted a double "sprinkle" for two of us (out of the seven that are currently pregnant!!) on Sunday afternoon and it was incredibly special for Mark, Wyatt and I to celebrate the impending arrival of baby girl with some of our favorite people.

Not to mention she got some super cute stuff :)   Cannot wait to welcome this little one into the world in February!

Ladies Man

Wyatt and Miss Alabama

My son is a fan of blondes. As is our tradition, Wyatt and I supported Miracle Treat Day at our local Dairy Queen. I happened to have the inside scoop (no pun intended) that our very own Courtney Porter would be making an appearance. What's better than ice cream with a beauty queen I ask? um, not much.

The second picture makes me the teeniest bit sad. Wyatt's very last Sunday in our church nursery was last week. This sweet girl has taken care of him for the past three years, while Mark and I attended both church and small group. Starting this weekend, Wyatt will be sitting with us for the music portion, then on stage for the Children's Moment (Lord, help us!) followed by Children's church. He is officially a pre-schooler. Really, where did the time go??

Restore

I invite all of you to watch this amazing transformation. I really can't say enough to describe the difference between where out church was a year ago, and where it is now. I promise, you won't be disappointed that you spent five minutes watching this... I even made the cut during production. This girl who is usually on the opposite side of the camera squeezed in a sound bite, haha. Enjoy!

Stephanie's Surprise

Last night I had the pleasure of throwing a surprise party for my soon-to-be-here niece, Delaney. I couldn't have done it without all of our wonderful bible study friends. These women are pure gold, and I am so blessed to have each one of them in my life!

I think Steph was beyond surprised, and we had an awesome time celebrating with her :) Now, we are just waiting on the little princess to arrive!

Wyatt and Ava

I had to post these pictures even though they are terrible- I had to take them with my cell phone Sunday Morning. Both Wyatt and Ava were wearing their brown and white monogrammed outfits and were playing so sweetly in the nursery.

Wyatt has had a crush on Ava since he was born. Although she is five months his senior, he loves her all the same :) Here they are playing Mommy and Daddy- he was even trying to sneak her a kiss, but I caught him. This just melts my heart!

Lori and Johnny, look out.... I think we have a future Dorminey/Olis wedding on the horizon!

An Ash Wednesday to Remember

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked by our pastor to read scripture during the Ash Wednesday Service. To say the least I felt honored and humbled by the request, and who can say no to a minster? So, I heartily agreed, and put all nervousness aside.

Surely, it wouldn't be that difficult- I would know ahead of time what passage I would be reading, the words would be right in front of me at the pulpit and I have never been one to be frightened of public speaking- no biggie, right?

I practiced the reciting Joel 12: 1-2, and 12:17 this week. I practiced out of my New Living Translation thinking it would be very similar to the Methodist Church's translation. Upon arriving early at the service I learned that I would be the VERY FIRST reader. Uh oh.

A lump began to form in my throat as I read over the passage I would be reading - the church's version this time...several words crept in that I had not seen that week, such as aged (is is AGED or AG ED?) and bosoms vs. chest (Do I really have to say that word in front of the ENTIRE congregation?) and of course the sanctuary was packed.

As the service began, my heart was pounding, my palms were sweaty and I definitely could not focus. I took my place in front of the pulpit and began to read- I literally COULD NOT wait to get off that stage. I knew I was flying through the passage, but I couldn't help myself... at least I didn't stumble with the terminology too much, but it felt like I was reading a novel up there... I think I had the longest lesson to read out of all four readers!

It was such a relief to get off that stage, ya'll. Mark said I did well (fast but good). One thing is for sure, I have developed an immense appreciation for pastors. There is no way on God's green earth that I could stand on the other side of that pulpit each week. Glad I did it, but glad its over :)

God Provides

We had a very exciting weekend... my parents came in town on Friday and basically took over all things Wyatt... I think I only changed one diaper all weekend- I didn't give baths, serve meals- nothing. It was awesome. We just played and played and Mom and Dad have been in seventh heaven for the past 48 hours. As my mom put it, "As far as I am concerned, Wyatt can do whatever he wants while we are here!"

Well, okay then. Our little man isn't eating this up at all- nah, he's having a terrible time :)

On Saturday, I did keep my hair appointment because I had childcare that isn't usually so readily available, and Mom offered to pay for a hair cut because apparently 'I was in dire need of it' (thanks mom :)

Anyways, I walk into the salon fully prepared to cancel the color portion of the appointment due to the lack of funding this month. Before I could even open my mouth, the receptionist pulls out a giant basket of very expensive looking hair products and a gift certificate for $125 worth of salon services and hands it to me. She tells me congratulations, and before I can even get my jaw off the floor, I am told that I was last month's winner. I vaguely remember entering some type of drawing the last time I was there, but I never gave it another thought. I seriously never.win.anything.ever.

I fully give God the credit for this- here I was feeling sorry for myself and upset over the sad state of our bank accounts. I was going to give up my hair appointment that I so desperately needed, and God gave me a little boost. I can't tell you how much I needed that... and let me tell you, I got the works done- I left feeling like a million bucks without spending a dime. Here's all the loot I get to enjoy at home:

And here is my "winning" certificate:

On Saturday afternoon Mom and I went to see Dear John. I LOVE Nicholas Sparks and have devoured all of his novels. The Notebook is still my all time favorite movie. I was counting down the days until I could see Tatum Channing surf across the screen in all his glory. And while I did most enjoy his hotness in the movie- I was disappointed in the ending, and left the movie feeling very sad... what did ya'll think?

Saturday evening we had dinner with some very special friends of ours from church. Trista and Max prepared an amazing meal of stuffed pork tenderloin, corn on the cob and spinach salad- YUM! They have such a beautiful home, and we had a great time eating visiting and playing games. Trista is an incrdible hostess and a tremendous person. I am immensly grateful for her friendship- she is one of the most uplifting and encouraging individuals that I know! Mark and Max have a lot in common and always have a good time when we are all together. We can't wait to return the favor and have them over very soon.

Mark finished our new fire pit this weekend! It looks amazing and I am so excited to build out the patio around it. I am so proud of my man! He built it with his bare hands and it looks incredible. I can't wait to post pictures very soon.

We finished out the weekend with a Super Bowl party at Nathan and Hope's house- the food was amazing and the company was great. Thanks to the Hope's for hosting a great party (yep, their last name is Hope- so her name is Hope Hope... we call her Hope squared :)

I "Hope" you had a fantastic weekend ;) as well!

So Glad He's Home

My favorite part of birthday parties- CAKE!

The Birthday Girl- Miss Peyton

Playdate with Mr. Will

Wyatt and I were more than estatic to see Mark walk through the door on Friday afternoon. I had taken the afternoon off in order to straighten up the house a little bit (I mean c'mon, I had to atleast make it look like there was some semblance of order in his absence) and to cook a nice meal for my husband (Insert Wife-of-the-year award here)

I think I wowed him with my apple-bourbon pork tenderloin (thanks Hormel :), garlic mashed potatoes and oven roasted asparagus (a Rachel original, and Mark's favorite).

After a sweet family dinner and an evening to catch up- I was exhausted. Last week drained the heck out of me and we all went to bed early.

On Saturday, Will came over and played. We had a great time, although we are still working on sharing our toys :).

On Saturday afternoon, we went to a birthday party and Sunday was church and a fun girls get-together where I learned how to applique shirts for Wyatt! I am so excited and have already ordered several appliques and am on the hunt for those Garanimal t-shirts that are oh so hard to find. I am feeling a little Martha Stewartesque all of a sudden. Although after trying to thread a needle for the umpteenth time, I will probably be sending some shirts to Clanton where my MIL and her sewing machine reside.

This week has been CRAZY to say the least- thank God my husband is back because I am having to be up at 4:30 every morning and work extremely late. We have a huge event this week that I am working on, and it is taking up most of my time...I am also hosting Bible Study this week (YAY!) and taking dinner to a friend who just had a baby (double YAY!) and leading a fundraising committee at church -where did all that time go that I thought I would have at the beginning of the year? Who knows- what I do know is I am doing what I love. Raising money for sick children, growing in my faith, deepening my friendships, serving the Lord and mothering an 18-month old (who had his first time out this week due to an uncontrollable urge to scream, kick and thrash all at the same time- triple YAY!)

Enjoy the pictures from our weekend reunited with Daddy-O :)

Our God is an Awesome God

I have been waiting to share my good news.

I am overfilled with joy and gratefulness- there is just no other way to put it.

I know you remember a few weeks ago when I wrote this post. There were three specific women that I have been lifting up in prayer who have been struggling with infertility, I pray every single day for these women. I can't explain it, except to say that God has laid them on my heart- their struggles are my struggles, and their heartache is my heartache. These women are my sisters in Christ and I love them each dearly.

I know that God wants to give us the desires of our heart, and I also know that prayer is powerful- and PRAISE JESUS, he has answered my prayers for Lindsay. My sweet, precious friend is going to be a momma! After a long hard year of disappointment, tears and frustration and alot of PRAYER, she is pregnant!

Lindsay is going to be an incredible mother, and I am honored and blessed to be able to share in this wonderful journey with her... God is truly an awesome God!

Congratulations Lindsay and Ryan!

"God is able to do infinetly more than we could ever imagine." Ephesians 3:20

Living Simply

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. " James 1:2

This was the verse that Pastor Brian based his sermon on yesterday. I have read this verse many times when studying scripture, and it always has given me hope when I myself, or others are going through tough times. Yesterday, however, there was a new light to these words- a new angle on this message. I felt God speaking straight to my heart as he used our minister to speak words that I so desperately needed to hear.

The message was titled "It" and the opening questions were clear- What are you living for? What is IT to you? Before Pastor Brian could even complete the sentence- the answer scrolled through my head like the ticker on the bottom of the business channel. The lies that satan have spun in my heart are as thick as black tar.

Be the perfect mother, be the perfect wife, be the perfect employee, the perfect daughter, the perfect friend, the perfect homemaker, the perfect christian, the perfect hostess, the perfect (fill-in-blank) Perfection is just around the corner- just keep going, because perfection equals affirmation. No one will love you if you are only mediocre. There is no room in this world for failures.

When you cut the crap, when you get down to the core of things... when I am only left with my inner thoughts and desires- that is my IT. Perfection is what I strive for, what I have always chased and chased and chased. Frankly, IT is exhausting. I never can just be. How sad is that? Instead of chasing the Lord of my life, instead of overflowing with abundance in Him, instead of crying out to the God Almighty- I try to do IT myself, and I am left drained, empty and stressed- constantly stressed. Instead of being grateful for what the Lord has given me, I am constantly thinking about what I need next. I try to fit my relationship with Christ in a box- always making excuses for pushing my quiet time off the table- after I dust, after I fold laundry, after I feed Wyatt... until it doesn't happen at all.

This week I am holding myself accountable to ending this viscious cycle, one habit at a time. God's lesson to me couldn't haven't have come at a better time- when I needed to hear it most. Mark is out of town, and I am hosting our bible study on Wednesday. As usual, I am behind on my lessons. Normally, I would be scrubbing floors and dusting my furniture until it gleamed- but this week, my quiet time and my son will be taking precent over the dirty grout in my kitchen. My friends love me for who I am- my Lord loves me for me- not for my spotless house.

Thank you Jesus for your unending grace and mercy- Thank you for showing me that I am NOT perfect, and never will be. Thank you for loving me in spite of my black heart- help me to be a little less like Martha, and little more like You.

The Monday Post... grab a snack- it's a long one :)

Hungry Fella...

Kellie, the mom-to-be!

The diaper cake I made for the shower- this was the first one I have made- I thought it turned out pretty cute- what do you think?
Wyatt and I before Anna's party

The Olis clan has been partying down this weekend! We have had a fun couple of days- Saturday was Anna's second birthday party. Anna is my friend Heidi's little girl, and we enjoyed seeing several of our friends from church at her party. The Ramey's had rented a big blow-up bouncy castle for the occasion, and Wyatt experienced this for the first time. He loved it! Mark got in with him and held his hands and bounced with him and little guy thought it was great. The only time he freaked out was when we tried to get him to go down the slide. For some reason he hates slides- I am sure one day this will change.

I wish I had a picture of the birthday girl, but I forgot to take one. She was such a cutie pie with her big pink birthday dress on- I know if I ever have a girl, I would want her to be just as prissy as little Anna! She even loves cleaning - a girl after my own heart :) She was showing off her broom and vacuum cleaner during the party - I love it!

On Sunday, our Sunday School class hosted a surprise baby shower for our dear friends Kellie and Jason. They are expecting their first child, Ethan, in September. I love surprise showers- especially baby showers. Kellie is such a doll, and one of the sweetest people I know. She is going to be an awesome momma. Mark and I have really enjoyed getting to know this sweet couple over the past year, and it was such a joy to be able to celebrate them. Kellie was so surprised when they walked in that she teared up. I remember not too long ago when our sweet church friends surprised us, and how much it meant to Mark and I. We were overjoyed to help pull it off for another unsuspecting couple :)

Lori and Johnny hosted the shower at their house, and the food was amazing. Johnny smoked a brisket all day. It was delicious. Our class never gets together without eating -In my book, food and fellowship is a great combination!

Wyatt was quite the ham at the party. He was on his best behavior, and was charming everybody. At one point he stood up in the middle of the room and took off walking! The little show-off ;)

After we got home last night and crawled into bed, we began to hear loud, blood-curdling screams coming from Wyatt's room. He hasn't woken up in the middle of the night in ages so it scared the daylights out of me. Mark and I raced into his room to realize that he wasn't even awake. Poor little guy was having a night terror. I picked him up very gently and he immediately calmed right down and went back to sleep in my arms. Mark put him back down a few minutes later, and he was fine the rest of the night. I am curious if any other mom's have ever experienced this? What are you supposed to do when this happens?

A big shout out to my AFUMC girls!

Last night, my girls bible study group completed our very first Beth Moore Study. This Old Testament study of the Tabernacle has definitely changed my life. Not only has it allowed me the opportunity to strenthen my walk with the Lord through daily quiet time and an intense study of His word, I have developed deep friendships and bonds with the women in our SS class.







For 6 months, we have gathered together every other week to delve into our study together, and along with Beth Moore's profound and life-altering messages, we have shared food, fellowship, concerns, laughter, heartache, tears, hugs and smiles. These women have become a lifeline for me- a break from every day life as a working mom and wife. They are a support group, and I know that no matter what...we are there for each other. I pray for them daily by name, and I thank God for this incredible blessing in my life. I look forward to our Wednesdays together, and it thrills me to see the hand of God working throughout our group. I love you girls... my sisters in Christ!




Here is part of our group... we had some missing last night, but I will be getting their pictures next time and posting them as well.



Lori - Was the very first person I met at our church. She was 30 weeks pregnant at the time, and I was 10 weeks. We sat next to her and her husband at church, and we were instantly friends, she invited Mark and I to SS class- the rest is history! Lori is one of the most warm and caring people I know, and she always makes me laugh!


Amanda- Is my sweet neighbor, who reached out to me as soon as we realized not only did we share a SS class, but we also shared the same street :) She has been a wonderful friend to me, and I love her generous spirit. She is my encourager!



Lindsay- Is the cutest pharmacist I know. She is a fun-loving, fashion-forward gal, and a warm soul. She also has an amazing taste for decorating!

Trista- Hands down the most gentle and tender-hearted person I have ever met. I have so much to learn from this special girl- I just love her caring spirit.



Heidi- I love her outgoing personality, Heidi never meets a stranger and is completely dedicated to our church. She cracks me up, and WOW is she stylish. I have alot of fashion tips to learn from her... the quintessential Southern Girl!



Mylesa- So, so geniune.. and SO funny! I love talking to her, because she makes me snort I laugh so hard. I love that Mylesa is incredibly down to earth and anyone can relate to her.



Jennifer- Amazing Girl! Her walk with the Lord is an inspiration to me. We have shared alot of similar experiences as new mothers, and she has become one of my closest friends. She is one of the most loving people I have ever known.



Faith- A true testament to her name- the pillar of strength. I admire her more than she will ever know.



Hope- Sweet is the first word that pops into my head- she is always thinking of others, and another gentle spirit that balances out our group... she is also incredibly helpful, whatever the problem- she has a solution :)



Kellie- spunky, fun-loving and always up for anything. Kellie is a great listener. Oh and a cutie pa-tootie!!



Wendie- An amazing mom and woman. She is a person that has her priorities straight, and inspires me to always put the Lord first in all I do. She incredibly dedicated to her family, and such a light for Jesus!



Eve- A ball of energy, and the most positive person I know. She always has a smile on her face, and a kind word to speak. She is incredibly bright, and always teaches me something new.

Jennifer2- I am thrilled that you have decided to join our group, and I am so excited to get to know you better!!

I love each and every one of you- you all have added more to my life than you could ever imagine. I know we will be friends for life, and I thank the Lord for bringing us together!


This is Amanda, and Kellie... their babies are due only two months apart. Kellie is having her first child, Ethan in September and Amanda is having her second child in November. I am so excited to be apart of this new chapter in their lives and share in the joy that a baby brings. Congratulations Girls! I CAN'T wait to meet your precious bundles of joy.

Lots of Love in Him,

Rachel

Little Monkey Man at the Zoo

Saturday morning Wyatt and I met our SS friends at the Zoo. We had so much fun with all of our friends! Wyatt especially enjoyed the reptile house, and was fascinated by the giant Iguanas. (gross!) Apparently, he is all boy :) Saturday night, Mark and I joined his family downtown for close family friend's wedding. It was beautiful, and we had a wonderful time. When we returned, the entire neighborhood was without power, and it took several hours for it to come back on. It was very hot in our house, and I have never been more grateful for our ceiling fans at 2:30 a.m. Sunday we cooked out at Steph and Joey's new house and visited with family. It was a wonderful weekend, and we love that we have our family so close. I wish my parents lived closer, but I am thrilled that they are coming in town this weekend to spend my very first Mother's Day with me. It is also my Dad's birthday, so I am looking forward to another good weekend.



Last night, Wyatt actually let me rock him. It has been months since he has slowed down long enough to let me cuddle with him, but I guess he was so worn out that he didn't try to wiggle out of my arms. As he laid his head on my heart and looked up at me with those big brown eyes, I began to think about how much my life has changed since last Mother's Day. I was expecting then.. but really, I had no idea what to expect. I certainly had no idea how much my life was going to change. It is dramatic- but oh my goodness, what a journey. I get choked up just thinking about the love that I have for my child... I used to pray that I would have a girl one day, mostly because I grew up in a house full of boys, and I wanted so badly a girl to dress up, and one day to share a facial or a pedicure with. Now, I cannot imagine my life without my little man in it. The bond that we share as mother and son is indescribable. He is my heartbeat, and I would do anything and everything to protect him. Last night, as we rocked, I prayed that God would bless him with a love for the Lord, a love for others and the character and integrity to stand against the evils of this world. I prayed for the wisdom and the courage to teach and train him. I prayed the Lord would lay out his plan for his life, and mold him into the man that he is called to be.



I thank God for this little miracle- I know beyond all shadows of any doubt that he is special, and that God has his hand on his life. I pray that the Lord would use him to further His kingdom and bless little Wyatt, because he has been such a blessing to me.










All my buddies!
Wow, Mommy look at that big lizard!

Fascinated by the Iguana...

Look at the hippo!

Watching the Monkeys

Me and my friend Mabrie :)


Looking at the birds

Sooo tired.

Our only picture from the wedding... and Mark has his eyes closed :)