So much has changed in the past year! I almost don't know where to start.

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In the past year, I met and married the one guy (Curtis Boaz) who completes me in every way. I knew right away that he was "the one" and our relationship took off from there. God gave me everything I'd ever prayed for and more in him. Of course there was a condition in the gift... I had to move to Texas. Yep, I now live in Texas! I've found that I really do miss everything about California. Everything from my family to the food. At first, I was naive about it all and really thought that I could give it all up and not miss it, but I was quickly proven wrong. All in all though, I don't mind living here...Curtis makes it worth it.

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Not very long after Curtis and I got married, we got pregnant. According to my doctor we got pregnant around May 26th...we got married on May 8th. Not long at all eh? I've found that pregnancy and I do not get along very well. I was extremely sick from week 6 to week 17 of my pregnancy. At one point, Curtis took me to the ER because for three days straight I hadn't been able to keep ANYTHING down... not even water. While there, the nurse was digging into my arm with an IV trying to find my vein. Thankfully she ended up pulling it out and putting it in the top of my hand. I was so dehydrated at the time that my veins were very hard to find. From the point my pregnancy got a tiny bit easier...but not by much. They put me on Promethazine, which helped me with the nausea and helped me keep food down. After week 17, I quit throwing up. Thank God!

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On September 29th, we found out what we are having. We found out we are having a girl! We've already decided on her name and that is Amelia Evaine Boaz. We love names with meanings and we loved the idea of a name that really isn't all that common... unlike mine. =) Amelia means "To Strive or Excel or Rival", Evaine is another form of Eve meaning "Life" and our last name, Boaz means "Strength". Amelia already has her daddy wrapped around her tiny finger and we will be expecting her to arrive around February 16, 2011.

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We got to go out to California for the week of Thanksgiving and we had a great time! While there my family and friends threw Curtis and me a surprise baby shower! I was oblivious until I'd walked into my Uncle James's house and saw everyone in there. You would have thought that the balloons on the mailbox would give it away, but all I'd thought was that I'd missed someone's birthday. I remember walking in though and trying not to cry. I was so surprised and very happy to see everyone... I think that's probably the moment that I realized just how much I missed everyone. The baby shower went very well and we received A LOT of clothes for Amelia. We have clothes of every size and when I say every size I mean newborn to 24 months. I really am blessed to have such great family and friends. The rest of our visit went well and we brought home a lot of my furniture including a rocking chair that my mom received from my grandmother when my mom got pregnant with me. It was SO hard to leave though, believe you, me. I don't think I've completely recovered yet, but I know that in a little less than 2 1/2 months I'll at least get to see my mom and my sister. They'll be coming out for Amelia's birth and I've found that Alisha, of all people, is excited about becoming an aunt. I never thought I'd see the day that my sister would be spoiling a baby that has yet to be born. Alisha has bought her everything from a pink stuffed dog to a pair of baby vans and baby converse. I never thought a baby could bring near as many changes to mine and my family's lives, but I'm glad for the changes.

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While in California, we were given a free photo session from the woman who did our wedding photos and I cannot tell you just how much we love her and her work! She is an amazing person and an amazing photographer. I'm still waiting for a link to the full size photos, but I took a screen shot of one photo so that ya'll have a small glimpse of what's to come. Click on the photo and visit her website! She's great and if you live in the Southern California area...she's a great person to go to. She's not super expensive, her work is great, and she is just an all around great person.

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Right now I am 29 weeks and will be 30 weeks on Wednesday and Amelia moves so much these days that sleep has become pretty difficult to come by. I know that it's only going to get harder when she's born and keeping me up with late night feedings, but at least she won't be kicking and jabbing me from the inside haha. In fact, she's moving pretty rapidly as I type this. I know she's going to be one hyper little girl, but I think Curtis and I are up for the challenge.

Labels: a wedding, a year, and a baby girl

All things work together for the good of those who love God, isn't that right? I think that sometimes we, as Christians, forget that. Often times, we find ourselves questioning and getting angry about God's work in our lives instead of embracing the constant changes and works in progress. As He works on us, we grow, we experience, and we learn. If it wasn't for God, all of us would probably be lost in a state of confusion.

Over the last 20 years, God has taken me through many dark alleys and brightly lit paths and with each experience I learned a little more about myself, my role in this world, and God's never ending faithfulness.

Some of the lessons you are able to see right away...others you don't actually understand until you've gone down other paths. But you do eventually know why God worked that situation into your life. There is always a reason we go through what we do.

If you think hard enough and maybe you don't have to think that hard, I'm sure you could come up with at least one situation, where you felt the trial/tribulation you were going through was all for not. Now hold on to that situation...think about a time when God used your "all for not" trial/tribulation to strengthen or further something else in your life. It could have played a part in some major turning point in your life or just have been used to witness to someone else.

Regardless of how big or small the situation was, you learned something and maybe even had the chance to share what you learned with someone. But one thing you and I both know was that you found that God was with you every step of the way. He didn't give you more than He knew you could handle and in the end, you were okay. You were stronger and just a little bit wiser, with an all-knowing God smiling and directing you onto another path, another lesson, another step towards an eternity with Him.

So when you have those moments that seem like an eternity where you want to give up and be angry with God, instead praise Him. Thank Him for giving you the chance to learn another lesson. Thank Him for the work He has yet to do in your life and the lives He will save by your testimony. Remember that in all that you do...God is there, ever faithful and always working on your future.



Editor's Note:
After I wrote this, I decided to look up the verses that went with my thoughts. This came out of nowhere. I'd decided to sit down and update my blog and before I knew it all of the above was written. So without further ado, here are the verses that coincide with what I'd written. The first verse on the list is the one that I found to be my main verse.

It was brought to my attention that I needed to update my blog...Thanks Karen. Haha So I do apologize for the delay. So without further ado...my first blog posting in months!

The last couple of months have been very interesting. Of course, most always in a good way.

~*July*~

Our youth group went to the P.E.A.K. conference and it was absolutely amazing! God has His hands on everyone at the conference and He moved so heavily in the services. What can I say...God really got a hold of everyone. I really wish I could replay it for everyone, but it was so awesome that no words could begin to describe it.

Let's fast forward a little!

~*August*~

This was a busy month for me it seems. I started a job with an Energy Drink company that is just starting up in California. The company is called Bionic Products and the energy drinks are AMAZING! I am not saying that because I work for the company, but because it's true. These energy drinks have no sugar, no calories, and no carbs. Because the energy drinks are all natural there is no terrible crash and you still get an awesome tasting drink. Everyone who has tried the drinks immediately came to the conclusion that the drinks were the best energy drinks they had ever had. This was compared to Monster, Rockstar, Redbull, etc. to name a few.

A week later, I went to the beach with my youth group and had an amazing time. Unfortunatly though, I was hanging out while dealing with bronchitis. Whoops! I'd actually never recovered from getting sick on the way home from P.E.A.K. so because of that I missed a whole lot of class and playing catch up is becoming difficult. Please keep me in prayer as I am trying to get the work done without stressing myself out too much.

Let's see...what else happened that month? Oh! We had those terrible fires up here! The fires were so close that I could see the flames while going up Yucaipa Blvd. It was pretty crazy. My cousins were actually evacuated from their home, but thank God that they came back to their house still intact. Those were some hecktick days for everyone I'm sure and my heart goes out to all of the families who lost their loved ones and/or possessions because of the fires. Please remember to keep them in prayer!

~*September*~

I was told by the nurse practicioner at Crafton that I had had a touch of pneumonia. Scary stuff. Thank God for keeping it from turning into full fledged pneumonia though. God has been really good to me. Despite everything I have done wrong in the past, He has always been so faithful and has kept His hand on my life. I really don't know where I would be if it hadn't been for His everlasting love and mercy. Thank you everyone for your continued prayers as I know that I have needed them.

Bionic Products did another event this month and well, it was awesome. Of course, there were some problems, but I did my best to bite my tongue and pray. A big thank you to God and Karen, who worked hand in hand to keep me steady.

~*Other Stuff*~

I have been doing well, of course things could always be better, but I am content. God has been moving so much in my life! I mean He really has been amazing. Where would I be without Him? I really do not dwell on that, only because I know that I would be a TERRIBLE mess and obviously, God has been very gracious. If you only knew, right? I have gone through many a trial and tribulation...but without them, I wouldn't be where I am today.

I've been wanting to write some more poetry, but nothing has come to me yet. It will though and when it does, I will post it on here.

I think I have given a pretty fair account of the last few months...what do you think? Please keep me in prayer! I have had some things on my heart and I am really seeking the Will of God in my life. Thank you again for your continued prayers and support.

I was going through all of my stored emails and I came across this email. I thought it would be good to share it.