While I didn't vote for the guy who won nor do I agree with a lot of what he plans to do, my heart is saddened by those around me who have had nothing but negative things to say.  I don't agree with what our new President has planned or with what he has done in the past.  I don't know if we can truly stand on what President Obama promises but I do know, without a doubt, that I can stand on what God's word says.  His word tells us that we are to honor those that are in authority even when we don't "like" them or we didn't vote for them.  God also tells us that no matter who is chosen as leader of our great nation, God is leader over all.  He is in control of everything.  He watches over and protects His people.  We just need to trust Him and seek His will.  Even when the world around us seems hopeless and all seems lost, God can still move.  2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "Then if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."  As His people, if we continue to pray and pursue Him, God can move in our country.  Even when our leaders do things that don't seem right, that doesn't mean that God can't change their hearts and use them for His glory.  As believers, we are supposed to pray for others, especially our leaders.  1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.  Ask God to help them: intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.  Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.  This is good and pleases God our savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth".  I don't know for sure whether President Obama is a God-Fearing man, but I do know that the last thing he needs is more people against him.  What he does need is more of God's people rising up in prayer for him and his family.  Praying that he would allow God to guide his path as he leads our entire country.  So rather than complain about an outcome that I have no control over, I am going to do the one thing that I can do.  I am going to continue to pray and trust that God knows what He is doing.  He is in control and He is the one I trust in.

Psalms 91:2 "This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God and I trust Him."

Over the last month God has really shown me how much he watches over us.  He has blessed us so much in that last month and as each day passes I can see how each step of His plan has been so perfectly put together.  I am so amazed by His love.  

In the last month we have moved out of our townhouse and in with Brandon's parents.  We are planning on moving to South Carolina in March and so now we are kind of in a waiting phase.  The slow pace is very nice right now.  It has been such a blessing to really be able to spend time with our families and each other.  My older sister Stefanie and niece Randi are in town from Saudi Arabia and I have just been enjoying every moment with them.  I can't wait for the next chapter God has for our family but at the same time I am just enjoying the place we are in now.  

Jude is getting so big.  On Thursday my little guy is going to be 6 months old!  I am still in awe that he is actually here.  This month we have gone to the aquarium twice and a pumpkin patch for the first time as well as the Zoo.  Jude also got to celebrate his first halloween.  Our family dressed as monkeys and we attended the Family Fun Night.  It was so much fun.  I feel so honored that God has entrusted me with such an amazing little boy.  He such a blessing and I can't imagine what my life would be like without him.

The Adventure is Moving South

We are moving!!!!  It's official.  In March we will be moving out little family across the country to Mount Pleasant, SC.  Some very good friends of ours came to us a few months ago and asked if we would pray about moving with them to start a church.  I admit that at first I just said no thank you and didn't even give it much thought but after a long month of prayer I knew God was calling our family to move.  It's always amazing to me how God moves.  Once I finally told God I was willing to go he really began to make things happen.  Our lease on our town home wasn't up until February but literally 3 days after telling God I would go, an old family friend said he was interested in it.  They are now moving into our town home today allowing Brandon, Jude and me to move in with his family for a few months to save money and pay off some debt before we move.  Along with all the moving we have been doing over the past month, Brandon resigned from his position at the High School Youth Pastor at  The Rock.  He preached his last message on Wednesday and then next week will be our very last Wednesday.  It's hard to say goodbye to the students that we love so very much.  They mean so much to us.  We have been apart of this youth ministry since we were students ourselves.  It's a bittersweet feeling.  I am sad to go and leave everything behind but I am also very excited for all that God is going to do in our family and in the people of Mount Pleasant.  In Isaiah 43:18 & 19 it says, "But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going do.  For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."  I know that God is starting to do something amazing.  I have already seen God move in our lives in so many ways.  The hard part is learning to trust him when it starts to get hard.  To continue to pursue Him and His plan for us when all I can see is what we are leaving behind.  I know he has great plans for our family.  This transition has really challenged me to spend more time with God and to really seek His face.  I am so excited to see God move and to see his plan unfold as we take each step.

Our little guy is already 2 months old and is getting bigger everyday!  In the last month he has had a lot of first time adventures.  He went to Estes Park with us for youth camp, has been to the Melting Pot and has been to his first Rockies game with his friend Madison.  There have been some not so fun firsts too like getting pink eye for the first time.  He is starting to talk a lot more and for being a little guy he sure does have a lot to say.  He definitely keeps me busy throughout the day.  At his 2 month check-up he weighed 12 pounds and was 24 inches long.

As for me, I am enjoying my last week and a half before I go back to work.  It has been great having the whole summer off and I have enjoyed every minute I got to spend with Jude.  The good thing is that I am nannying for some really good friends of our and Jude gets to go with me so I won't have to leave him with anyone.  Looking back to where we were just a year ago I can't help but feel so blessed by everything that God has done for our family.  We have gone through tremendous change in a year.  Sometimes it was scary and sometime it was fun but God took care of us each step of the way.  It makes me so excited for all the changes that God will have for us in the future!

Life has been really good at the Yates household.  Our little guy is now 1 month old.  We are starting to get into a new "normal".  He has truly blessed our lives so much.  There are still times when I look at him and can't believe that he is really here.  He is getting bigger every day.  We took his 1 month picture on Friday and he was able to hold his head up on his own. He has even found a way to roll over on to his side.  It freaked me out the first time but now I am just impressed at how much he is learning and how strong he gets every single day.  Everytime I hold him it feels just like the first time.  This month we are also celebrating our 3 year wedding anniversary, Brandon's first Father's Day, my 25th birthday and Brandon's 27th birthday.  I still have a month and a half of maternity leave before I go back to work and I am enjoying every single day of it.  It amazes me that before Jude was here I couldn't imagine what our life would be like with him and now I couldn't picture our life any other way.  We are so in love with him.  

The New Adventures of Peanut Butter & Jelly

On Tuesday, May 8th at 2:08PM our lives were forever changed by the arrival of our beautiful son, Jude Michael Yates.  I never imagined that I could have so much love for anyone until the moment I met my son for the very first time.  He is so much more than I could ever have imagined and I am just overwhelmed with love for him.  Jude has only been here for 1 week and already I see him changing and growing.  I take in every little breath, every smile and every little whimper.  We have been so blessed by our little man look forward to every moment we get to spend with him.  We couldn't be happier!!!!!

To My Son

To My Precious Little One, 

As I patiently wait your grand arrival into our lives I can't help but to think over the past year and 9 months.  I am reminded of the countless prayers.  The conversations I would had with God asking him to give me a child.  The nights that I would cry thinking it would never happen and then a promise that I help on to for so long.  I remember the night I dreamt of you and knew that it was from the Lord.  That is was a promise to me that one day I would see your face and hold you in my arms.  I knew that one day I would be blessed with one of life's greatest gifts.  I remember praying over you even before you were conceived knowing that even then God had a great plan for your life.  And now, after months of preparation and lots of prayer, I sit, patiently awaiting your arrival.  Awaiting the moment when my life will forever be changed.  When I can hold you close and tell you how I have waited for you.  How I love you so much.  How you are an answer to my prayers.  My little Jude, I already love you more than words can express.  I am excited for the new adventure that you will bring to our lives.  Always remember that we love you so much but more importantly, that God loves you so much more than we ever could and he has set you apart for greater things.  You have been called and chosen for something great.  Never turn away from God and he will continue to make your path straight.  I love you and I can't wait to meet you.  

"I prayed for this child and the Lord granted me what I asked of Him" 1 Samuel 1:27