Randomness

I haven't had much time to think about deep things this past week. So here are a few random things I thought I'd share.

How Jesse got his name -
Jeremy wanted Jesse James. (After the outlaw, not the West Coast Chopper guy) Well that was never going to happen. But I did like Jesse and he was a man in the Bible. In fact he was David's father. Something I find sort of ironic is Jesse was from the City of David or Bethlehem and we live in Bethlehem (GA). Jesse means God Exists. The suggested Bible verse is Psalms 31:21 - "Blessed be the Lord, for He has shown His loving kindness as in an entrenched city." As for his middle name, I have always like Ryan and they went well together. So Jesse Ryan it was. Ryan means Little King and it's Bible verse is Psalms 112:5 - "It is well with him who is generous and ready to lend, the man who conducts his business with fairness."

God cares about what?!?!?
I was reading to Jesse tonight and we're in Job 39. God is speaking to Job here and He asks Job if he sees when the mountain goat gives birth. What a wonderful God we have. He knows when the animals give birth! - Why do we question His love or care for us??? When you consider the extreme vastness of just our planet, it amazes me how great and wonderful God is. He cares for everyone and everything on Earth. WOW!!!! I can not ever begin to comprehend everything that God knows. He knows everything about every person and animal and plant. It truly is amazing!!!

Babies grow up too fast!!!
I sit and look at Jesse and I think, "Am I going to remember all these precious moments when he's grown?" Honestly, it's hard for me to remember the first few days of his life. He had to have is billirubin levels checked each day for the first 4 days of his life so it was pretty hectic. And then there was the obvious lack of sleep. I look back at his pictures and I miss him being so little but then I look at him now and I amazed at his growth. I am excited about the future and all the fun things we'll do together but I know I will long for these moments. I love our bedtime stories from the Bible and our prayers each night. I just stare at him, taking in every feature. I know he can't stay little forever but if it could last just a little longer.....


Well that's about all I have for now. I'm getting tired and it's getting late so I'll say farewell for now.

Grace

More on Parenting

I have been thinking a lot lately about this subject and I feel compelled to share my thoughts.

Being a parent is not just about being the boss. One thing God has been showing me lately is how to be attentive to Jesse's needs. It's so easy for me to get wrapped up in "me" land. Whether it's housework or just goofing off on the computer, there are times when I find myself getting frustrated with him for "interrupting" whatever I happen to be doing. But then I have to stop and remember that he can't do anything for himself and unfortunately there will come a day when he doesn't rely on me. It's hard to put aside your "stuff" to help someone else. It takes a lot to put someone else's needs above yours.

As I am writing this it occurs to me how much this little guy is teaching me about the love of Christ. He put all of heaven aside to come to earth and die on the cross for me. WOW!!! It's amazing how that puts everything into perspective!!!

Jesse relies on me 100% of the time and here's another little lesson -- he relies on me FULLY. He trusts that when he cries I will go to him and find out what is wrong. I will love and comfort him. Isn't that the way Christ is with us?? We can sure learn a lot from babies.

Being attentive to your child's needs is not rocket science, but it does take time. I have to spend time with Jesse in order to find out what makes him tick. He's 11 weeks old and I can tell you when he is hungry, tired, or sick. I know how he wants to be held and when he just needs to be cuddled. These are things I learned by being with him 24/7. I know that a crying baby can be annoying but that's the only way he communicates. And if we're in a store or restaurant, rather than getting upset, I put aside whatever I'm doing to find out what's wrong and to comfort him.

Putting aside my "wants" means that Jesse comes first. That means saying no to things because it will interfere with his schedule. It means being aware of his needs and knowing my limits. When I'm tired and it's easier for me to get frustrated, it's best to just stay at home where everyone is much more comfortable. It's not easy to put your wants aside but one thing I've learned is that I am much happier and he is much happier when I put him first. It may mean excusing myself at a gathering to tend to him but it is worth it. I want Jesse growing up in a home where he feels loved and secure.

Jeremy mentioned the other day that he didn't think it was good that I was the only one who was able to calm Jesse. But I think it shows just how involved I am with Jesse. When he's on the floor I am there with him playing and talking to him. At bedtime I feed him and then I read and sing to him, every night. Why? Because it's important to me that I spend that quality time with him. It's important that I build a strong relationship with him now. I see what a good relationship my mom has with my brothers. They tell her they love her and they hug her and kiss her on the cheek, because she took the time when they were younger to build a strong relationship with them.

Being a parent is about self-sacrifice. In today's society everyone is looking out for #1. We live in a very self-centered - me,me,me - my, my, my - world. When you have a child you have to become self-less. Jesse is going to pick up on our character traits as he grows. I don't want him learning how to be selfish or self-centered from me or Jeremy. If I practice selfishness or I put my self above all others then he will do the same. As a parent, I have to set the example if I want him to follow it. I also have to be consistent with my example. I can not say one thing and do the exact opposite. The way I see it, Jesse is already learning things from me and Jeremy. We need to set an example now if we want him to follow it later.

As parents we have incredible task ahead of us. Unfortunately, I don't think many parents understand the vastness of this responsibility. As Christian parents the task is even greater because we are raising children that will either be strong Christian leaders or they'll be lazy, unconcerned (fire insurance) Christians. My prayer is that God will use Jesse in a mighty way and that we will raise him in such a way that it will bring honor and glory to God.

Parenting

So I've been thinking lately about being a parent. There is so much information out there and everyone has their opinions about parenting. But I find that, as with all other aspects of life, the answers to my questions can be answered by one person -- God. I don't take the job of parenting lightly. God has entrusted this wonderful child to our care here on earth and it is our job to raise him according to God's plan.

The decisions that Jesse makes as he grows are directly related to the way in which we raise him. It is so important that he sees Christ reflected in our lives on a daily basis. It's not enough that we take him to church every Sunday, he has to see the consistency in our lives. He has to see that Christ is real to us. The greatest responsibility that we have is to teach our son about God's love and what he did for us on Calvary. The greatest reward we could ever receive on earth is knowing that we lived our lives in such a way that brought honor and glory to God, that through our examples Jesse comes to know Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and lives a life that is pleasing to God.

I have started reading the Bible to Jesse. I know he doesn't understand what I am reading but the fact is that I am reading to him and he hears my voice. It's our special mommy/baby time each night. By the time he is a year old we will have read the entire Bible.

I pray over him each and every night because I fully believe that Satan will try anything to keep Jesse from coming to Christ and in today's society he doesn't have to try hard. There are so many things that keep us from spending time with God. I think that we've bought into this idea that God will understand why we do the things we do and we justify things that are not pleasing to Him.

Genesis 9:5 says that God will demand an accounting of each person. My parents used to tell me this all the time but it never really made any sense to me until Jesse was born. Now we are responsible to God for this life that He has entrusted to us. One day we will stand before God in heaven and have to answer to Him for everything we allowed in our lives and in Jesse's life. That puts a huge responsibility on us as parents. When I look at it that way, it puts everything into perspective.

I am so grateful for the chance to raise Jesse and teach him about God. I know it won't be easy but I know that God has a plan and with Him by our side we can do anything!!!

The most beautiful baby boy!!

Jesse is now 11 weeks old. He is growing like a weed. He is sleeping through the night -- mostly. He goes to bed around 8:30 and usually sleeps til 5. Unfortunately, 5am is still night time to me.

We celebrated his First Thanksgiving yesterday. He did so well - being passed back and forth to everyone.

He is holding his head up very well and he "scoots" - it's more like he wiggles until he's done a 180 in his crib. Lately he's "scooted" himself into the corner of his crib and we have to move him back to the center. It won't be long until he rolls over. I think it's a matter of getting the rhythm down to roll himself. He gets his head and his legs up and his hips wiggle from side to side.

I am amazed at how fast he is growing and at all the new things he learns everyday. It truly is amazing. There are times when I get sad because it's going by so fast. Last night I was rocking him to sleep and I prayed that God would help me never forget the precious look on his face as he fell asleep. I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home and to be able to witness the incredible changes each and everyday.

Children are truly a miracle from God!!!

Hello!

I guess I'll start from the beginning for those of you who aren't totally familiar with our family. I met the love of my life in 1998 on a youth retreat. However, I didn't know that he was the love of my life beacuse I was seeing someone else at the time. In November of 1999, Jeremy and I beagn talking to each other and he began calling me. By the middle of December, we were sort of an item. We had become such good friends over the previous weeks. We loved each others company and just being together. We went on the youth group ski retreat together that December. We decided to see each other exculsively on January 1, 2000 and the rest is history.

He proposed on July 5, 2001 and we were married June 15, 2002. It's hard to believe that it's been five years -- some days it feels like we've been together forever. We have our differences but we always work them out.

We have a beautiful baby boy. Jesse Ryan was born on September 7, 2007 and 1:12pm, weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces. He is the light of our lives. He amazes me everyday!!

For us, 2007 has been a year of trials. We have grown so much over the past year -- more than I think we've had to our entire marriage. We've grown closer to God and to each other. Trials are not easy when you're in the middle of them but when you come out the other side stronger and closer than ever before -- that is the greatest feeling in the world. God has never ceased to provide for our every need. I heard someone say that God provides for our needs not our wants. When it comes right down to it, you learn very quickly the difference between a need and a want. God has always been faithful to us and we wouldn't trade the lessons we've learned this year for anything in the world.

Jeremy has been a firefighter for Gwinnett County for 5 years now and is in the process of getting his Paramedic license. I have been working for Faith Academy for 4 years. We both began praying that God would provide a way for me to be able to stay at home with Jesse. He began opening the doors in May and I am now working full time from home for one of my mom's friends. I am loving every minute of it. There is no greater joy than to be able to raise the children God has given us.

Well, that's us in a nutshell. Keep checking back to see what's going on in the always crazy life of the fireman's family.

Love to all

Jeremy, Grace & Jesse