Decisions, Decisions

The reason I am posting this is I am assuming the ones that read this blog are mostly family with a few friends -actually I am not sure how many even look at the page BUT for the ones that do please pray for us!  We have a few decisions to make regarding our future careers and other important details that go along with that.....  We are putting it in God's hands and praying!!

God has really tested me lately with TRUSTING him- with my parents and husband in Honduras during a political unrest/ lockdown, and with my Great Aunt getting into a severe and horrific car accident- and now with some important decisions- I have really struggled with giving all of my stress and control to GOD.  He gets us to our breaking point for a reason- to stop- be still- and listen!!

Please pray with us that the Lord will go before us and clear the path- and we would remember that control is an illusion- God owns it.  I realized tonight as Ryan, Wils, and I were in the floor playing and Ry was making Wils laugh so hard that it doesn't matter where we live or what we do as long as we LIVE in those moments.  God is always faithful and that is enough- I pray the Lord will remind me of this in the morning when I try to take control again. hehe.  

Honduras Update:

Ryan called around 12:30 am and gave me an update. Everyone got their luggage, yay. Yesterday they went to Church with the Hope House Children and then went to lunch. They went back to the Hope House and washed the children's feet and gave each 3 new pairs of shoes. Ryan said it was such an amazing experience and the kids were so thrilled. There are 4 new children and one little girl around 1 has gotten really attached to Ryan - when he was leaving the other night she ran over to him and grabbed onto his leg and started crying. That melted his heart- he loves those kids so much. The team is also doing great- there are alot of new people that have never been so I know they are enjoying this great experience.

Please continue to pray- today they prepare and load 4 containers of food for the River People. They will work hard all day preparing and then wash the feet of the staff at the Hope House and give them new shoes this evening. Then tomorrow will be the big day where they will distribute the food for the River. Pray for Salvation and Safety. Also pray they walk in the Spirit and notice all of the small and big GOD moments that I know HE will provide.

P.S. Ryan saw the video of Wilson saying 'dada' and was so thrilled- he wanted to come home and kiss all over him. I told him not to worry- That has all Wilson has said- that was the first thing that came out of his mouth this morning at 6:30am! Kind of makes me sad bc it makes me miss him even more. But it's sweet to hear his little voice say it.

Love you guys!

Wilson's First Words!!!!

CAN YOU GUESS?!? Of course it was "DADA" and of course it was after Ryan was out of the country!! If you want to see how precious it's go to my facebook.  I am not sure how to put videos on here.  It was so sweet though- I thought at first it was just a one time thing until he repeated it ALL DAY.  He loves and misses Ryan already you can tell when he smiles so big and says 'DADADADA!' I LOVE MY FAMILY.  We miss you dada.

Honduras update- MISSED FLIGHT?!?!?!

Ok First let me tell you that the flights that go into Honduras are only once a day!!

Well the Knoxville crew got on the plane around 7:30 am to head over to ATL and then destination Honduras. As soon as they boarded the pilot said they could not proceed due to FOG in ATL. Ryan called around 8:15 am and had me to check online well the status online said "ON TIME"- they take forever to update stuff like this. So he said to keep checking and he would call me- they had to be in ATL before 10 ish to not miss the ATL flight to Honduras. 

In the meantime Wilson got really fussy so I put him in the bed with me so he could sleep - WE BOTH FELL ASLEEP. We woke up around 10-
I woke up and called dad!! I was so anxious to hear what happened.

I was hoping he wouldn't answer meaning (they were on their way to Honduras)- HE ANSWERED- He told me something CRAZY- He only had a minute and this is what he said:

"WELL WE GOT HERE AND WENT OVER TO THE GATE AND SAW THE PLANE TAXING OUT- THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED COMING BACK- THEY HAD "ACCIDENTALLY" LEFT SOME LUGGAGE WHICH GAVE US TIME TO GET ON THE PLANE!!! And I said "WOW GOD IS ALREADY SHOWING UP AND PROVING HIMSELF TO ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL! 

It's awesome when GOD shows up and proves himself in the last seconds- He wants to remind us that HE IS IN CONTROL and to always have Faith!

Just an update: This should be an amazing trip if this is how it starts before they get there!

KEEP PRAYING GUYS!

Pray for Honduras

The team leaves Saturday morning to Honduras so please keep them in your prayers.  They will be passing out medicine, handing out food to river people, going to the dump, feeding/ministering to Police Station, Projects around Hope House, Washing and Giving out shoes to the kids, and of courses loving and being with the Hope House kids.  Thank you guys for always supporting us prayerfully and some financially when we go on these trips.  God just continues to expand our territory and blesses each trip!  

Also Pray for Wilson and I- I will be working at the campground and taking care of him all week- Pray I wont get too lonely. haha.

Love you guys so much!! Check out www.riverside2honduras.com for photos and videos!  And please click on the photos of the Hope House Children and pray over each one (there are four new ones! yay  and we will get pics of them on there when they get back.)

HAPPY 7 MONTHS TO LITTLE BLUE EYES!

WOW! Does time go by fast or what??  Little Wils is already 7 months and growing so fast.  Ry and I are so blessed to have such a wonderful and HEALTHY son.  He is the happiest and loviest kid in the world!!  Here are some new things and old things he is doing:

He can sit up by himself- he loves doing this I think he feels independent.

He can ALMOST crawl- today he was moving his arms and waist like crazy ROCKING- once he figures out his legs -IT IS ON!

When I play fetch with Lille he laughs hysterically.

He still prefers his two Grammy's!!  It's funny he just laughs and loves on them both!

His favorite toy right now is his drums- today he was hitting them so hard- it was cute.

He has LOVED everything I have given him food wise- he is not picky!

He still is the most content baby- we went to the fair for about four hours- he just looked around and even napped in his stroller.  He loved the little circus we went to.

But my ultimate favorite thing still is when he sees his daddy when he gets home from work.  I love how they both LIGHT up.  

I love my family!

His legs are tan from the fair (he has got my skin)!
Mommy and Daddy (Ry looks so hot here)
Mommy and Wils!!

Wilson's 6 months Pictures!

A friend of the family did Wilson's 6 month pictures and they all are AMAZING!!  Check them out- she is going to give me a CD so I can pick which ones and order from Walgreens- let me know which ones are your favorite- they are numbered.  This just shows again how BLESSED Ryan and I are with such a beautiful son inside and out!  He is such a JOY to raise and I thank GOD he is healthy- please pray for continued health for him, my niece Olivia, and my two nephews Carter and Mason.  This flu stuff is scary for babies!  Love you all- ENJOY-  If you want any family pictures or baby pictures done go to www.triciamaggardphotography.com

Here is the link for Wils' pics. (copy and paste)

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=5239258

CRAZYLOVE!

I am not sure how many people have read this book but I recommend it to EVERYONE! "CrazyLove" By Francis Chan! He goes deep into God's Love on so many levels. I have been taught about HIS love my whole life and I am only on chapter four and already amazed of the new perspective I have on the most selfless love given. He puts it in a fresh new light- there is also many scriptures to read which I love! This is what I learned tonight!! I had to share: "The irony of God's love is that while God doesn't need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don't really want HIM most of the time. He treasures us and anticipates our departure from this earth to be with HIM and we wonder indifferently how much we have to do for HIM to get by." WOW talk about perspective. This book is showing me how really SMALL I am! We wake up every morning thinking it's going to be an average day- checking off our to do lists and 'living life' but remember LIFE IS A VAPOR and we are not promised the very next breath. Death should change the way we live! Love you guys, (BUY THE BOOK- but remember to read and put the Bible first) Ashley

Tennessee Valley Fair

Ryan, Wilson, and I went to the TN Valley Fair in Knoxville and had the BEST time.  We saw all of the AG exhibits, old antique tractors and steam engines, huge pregnant cows, some had just given birth hours earlier, we saw a wonderful circus, the mayor of Knoxville in the dunking booth, and a few mullets and women wearing no shoes.  But hey, it's not a fair unless you see that!  Wilson was such a wonderful baby- he took it all in with a smile- as usual.  Here are some great pics!

Pray

Please continue to pray for the Shepherd family.  Aunt Cindy was such an amazing woman!  One memory I have of her was right after Ryan and I got married she walked up to us and gave me the biggest hug and kiss.  She was always so sweet and knew how to make everyone feel so special.  I watched our wedding dvd recently and I saw where Aunt Cindy walked up and gave me her love. Please continue to pray for Brendan and the family. God is always faithful even in the tragedies of life.  

CONTROL

Control is an illusion; God owns it.

"WHATTA MESS"

Keeli, my cousin Amberlee, and I have started a devotional together and it's so great! I wanted to share with you what GOD taught me today.

The last few months I have felt a strong feeling of "NOT HAVING IT TOGETHER."  Come on you know the feeling- I am sure most new moms feel this way at some point but I didn't think it would last as long as it has.  Even when I journal, do Bible Studies, pray, and go to church that sense of "I AM A MESS" still carries on in my head!  But today GOD is changing that.  The devotion reminded me that the enemy was stealing my joy and confidence I have in the Lord and myself. The devotion spoke on Mark 14:6-9 of the woman who poured her perfume on Jesus' feet.  Everyone scorned her and said she could use that to sale and give to the needy - But Jesus said, "Let her alone.  Why are you giving her a hard time?  She has just done something wonderfully significant for me.  You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives.  Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them.  Not so with me.  She did what she could- she pre-anointed my body for burial and you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly."  

WOW-It was amazing to be reminded that God has my back even when I am fighting a battle against my own mind and heart.  He clearly said the same thing to me today "She did what she could."  I want to strive to do everything for His Glory and do all that I can- I thank God for reminding me that no matter what he whispers "LET HER ALONE- SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD."

"By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us.  God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything." 1 John 3:19-20