Hall Family Update

We've been in Texarkana for a little over two weeks now. Derek has been substitute teaching some and starts a job with Lifeway in December. He is staying busy running errands... getting the car inspected, rotating tires, doing paperwork for seminary, and getting things out of storage that we realize we need. The last trip he took, he found bleach had spilled over our end table. He ruined a sweatshirt wiping it up. I cried when he told me because I started to worry that all of our things would be broken or stained by the time they're finally moved out of storage and onto Louisville. Derek assures me they won't be, and anyway it's all just stuff. It's not eternal.

I've stayed busy taking care of Benjamin. When he naps, I usually read or blog or clean or attempt to keep up with friends or workout (7# to go to get back to my pre-pregnant weight). Benjamin is almost three months old now! He is a really sweet baby, especially now that his reflux is under control. Prilosec is doing the trick (thank you, Lord!). He is starting to love to play. His new favorite thing is 'air-plane'. That never fails to bring out the smiles. He loves to be held and talked to. He sucks on his fist like it's candy. He loves to have his hair dried after bath time. He hates being dressed as a pea pod. (I'm still going to post pictures, though.)

Benjamin loves his Gramma and Granddad, and they love that he is living with them right now. My mom has started getting ready for bed early so she can spend the rest of the night holding him! He sleeps great at night, but that's because he sleeps right next to me. He'll fall asleep nursing, wake up for a diaper change, then fall back asleep nursing on the other side. That's our routine. I'm fine with it for now, because that way I get some good sleep, too!

I'm feeling very blessed these days. My parents have welcomed us with open arms. I have a husband who loves me well and seeks to love me even better. We have a beautiful son who is totally a gift from God. We are looking forward to this adventure in Louisville. The Lord has provided for us in many ways through some very generous friends back in Austin. We even made $700 at a garage sale the weekend after moving! I've never heard of anyone making that much at a garage sale!

It is sort of a scary time for us, too. Our house in Austin has not rented yet. Derek doesn't have a job in Louisville yet. We aren't sure where we'll be living once in Louisville yet. Yet! Somehow those things are not freaking me out. God has shown us that this is His plan and not ours. We are walking in obedience, and I have faith that God will provide all we need.

The Joy of Homemaking

I love being a stay at home mom. I see it as a high calling and a blessing to be able to stay home. I'm excited about my marriage and the chance to welcome Derek home everyday. I'm excited about the days and years ahead raising Benjamin and any other children God chooses to bless us with. I'm excited about the freedom it brings to cultivate our home to be a place that people are welcomed, loved, and pointed to Christ. I think this is the best job I've ever had, and I want to do it well.

I've been challenged and inspired by several people in this new adventure called homemaking. I want to share some of that here. This is a quote from one of my favorite pastors. He has helped me to see just how much value there is in this new job of mine.

A challenge from John Piper:

"That you not assume that secular employment is a greater challenge or a better use of your life than the countless opportunities of service and witness in the home, the neighborhood, the community, the church, and the world; that you not only pose the question: career or full-time homemaker?, but that you ask just as seriously: full-time career or freedom for ministry? That you ask: Which would be greater for the Kingdom - to work for someone who tells you what to do to make his or her business prosper, or to be God's free agent dreaming your own dream about how your time and your home and your creativity could make God's business prosper? And that in all this you make your choices not on the basis of secular trends or upward lifestyle expectations, but on the basis of what will strengthen the faith of the family and advance the cause of Christ."

I think that's enough food for thought for one day.

More pictures...

We will be without internet for a little while, so posting will be sporadic. I just wanted to post a few more pictures before taking a break for the move and all.



My brother took this picture our first day at home. I just think it's really sweet.



Sweet baby!



We met our friends, Will and Kaely, in Fredericksburg this weekend...



... and ate chocolate buttercream cake at the Rather Sweet Bakery. YUM!



getting a lift from dad



We figured out he doesn't like having his hair washed. Baths go great until his head gets wet! With all that hair, I think it must make him really cold. Last night, we blow dried his hair for him. That he liked!

Changes and a Big Weekend

I don't have much to say today but did want to post some new pictures. Somehow my week feels more complete if I've updated this blog at least once! We've started spreading the word that we're moving to Louisville, KY. Derek is going back to school! He'll be getting his Masters of Divinity degree from Southern Seminary. We're really sad to be leaving such great friends in Austin, but we're also very excited to see how God provides for us and changes us through this. I'll have more to say on that later. For now, here's some fun pics...



Me, Ben and Charlie... doing what we all do best.



Derek and Benjamin... the two most handsome men. Man, I love that kids hair!!



Our first Sunday at church! It only took me like three hours to get us ready, but we made it!!



Yea for weather that's almost cold enough for footy pajamas!



Benjamin's first party!! We spent Saturday watching football at Jim and Natalie's place. Here's Matt, Natalie, Benjamin and June. Benjamin spent most of the afternoon asleep in Nat's arms. So sweet!



Benjamin made his first little friend! Judah Pulley is exactly one month older. Aren't they adorable!!



Our little family

Not in vain...

I keep telling people that nothing would have prepared me for how much I love our little Benjamin or for how very hard this would all be. Derek and I have been really excited the past couple of days to get almost four straight hours of sleep! The lack of sleep is tough! It has brought out the best and the worst in both of us! We are loving being parents, though. We are so grateful God has chosen us to be Benjamin's mom and dad.

I've been working on a Bible study during some of Benjamin's naps. It is about being a mom, and there are some great scripture verses I've been learning about. One is Genesis 1:28... God commands us to be fruitful and multiply. A great reminder that what I'm doing is by God's design and even a command. Nice to remember there's more to this than just feeding a baby and feeling sleepy all the time!

Another verse I've read is 1 Corinthians 15:58. "In the Lord, our labor is not in vain." So, being a mom is a job God has called me to, and in the Lord this work will not be in vain! What other job has such lasting results... for good or for bad! We're praying that raising our children will be for good and believing it will be.

Here are a few new pictures from the past couple of weeks...



My parents were here this past weekend. We spent Saturday watching college football. Benjamin even dressed for the occasion. Derek is convinced that Ben will be a Tennessee fan... I'm still betting on A&M.



We're getting better at the bath thing. His first few did not go well! We were trying to do this in the tub, and I think he was just getting too cold. The kitchen sink works much better, but it does take two sets of hands! He's actually starting to like bath time!



I swear we weren't pinching him. Sometimes he just likes to fuss! Pass him to mom, though, and all is well... as long as I'm nursing him. That is his absolute favorite thing to do!!



I love this picture!! Sleeping soundly on dad's chest... another favorite of Ben's.



me and ben