Big Changes

Well it's been entirely too long since I've written anything, especially since so much has happened since January!
Our house FINALLY sold, thank GOD!!!! Nathan and I decided we are ready to settle down here in New Orleans, so we started looking for homes in the Uptown area. As we were looking, I would watch a lot of episodes of House Hunters on HGTV. One day I decided why not fill out the form to be on the show?! I never really thought we would be chosen...but about a month later I got an email from them asking us a bunch of questions about our home search. About a week after emailing back and forth, plus us sending in a casting video, we got the news that we were officially chosen!!! HGTV decided they wanted our episode to be their special "Mardi Gras" episode, which meant they needed to get to New Orleans within the next 2 weeks! By this time we already had a house picked out and we closed on it a few days before House Hunters got here to film. That's one of the secrets of the show that the couple already has their home chosen before they film...shhhh! :) So we were filming the entire weekend before Mardi Gras day. One of the days of filming, I decided to take a pregnancy test during one of our breaks...it turned out positive!!! So I immediately told Nathan and we couldn't hold it in from the HGTV crew because it was such big news!!! Nathan's mom was flying in the next day, so we asked if they could record us telling her the big news. They thought it was a great idea - so hopefully everyone will get to see us telling her on the show!
House Hunters is coming back to shoot again in May for our 3 month follow-up.
Around the same time we were filming, I also got a call from Touro hospital letting me know I was accepted for a position as a part-time Lactation Consultant.

I can honestly say that God's test of patience on us has come full circle. I always knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel but I never could have imagined that He would have so many blessings to shower us with all at once. We never in a million years would feel like we did enough to deserve any of this and it still blows our mind at how everything turned out so well.

To top things off, Nathan's brother and his wife just had a beautiful baby boy who we are proud to call our first nephew. I can't wait until our little one is here and they can grow up together. I am due November 13th as of right now and we couldn't be more excited. So far I've been very blessed to not have had any bad morning sickness, which is great considering life has been extremely busy lately. We are currently in the process of moving into our new place and trying to fix a few things up. I'm working a few days a week and Nathan is busy working on commissioned artwork. Nathan was also asked to be the Visual Arts Team Leader for our church, Vintage NOLA. They are beginning a big project this week, so we're beyond busy! haha

Hopefully staying busy will make the next 7 months fly by and November will be here before we know it!

We can't praise God enough for everything He has allowed to happen in our lives. I pray we can do our best to give back to Him and His people throughout the world.

I just got home from experiencing a moment from God and I had to sit down to write about it before the feeling wore off.
I was walking to the grocery store when I came upon a couple on the sidewalk and they were singing a gospel song. Their daughter was sitting in a stroller in between them and there was a crate for tips sitting out in front. They looked like they had fallen upon rough times and I felt a huge urge to give them some money. I held my money out to the man and realized he couldn't really see me. His wife told him I was trying to give him money, so he reached out his hand for me. He began thanking me over and over, then told me he was going to sing a special song for me. He asked what type of music I liked and I responded, "Gospel". He said, "Well this song is called Tomorrow by Bebe and Cici Winans. It might make you cry." He put his arm around me, I put my arm around him, and he got real close so he could see my face. He and his wife began to sing, very well I might add. Although I had heard the song before, it was much different this time...and as I was looking at the little girl a rush of emotion came over me and I actually cried. There was so much heart coming through their voices. The little girl gave me a HUGE smile, which made me cry more out of pure empathy for this family. After the song he proceeded to tell me everything that has been going on in their lives recently. We chatted back and forth and we ended up holding hands in a circle as I prayed for them and they prayed for me. He asked me to pray for them daily, of course I said I would. Then he asked me if I would call them. I felt a little taken aback, but of course I said yes. We exchanged phone numbers and I also told them they could call me whenever they needed to talk. I gave them what money I had left in my pocket, which they were very hesitant to take - but I assured them I was more than blessed and I knew they needed it more than I did. Before I walked away, we all hugged and the little girl gave me a kiss. I felt an instant love for these people that I know could only have come from God. Sure we may have been from different backgrounds and of a different race...but none of that mattered because they needed help and I know God put me there to help and love them.

"Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." Proverbs 16:19

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35