Go Canucks Go:)

Ok, so this ended up a little blurry, I will have to take a better one:) but I am so excited this hat fits! This was the first thing that we bought for our missy way back last christmas! So its so amazing to think that she can wear it now!! She's already for this season!!

our litttle Jumping machine:)!

So I got addy a jolly jumper yesterday as she is getting bored with laying down and sitting all the time...this girl wants to move! The verdict on the jolly jumper....she loved it!!! She was so cute in it..swaying back and forth, doing a little move that looked almost like she was tap dancing! She was in there for over a half an hour before we had to pry her out for bathtime! Probably the best $40 we spent so far! Thanks Jolly:) Oh and as you can see she initiated it with her spit up as well, just so everyone would know its hers:)!

Thursday lunch time prayer!

Hey girls, just a reminder that we are continueing on with our thursday lunch time prayer..so wherever you are tomorrow at 12:30pm whether you have 5 min or a half an hour..please pray with us! Pray for eachother, for our families, our marriages, our children..lets pray a covering all over this in this time of trial that so many of seem to be facing! Thanks for joining in. And please keep posting on what God is doing in each of eachothers life..its so amazing to hear and i know an encouragement for all!

Addy's Shower

This saturday, my sister in law hosted a wonderful shower for Addy with my girlfriends, and many of addy's little friends! We managed to get on pic of the five wee one's hanging out on the couch together..they were so cute! addy looks a little stressed out as this teething thing isn't going so well, and she had a few meltdowns that day...but hey, its her party and she will cry if she wants too:) overall it was a wonderful day with friends and family..it was a little bit of a whirlwind for me, and to be honest I don't remember half of it..but it looks like everyone was having a good time:)! I guess its true, time flies when you are having fun!!! Thanks everyone for coming and celebrating with us....we love you!!

Addyson's Dedication

This Sunday, September 13th we dedicated our little princess to God:)I always new that this was a very important event in our childs life, but until that day it didn't really hit me..not going to lie friends, I felt Like it was my wedding day all over again:) We wanted the day to be perfect and for everything to run smooth..and it did;) we were so blessed to have so many friends and family to be there on this special occasion. Miss Addy even had the pleasure of being dedicated i nthe same gown my dad wore and I wore on our dedications. My dad, holding the mike in the bottom picture here, and my father in law on the far left had the priveldge of dedicating their girl back to God. It has really started to hit me how this child is not mine..she is God's, and he has chosen to give her to Dave and I do take care of and raise to follow him...what an amazing pleasure and burden all at the same time..something we don't take lightly at all:)! We are so thankful to God for her and choosing us to raise this precious girl..who we all adore:)! Another milestone hit!

Three months!!

Look who is three months! I can't believe it, time is flying;)!

So where are we at:

Well, she chit chats away! And is giggling lots now too, its so precious:) She is trying hard to roll over but not quite there yet! She is now grabbing her toys on her exercise mat instead of just batting them:) She stares very intently when you talk to her, I know she is trying so hard to figure out what the heck we are saying! She is sleeping through the night off and on:)! But we are in the right direction! she is getting bigger and LONGER all the time! We love her to peices and I absolutely feel so priveldged to be her mommy;)!

Oh, and the latest..we think she is teething!!!ah!! She has been chewing on everything! Pulling at her ear, her gums are swollen, and the latest was yesterday she had a breakdown for a good hour and a half which she never does. Tears and all. I looked at her bottom gums and there are two white bumps..we got oral gel and gave it to her and five minutes later the tears stopped:)
But here's my thing, the two bumps are not right in front, but on the sides..so mama's out there, help me out, is it possible she is getting her incisors first?????

Its working!

This weekend we had Addy's dedication, which I will talk more on in a later post this week:) need to get the pics first!
We had lots of activity getting ready for the big day on sat..lets just say I don't want to look at another meatball for a LONG time:)*grin*
Sat night we ended up having a prayer time with my in law side of the family. We have some very deep and big needs right now in our family..and let me tell you, our prayer time was amazing..great things are begining! It was such an extension of the prayer on thursday afternoon..and something that is so big on my heart right now! And let me tell ya, this prayer is working because we are seeing a lot of good, so much peace this weekend, but also some attacks..the devil is not happy!! So that is good because it means we are doing someting!! and its going to continue...so again, I want to continue our sister blog prayer this thursday at lunch time..wherever you are, join in and pray because I know the gates of heaven are opening and our prayers are getting through..and know that i am praying for you.. yes you! God brought me to a place of intercesion and listening to his voice again in a strong way..so I am hear to obey, to listen, to pray and be there in whatever way I can! Some days I feel so defeated and tired..and the world feels like it is sitting on my shoulders..but i need to press through and this is how, beacuse this gives me joy this gives me strength and i won't stop until I see my sisters rising up again, and speaking of the amazing abudance of Gods love that is pouring in and out of their families and those around!

Thank you!!!

I don't know about you girls, but I so felt such an amazing peace at 12:30pm today knowing that as I seeked God, that my sisters were doing the same!! Thank you for praying with me, I know God heard our cry and amazing things are going to happen!!

So I am asking this...lets make this a date! I think this is just a start!!! So I am asking the same time next week, lets do this again, and again, until we see this bondage broken and are sisters begining to be set free!!

So if anyone has any request I want to open that out as well..specific or unspoken...if there is anything we can pray specifically for send it my way and I will add it on to the post! my email is crystalbitterman@hotmail.com

lots of love to you all today!!

I think its time to pray!

So I am noticing a trend lately, in my life and around me..people need prayer. It feels like there are so many heavy burdens being carried right now..and its enough. its time for them to be lifted, and a newness to come, a renewing of the spirit. I think many times I see woman feeling guilty about being on blog, facebook, the internet..and yes, I do feel sometimes, there is too much time spent..but why?? There is a reason. I think somedays in our jobs whether its at home or outside of the home, we feel lonely and isolated we are craving a connection, someone to talk to, someone to share, to relate to..lets face it us woman need to talk, and there aint nothing wrong with that, that's how God designed us! I have loved having a blog and reading others, relating, feeling encouraged and hoping I can do the same to someone else..so I say its time to take it a step further, because right now the devil is on the prowl and we need to shut him down. Its time to take a stand for our families, our homes, our community. I have been realizing more and more as I search for my purpose in this world that before I can do anything else in the world I need to start with my own home. God has given me an amazing husband and daughter and they are where my ministry needs to begin, and what an amazing purpose in that God has given me.

So here is what I am proposing! This Thursday...at 12:30pm...I think some babies take nap times around than, if not, put the praise baby on..and lets pray!!! Together, across this province, lets unite together and start praying for eachother..for a breakthrough, for freedom, Joy, peace, purpose..whatever God puts on your heart...join in..it doesn't have to be long..even if you give it two minutes.."where two or more or gathered" and even if its not in the same room, I know God is listening! So, are you in??? if so, post a note on your blog, to get your blogger friends to join in and so on!! Let start praying!!!

Faith Like Potatoes

Last night Dave and I watched the movie Faith Like Potatoes. For those of you who have seen Fireproof its by the same production company i believe;) Anyways, just after my blog here about Debt I figure this post was very fitting and this movie was very fitting. Its this amazing story about a farmer in south Africa who Finds Jesus and through it develops a faith so strong that unheard of things begin to happen in his life and to those around him. It reminded me about the post I wrote a few weeks ago about the story of the two monks, and how we can ask God for specifics and he will provide and its amazing, but when we ask God for his plan his provision its even more amazing!! I highly recommend this movie to all! If you watch it, please post and let me know what God taught you about it. Again for me, its being encouraged to ask God for his plan for our life, not my own..his is much better;)!

The Ugly Truth about Debt

Since moving onto the baby budget, Daddy D and I have been analyzing and looking over the financial sitaution, where it is and where it is going. its not pretty let me tell ya! I know there are many of you out there who can relate to this situation, and can feel the pain of pinching those pennies:) I felt very overwhelmed this July when the reality of where we were at hit me....there were many times a broke down and all I could say to myself is God what have we gotten ourselves into! Knowing that even in a year when I would have to go back to work, unless I was making some big bucks, things would be different. The reality is that part time would be ideal, to help pay the bills, avoid daycare, and have some time with my baby. Full time would be more financially appealing in some ways but would mean the extra cost of daycare, which would might cancel out the benefits. So where does in the next couple of years of life does paying down debt or moving up into a bigger place come into play? Currently we are living in a two bedroom apartment which is functional but not ideal when baby number 2 comes along(not anytime soon!!!*grin*). So Lord what do we do. There have been days where our future seemed so dark and drab, will we ever get out of debt?? Will we be living in the constant reminder of student loans, wedding bills, car payments, and apartment buying expenses for the rest of our lives! Meanwhile, can we have a life too?? So many things to consider! With my mind overwhelmed, and my heart at home with my princess, I decided it was time to get a grip on reality!
I found this amazing book that has helped my heart and mind so much, it is called calm my anxious heart...and that is exactly what it has done. It really is about a womans guide to contentment. This book has challenged my heart so much to what God has called for my family..contentness. So where am I at today. Today I am learning to live off of the new budget, and realizing how happy I can be on not a lot. I am learning that Debt is not what God has for our lives, therefore, paying it down is our number one priority. Proverbs 22:7 “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” I have felt imprisoned by our debt and I don't want to live that way. I would rather be debt free, and happy, than have tons of worldy posessions! I have realized there are a lot of things that I don't "need" that I use to think I did. Even with the housing situation I have come to realize that we can be quite content in this place for another couple of years, we can easily make it work..is it ideal, no, but livealble, absolutly!! And who knows what God will open up for us! But again, having a baby has put so much into perspective for what we want our lives to look like and what is important to us! living life with my family, that's on the top of the list!!