Steve and Jenny Valentine

When Steve and I got married and our first anniversary was approaching, we decided to buy gifts for each other based on the "traditional anniversary gift list" (google it if you are not familiar). This took off any pressure to have the perfect gift for the other and also gave us practical ideas that brought about some creative gifts. It's always been a fun thing we have done and this year is no different. This year happens to be pottery. It's a good thing we moved to Poland this year, where they have some beautiful pieces of pottery (again google it if you are not familiar with Polish pottery). But we will not be exchanging our gifts with one another today, so I thought I would write. And as I sit here with a feverish baby at my side and my middle child away from me (with daddy) at the hospital, I can be discouraged, and wish we weren't in a place where we can't understand doctors and such. But I'm not...2 Corinthians 4 tells us this: 1 Therefore, sinc...

Today we celebrated five years of marriage. We are on a little getaway tagged on the end of one of Steve's work trips. We have enjoyed sleeping in and spending as much time doing "nothing", afterall, relaxation is sometimes hard to come by these days with two little ones in the house. Speaking of, we have missed them so much and look forward to seeing them tomorrow afternoon when we arrive back in Orlando. {My mom has selflessly given of herself this week to be in Orlando and care for our children while we're away, and we are immensely grateful for her} After waking up around 6 am today and finding it hard to fall back asleep wondering if my sister in law had her babies safely, we finally received a call from her around 7am {our time in Phoenix}. After talking to her for a little bit we got up and ready to head to breakfast. We got the opportunity to Skype with our children and my mom and it was such a joy to see their smiley faces. After our Skype call, we enjoyed t...

Dear Steve, Welcome to the last year of your 20's...how does it feel?!  Is it crazy to think in one short year from now, you will be passing into a new decade?  The last time you did that, you were young and enjoying your college days at Texas Tech.  It's amazing what happens in ten years...well even one year for that matter! I'm very thankful for you. I could stop there, but I shall elaborate!  Afterall, you know I'm not one to speak just a few words ;)  I like simple, but I also like complex (probably  more of the latter though!)  I know you don't like to have the spotlight and for attention to be drawn to yourself, but allow me to brag about you for a minute.  Not for your own glory and that people will think you're so amazing, but so that the Lord may get ALL the glory due His name with having created you, for Himself. I have found myself in the past few weeks pondering just how thankful I am for you.  It seems as we passed into t...

Five years ago today, Steve and I began the journey of our relationship.  We went out on our first date May 15, 2007.  I still remember it like it was yesterday!  I'll keep the details to a minimum ;) I had been working at the Texas Tech Baptist Student Ministries (which is how I met Steve in the fall of 2006).  We had been building a friendship with the intentions of dating.  We both didn't really want to waste time in a pointless relationship, so we were very intentional from the beginning.  Some time in April, we had a conversation about how when I was finished working at the BSM we would like to start dating with intentions of marriage. (Because I was working with a student ministry on campus I wasn't "allowed" to date students-so this is why we waited until I completed my time with the BSM to start dating). On May 15, Steve had been doing some odd jobs around the BSM offices (mostly to spend extra time around me and also so my boss could get to kno...

My mom came into town and spent the past month with us humbly serving our family.  She came down for a few weeks when Karis was born and we were excited when she decided to make plans to do the same thing when Isaac was due to be born.  She was originally planning to come for three weeks, but because Isaac came a bit sooner than expected, how could a mother deny her daughter's plea to come earlier when she asks her at 4:30 in the morning post birth of her first grandson?!  So my mom flew in the day after Isaac was born and we picked her up at the airport on our way home from the hospital!  What a joy it was to have her here.  A mere thank you doesn't suffice, but I think she knows we are very grateful and I tried to tell her often during her time here.  A glimpse of what she did to help us around here... snuggling Isaac for the first time after she arrived more snuggles She often rode cramped in the backseat between the two ki...

To the readers...this is a long story, but if you know me at all, you know I like details! And due to my lack of sleep, I may repeat myself!  Consider yourself warned :) A little back story: When we found out we were pregnant with Karis, I knew instantly that I wanted to have a natural childbirth...by that I mean non medicated and with as little intervention as possible. However, at 35 weeks pregnant, we found out Karis was breeched. Although we did hope she would flip to the head down position, it did not happen and I had a c-section on August 20th and met my first child, Karis Ann! Many people who are in the "I want a natural childbirth" camp, tend to be pretty diehard when it comes to "their" method of doing things...I wouldn't classify myself as a diehard and in the case of my birth story of Karis, I am thankful for doctors who can perform c-sections in order for us to have welcomed a healthy baby girl into the world 19 months ago.  Her birth story is as...

August 20th forever changed Steve and me as we were blessed to welcome our first child, Karis Ann Valentine, into the world.  This was an amazing day filled with so many sweet memories.  I had hoped not to have a c-section, but due to the baby's position (being breeched) our doctor scheduled the c-section for Friday, August 20th.  My mom came into town a week earlier since I was having contractions and could have gone into labor before the 20th...thankfully (for my safety and our baby) I did not go into labor and we showed up to have a c-section that Friday as scheduled.  During the week before Karis arrived when my mom was here I began maternity leave from work.  We speant time cleaning around the house, finishing last minute projects before Karis arrived and spent time enjoying each other's company.  I enjoyed this week of "waiting" for our daughter and was blessed to have my mom here, in more ways than I can even begin to ...