Steve and Jenny Valentine

Before I even became pregnant with Karis, I knew I would want to stay home eventually with our children.  It wasn't until I had our little girl, where that feeling only intensified.  Steve and I feel blessed that we have been able to make that transition of me leaving a job outside the home to stay at home with Karis...and now soon to be Isaac too!  I dealt with a lot of mixed emotions and negative thoughts at the time of leaving my job: sense of worth in doing a job outside the home, will people judge me or think I'm lazy, will I get bored, etc.  I realized that most of these thoughts were attacks from the enemy on my personal self worth that should only be found in Christ.  My worth doesn't come from how much money I make, where I work, how well I do my job, but my worth comes from Christ.  It's because of Him, I am motivated to do a good job at whatever my role is...for now it's being a stay at home mommy.  I came across this b...

Isaac Haddon Valentine What a joy it was to learn I am carrying a boy inside of me!  We were able to see our little boy yesterday during my 19 week ultrasound.  At my 12 week ultrasound, the technician had made a guess about the gender, guessing boy.  After that appointment, we decided we should look into boy names, because there were none on our list.  Even though we knew there was still the possibility of having a girl, we were very excited to find out yesterday!  He appeared to be healthy: heart rate 153-strong and sounded amazing measuring around 10 ounces (a week bigger than what they say my due date is) was head down...PRAISE THE LORD!  We pray he stays in that position. very relaxed, little movement (unlike his big sister), he was laid back with his hands behind his head and legs crossed :) Our initial reactions: Me-laughter and excitement Steve-also laughter and excitement and gave me a high five ...

My thoughts about Karis and her first birthday (I'm a few weeks delayed in posting this, because I can't stand how long it takes for all the pictures to upload)! But until she wakes from her nap I will take a few moments to reflect on our daughter a bit. Our little Talker Over the past month her vocabulary has increased.  We're often surprised that she's talking...but then Steve and I smile at each other and say, "well, she does have us as parents and we both like to talk a lot (me probably more than him but he still takes credit for part of this-not to mention both Karis' grammy and grandma are quite the talkers as well-she's pretty much going to have that as part of her personality I think!) Other than the normal babbles and words she was saying before like MAMA, DADA, MORE and GO, She is saying: BABY - which really sounds like bob bob-of course making us laugh because that's her grandpa's name AGAIN - which mostly comes out sounding like ...

In the past couple weeks, there have been many "Remembering 9/11" radio broadcasts, TV shows, and articles that have caught my attention more than most in years past since 9/11/2001.  I'm not sure if it's because this is the ten year since that day where terrorists attacked the WTC buildings...none the less...catching my attention more than before.  I find myself sad and frustrated to watch and/or read about that day.  Sadness for those lost in the tragedy that day and the families they left behind.  Frustration for the evil in our world.  Although I am a very firm believer in God's sovereignty, and in his infinite wisdom, know He could have stopped it...I also know that evil is in our world and God has used the attacks on September 11th to redeem many people to call them as His own. Another reason I think I overlook the severity of the 9/11 attacks is because over the past six years I find myself often reflecting on how things became diffe...

I wonder how many people have a LIST...you know the one where you say "I'll do that someday" or "I wish I learned how to do _____".  I have a running list like this and I feel like the list gets longer than the checks off the list!  Part of me finds myself envious of people who have the time, energy, skill/ability, money, etc. to do said item on their list, but then I quickly realize...that's sinful and also that it's not that important in the grand scheme of things.  It's a dream and maybe one day when resources afford it, I will accomplish more things on my list! So my LIST (in no particular order): 1. actually make scrapbooks and utilize the stuff in my closet! 2. play in a chamber orchestra 3. throw on the wheel (pottery) on a regular basis 4. learn to sew -- and more importantly -- learn to make quilts (now to get a sewing machine) 5. re-learn piano (pick it back up instead of letting our keyboard sit under the guest bed!) 6. travel th...

We got to see our daughter become 11 months old a few days ago!  As I've said in many of her monthly updates on this blog...we love her so much and thank God for the blessing she has been in our family.  She is learning new skills these days and it seems to happen at a rapid rate now! the biggest news is she started taking her first real steps.  She still primarily crawls, but she is picking up the walking thing at a rapid pace! She cut her top front two teeth and they look so cute when she scrunches her face up to smile she is saying "ma" for more and "ga" for go...along with tons of other babbling we haven't yet figured out the meaning she began doing a "downward facing dog yoga" type pose where she looks through her legs and it's too cute and makes us laugh when she rolls a ball through her legs too. she started throwing (of sorts) the ball to us when we throw it to her - Steve says she's got quite the arm! she took yet another ...