Little Drummer Boy

I have had a rough couple of days. I won't get into the nitty gritty of it all, because I don't personally like to air my dirty laundry over the internet. Although, sometimes I wonder if it would help other people that may feel like me to just know they're not alone. I haven't figured out any special answers to share, but sometimes it helps to know that it isn't just you. Anyway, that's not what this post is about.

The last couple days have been rough. So....to try and help myself out of my funk I loaded a Christmas playlist onto my Zune. I have some Michael Buble', Rascal Flatts, and Mercy Me. Let me tell you...I LOVE Christmas music. If it wouldn't drive everyone around me nuts, I'd listen to it year round! It always makes me cheery and happy.

There was one song in particular that came on my playlist this morning. It was Mercy Me's version of The Little Drummer Boy. I've heard this song I don't know how many thousands of times. This particular time, though, something in the song really struck me.

"I am a poor boy, too
Pa, rum, pa, pum, pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa, rum, pa, pum, pum
That's fit
To give a king"


It just really made me think that I have nothing to give Him. I have no riches, I have no land, I have nothing that I could hand my King and be proud of my gift. It's a good thing that's not what He wants from us. I have my heart that I can give, my life, my will. Everything that I am. But even that's not enough compared to what He has given me. The amazing thing in all of this is that He doesn't care that it's not enough! Although it doesn't seem like much to me, it's all that He asks. This life isn't even mine. He gave that to me, too. So why can't I give it back to Him? What reason could I possible have for not? What we do for ourselves in this life won't last. It won't matter in the end. It's what we have done for Him and in His name that will be remembered through eternity.

Such a simple song that we've all heard over and over and over. Such a powerful message.

Confessions: Things You May or May Not Know About Me

I've been thinking about this blog post for a few days. Someone asked a group of people to share something about themselves that no one or very few people knew. I couldn't think of anything at that moment, but have been mulling over that question since then. I have come up with a few things I will share with you, if you care to read them.

• I have a serious obsession with Jesse McCartney. More his music than he himself, actually. The song Body Language is my happy song...which leads me to my next confession...
• I know the dance to Body Language...and I learned it about 2 years ago...at the age of 24...
• I only like to listen to music that I know. I love to sing and I can't sing songs I don't know. Usually, my only exposure to new music comes through Cody.
• I always have these grand dreams of exercising and getting in shape, but I never do it. I say I don't have time but I really do. 
• I don't care as much what I look like as I do what number is on the scale. Once the number gets where I want it, then I worry what I look like.
• I get major food guilt. Like bad. Like I just ate a cookie and I feel guilty and bad. I hate that.
• Back to music....I never once bought an N*Sync or Backstreet Boys CD. I am more of a 98* kinda girl. And I WISH they would do a reunion of some sort. I pray for it.
• I LIVE for Thursday nights. Vampire Diaries and Secret Circle are my new TV obsessions. I have seriously been thinking about that all day today and I. Am. So. Excited. Thattodayisthursday.
• I miss my past in the sense that it was fun while it lasted, but if I were to try to live that life again, I don't think I could. I love the memories I have but am happy with the path I have chosen for my future.
• The hardest thing in the world to me is to have faith. I like to see facts. Faith isn't believing things you can prove. It's believing things you can't. It's something I really have to work at. I don't want the faith of Job. I'm afraid if I ask for that kind of faith, I'll be put through what he went through. I feel like I'm already going through enough. 
• I believe that I am where I am now solely because of decisions that I have made. I had a great foundation. I was raised in a Christian home with Godly parents. When I moved out, I tore most of that foundation down and started built myself a new one. Now I'm trying to tear that new foundation down and rebuild yet again one that's worth working on. With the thought in mind that sometimes God has to break us down so we can be built up in a right way...I hope I'm almost done breaking. I feel like I can't break anymore. I'm ready to start building back up. I'm working on it, anyway.
• Oh, on a happier, lighter note...I love my Halloween costume. I'm going to be a flapper and I feel as though I was born in the wrong generation while wearing it.
• And on a related note, I'm happy Cody decided to match me. This year will be legen...wait for it....dary. 

I think that's it for now. It's just a small insight into my mind! <3

Sooo....we moved...

We decided, after lots of prayer and very little deliberation, to move in with Cody's parents. We didn't really have time to deliberate. We had a few situations arise that kind of made our decision for us. The main one being Cody's job. He was at a place...that wasn't a good fit. I won't get into any detail because at this point it doesn't really matter, but I was proud of him. He put his conscience and morals before money. I was SO proud of him. I know that he will be blessed for this decision. I am hoping that blessing comes in the form of another job, but we shall see. A couple of friends that I talk to via Facebook have offers suggestions, so we will be looking into those.

I just want to say a BIG thank you to those aforementioned Facebook friends. It's amazing how I can feel so connected two people that I have only met once in person each, and poured my heart out to over the internet! Two great examples to me of faith.

An even BIGGER thank you to my lovely mother. She has been there for me in more ways than I can list. She has been a rock for me and a shining example of a Christian woman and mother. I <3 her!

Oh man! Our good friends are MOVING to ANOTHER STATE....THIS WEEKEND! I can't believe it's already time! We're going to miss you guys so much! I hope you come back for a visit soon! Like...next week?

So now that I've pretty much rambled about a few different things, I'll let you get back to something productive!

I'm still here!

Although I am quite certain no one missed me, I am back. We'll see if I keep up with this! I have so many thoughts and feelings floating around in my head, it's hard to keep it all straight!

We still live with my mom. It's been 14.5 months now. We are ready to move out into our own place. It's about that time. It's been so wonderful that they have shared their home with us this long and we are thankful that they have been so generous with their space. We have a couple options: A. We can get an apartment or B. We can move in with Cody's parents and get an apartment after the 1st of the year. There are pros and cons to both, none of which I will get into here, and it's a really hard decision to make. I know what I want to do, but I don't know what's best.

We've looked at an apartment that we love. Well, I  love it anyway. I've already thought about how we could utilize the small space and ways to decorate. I can picture that being home. That's what I want. Our own home. Just Me, Cody, McKenna, and Chloe. I love my in-laws and I know that we would be welcome and would have lots of fun living there. But we've been living with someone for over a year now. I want my own kitchen. I want my own washer and dryer. I want to cook my own dinner for my own family. I need a place that I am in charge of. So that's the housing drama!

McKenna is growing like a weed! This child...is just amazing! She repeats everything we say. (Good thing we've cleaned up our language!) She wants to climb all over everything. I think we're getting her some sort of jungle gym for Christmas. Maybe one of those plasticky Little Tykes ones or something. She brings so much love and joy to our family, it's unreal. Being her mommy is so much more than I ever thought it would be. I wouldn't trade it for the world!

My photography is going well. I have a couple things coming up. I'm really kind of settling into it and becoming more comfortable with it. It really is my passion. The only thing I don't like is the time missed with my family. It's not that much right now. I plan on keeping myself limited, too, until I can make a full time job out of it. I don't want to work 40 hours a week at my full time job and then miss out on special times with my family to go work another. Thankfully that hasn't been too much of an issue and I am mindful of it so it never should be. I love photography but I love my family more!

I think that's about all the catching up there is to be done!!!

Branching Out

I have a Facebook page and a Blog for my photography now. I also ordered some business cards. I'm hoping to try to put myself out there some more. I really want to get some more experience. I'm loving what I'm doing so far and can't wait to do more!

Photography Business

So I have officially started my photography business! I'm really excited about it. I started a new blog that I will be using as a website. I also made a Facebook page for it. There is no such thing as too much exposure, right?

More Pictures

This seems to be all I do/want to do these days...take and edit pictures. I got some new things which I am thrilled about! I got an external flash with a Gary Fong Lightspere, a backdrop setup, and some things for Photoshop. I did some playing around with McKenna this weekend. She's such a good model! I also did some things with Cody's brothers and sister but somehow deleted all 190 pictures which I am STILL mad about. There were some really great ones in there. Still not sure how I managed that! I have also recently made a photography blog to try and put myself out there. If you like, check it out! www.mwellsphoto.blogspot.com The picture of the lovely family was before I got my new toys!

McKenna 6 Months

So yesterday was McKenna's 6 month check-up and she did GREAT! She talked and laughed with the doctor. When it came time for shots, of course she cried...but not for as long or as much as she did last time. The whole rest of the day she was so pleasant and happy and FUNNY! She was cracking me up. After her appointment we spent the rest of the day with Justin and Jillian and it was so nice to hang out with them! We haven't done that in too long! While we were out there I got some shots of McKenna. I think they came out pretty good!

My Photography

Our Valentine's Day Party at Work

Pound Cake

Baby Gavin Stephens

My Sweet McKenna

My Puppy Chloe

A Belated Birth Announcement :)

Randy's Old Chevy Truck

Snowy Texas

The Ever-Lovely Jillian

Jillian

Random Train

Amber and Gavin

Amber Stephens

Baby Gavin Again

Dumplins

I have been dabbling in photography just a little so I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures.

5 Months

McKenna Just turned 5 months old last Monday. She has so much personality and I love it! She is definitely becoming somewhat of a diva. She let's us know when we aren't meeting her expectations!

She is starting to discover faces and that there are things located on them. I've been poked in the eye, had my cheeks pinched, and she had a death grip on my nose once that I never thought she'd break! She also loves Cody's facial hair. She just pats it. She and Chloe are seeming to become great friends. Chloe will just kiss her hands and face and McKenna will smile. She'll also reach out to touch Chloe's back and face. They've come a long way!

We started her on baby food at 4 months old and she is doing GREAT with it! She loves it. The only thing that she didn't seem to care for was peas. I'm not sure if it was the taste or the thicker texture but she did gag a little. She ate them, just not happily.

She smiles when I come into the room which just makes my heart melt! Not only does she know who I am but she LIKES me!

New Hobby

I've kind of been getting into photography lately and I am loving it! We got a DSLR camera before McKenna was born and we've used it, but not like a DSLR. We've been using it as a point and shoot, really. I have just recently just started using it more to its full potential. I still have a lot to learn, but I've also come a long way so far. I did a maternity shoot for my friend Amber. I was quite pleased with the results. Here are some of the pictures I took and edited.