Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Elspeth

Elspeth J. Moore
My sister-in-law but more like my sister
:)

Here are a few pictures of my best friend..(plus some)


Thank God for a friend that loves coffee! mmm..it's more fun to share with a friend



                       My Navy wife role model. She makes one GREAT commanders wife :)




She is a mommy that i'd love to be like.  How cool is a mom that does fun things like marshmallows and toothpicks? A very fun one!





She is raising two incredible girls that I miss very much.  They are sweet girls and respectful ...it takes two good parents being an example of that.

She married one COOL guy! Dave :) He makes fun breakfast and always makes good coffee. He is also fun to talk with because the guy is smart and he's funny! (Darren's brother..they are freakishly alike..we're talking same facial expressions, voices sound the same, can sleep anywhere, in the Navy, etc) BUT saying that it makes Ej even more wonderful because she understands where i'm coming from with my husband when we laugh about our men :).







:)



"A friend accepts us as we are yet helps us to be what we should."
Author: Anonymous

I always wondered what kind of family I would marry into.  I never imagined God would bless me the way He did when I met Ej.  She is one spunky, hilarious, authentic, understanding, caring, compassionate, selfless woman.  I could never write a book that would do justice to how much this girl means to me. 
I have a heartful of praises to shout out about her and hopefully you can see how important friendships are to have as we walk this journey of life.  We live miles and miles apart but she is my best friend. I love when we start talking because the time flies and when I hang up the phone or walk away I'm refreshed. Now that is the kind of friend worth having!
Ej married Dave 8 years ago and they have one sweet marriage. I know they have moments they drive each other crazy but I won't ever doubt their love for one another.  It is nice to know Dave loves Ej just the way she is and Ej has a lot of respect for Dave.  They have a lot of special things going on in their marriage that is an incredible example to Darren and I.  I admire their relationship and the way they're raising their girls.  It is fun to be around them and I always feel at home when we're visiting.  I once lived with them for a whole month and they never once made me feel like I overstayed my welcome but they accepted me daily and made my stay wonderful.  I loved that they had respect for each other (still do) because it made it easy to relax and enjoy them.  It's fun to laugh, right? Well with these two..well they just crack me up! Ej always says, 'you know you miss this laura' they're the best. 
Ej has two girls that are so unique and fun to be around. They each have their own personalities and at times can be a handful for her but you know she handles them with love.  I know now that being a mom isn't easy but she makes it look simple.  I have to yell at her for not letting me in on some secrets, like that it's not as easy as she is making it look! She is holding things together and caring for her daughters and that is the kind of example i'm blessed with! I love thanking God for her and the amazing mom she is. I don't think she is praised enough.  Both Dave and her make sure to have family time and give a lot of attention to the girls. They also have their girl's respect and that is huge in the world we live in where a lot of times the child in running the show.  I am thankful for the way Ej is boss and her daughters are in line with that. It's good to see a nice balance of love/tough love if that makes sense?
Ej is a Navy wife.  This is something I treasure about her because she has walked me through some dark days when I didn't want to like the Navy and I needed to be sad and hear 'it's okay, I understand'.  She kicks me in the butt to remember who I am and how to choose the right attitude. When Darren found out he was going to leave for C-school I walked out I took a minute and started crying and then went outside and called my best friend.  I loved saying 'today I hate the navy and this really stinks!' she didn't correct me or try to make the situation better she just sighed and gave me the it's going to be okay talk. God blessed me greatly by placing her in my life to walk me through tough times.  She has been in my position over and over again with the Navy and is a light for me.  I was able to call back another time and say well I see that this is a good thing because of this and that.  Thank you friend for understanding me and letting me vent and cry and then remind me how to be okay with a situation that's not easy. 
everytime! I open a box and tear up because the girl knows me so well. 
Ej has seen me at my very best and my very worst.  (I mean that)  Yet, here she is still loving me well and being an encouragement.  I love the way we can talk about God, husbands, kids, life, petty things, oh goodness the list goes on and on.  It makes it hard to hang up the phone or say goodbye!
When we lived near each other last year it was awesome.  I loved hanging out and getting to know her better.  We spent hours and hours talking as well as just hanging out being quiet.  I cherish a friendship that you can be silent and enjoy each other's company still and it not be awkward. We have things in common but I like to say she balances me out.  I am sensitive and she brings me back down to reality..but never judges. (I love that)
I don't deserve a friend like Ej, but God saw it fit to give me a sweet gift.  He has used her in so many ways and I can't say thank you enough. 
I had to say goodbye to Ej last summer after living close by and I didn't know a goodbye with a sister in law would ever be that hard.  I didn't know that I would sob as I walked away.  But that's what happens when someone leaves a huge imprint in your heart.  When they love and bring the best out in you...it hurts to say goodbye.
Now for the fun part! She is coming in a few weeks! I am beyond excited to have her here and for Garrett to meet his sweet aunt Ej.  He is going to love her.  We can't wait to see her and spend time with her again.  I am looking forward to talking face to face and not having to pick up a phone to chat! :) It will be fun to write about our visit and share pictures.  I know Ej can't wait to love on her new nephew and i'm looking forward to having family here. 
So thank you Ej for being my best friend and pushing me to God. I hope that you know what an incredible friend, wife, and mother you are! love you :)
Laura

Monday, March 14, 2011


                                  There he is..my new life :). The one that stole my heart!



I've turned into a paranoid mother...please don't judge me let me explain! This morning my baby slept for about 4.5 hours and although some mothers (and I will be at this point one day) would be rejoicing, I was panicking. 'Why is he sleeping so long? Is he alive? What's wrong with him?'.  Oh yes..that is exactly what I thought but what was crazy is the amount of times I had to pop my head up or sit up quickly to see if he was breathing! Then I saw a mark on his face and it looked like a bug bite, I've never wanted to kill a bug so badly! How dare that bug touch my baby and leave a mark..'oh wait laura that's a pimple, phew..close call for that bug!'.  As I write this now I can laugh and think, you are one silly mom but the more I think about it I realize just how much I love Garrett.  I don't want him to be hurt and I feel it's my job to protect him.  However it's hit me now that I need to give Garrett to God and go before God with all my fears that are stored away causing me to not be at peace during the day.  SIDs is one of the scariest things to me, but I have to trust God's will.  I can either be paranoid and miss out on my newborn or lay my fears at God's feet and enjoy each moment with my baby.  It's hard! ..but it's been nice to talk to a few mothers and hear, 'yes, i struggled with that as well but this is how I handled it...'.  Thank God for other moms!

I realize how quickly things can change but for right now my son is good.  He is happy and the most easy going little man around.  He cries when he is hungry, has gas, or an occasional fussy moment.  But in all honest I believe God created one wonderful baby for Darren and I as first time parents! I do get nervous when he cries but he gets easier and easier to figure out each day! I realize down the road that may not be the case but for right now it is, and i'm really thankful to God for that.  Today he was the picture of a perfect baby. haha okay okay maybe not perfect he did pee on grandma's lap, and on mommy's hand..:p. but besides that he was relaxed, ate well, slept wonderfully and sat with his grandparents for a long period of time.  It was nice to relax myself and soak up his sleepy and alert moments.  He is holding his head up and it is the cutest thing i've seen! He looks extremely proud and has that 'look what I can do' face!  That's fun to watch him learn new things.  Right now he is sleeping right next to me in his bed and due to wake up for a feeding anytime now.  I love snapping a picture of him and a few days later looking back and admiring him. Why did God bless me with this sweet boy? God is walking me through the toughest days of my life and i'm grateful to be loved.  I don't have all the answers and my brain feels all scrambled, I have grown accustom to the one and only hairstyle..the ponytail, and I wear t-shirts and jeans only.  I'm not fancy or well put together these days but i'm loving my simple life.  I get excited for 10 min showers, or when my legs get shaved! I feel it a privilege when I eat a meal without feeling like i'm on a time limit.  It is a blessing to find time to write in my blog because it's helping me grow by journaling where i'm at that day and feeling refreshed when I close the computer.  Yes, indeed my life has changed but I like it.  Wait, I could do without the diaper changes! (I haven't figured out how to go quickly enough without getting peed on)
I like that the only argument my husband and I are having is over who changes his diaper...that seems like a good place to be in.  Last night Garrett was laid on our bed and Darren and I were leaning over him and he smiled a huge toothless grin at us as we talked to him and gave him sweet kisses.  We're in love and couldn't have dreamed life would be like this with our son.  It's going to be hard and stressful sometimes but i'm realizing we're not alone.  God has provided a large group of people who are willing to help in any way and that's been awesome. 


He loves us very much.  I often wonder what it will be like when people stand before Him on judgement day that didn't believe in Him.  I wonder how he'll see them as he sends them away for all of eternity.  I feel bad that they missed out on His gift of grace and mercy and the neatest relationship ever offered to them.  These things have caused me to make note of some things in my life that I don't want to happen...
-I don't want to be too comfortable and not see the needs of others.  I don't want to become so shut off from our world that I forget to love the people in it.
-I don't want to go to a church that is only there for themselves.  I am sad about our church in America, why don't we give, why do we complain about the luxuries in a church? I don't want to go on sunday and sing songs, listen to a message, chat with a few people and go..I want to be united and God to be the head of that church.  I want to be in a church that God is using to build His kingdom.  Where the people are growing in Christ and loving each other well.  I want to be in a place that is reaching out...and I want to be a part of that.  It's my prayer right now that we could be involved..because that's what we're here for. 
-I don't want to live selfishly or continue to not see how spoiled I am.  I don't ever want to take for granted the blessing it is to live in America. 
I realize this end is a little on the serious side but I want to share what is going on in my heart during midnight feedings as God challenges me through the lives of the men and woman in the Bible.  He put story after story that gives an account of these people's lives for a reason..to teach me how he wants me to live.  I want to live a life that honors Him, and when my time comes that He will be able to say 'well done thy good and faithful servant'.  That is my goal.  I want to be a loving wife, mother, family member, and friend.  I hope these challenges continue to rock my core and change the way I see others, myself, and God.
Laura