Monday, May 25, 2009


IT'S A GIRL!
Of course, we would have been thrilled with either, but we are so excited to be having a girl. My older brother and I are really close in age, and I LOVED growing up like that!  I'm sure my children will too. 


Our doctor's office gives you a onesie the day that you find out your baby's gender, with either pink or blue writing.  I was THRILLED to receive one with pink letters!  

Monday, May 18, 2009

Anxiously Awaiting

Is it a  
 BOY or GIRL ???
This Thursday we go to the doctor to find out the gender of baby #2!  We will be heading out of town for the weekend not long after the appointment, but we will try to post the results of the ultrasound as soon as we can.  I'm Excited!! 


Sunday, May 17, 2009

April in Review

1.  WALK FOR AUTISM 
I wish that I had posted this in a timely manner, but April was Autism Awareness Month.  This is something that we need to always be aware of, however, and not just in April.  There was a walk to raise awareness and support for autism held at Central High School's track (David's alma mater:), here in Tuscaloosa.  Statistics show that 1 out of every 150 children is affected by autism spectrum disorder; this is too many to brush aside.  May you join our family as we are daily learning what autism is all about.  Praise the Lord that John David is doing so well. But we know that God has let us have a foot into the world of autism for a reason.  Please join us in praying that we will be faithful to shine the Light and Hope of Christ as we are now continually around many families who are looking for answers.       


~ Dave, John David & my Dad ~
You say "competition" or "there's a trophy involved"
and the men in my family are determined to win!
(They came in 4th, after a few high schoolers who ran
the 2 miles!) 




2.  SILAS TURNS 1!
Our nephew Silas (David's brother's youngest child) celebrated his first birthday at the beginning of April.  I had to include a few pictures from his party, for it may have been the best 1st b-day show I've yet to see!  Just when you think it couldn't get messier . . .
John David still talks about how "Silas was soooo messy" and how "he had to take a bath!" 




John David and cousin Abigail (Silas' older sister) 
after hunting Easter eggs.


3. RESURRECTION DAY!
Praise the Lord that we serve a RISEN SAVIOR!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!  Without the resurrection of Christ, we would be hopeless.  But, thanks be to God, that death - the "last enemy" - was abolished in the resurrection of His Beloved Son! (1 Cor. 15:26-28)

This year we celebrated this day at our church and then headed over to Mom and Dad's for lunch with family, sweet fellowship, and another Easter egg hunt - this time with cousin Ella (my brother K.J.'s oldest child).  John David and Ella are 9 months apart, almost to the day.  We consider that close in age.  However, K.J. and his wife Lynn are expecting their second child about 2 1/2 weeks after our baby is due!  Now THAT'S CLOSE! :)  
   





4. MY MOTORCYCLE MAN!
Well, kinda.  A precious woman in our church has so graciously chosen John David to be the recipient of toys (and books, etc.) that her grandson outgrows.  We are so appreciative to this kind woman, for John David has some fun things now that we may never would/could buy him.  This motorcycle was one of the BIG things that she has passed our way.  John David really enjoys it, although at times he prefers just to sit on it instead of ride.   



5. A VISIT FROM A SWEET FRIEND
Amber Darty Rollins has been a friend of mine ever since I was a little girl.  I often refer to her as my "vacation friend," for I would always try and see her while visiting my grandparents in Florida.  She attended my grandparents church, where I initially met her and came to love her. 
She and her husband, who have struggled for a few years now with infertility, are in the process of making the adoption of baby James (the beautiful curly top on the right) official.  I wish that I had time to share their story with you here, but I don't have time now nor the words to do it justice; Amber so beautiful articulates it - maybe I can soon link you to her blog.  Well, their story is one that will overwhelm your heart and cause you to sing praises to our Great, Kind Sovereign God!  I am so thankful that Amber has kept in touch with me through the years and took time to come to my grandparent's house to visit us while we were there on vacation. It is so encouraging to be around fellow believers who never cease to praise our Father, no matter what is dealt to them.  Amber and her husband Chad are a beautiful testimony of God's grace.  Amber, you and your sweet family are loved and prayed for!  


6.  LAKE SANTA FE - A SECOND TIME!
My parents headed down to my grandparent's lake house - where my boys and I spent our family vacation - about 2 weeks after we got home.  The week my parents were going to be gone was going to be such a busy one for David; he was even ending the week with one of those dreaded (at least in my book!) lock-ins!  (The youth love them, though, and David did a great job putting on this sleepless event.) SO, John David and I decided to sneak away with Mom & Dad and have a few more relaxing days at Grammy and Daddy Jim's lake house.  Of course, it was wonderful and John David had a blast with grand & great-grandparents!  On the way down to Florida, we stopped for an overnight stay at my Dad's parent's house.  So, we got to see both sets of my grandparents in one week, which is definitely a blessing that I did not think we would have at this time in our lives.  For so long I thought we would be in Africa right now; although we know that could still be a future possibility, I am so grateful for this time with family. 
    
"Driving" is one of John David's favorite things to do!


My little musician; playing the guitar...

and singing in the "microphone" that my mom fixed for him 
(it was really the handle of a light off of my grandparents' organ -
good creativity Mom!) 

Enjoying a relaxing boat ride


Driving the boat with Big Daddy 


and some good fishin'!

April - a month full of fun! 

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Four Years of Gratitude

"This is the LORD's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes."
Psalm 118:23

Tomorrow David and I celebrate 4 years of marriage . . . my how the time has flown, yet it seems strange to try and remember life without him.  I am so grateful to our Father for giving me such a precious husband, who lavishes me with undeserved love and who daily seeks to put my needs before his own.  I praise the Lord for allowing me to walk through this life as the wife of David Kizziah.  Although many would have loved to have that title, thank you, David, for choosing me.  Thank you for saying "I DO" four years ago.  Although on May 14th I didn't think it could, my love for you grows deeper and deeper with each day.  Thank you for being such a wonderful example of a husband who seeks to love his wife as Christ commands, striving to live with me "in an understanding way."  I know I am hard to figure out so often; but thank you for being patient and trying to understand, causing me - through your words and actions - to never, ever doubt your love.  Oh, I am most blessed among women!  I love you . . . my husband, my friend.  


"How handsome you are, my beloved . . . Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men.  In his shade I took great delight and sat down . . . and his banner over me is love." 
Song of Solomon 1:16, 2:3&4

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Happy Mother's Day

My Mother, Teresa . . . the sweetest "T" in the world!

I wanted to take this time to share how grateful I am for my mother, who has cared for me so tenderly and sacrificially since the day I took my first breath - who has walked with me through each chapter of my life, sharing joys and tears as if they were her own.  She has invested all that she is into me, and for that I am so grateful.  Also, she has proven to be such a wonderful grandmother and is investing so much into her grandchildren as well.  (John David affectionately refers to her as "My T". :)  Mom has exemplified godliness before me each day of my life through the way that she serves our Lord, loves my father, loves her children, and loves others.  I am amazed at her life and ministry.  I love you, Sweet T!

I also wanted to say how grateful I am for my "other mother" -  my mother-in-law is such a blessing to me.  I am so grateful for how she cared for my husband during his growingup years, and how she continues to share in our lives.  I so much enjoy our conversations, and I love to watch her love our son. Thank you, JoJo!

Thankfully, both of my sweet grandmothers are living and continue to play such a special part in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  We don't get to see either of them enough, but the time that we do get to spend with them, we treasure dearly.
 
I could not write this post without sharing how grateful I have been to be a mother for almost two years now to such a precious little boy...and now another on the way.  I am so grateful for all that the Lord has taught me through mothering my son.  What a privilege...what a joy. 

Finally, I wanted to take this time to say thank you to all of the godly women who have invested in my life.  As Christians, we truly are family with other believers.  I could not let this day pass without reflecting on all of those women who have been "mothers" to me spiritually. Like Paul said in Romans 16:13 : "Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well."  And like Jesus, who - when looking down from the cross - addressed his mother Mary and his disciple John in John 19:26 & 27 : "When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!'  Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!'..."  Mary was truly the mother of Jesus, who bore Him in her virgin womb; but was John his brother?  No, not biologically. But indeed he was spiritually.  Why did Jesus not tell one of his blood brothers, like James, to care for their Mom?  Well, at that time, his brothers did not trust in Him as the Savior of the world.  So, His bond spiritually with John went much deeper than the ties He had with His own family who did not yet believe in Him.  I want to encourage those of you who are biological mothers, those who are not mothers, those who are waiting to be mothers one day, or those who will never have children of their own to not neglect those "children" whom we can nurture spiritually.  Our role may be much more important in the life of another child of God than even that individual's own physical mother. May the Lord give us grace to love and serve the family of Christ well.        

With that being said, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all women who have placed their trust in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Friday, May 8, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID!

Today is my husband's 29th birthday!  I am so thankful to get to share life with him - what a joy...and so much fun!  I love you, David, and praise the Lord for your life! 

This picture was taken this morning - officially 29 years old!

(By the way...we were at my parent's house last night, and my younger brother - Kameron, who is home from college for the summer (YEA!) - told David that he heard that between 28 and 30 years old is a man's athletic prime.  Wow, did that ever motivate my competitive, goal-oriented husband!  Since last night, he has talked of his desire to complete both a triathlon and a marathon by December!  Go for it Dave!)