One of my favorite quotes is “Making the decision to have a child -- it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." Julia is my heart walking outside my body. She is the best of both me and her Daddy.
I burst with pride over how much our diva has grown over these nine years. She has a great personality, she’s so intelligent (A/B honor roll all year) and very caring. She has a a smile that can light any darkness! She is bubbly and talkative (ask my Dad!). She is also a great big sister to Joey Jr. and Joshua!
I was looking at pictures of Julia throughout her nine years and I wanted to share them. I hope you enjoy my stroll down memory lane! Happy Birthday Julia Elise! Mommy loves you!
Sonogram
Me pregnant with Julia at my baby shower
1 day old
Christening
1st birthday
2nd birthday
3rd birthday
4th birthday
5th birthday
6th birthday
6th birthday
7th birthday
8th birthday
Dedication
1st day of daycare
Kindergarten graduation
1st day of school- 1st grade
1st dance recital
Flower girl pics:
Water baptism 2010
May 2010
May 2010
I recently read a great book on Marriage called Marriage Matters by Dr. Tony Evans. I read this book as part of a blog tour hosted by Blog Tour Spot and the publisher sent me a review copy.
The book is a very quick read which explores the biblical principles of how to strengthen your marriage.
I love how Dr. Evans explores the importance of the marriage convenant and uses scripture to back up his points. A lot of the points he made were very eye opening.
He goes in depth about what a covenant means and how the marriage covenant was designed by God. He covers three key aspects of what makes up the marriage covenant: Origin, Order and Operation.
One quote in the book that stood out to me was “Marriage is a covenantal union designed strengthen the capability of each partner to carry out the plan of God in their lives”. So often we hear the term “helper” in the Bible when referring to a woman’s role in the marriage and we see it as a negative (maid, cleaner, cook etc.) But husband and wife are so much more than that to each other when we really explore our roles biblically and that is what this book explains.
If you are interested check out some more information from the media release below:
Marriage Matters
Marriages today are deteriorating at an alarming rate: As of 2003, 43.7% of custodial mothers and 56.2% of custodial fathers were either separated or divorced (US Census Bureau). One might ask, “Why do so many marriages fail?” According to pastor and teacher Tony Evans, marriages deteriorate not because we no longer get along, but because we have lost sight of the purpose and prosperity of the marriage covenant.
Marriage Matters examines the nature of this covenant, or agreement, we enter into on our wedding day. This booklet provides the foundation for the booklets For Married Women Only, as Evans looks to the Scriptures to define what a covenant is, who makes it, and what the implications are. Chaos arises when we seek to do things our way—the need to align ourselves according to biblical standards of marriage is evident. Let the practical and engaging Tony Evans lead you in knowing just how much…Marriage Matters.
What does it mean for a husband to love his wife? Three things, says Tony Evans: a husband must be his wife’s savior, sanctifier, and satisfier. It is by living out these three principles that a godly marriage will blossom and flourish.
In For Married Men Only, each of these principles is explored and explained using real-life examples. How does a husband be his wife’s savior? By learning to love her as Christ loved the church. What about sanctifier? By dying to self and modeling sacrificial love, no matter what the result. And satisfier? By studying and serving his wife so he can fulfill her needs, just as Christ humbled Himself for our sakes.
First published in 2002 as Tony Evans Speaks Out on a Man’s Role in the Home, this booklet has sold nearly 40,000 copies. Use it alone or with the companion volume, For Married Women Only.
How is a wife to love her husband? By learning three things, says Tony Evans: how to submit, seduce, and surrender to her husband. Out of these three principles a godly marriage will grow.
In For Married Women Only, pastor and author Tony Evans explores these three principles in a straight-forward yet encouraging manner. He unpacks the touchy topic of submission and lays out the rewards inherent in this biblical model. On seduction, Evans looks at the quality of attractiveness and how embodying it can be pleasing to your spouse and to God. And with surrender, readers will examine why a wife is the perfect helpmate for her husband and how to combat attitudes opposed to God’s design.
Originally published in 2002 as Tony Evans Speaks Out on a Woman’s Role in the Home, this booklet has sold nearly 38,000 copies. Use it alone or with the companion volume, For Married Men Only.
About the Author:
Dr. Tony Evans is one of the country’s most respected leaders in evangelical circles. The first African-American to graduate with a doctoral degree from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), he served as an associate professor in DTS’ Pastoral Ministries Department in the areas of evangelism, homiletics and black church studies. He continues to serve DTS on the Board of Incorporate Members.
Tony Evans, along with his wife, Lois, established Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in 1976 with only ten people in their home. Serving as senior pastor for the last 33 years, Evans has seen his church grow from 10 members to over 8,000 congregants with 100 plus ministries.
Dr. Evans also serves as president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to bring about spiritual renewal in America through the church. His daily radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard on more than 600 stations daily throughout the United States and in more than 40 countries.
Through his local church and national ministry, Dr. Evans has set in motion a Kingdom Agenda philosophy of ministry that teaches God’s comprehensive rule over every area of life as demonstrated through the individual, family, church and society.
Dr. Tony Evans is married to Lois, his wife and ministry partner of 40 years. They are the proud parents of four: Chrystal, Priscilla, Anthony, Jr., and Jonathan as well as proud grandparents of nine: Kariss, Jessica, Jackson, Jessie, Jr., Jerry Jr., Kanaan, Jude, Joel and Kelsey.
Learn more about Tony at http://www.tonyevans.org.
Marriage Matters
Release: May 2010
List of participating bloggers in this tour:
A Godly Wife on Purpose
Bible Dude
Blog Tour Spot
Book Nook Club
Bound to His Heart
CommuniKate
God Restores
J’s Spot
Reflections
Refresh My Soul
Scraps and Snippets
This Mom’s Delight
Ultimate Joy
Posts
All Comments
