More Halloween Pictures

Mommy and her Hmong princess.

The back.

The front.

We love corn!!

Hmong for Halloween

Brandon and I have always wanted an Asian child. Hopefully some day we will have one for real. Until then we are satified dressing our little love in a traditional Hmong family outfit. If you know my side of the family (the Powells) then you know how the Hmong people and their culture has been a constant in our lives for years and years. My mom owns two or three traditional family outfits that were made for her by her Hmong friends. She bought this one for baby girl at last year's World-wide Hmong New Year Celebration (they go every year). Isn't she too cute?!?!!!

Prayer in earnest

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 1:35

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 4:23

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.
Matthew 17:20

Please pray for Wendy. Jesus can heal her. I believe it. Join me in prayer and ASK GOD for a healing miracle.

A New Journey

I got a call yesterday from human resources at my school- (CAVA, an online school of nearly 12,000 students- the largest school in the nation).

They offered me an administrative position within special education. It is one step up from my current position as special education teacher. I would no longer write IEP's, prep and deliver lessons, schedule meetings and do all of the current time-consuming job duties I have.

Instead I would be in charge of a team of special education teachers. I would review all of their IEP's and lessons and sit in as the administrator for all of their meetings.

The challenges would shift and I would have more responsibility and liability (in charge of 5 teachers and over 150 students) but I would have less paperwork to fill out (I have written over 100 pages of reports this week alone).

I knew this was a possibility for about a week but haven't shared the info because I thought I would say no if they actually called. Then when I did get the call I started to get excited about the possibilities this job change could bring.

After prayer and much discussion with family I have accepted the position. I start Monday.

Making

Once upon a time there was a girl who had a comfortable but plain top... (with tags still attached- ha!)

She thought to herself, "I like how comfortable this top is... but it's too plain. Whatever will I do?"

(Enter sewing machine and fabric scraps)

Suddenly the plain top became a top with pizzazz!

And the girl and her top lived happily ever after. ;0)

It's Time for Tea!

Hello MOPS moms!

Save the Date!: 2nd Annual Holiday Bou"tea"que

Saturday, November 14th

* 9:00 am to 11:00 am Holiday Tea
* 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Private Shopping hour for tea attendees
* 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm Boutique open to the public

This event is open to all women, regardless if New Cov is your home church or not.

Don’t miss out on this fun filled day as we enjoy God’s gift of laughter, have a beautiful brunch, and enjoy some shopping from our many quality vendors. The featured speaker is the hilarious Christian comedian Kelly Sisney. Ticket cost per person is $20. (MOPS can help with this cost as needed.)

You can purchase tickets at the Women’s Ministry cart on Sunday mornings or respond here that you would like a spot and we can reserve you a seat. This year MOPS has two tables (for a total of 16 seats available). Feel free to bring your mom, sister or friend along with you!

Learning from God

Today is my birthday. I am 29 years old. Over the last 29 years I have learned a lot from God. I have learned that I have a lot more to learn too.

I am thankful. I have learned that being thankful and giving thanks helps a lot when I experience tough and painful times. I have experienced a few of these times and I am thankful for God's provision.

I am saved. I have learned that I did not and could not save myself. I am saved by Christ; the Jesus of the Bible; the One and Only; the Living God.

I am blessed. I have learned that God has chosen to bless me, though I am clearly undeserving. I have a best friend for a husband, a beautiful and bright daughter, and friends and family who I love and greatly appreciate.

I am humbled. I have learned that I am a work in progress and though I am in a good spot in my life right now, I am not above the temptations of sin. I have a long way to go.

So today is a good day. It's my happy birth-day. And today I'm thankful, saved, blessed, and humbled.

Meesha's Day

Saturday was spent doing fun things with Meesha. She loves airplanes and can't get enough of them... just like her daddy. So hubby got one of his gas planes and took us to watch him fly it around. Baby girl was so excited and kept asking for more and more. Too cute!

Then we went to the pumpkin patch and she had the best time loading up our wagon with about 20 pumpkins. In the end, we took home 4 small ones. Daddy's, mommy's, Meesha's and one for baby Niah.

A great day as a family of three, looking forward to becoming a family of four!

PLEASE PRAY

Tomorrow is the day Wendy will have surgery. Go read all about it at her blog : The Manzo Family.

PLEASE join her family and friends in prayer. We are standing together with faith in Christ and telling that mountain to MOVE!

Deep in prayer for my sister and friend,
Katelyn

Baby Hannaniah

Pronounced Hannah- ni-ah. That is what we are naming our new little love bundle. We will call her Niah for short. The name is a Hebrew name like Meesha's is. Most of you already know the story of how we choose baby names but for those of you who don't, here it is.

In the Bible, in the book of Daniel you will read about "the three Hebrew children". Most people think their names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Actually their birth names were Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

Since before Brandon and I met we both loved the testimony of strength the three Hebrew children had in the face of death. Their faith in God was so strong that they defied King Nebuchadnezzar and would not worship any idols. That kind of faith is what I hope my children have.

So Brandon and I decided we would name our first three children after them. First came Meeshyele and now Hannaniah. We changed the spelling a bit but the legacy of their namesake still stands.

I have posted two passages below. The first is when their names are changed from Hebrew to a Babylonian name by the king. The second is when they stand up to the king while following God in Daniel 3... it's really too good to skip any part so I will include the whole chapter. What amazing faith!!

Daniel 1:6-7 "Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego."

Daniel 3
The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."

7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"
They replied, "Certainly, O king."

25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

AMEN! More details about baby Niah to follow...