Summer Rain

These pictures were actually taken July 3rd, but I forgot to add these photos.








I have no new photos because our camera is in the shop. Things are going well here. I have another Dr appointment in the morning and I will hopefully schedule the C section, but we'll see.
Chandler is doing great, just can't wait to meet him.

Ryan and Jill our neighbors, and really good friends had baby Camden on Friday. I wish I had a picture, but I don't. I'll head to there house when my camera is fixed and back in my arms and snap a few pictures.

Life is full of farewells!

Growing up I never had to deal with friends moving away, but as I get older I have said goodbye to some great friends and it seems to only get harder.

My best friend Lindsey moved to Colorado in January, bittersweet because I knew she was going to love it there. I am secretly hoping she misses me and her family too much and comes back :) We have that kind of relationship though where distance won't keep us apart.

I have another friend Ali who is in the process of moving to Oklahoma. It's a career move for her husband, so once again bittersweet. She has only been in Topeka for two years, but we hit it off from the beginning and we have spent as much time together as we can. We both have four year old daughters who love each other and dress-up! We also got to walk with each other through pregnancies and the birth of her son Abe and my youngest Alayna.

We have grown in Christ together and because of this I'll try to keep a strong grip on what we have.

We had a farewell party at my house Monday night, it was really great to get a bunch of people that love Ali just to come and fellowship with her one last time. I had everyone write her a little note and I made a semi- scrapbook for her (I am not into scrapbooking). We had this verse up on my chalk board and I think it is perfect and is a reminder that we'll be united one day.

I thank my God every time I remember you.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
because of your partnership in the gospel from the
first day until now, being confident of this,
that he who began a good work in you will carry
it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6

Baby name

Now in the Bible a name reveals the vary essence of a thing, or rather it's essence as God's gift......To name a thing is to manifest the meaning and value God gave it, to know it as coming from God and to know its place and function within the cosmos created by God. To name a thing, in other words, is to bless God for it and in it.
- Alexander Schmemann

We have so many gifts that we over look each day. One great gift I am thinking of today, is the gift of naming our child. The child it self is a great gift from God. But I am thinking of the little things. The thoughts and discussions put into naming YOUR baby, the dreaming of what you'll call your child as they run through the house. Of course you need to make sure it's easy to say the full name when the child is in deep trouble, no reason to make it harder on yourself.

Aaron and I have been discussing our boy options and we have settled.

Chandler Dean Bivens

Chandler is a family name on my side. My grandparents carry the last name Chandler and it's my mom's maiden name. We have chosen to carry on the name because of how much it means to us. I have been really close with my grandparents and I wanted to express to them how much I love them. We would even love it if Chandler carried the same love and kindness as my grandparents do, but I am not sure if traits are attached to names. :)

We are really excited to meet Chandler. I am 28 1/2 weeks and feeling really good. I think this has been the easiest pregnancy. Chandler has been moving a lot, the feeling never gets old. I'll miss carrying a baby, it's just a reminder of how awesome God is.

I am working on the hospital "stuff" Here is the sign so far........
It's getting close!!!!

BLINK

JAMES 4:14
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.


I just returned from taking the youth group to church camp and it was an incredible week. We took 72 students and God has made an impact in each of their lives. Six students accepted Christ, many are getting baptized and all of them walked away different and changed.

Not only did God work in the students lives, but the adult sponsors also.

From the beginning I had emotions running through my veins. Yes, I can blame it on the pregnancy, or the fact that I missed Taylynn, Preston and Alayna. But I think God will put us in an emotion that makes us vulnerable and open. God used my emotions to change me.

This was our theme song:

Teach me to number my days
And count every moment before it slips away
Taking all the colors before they fade to gray
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink (x2)

When it's all said and done
No one remembers how far we have run
The only thing that matters is how we have loved
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink (x4)

Slow down, slow down
Before today becomes our yesterday
Slow down, slow down
Before you turn around and it's too late

It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink


As a parent we know how fast life goes. I am not sure if we are more busy or if it's because we have these little people who keep growing and changing making us realize how fast time does go by.

What is your life? That was the question of the week. My life is being a mom who can raise children who know Jesus, who then will go out and share Jesus and possible one day will have children on their own who will also then go and share Jesus.

Isn't that why we are here? To tell others about the love of Jesus. I believe that is the reason for my entire existence. Everything else is a bonus in this life.

Changes I have made this week:

Be intentional with the students. Yes, we an have other conversations beyond the Bible, but our conversations can always relate back to God.

Daily quiet time, everyday! To help me out I can't open this laptop until I have spent time with God first. And yes, I have already been with God this morning :)


I have had a blessed week. I am warn out!!!!!!

Alayna's Cherry Party

July 16th we threw Alayna a big cherry swim party. It was hot, but it was still lots of fun!

InviTaTIonS

FoOd AnD dRinKS

PaRtY FavoRS

-cherry lemonade mix-
-frisbees-
faMiLy
DeCoRaTionS

-cherry tree-
-cherry pool-






BiRtHdaY giRL
faMiLy, FrieNDS AnD Fun!!