OWEN JACKSON HULL

"Dear Lord, I am reading all of these books and testimonies about how people just ask and speak and it comes about....why not me? Where is my faith? Do I not have enough? You say to ask and believe and we will receive but it doesn't seem like much has gone my way with this pregnancy. Yes, I am thankful, but can't I just have the desire of my heart for a natural birth and not have to go through what I have experienced before? I will go ahead and speak by faith the things I am believing and I will ask you to deliver them and yes, you have given me words, but how long Lord?"

I found myself in this conversation as I awaited the arrival of our son! (OUR SON! I can say that!) I was constantly doubting the words the Lord had given me from His word. Psalm 3, Psalm 89 and Psalm 115, not to mention that Andy had verses from the bible that he felt the Lord had shown him. Faith is what we hope for and not for the things we see...(Rom.5) and then I started doing what I knew..read Romans 4-believing God could do what he promised to do just like he did for Sarah and Abraham. More than anything I wanted Owen to come on his own and not have to be induced and all of those things that were stirring fear in me. The wait...I waited and I felt labor and no baby. The due date came and went and so did the signs of "false" labor. I found myself not even wanting to speak that I was feeling labor because it would stop every time I did! I had to set an induction date-trying to still believe, knowing that it was better to be a fool believing in my God than to not believe that He can do what seems impossible.

I found myself having contractions on a Tuesday afternoon. They were consistent more than ever. I went about doing my own thing and Andy and I went to bed that night with little anticipation as we had some false alarms before. And then at 4:10am I had a huge contraction and my water broke! I knew it was it. God answered my prayer! My God is faithful. I labored (with Andy as my coach-he labored too) for 6 more hours and at 10:13am Owen Jackson arrived. He is my baby that reminds me of my faithful God and how when we believe RIGHTEOUSNESS is credited to our account. I have never been sad that I have put all my trust in Jesus. I have never been sad that I look like a fool when I speak things into fruition. God does not allow us to be fools. His timing was perfect and His gifts are better than we can ask or imagine. Owen is a gift-a gift of righteousness as I was forced to fall to my face and acknowledge my dependence on God and His promises. Believe. It's worth it.

Owen Jackson Hull
March 30,2011
10:13 am
8lb 11oz
21 inches

Pregnant pics-9mos of thanksgiving!

Molly, this one is for you!

As most of you have been aware...my pregnancy has been an interesting one! My gratitude has definitely been challenged and yet I constantly see the hand of God and I know that He has ordained this time. Where flu, colds and stomach bugs have prevailed, fun with family and friends has truly been grace-living. We have been so blessed in seeing family we haven't seen in a while and have made new friends in our new neighborhood and our old friendships are sweeter. Where placenta previa was rearing its ugly head, the peace of the Lord reigned over our house and baby Owen is safe and everything is perfect because He promises to keep us in perfect peace when we rely on Him. Itching....well, that was just horrible but I can say that I made it through 5 months of itching and can still thank the Father for blessing me with a pregnancy that has truly been a gift. Andy has had some stressful times at his work, and we are learning that stress steals our joy and discounts our belief. We are thankful for the need to press in and depend on HIM!
Jesus knows what we need best. Our job is to believe and receive from Him. This is what you learn when you see that allowing Him to speak and by believing what He says is true. I pray that our learning doesn't stop here and I pray that our hearts remain thankful.

March is here..updates!

Ivy is "icing" her cupcake-it was our family night "activity" (don't try it)

Emery iced her cupcakes and overturned a couple on the floor...fun for her (not so much for this mama who had to clean!)

Cutie Cowgirls-there is always an adventure on Rosecliff Terrace

Well, since I haven't been very good at posting here is a big FAT one! My laptop computer is about to retire (as soon as I get everything I need off of it) and I am having to use a desk top-OH NO! It is just not as convenient I must say and so hopefully (amongst all the other changes) we will be getting a new, portable computer!

Anyway, I will post some really cute pics of my cuties and then stay tuned....another cutie is on his way! (note the BLUE blog)

Emery-she is 4 1/2 and almost 5. She is into cowboy boots and dress up-not princess though! She loves safari dress up, police officer dress up and we have been most places in her cape! Oh yes. She has quite the imagination and is a true delight. We are watching her grow right in front of us! She loves her Pre-K class at Sonshine Academy and will be attending Kindergarten there next year. I had to bite my lip at the Kinder informational meeting because I was holding back the tears! She is ready as she is starting to read and has 2 LOOSE TEETH! (We try not to wiggle them because Andy and I are still in denial!) Emery also is showing maturity by trying to be polite to strangers and come out of her box when people speak with her. She reminds us when, "she was not shy!" She also enjoys riding her new bike to the park and the duck pond. She is our girl of adventure!
Emery and Ivy are great friends and play so well together. They recently got bunk beds for their room so that has been a great thing as well. She is a great big sister and an immense help! She is anticipating the arrival of Owen!

Ivy-2 1/2 and a joy! She is hillarious and so much fun. Her name means love and we just are always hearing her tell us that she loves us. She says it all the time and it is one of the sweetest things! She is an amazing swimmer and enjoys swim lessons with her friend, Kara. I can't wait to see her swim in our pool this summer! She is often found in her Rapunzel dress and loves to ask Andy if she is pretty! She is a true princess in every way. When I do her hair there is always a request for a bow and usually her outfit shines with her Cinderella shoes! Anything sparkly is IVY!
I am not sure if she knows what is about to hit with the coming of a new baby, but her tenderness will be appreciated and I know she will rise to the occasion and be a big help!

Owen is due in 26 days and I am finally feeling ready! We got a crib last Sunday (Andy broke ours in our move and we finally decided to declare it a loss) and so that has kicked in my nesting instincts! Owen's room is mostly ready. I didn't realize it would take me months and numerous trips to Good Will and friends houses to get rid of all the pink I own! Wow! I will post a pick of the nursery once it is finished.

I have read several books since the beginning of the year and the one I am enjoying now is One Thousand Gifts. Read it. It will change your life. It is a book on gratitude and how it changes your life. So, my focus is on thanksgiving as I enter this new season. Wanting to see miracles? Thanksgiving. Wanting to not fear? Thanksgiving. Wanting to know Jesus? Thanksgiving. Joy? Thanks. It is so true and so I continue to read and continue to give thanks to my Savior. I am so blessed.

Enjoy the pics...they are just a glimpse of what we truly experience-the joy in our house!

Old news....

My life since July(since I last posted)
1. My computer is on the skitz. (can't really say it is fixed since I took it on a scrapbooking weekend and still haven't been able to scrapbook anything on it!)
2. My communication has been marginal since my computer has been on the skitz...however, I am getting very familiar with (and hate to admit that I like) my mac!
3. My picture taking has been extremely lame since I am not easily downloading and all the other great things that go with that!
4. I watch a lot more fox news these days since I am not on the internet!
5. We are having a boy!
6. His name will be Owen Jackson (after Stonewall)....aka Mighty Owen believing he will be a Mighty Man of God
7. I have had some complications in my pregancy and have been on restriction but we are believing everything will resolve. (our doctor has already seen improvement and is hopeful)
8.I absolutely love my husband, Andy! He is with our girls this weekend as I am away on a all girls retreat! He worked so hard to help me get my computer back!
9. Emery is doing great in Pre-K. Her teachers say she is a "take charge" kinda girl! We are really seeing her heart respond to the Holy Spirit's lead.
10. Ivy is such a delight. She is so joyful. Today she told me that she, "loved me more than hot chocolate!" (that was on the phone before she kissed it!)
11. Even in this challenging season of my pregnancy I am so blessed in the faithfulness and the sweetness of our King.

God is Faithful

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."
Psalm 115:1

I stumbled on this verse early in the summer as I found it in my bible because the name "Emery" was written by it. The word "glory" was given to me for her, and then I kept reading about love which was the word for Ivy and then I came to faithful and I knew that was for the other longing I had in my heart. "NO! I don't want to go there Lord! I have already believed and believed and it is exhausting in every way." I continued to complain, "What if I get let down?"
June 18 came and we were at a graduation party for a friend and Andy and I enjoyed speaking to a guy named Ron. He was scratchin' us where we were itchin' as we talked about the kingdom of God and loving people. He continued to bless us and pray for us like he had known us forever. asked us about more children. I quickly told him our story and he encouraged us by praying for us that we would have another! We got in the car and I looked at Andy and said, "I don't know if I wanna receive that word!" We both chuckled and went on our way.
Andy took a trip to Israel through work and I had lots of plans while he was gone. About the 3rd day he was gone, I was really struggling and even asked Andy to pray for me as I wasn't sure what was wrong! I ended up taking a pregnancy test to confirm how crazy I was and it was positive! Nine years of marraige and never a positive pregnancy test. I called Andy immediately as it was 6am Israeli time and told him. I have been in shock ever since. God is faithful. Baby Hull is due late March.
Saturday night we sang the song by Christi Nockels, Healing is in your Hand, and I just balled. God has been doing a healing work in my life this entire year. I have found myself on my knees in repentance more than ever. It is only His grace. I have seen relationships restored and I pray that Jesus is in my life more than ever. I believe that God is our healer and He wants us to live completely healed lives. This baby is just a piece of how much the Healer loves me and my family. God is faithful. This baby is living proof. So the Hull's say, "Not to us, O Lord, but to your NAME be all the glory because of your love and faithfulness! Amen, and amen

Washington DC

Andy was assigned a trip to Washington DC through work, so the girls and I decided to tag along. It was a great trip. We stayed one block off the mall and so we did a lot of walking and the girls rode in the stroller. They were such troopers. The weather was beautiful until the heat hit on the last day, but for Texans it was hardly "heat!"
Some highlights of our trip were visiting the Smithsonian Museums, a planetarium show, rides on the metro and the carousel. We had several pretzels from the street vendors. Emery loved pressing the elevator buttons in the hotel! We visited the National Aquarium. (this was a major let down for Mommy...I didn't think it was good at ALL!) We saw a Parade at the Marine Barracks and Emery stirred up the courage to shake hands with some "brave men." We enjoyed the fresh fruit from the Eastern Market. (that is the only place we had fresh food the whole week!) We went up to the 550th story of the Washington "Momument" (as Emery would say). It was a wonderful visit. We are glad to be home.

American Girl Lunch

One of the things I enjoy most is reading to my girls. I truly believe that the love of reading is a gift. Although, I don't know if I have this gift, but Andy does and I want it! I see the benefits and we are working on loving reading together!
Emery and I read one of the series from the American Girl books: Felicity. It is a fiction series with history throughout. I wasn't sure if she would enjoy it, but she did. Once I realized she was enjoying it we made a deal that when we read all of the books in the series (6 total), that we would visit the American Girl store in Dallas! Wow! That was a great time. We had lunch and enjoyed visiting with all the different dolls. I highly recommend the books and the visit to the store!