New Abby Photos

Abby's 9 month photos have been posted.

She got to see great grandpa and grandma Phelps last night and had lots of fun crawling around their hotel room and being noisy, as usually. She actually let grandpa hold her for a few minutes, without squirming, which was amazing.

We are still waiting for those little teeth to pop through, only one has shown up so far. Another is about to make it's entrance, but it seems a little shy. Abby got her first new pair of shoes today. We're going to Disney Land next Saturday to celebrate My dad's and Elody's birthday and we thought it would probably be a good idea for her to have a pair of shoes that fit :)

We've been busy packing. Only 6 days left, Yikes!

Week 3 of the job hunt during prayer and fasting

Day 1: Mat got in touch with his school and figured out everything he needs to do.

Day 2: Joy picked up the job application for Mat and he filled the whole thing out in about 10 mins.

Day 3: Not much on the job front, we had youth group and spent most of the day preparing for that. We did pray for Mat during accountability though. We decided to move in with Joy's parents.

Day 4: Mat received a call from the varsity coach asking if he was interested in coaching a club team. He called the mom in charge of the team and is meeting with the team next Tues. Mat was also able to find out where to turn his other job application in at. Joy got in touch with the charter school she applied at and her credential analyst.

Day 5: Mat talked to the contact about the driving job. It turned out to not be what he was expecting. It would involve driving to Orange County daily and overtime.

Day 6: Joy found out that the charter school is only hiring teachers who already hold their clear credential :( She only has her preliminary.

Day 7: We went to church and a night of worship. Two people were given references to fill out for Mat's grad school.

Week 4

Day 1: Mat got in contact with his best friend, who works at William Jessup, and he's putting in the good word for Mat. Our LIFE group continued to pray for us during our weekly meeting.

Day 2: Mat heard back from the soccer coach from William Jessup, who would like Mat to work with the team if he is able to find employment there. We received a very encouraging e-mail from a member of our church about trusting in God to provide a job. It lifted our spirits! Joy heard from her credential analyst, who knows a possible job contact for teaching in a Riverside charter school. Mat also had his first day of soccer coaching, it seemed to go well.

Day 3: Mat continued to apply for Jobs all across the country, which he has been doing all along.

Day 4: Nothing New.

Day 5: Mat heard from school and everything except his transcripts are in. Mat's family came to town for Melissa's graduation. We had dinner with his grandparents.

Day 6: Packing, packing, packing.

Day 7: Melissa's graduation.

Things Too Great

"I do not seek, O Lord, to penetrate thy depths. I by no means think my intellect equal to them: but I long to understand in some degree thy truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe, that I may understand."

-Anselm, an 11th century English monk

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11

I have been seeing this verse absolutely everywhere. At a time where we are unsure of our future, it is very encouraging. A few times that I've seen it in our lives were first, my bible study leader had us read it a few weeks ago. Second, when Cathy sent my birthday card with that verse written in it. Mat and I play frisbee golf once a week and I looked over and saw it written accross the back of a car. Then, yesterday, it was a huge part of my bible study homework! Yay God! I love it when he communicates super clearly :)

A quick note about Abby:

She discovered her belly button on Monday. Her favorite game is still peek-a-boo. Abby tried to eat poop at the park, but Mat, being the amazing dad that he is, rushed to her side and popped that poopey right out of her mouth. She is climbing all over EVERYTHING! I was talking with a youth and turned away from her for a few seconds and when I looked back she was halfway up a flight of stairs. Other times it's been on a box, in the dishwasher, on the cat post. She sure is fun!

Week 2 of Prayer and Fasting

Our LIFE group is still fasting and praying for us, because we are still waiting for a job! God has been good this week, no job yet, but good none the less.

Day 1: Mat decided he was going to go to grad. school :)

Day 2: A friend of Joy's told her about a friend of a friend who has a job opening delivering medical supplies.

Day 3: Mat got in touch with the person who has the job opening.

Day 4: Mat tried to figure out how to pick up the application for the job (it's happening on Tues.).

Day 5: A day of rest.

Day 6: Mat finished filling out the FAFSA for school.

Day 7: We celebrated Mother's Day, Yay!

Abby Update

This morning Abby and I were in her room and Garfield came flouncing in and I said, "Here comes the kitty." Abby then tried to say kitty, but it just came out as "key." So cute! I love the baby babble. She is beginning to try and say a few words. She has "mama" and "dada" down, and is working on "Bumper" (my parents dog) pronounced "Bumpa," "Baby" = "bebe" and hi. We think she calls herself baby, which we often refer to her as, and Abby also sounds like baby. I know, it's confusing, but it's fun :) She also says hi, but I'm not sure she knows what it means.

Recently Abby has also learned to clap and kiss with her mouth open. We ask for a kiss and make a kissy sound and she give us a big, opened mouth, wet one, yummy! Today she also started playing peek-a-boo by herself. She would hold whatever was in her hand over her face and wait or not, for us to say, "where's Abby?" Then the idea is that she'd pull it off and we'd say, "boo." But sometimes she just gets too excited and does the whole process before we get any words out. One last thing she is learning is how to share. Mat said, "we didn't even have to teach her!" She shares her pacifier, sippy cups, gooey cookies, and more (you're jealous, I know). Next time you see her, I'll be sure and save some cookie for you.

Four more teeth are very rudely making themselves at home in Abby gums. They are all on top and only one has poked through so far. I'm checking her mouth every morning, but all I keep seeing are swollen gums with the outline of teeth on them. Hurry it up teeth!

We went to the park yesterday, as we do every Sunday afternoon, and most of the time we were on the grass, Abby was bear crawling around. We saw a Dr. who attends our church and he was watching Abby crawl around and pull herself up on the stroller, and he thought she might be walking in a month. Yay, I'm excited! People keep saying that she'll get into more things, but I really don't see how that's possible, I'll let you know when she starts though. I have been wrong about various other major events in my life before, such as thinking being married or having a child wouldn't be as much work as they actually are.

Review of Week One

Members of our life group have now been fasting and praying for God to provide Mat with a job for one whole week! Thank you so much :)

Day 1: Mat was able to get an incredible amount of applying done (7 applicaitons), and we found out that our rent will be lowered.

Day 2: Nothing new.

Day 3: Mat received a phone call from the Cal Baptist soccer coach, giving him advice on starting his collegiate soccer coaching career.

Day 4: Mat talked to a lady from William Jessup University about job openings, he called her, but it still counts as something!

Day 5: Joy received an email from on online teaching position she applied for in January. They are going to contact her in 4-6 weeks.

Day 6: Our day of rest, ahhhh.

Day 7: We received a check from a member of our church to help support our family until Mat finds a job.

Thanks for your prayers! God has been and is good to us :)

Why Life with Abby is so humorous

1. It's not every day I get to tell another person to get her mouth off of the garbage can, only every other day.

2. Mat talks to Abby the same way as he talks to the dog...no, sit, stay.

3. When Abby finishes her meal, she gets a whole second one with the contents of her bib.

4. We get to talk about poop.

5. We are raising an expert in escaping naked from stinky situations.