Time Travel Tuesday ~ Blog beginning edition!

For time travel Tuesday we are going back to our first blog post, posting it again, and telling about how we got started blogging...

I first started blogging because of Isabelle (pray for izzy). We had been emailing updates out for about a year to hundreds of people. With such a big list, it became hard to keep it all straight when addresses changed, etc. I started her blog so that anyone interested in her progress could just look whenever they wanted at the updates that I posted. It made my life a little easier. This first post was actually typed by Matt.

5 20 05
Isabelle continues to do really well.
We had a neurologist appointment today, I was really hoping she would be perky and alert today.
She was tired and not really very alert at the appointment, but still continues to make improvements.
The neurologist said it was 'dramatic' that she is not on any medication and not having any seizures, she also said it was 'huge' that at one year out from her accident she is not being fed by a tube anymore.
It was a year ago yesterday that Isabelle got into the pool. Since yesterday, I keep having these overwhelming realizations of how much God loves us and has blessed our family. That may sound a little strange, being as my baby drowned in a pool and all... but this last year with all it's trials has been filled with more blessings than trials. I don't quite know how to articulate how I am feeling. I am getting some sense of how deep & how wide His love is for us.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
The last couple of days I have had some small sense of what I think this scripture is talking about. Also I have found lately that my prayers have been filled with more praise than with requests. In the beginning, it was more of "Lord get me through this night." and then "Lord get me through this moment." with a little praise sprinkled in there and from there it went on with prayers and petitions for Isabelle's recovery. Now my prayers are full of extreme thanksgiving and praise, so much so I can not find the words to express the gravity of the knowledge I am beginning to grasp. I have started to study the Psalms to find words to speak what I am experiencing. Some of the words I have been using to describe God are: shield, shepherd, refuge, stronghold, helper, King, defender, rock, deliverer, savior, dwelling place, and resting place. I'm not finished, but that's what I have come up with so far.
This may sound like a lot of rambling, but I guess what I am trying to say is that the Lord has lavishly and richly blessed us here in Choctaw and has blessed us with the love shown to us by our family, church family, friends, coworkers, and all of Isabelle's new friends in cyberspace.
Please join us in praising and glorifying God for what He has done for us this last year and what He continues to do.
Sincerely,
Matt P.
p.s. When wondering why Isabelle's recovery is slow, I realize that a slow-cooked miracle probably tastes a lot better than a microwaved one!!!

Psalms 34

I will bless Jehovah at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah: The meek shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 Oh magnify Jehovah with me, And let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought Jehovah, and he answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were radiant; And their faces shall never be confounded. 6 This poor man cried, and Jehovah heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them. 8 Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him. 9 Oh fear Jehovah, ye his saints; For there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; But they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah. 12 What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cried, and Jehovah heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles. 18 Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned. 22 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; And none of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned.

After a while, I started seeing fun meme's and other things I wanted to participate in. I didn't feel like Izzy's update blog was the place to do that so I started my life as annie. I have met some really good friends and neat Christian ladies since I've been blogging. It has been a great way to be social when I am home with Izzy. I am so thankful for all my bloggy friends who encourage me, pray for me & izzy, and read my blog. I also have a few friends who blog too, and it is another way to keep in touch with them. I love blogging! This is my first post to my blog. It is an odd post huh?

11 29 06

I started a new bible study a few days ago and I am learning a lot. King Uzziah was King when Isaiah was growing up. His story is in 2nd Chronicles. He was a great leader and became too full of himself. He ended up going into the temple and burning incense, which was only permitted by priests. He was stricken with leprosy and died alone. Wow, pride can really inhibit a real relationship with God and ruin your life. This week is less hectic than last. I still have not been inspired enough to face pulling out all the Christmas boxes (ugh). I did look at them today while putting away the containers of Fall decorations...and I did hang the Christmas flag... I made a wreath for the front door. I love all the believe signsI am seeing this year. I bought just a cheap (inexpensive...) wreath, put the believe sign and red bowalong with some silver stars. I think all together I spent $7 and it really is cute. Hopefully I'll get the drive to do what I need to do.I also really really really need to clean out my closet (double ugh). It is cold and rainy today which is great. I took Iz to school today. When I picked her up it started thundering and lightening so much that we sat in the car for a little while waiting for the rain to let up a bit. I'm still trying to diet. I want to start exercises but haven't figured out when. I could during Izzy's school, but right now I have been using that short time to run errands. I guess I need to prioritize. I think I've lost about 15-18 pounds in the last month or so. I made a pretty good new recipe last night Matt's mom gave me during Thanksgiving. It was black bean cakes with spanish rice. It was really good, matt & emelia loved it.

Okay, I have a few ideas for next week... but could really use your input!