It's been a while

Well, this post should have been done a while ago, but we've been keeping pretty busy. It's been hard for me to sit down and keep up with my bills and emails let alone our blog . . . so while Karissa's sitting next to me playing with my books I'll write a little update on our lives.

The church has been going great, it's so exciting to see the Lord working in the lives of the people, but even more exciting is God's working in our lives as we interact with the Word each week. I have really enjoyed having Adam as my pastor. He is teaching through the sermon on the mount and it has been painfully good . . . I went through a time of discouragement because each week I had been convicted only to come back the same week and be re-convicted and sometimes over the same thing. I know that the Lord is slowing changing me (my own pride and sin has made it much more SLOW), for which I am thankful.

Our house has been very full recently. After Adam's parent's were here we had a 3 week break and then my sister's family was here for a week. It was wonderful to have them here, I hope it was a restful vacation for them. We just finished a long weekend with Andy & Kristin Brown and are now anticipating having the Busenitz here (hopefully soon) and my parents here the third week of July.

Adam finished his semester seminary class - which we REJOICED over. I know he was tired of traveling down to LA every week and the distraction of having something else on his plate besides the overwhelming responsibilities that he carried was almost too much, so we praise God for helping him finish and it be complete!

So that's a very brief update on what's going on. Below are some pictures from the past few months.

The First Year

The excitement is over, it is now quiet except for the lull of the house fan cooling things off. A year has past since we first laid eyes on our beautiful baby girl. I remember it almost being surreal in the hospital, holding our precious little bundle and not realizing the love and joy this little baby would bring. The Lord has truly blessed us with an amazing gift.

Looking back on what has taken place in our lives this past year has reminded me of how gracious our God has been! In someway Karissa’s birth seems like it was last month and in other ways it seems as if it was years ago. To recount some of what has gone on in this precious babies life: she was born in Texas April 29, 2007 at 2:32 a.m. Flew to Kingsburg when she was 3 weeks old; her mommy and daddy packed up the house when she was 5 weeks old, moved to Kingsburg when she was 6 weeks old, lived in a transition place for 6 weeks, and then moved into our home when she was just over 3 months old. Her daddy has become a teaching pastor, taken on much more responsibility, traveled to many different places, but has always come home more loved than when he left. He is her love! Doesn’t that make you want to praise God for His leading and grace in allowing her first year to be one marked with so many answers to prayer!

Karissa was once again spoiled by our friends and family (they all seem more like family) today. We are so thankful for the people that the Lord has brought into our lives as well! They have loved on Karissa (and us) and have already become a special part of our lives. We love them dearly.

My mind is becoming fuzzier the longer I sit. Tonight I am going to bed praising our Creator for the precious life that He created and for the days of her life that He has given us to steward.

The Newest Member of the Bailie Family

Easter Activities

We had a wonderful day celebrating Resurrection Sunday. We had an early morning Sunrise service on the river (although it was more of a Sunshine service since it was later) with breakfast, singing and a short challenge from Adam.

Then we all went to church for our usual morning service. It was a special Easter since it was our first Easter celebration as a church and with Adam being the pastor. Adam taught from I Cor. 15: 20-28. Two years ago, Adam and I were up here on Easter Sunday night and Adam taught for their Bible Study from I Cor. 15:12-18 - what if the Resurrection did not happen. This Sunday was two truths that extend from a resurrected Savior: 1) The resurrection secures imputed life vv. 20-22 2) The resurrection secures victorious life vv. 23-28. It was an encouraging time being in the Word together.

We were at some friends house for the afternoon. It was a very relaxing time - we had an Easter egg hunt (I think one of the first that Adam and I had participated in, at least that we could remember) and the one egg that we found together was a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory - pretty nice huh? We let the kids have all the candy filled eggs, we only looked for the gold or silver eggs. We then came back to the house and relaxed the rest of the night. It was a good day!

Here are some pictures from the day -

The one of Karissa with us in the morning was at the river - this picture is somewhat sentimental because it's first of all her first Easter, then the sweater she was wearing was mine as a baby. It was funny because the teenagers that it was so COOL because it was in style, they asked were I got it and when I told them it was mine as a baby - they actually said that it was even cooler because it's VINTAGE - talk about making me feel old!!! Anyway, hope you enjoy the pictures.




"Great Grandpa George" - Karissa
loves him!