Jewelry is not important to me. . . . .She is.

          As alot of you already know I am having a Premier Designs party on October 24th at Mexi Wing II at 6 pm. ( You will get a more formal invite, but EVERYONE is welcome:)  I know all of you have been scratching your heads because I am not a jewelry person at all not even slightly. The jewelry I have and you see me wearing are ALL gifts from others. (Which I love and am thankful for because without it I would literally have no jewelry.) Jeremy and I even got our wedding rings tattooed on something most women would cringe at the thought of. So the question on everyones mind is Why is Stephanie having a jewelry party????



To help a friend :) Below is my answer and the words of my friend Whitney.

Hi everyone!!! I am the Premier Designs Independent Consultant that will be conducting Stephanie's jewelry show. I just want to let you know that this show has a purpose greater than selling jewelry. Recently, we found out that my brother-in-law has cancer. He will be having surgery mid October & will be out of work for approximately 8 weeks. God has laid on my heart that during his time off, I will be donating 50% of the profits from every show that I hold to my sister's family to help supplement them during my brother-in-law's time off from work. I hope you will consider joining us for fellowship & fun, do some Christmas shopping (or shopping for yourself :D) & help support a worthy cause!!! Thank you 
Whitney Reynolds

No Jewelry is not important to me, but She is.

Reflecting on my week. . . .

   I'm sitting here this morning ( after sleeping in :) ) on the couch curled up with my laptop and a blanket listening to the rain ping on the windows. It is truly a peaceful morning and I am thankful for days like this. I have had a wonderful week. Monday and Tuesday I spent with Jeremy just enjoying our time off together. Wednesday was my first day keeping Jacob. How did that go? I know most of you are wondering. Let me answer that with a question

 How could He not steal your heart??

I know its blurry He was not about to be still for a picture but he sure did smile!

        We are still in the getting use to each other stage and it will take a couple weeks before we get in our groove, but we got through our first week so it all gets easier from here. :)


     I don't talk on the phone much, but I do keep in touch with Mandi ( my friend from Montana, Alayahs Mom)  through texting  at least a couple times a week sometimes daily. Well thursday night she was having computer trouble and Jeremy was texting her trying to help fix it, and said it would be easier to call than text so he called her. Of course when he was about to hang up he said do you wanna talk to Steph. So I talked to Mandi and Alayah a little too. I didnt realize what I was missing. When I hung up my heart was full, and of course I still miss them like crazy but my heart hurt a little less. Needless to say I will be calling more often!!!!


     So there we have it finally a great week. After 9 weeks of being in Tennessee I am thankful to be able to say a week with no bad days has come!!  Even when bad days come I am thankful still because God has blessed us hugely.  Every need He has met, and yes unexpected things happen from wisdom teeth being removed to not transitioning as fast as we had hoped or planned to drastic changes in income, but God has and is seeing us through it all. HE is working everything out for our good even though at times we don't understand.

   Have a blessed weekend!!!!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
 Romans 8:28
  

The amazing Gift of Adoption!!!!

   Do you remember the McCoshs?? When they announced their plan to adopt I remember being shocked, but so excited for them. I knew they would be giving a amazing gift to a child. When I heard they would be adopting not one but two boys I was like excuse me?  But we  were so excited for them and began to pray.   I remember the day they brought Koby and Si home. I was so excited!!! Click here to read the post I wrote that day. 
    At the time I had no idea we would be working with Derek and His family at The Fellowship Church just 6 months later. Yet here we are. I cannot imagine the McCoshs without Koby and Si. They have made me laugh and smile everytime I have been around them. Their joy is contagious. Although in the beginning I mostly thought about the amazing gift Derek and Christy would be giving the boys I now realize the gift the boys have given the McCosh family as well. I know they have brought so much joy and happiness.
    Check out the joy and love in this video The McCoshs oldest daughter Ivy made to celebrate the one year mark of the boys court date where they were officially McCoshs.

Life went on without us. . . . .

        Hey guys just wanted to  check in and assure everyone that I am around and well. My emotions are a roller coaster lately, but as I spoke to a sweet friend of mine just this week who has been where I am and through the exact same thing She promised me all these feelings are completely normal. She also informed me that it took her about a year to "adjust" to life at home again. The thing most people who haven't been through this dont realize is, while we were gone for two years life went on here without us, and that's why its so different. Its not the life we  left and just like it has change,  we have changed too.
  
      As most of you probably know Jeremy and I are helping with a church plant in Sweetwater, Tennessee. To read more about The fellowship Church click here. Things are going great  and this sunday we had 40 at our sunday service. Jeremy is worship leader and it is great to see things growing and moving forward. I play tambourine in our praise team which is something totally new for me. It has been great to try something new, and pour my focus and time into it.
 
  I hope  that everyone will continue to bare with me through this "transition period" and know that although Jeremy may not show it the way I do he is going through all of these emotions too. Please do not think that we aren't grateful for all God has done for us in Tennessee or that we made the wrong choice by coming home. Neither are true. God has blessed us hugely and we could never thank Him enough, and although some days are painful and its hard to understand we know we did what He asked us to do.

      Please continue to remember us in prayer.

Let’s be gentle with each other. Let’s read each other’s signs.

Click the link to read this story. So true!!


Let’s be gentle with each other. Let’s read each other’s signs.

Home. . . . . .

   I remember what it felt like when we moved to Montana, but I guess there was so much excitement that it made it more of a adventure. I know there is excitement in Tennessee as well. This change is by far harder than moving to Montana. Which I will agree with you makes absolutely no sense. I am thankful to be with my family, but my heart literally aches for my family in Hungry Horse. I know we are where God wants us for now and maybe forever not sure what our future holds, but change is hard. Tennessee is so different. It doesn't feel the way it felt two years ago. Then it hit me its not home. Wow never thought I'd say that. Somewhere along the line Montana became home and we never even knew it. I know your probably thinking WHAT?? and I can't believe i'm writing it myself, but thats how it feels. God has a plan for us in Tennessee so don't worry were not about to hop on a plane and fly the cope, but that doesn't mean this is easy. Sometimes the things God ask us to do are very hard. When I felt Him telling me it was time to come back to Tennessee I won't lie I was thrilled. I missed my family, I worried about my grandparents, and the thought of being with them again felt wonderful. Then we get here and it is wonderful, but I hurt for the life we left behind.
    
 Here are some answers to some questions you may have.......

   How do you know God wants you in Tennessee??  
          From the time we left Montana God was with us blessing us. We had a wonderful trip home with Jeremys parents with no trouble. Within 2 weeks Jeremy had a job. The job  met EVERY need we had prayed about.  We prayed constantly for God to provide us with a place to live.( We were living with Jeremys parents so when I say a place to live I mean a place of our own.) Everything happened so fast we found a place and moved in within a week of finding it. So within a month of being home we had a place to live. I had some personal things I was praying about that were just answered!!  We knew God wanted us to work with The Fellowship Church. God has been blessing it hugely. These are all blessing that God has poured out over us since We have been home. I truly believe coming back was His will.

      

   Does that make it easy? 
      No

   Does that give us some peace even while our hearts are breaking?
       YES!


 What can you do?
   Just remember us in prayer. Pray for our transition and for us to realize and embrace our roles God has for us at TFC and in Tennessee in general.

 If you have anymore questions just comment below and I will get back to you soon. We appreciate you and all your prayers.



The truth is none of us are really home. . . . . . . . .

     

Worth the wait!

   My beautiful baby,
         I can wait for you because you will be worth the wait!!!!
                                                                      Love,
                                                                   Momma

Happy 2nd birthday to the prettiest redhead I know!!!

            I still remember the first time I met your Momma (Mandi) and She handed you to me.....

   I became your babysitter and it wasnt long before you had me completely wrapped around your little finger.

   Everyday was a adventure and watching you grow  and learn new things brought me so much joy....

First time standing ( at our house. not her actual first time ever)

    We weren't rich and couldn't give you the world ( although if we could we would) So we learned to enjoy the little things.....

 
   We wore Jeremys shoes.....

     We Mimicked each other....

  We painted....

  We went swimming...

We cooked....

  We bounced....

  We wore shorts with house shoes.....

 

We wore dew rags.....

 We annoyed Molly.....

  We slid.....

We played with bubbles.....

        We danced (with a pb&j sandwich)

       We rode in a cozy coop....

     And sometime during all the other things we did we became best friends.....

 

    Leaving was extremely painful
 and everyday hurts because were apart,
    but we'll always be together
because your always in our hearts.

     And today is your birthday
 and we wish we were there to play
and do all the things we use to do
 and enjoy your special day.


We hope you know that we love you
and that we really wanted to stay.
But only for selfish reasons
Like playing with you everyday.

   Never forget all the things I told you
The day we said our goodbyes
Like how much me and God love you
and how you are so precious in His eyes.

You were created for a purpose
 and God has a plan for you.
So have a great birthday Alayah
 and welcome to year number two!!!!

Exactly how i feel today!

Hey guys......

  Hello out there!!! Man it has been a rough weekend.  I guess I am a major baby. There are just somethings that drive my crazy and gauze are one of them. :( I knew they would be necessary, but I guess I was naive to the fact that there would be SO MUCH blood. Ugh which is the next thing I dont take very well. Needless to say most of friday was spent uncomfortable. Finally the bleeding stopped and the gauze could come out and life was grand again. That however did not last for long since Saturday morning I woke up sick and I mean cant keep anything down sick, but since I had not ate much guess what I got to see once again. Yep, Blood. So I spent most of the day in bed. Did I mention everytime I went by the mirror I wanted to cry. My face is literally huge!!!!!!!!! Sunday came and I still felt super nauseous So not a whole lot of eating going on. Finally today came ( Monday) and although still swollen like crazy and talking with a horrible lisp there seems to be a faint light peaking through the end of the tunnel.  No nausea today and not horrible pain. Yes today is better and the swelling has gone down some showing a huge bruise on my right cheek :/
           I cant complain about not being taken care of because that would be a HUGE lie. My husband was by my side taking care of me ( even though it was his last weekend off before starting work) My mom was here everyday except saturday when I forbid her to come because it was her birthday! My mother in Law came by with a gift and to check on me. My church family and so many others offered encouraging words on facebook and so many prayers went up for me. I am overwhelmed at how loved I am and at the awesome support system I have. Thank you all so much for all you did for me. It did not go unnoticed and it was appreciated very much.

Gifts from my husband 

Gifts from my mother in law.