KTIS Family Reunion Finalists!

If you are from Minnesota and listen to Christian radio, you are probably familiar with KTIS.  Every spring, this radio station holds a contest for a "Family Reunion" to take place at their Joyful Noise Family Fest in June. 

Families submit entries about themselves and what a family reunion would mean to them. The entries are then narrowed down to the radio station's top 5 families. This year, my hubby entered our family and we are now one of the top 5! 

Our story aired on KTIS last week. Now this week, voting has begun. Listeners can go to myktis.com and vote for the family that they would like to see win the family reunion. 

Here is what is included in the prize: 

20 round trip domestic flights 

10 hotel rooms 

50 tickets to Joyful Noise on Saturday, June 8th

A tent with a catered meal at Joyful Noise

I may have mentioned this before, but hubby is from upstate New York and all of his family is still there. He is very close to his family and talks to them often. However, we don't get to see them as often. Now, with a baby on the way, it has been even harder to create a connection for Baby Christian to his family in New York. 

Because we go to a big church, baptisms are only done every couple of months and they are large group baptisms, not individual. Knowing that we wanted to baptize Christian right away, we scheduled his baptism far in advance and already know that he will be baptized the morning of Saturday, June 8th...the same day as the family reunion! 

It would mean so much to my hubby and me (and Christian too!) for our New York Family (and some of my out of state extended family) to be able to meet Christian soon after his birth and be able to share in his baptism. This Family Reunion is not only a once in a life time opportunity but so is Christian's baptism and he will only be a baby for so long. 

Please feel free to share this with your family and friends! Help us win the family reunion and be able to share Christian's baptism with our whole family! 

Please visit KTIS online to read more about our story, listen to our interview, and vote for us (The Foote Family)! Winners will be chosen by the end of the week, so please vote now! 

Thank you so much for your time and your vote!!! 

VOTE NOW

Music Monday

After sharing some songs last week, I've decided to start a 'Music Monday' post! Check back every Monday for an inspirational song. 

Check out this oldie, but goodie! It was my theme song my senior year of college in 2009. 

Robbie Seay Band - Song of Hope 

I was really involved in a Christian Organization called 'Intervarsity Christian Fellowship' during college. The semester that I graduated, I was recognized at a Large Group gathering along with all of the other graduating seniors. We all got to pick our favorite worship song to be played during the worship time. This was the song I picked. 

Just a few weeks ago, it was my prayer that God would make himself known to me and how he has been present in my life. 

I help with the high school youth group at my church called Catalyst. It was during the worship time at Catalyst a few weeks ago that this song was played. It's not exactly one of the 'regulars' and I haven't heard it since! 

It was such a great reminder to me that during my time of hopelessness as I was graduating and entering the real world  and my plans weren't playing out as expected, that God was near me and at work. He came down and put the desires of my heart into a plan, but in His timing and it was perfect. 

I had always thought that I would graduate and get married and start a family right away. I just wanted to be a wife and a mom. But God had other plans for me. He had some work to do in my and my future hubby before we were ready for each other. 

About 2 years after I graduated, I met my future husband. He had moved to Minnesota from New York and I had moved to Minnesota from Wisconsin. We both had gone through a lot of refining and were ready for each other. God had come done and had been with me through all of that...through every season and is with me now. 

Such an encouraging thought for me this week as I think about all that is to come for our little family! 

I know God is with you this week too! What are you trusting Him for? 

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Chris Tomlin + Kari Jobe Concert Burning Lights Tour

For hubby and I, our weekend was busy and yet filled with resting as we are both fighting colds...me more than him! 

Last night, we were able to power through and find the energy to make it to the Chris Tomlin Burning Lights Tour Concert at the Target Center in Minneapolis. While we didn't quite have the energy to join in on any of the dancing, it was a really fun concert and a somewhat "new experience"....having Christian "with" us! 

I haven't been able to figure out if there is any way to tell what music your baby likes in your womb, but Christian always squirms and kicks up a storm to more mellow and relaxing music. Play him some fast and rocky music and he goes still. 

With Kari Jobe opening for Chris Tomlin, she definitely played more of the 'mellow' songs, but baby was still. But by the time Chris Tomlin was singing his 6th song, 'Indescribable', baby was kicking and squirming away! Even as I'm playing the song now getting ready to upload a video from youtube for this post, he is just a kickin'! 

And I had to love when he started kickin' up a storm again during mommy's favorite song, 'Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)'.

It was such a fun thing to experience! Especially with hubby. I can't wait for Christian to be here and to teach him about worshipping God and who Jesus is as his personal savior. 

It was definitely a spirit filled night and I was reminded of many great truths, especially through Kari Jobe's music. Check out this last song. Such a great reminder of who God is for us. All of her songs seem to bring forth this message both of who God is and who we are in Him.

'You are for Me' 

Be blessed friends! 

 

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Thankful Thursday - Hubby Love!

Just last week I came across this image shared on Facebook: 

As I read it, and of course shared it, it hit me how much I really take advantage of my husband. 

When we first started dating, I soaked in all of his sweetness and care for me and constantly showed him appreciation for how he valued and treated me. Now, just 8 months into marriage, I can see the ways that I no longer show appreciation but instead have come to expect this behavior from him. It is such a blessing and should not go unnoticed. 

I am currently 34 weeks pregnant and more cranky, irrational, and hormonal than ever. Does my hubby get annoyed and cranky back at me? NO! He caters to my every need and shows me continual unconditional love. 

How did I get so lucky?? 

Well, I like to think that he was a long awaited answer to prayer. 

In the summer of 2008, I began to pray for my future husband. I knew that I wanted to be married someday and wanted to be able to give all of my heart to my future husband, so I started a journal where I would write letters to my future husband. I would write about what was going on in my life and wonder about what was going on in his. I would also pray for him and that God would not only be preparing him for me, but preparing me for him. 

I gave this journal to my husband when we were first engaged. Believe me, it was somewhat embarrassing to hand over something so personal and vulnerable. But my husband loved it. And coming together with someone in marriage is a personal and vulnerable act. Two truly do become one while still maintaining all of your individuality. 

God sent my hubby just for me. And me for him, even if during pregnancy I seem to often feel like hubby would be much better off without me and all of my craziness. 

So today, and every day, I am thankful for the blessing of my amazing husband and this post is a thank you to him. 

I am thankful to my hubby for.... 

Continually loving on me even when I'm unlovable

Doing his best to make me comfortable even when the only thing that will truly make me comfortable is getting his child out of me! 

Helping out so much around the house when I'm not feeling well...from dishes to laundry, cooking and cleaning he is always willing to pitch in and never complains

Telling me he thinks I am more beautiful than ever even while I feel like I just look more fat than ever 

Listening to me when I'm emotional and irrational...laughing and crying at the same time.....for no reason at all. Yep. Gotta love hormones! 

Helping me tie my tennis shoes...because I can no longer do it myself. I have returned to being a helpless child...

Being there for me to lean on with all the ups and downs that this pregnancy has given me

Being so supportive of me in all the adventures that our life together has given us

Making me laugh when I'm feeling down

Working so hard to provide for our growing family. He is such a hard worker and I know he will always do whatever is needed to provide for us

Helping me grow to be a better person and the best me I can be

Always pushing us to grow in our faith and leading our family to pursue God and give glory to Him

Praying for me in my darkest of moments

Being a big kid at heart which will make him the best daddy I could have asked for for our kids!

I could honestly go on all day...but I'll spare you :) 

Thank you Jesus for blessing me with this amazing man and answering my prayers more perfectly than I could have ever expected! 

I LOVE YOU HUBBY! 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

"Two are better off than one, for they can help the other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

 

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Source: Google

So often, as Valentine's Day rolls around, we immediately think about our romantic partners...do we have one? Are we single? Married? Desperately seeking someone? In a committed relationship?

For the majority of my teenage years, I know these were where most of my thoughts went around this time of year. Does my crush like me? Will he send me flowers? Will anyone send me flowers or show that they like me today? Besides my mom that is...I could always count on her.

My sophomore year of high school, my perspective was changed. I was attending a Christian youth conference with my youth group at the Target Center in Minnesota - Acquire the Fire. Coincidentally we were there on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2004. I can't believe its already been 9 years since that day. What exactly the speaker shared on that day, I don't exactly remember. But I remember him talking about Valentine's Day and that forever Jesus has loved me and pursues me. He wants to know me more and wants me to come to him. Having grown up in the Lutheran Church, knowing that Jesus died on the cross for my sins wasn't really a new concept, but understanding this in a more personal way was very new to me. It was at this conference that I truly first accepted Christ and began to understand what his love for me meant. I wanted my "treasure" to be with him. Thank you Micah Tawlks! Not sure what happened to this band but I miss them!

I have been listening to this song on repeat the last few days, reminiscing in my first experience in understanding Jesus. Forever from that day, Jesus truly would be "My Valentine". He really is everyone's Valentine, but it holds extra special meaning for me.

It was several years later after this Valentine's Day that my good friend Rachel and I spent Valentine's Day together as single ladies in college. We knew Jesus would always be our first love, but longed to know an earthly love as well. So we did what most young, naive girls do...we made a check list for our potential future husbands. Little did I know, that God would grant me that check list in my future husband 2 years later!

So today I am reflecting on not only who I have come to know Jesus as over the past 9 years, but also on how he has so blessed me as I will be spending Valentine's Day this year with my husband of almost 6 months! I don't know what I would do without this man. I love him so much and he is so good to me. God knew what he was doing when he blessed me with him because he is more than a list could ever show and more than I could have known I would want or need.

Praying that my love for him will not be of my own strength alone, but be an overflow of the love I have experienced in Christ.

Oh and Jim was a package deal so I'm lucky enough to get to snuggle and love on this cutie this year too!

Crazy to think that next year we will have one more little love to love on :) Can't wait to meet Christian James in about 96 days give or take!!! Love him already!

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

Dreams Really DO Come True

August 18, 2012 marked the start of a new beginning for me...embarking on life as a wife! Something I had only dreamed and prayed about for YEARS! I remember getting ready to walk down the aisle and wanting nothing more that to just bawl and bawl and bawl because I was so happy to be blessed with what I had prayed for for so long. God really does "give us the desires of our hearts" and makes sure they come true...its just all in HIS timing. Not ours.

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! :)