From the March 7 entry in Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman:
“There is no way to learn of faith except through trials. They are God’s school of faith, and it is much better for us to learn to trust Him than to live a life of enjoyment. And once the lesson of faith has been learned, it is an everlasting possession and an eternal fortune gained. Yet without trust in God, even great riches will leave us in poverty.”
Hi Siestas! We did a runners-up drawing today from our original Siesta Scholarship Fund post where y’all entered various churches to win an Esther leader kit. (This week we added a button on our sidebar that will provide a permanent link back to that post.)
Today we are giving away 25 Measureless Love DVD’s. Measureless Love consists of three messages (on two discs) by Beth based on Ephesians 3:18-19 and Psalm 103:11-12.
These are the churches and ministries that will be receiving a the Measureless Love DVD’s. Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter!
Second Baptist Church Highlands, TX
(Submitted by Anon)
Healing Waters Church of God
(Submitted by Julie)
Providence Baptist Fellowship
(Submitted by Kelley)
Clark Street Baptist Church
(Submitted by Laura Beth Fletcher)
River of God Community Church
(Submitted by Teri~Facedown)
Oregon City Baptist Church
(Submitted by Beyond This Moment)
Christ Community Baptist Church
(Submitted by Bev)
For the Fame of His Name Ministries
(Submitted by Truthsharer)
Era Baptist Church
(Submitted by Cspann)
Swann Station Baptist Church
(Submitted by Tara G.)
Evergreen Baptist Church
(Submitted by Mandy Eley)
Lighthouse Rescue Mission
(Submitted by Leslie)
The Church at Tubac
(Submitted by Julianne)
Leaning Tree Church
(Submitted by Sugar Momma)
Immanuel Baptist Church
(Submitted by Linda LaFrombois)
The Unseen Hands Ministry
(Submitted by Anon)
Christ Community Baptist Church
(Submitted by Chad)
Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church
(Submitted by UL Cards Fan)
Cornerstone Bible Church
(Submitted by Karen)
Baptist Friendship House
c/o New Orleans Baptist Ministries, Inc.
(Submitted by Anon)
Hopedale Church of Christ
(Submitted by Nikki)
Calvary Baptist Church
(Submitted by Anon)
Navo Church
(Submitted by Screamofcontinuousness)
Covenant Life Ministries
(Submitted by Lyne Hitt)
Portico Church
(Submitted by Anon)
I was at my parents’ house last night, nursing Annabeth in the office upstairs while everyone else was hanging out in the living room. There’s a big bookshelf in that room that seriously might collapse if one more book gets crammed in it. Authors get sent all kinds of free books from their publishers, so our family never lacks in that department. I entertained myself by attempting to read the various titles, willing my blurry vision to focus. My eyesight is usually fine, but it’s been getting fuzzy at night since I’m a little sleep deprived. I was having trouble with one particular book title and then I realized it was Get Out of That Pit in Portuguese or something.
My husband, who loves to read books just as much as he likes to watch ESPN, certainly married into the right family. When we were newlyweds, he worked on the youth staff at the church we attend now. The church had a bookstore in it and staff members could have the cost of their purchase deducted from their paychecks. It was a little too easy, to say the least. Curtis came home with one or two new books every single week. He was only working part time and still finishing school, so it’s not like we had a lot of money to burn. I used to go in there and beg the manager not to let my hubby buy any more books. Jeanie, if Curt comes in here just tell him no! She always grinned and never made any promises.
Then for a season Curtis kept getting big boxes of old books given to him by his grandpa’s neighbor. Sure, these were free, but now there was the matter of space. Our house was absolutely overflowing with books. They were everywhere – under the bed, stuffed in our one small bookshelf, laying on the bar, stacked in random corners, and even filling our cars. It was madness. What finally saved me from losing my mind over those books was that with his next two jobs (including his current one), his offices had a whole wall lined with bookshelves. And there they all went. Give God some praise!
But don’t worry, we still have this next to our bed.
And since I cannot possibly leave you with such a tacky photo, here are some new ones of Annabeth. She was a month old on Tuesday. Can you believe it?
Here she is with her Big Pink Bear. I’m going to try to take her picture with him every month to show her growth.
She was obviously having some issues just now during our photo shoot. 
This was my first attempt at taking her picture with Big Pink Bear at just a week old. Apparently she’s just not that into him. 
I’ve been getting emails and comments for the past couple of weeks saying one thing: you want to testify to what God is doing in your life through Scripture memory. By all means, ladies, we want to hear how the Word of God is changing your life, and even your day as Beth says! We want to dedicate this post to that end.
Don’t forget that February is a short month, so our next Scripture Memory post will come early. March 1st is this Sunday. Please expect that about 12 hours might pass before you see your comment, not only because of the volume of comments we receive, but also because it falls on a weekend. Thanks so much, ladies! We love serving you!
When I was expecting Jackson, Curtis and I had a long list of baby girl names and a very, very short list of baby boy names. So short, in fact, that there was only one name on it. “Jackson” was literally the only name we agreed on. The name game is hard when you’ve worked with students because you have associations with just about every name you can come up with. And with one of the most common last names in America, we seemed to already know of someone named “Every-single-name-we-liked Jones.”
I didn’t expect naming our son to be that hard. After all, ever since college I’d planned that if I had a son, he’d be named Levi. (One of my BFF’s in college babysat a little Levi and he was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.) This was my plan right up until we actually had the chance to name a little boy. That was when Curtis enlightened me that Levi Jones sounded a lot like Levi Jeans. Noooooooo! It had never once occurred to me! I should have thought twice before marrying a Jones! So Levi was out. Jackson, the one and only name we could agree on, was it. Knowing and loving Travis and Angela Cottrell’s son Jackson (he goes by Jack now) made me love the name.
Fast forward three years. To our great surprise, we now had a chance to bring out that long list of baby girl names. Somehow we eliminated every single one to the point that we needed a brand new list. It’s crazy how that happens.
I so wanted to honor my mother with our baby girl’s name. I’m sure I don’t even need to tell you why. Honestly, I cannot adequately convey in words what it means to me. My mom is an incredible wife, mother, confidante, encourager, prayer warrior, servant, teacher, writer, and lover of God. I would have been thrilled for our daughter to be connected to her grandmother in that way and for her to carry on the legacy of loving God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Naming her after my mom would not be hard, as “Elizabeth” sounds beautiful as a middle name with almost anything you can come up with. But I don’t think of my mom as Elizabeth. I think of her as “Beth.” So I started brainstorming names that incorporated Beth. Bethany…Beth Ann…Annabeth! We fell in love with that name. It was not a common name, but still sounded classic in a southern sort of way. We felt it was perfect for our little girl.
Annabeth’s middle name is “Ellen,” which is from Curt’s side of the family. His great-grandmother was the first Ellen. I never had the privilege of meeting her, but I do know and dearly love Curt’s sister, who is named Lindsay Ellen. He also has a precious college-age cousin named Erin Ellen. Both of these young women live lives of wholehearted devotion to Christ. I have been so moved by their purity and also their desire and willingness to serve others. I would be thrilled for my daughter to enjoy a close relationship with and emulate the godly traits of both of these delightful women.
It’s truly a gift that our children can draw from a godly heritage on both sides of our family. I’m very thankful for that. At the same time, I realize that there may be a Siesta reading this blog who is the only one in her family who follows Christ. Sister, if that is you, please be blessed in the knowledge that a godly legacy is beginning with you! I pray that one day you will get to see your physical and spiritual offspring worshipping before the Throne. What great joy! I love the verse in 1 Thessalonians that says, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
If anyone would like to share, I’d love to know the story behind your name!
Hi everyone! I wanted to let you all know about Focus on the Family’s “Focus on Marriage” simulcast coming up next Saturday, February 28. Beth will be speaking at the event along with Dr. Gary Smalley, Dr. John Trent, Gary Thomas, Dr. Del Tackett, and artist/worship leader Jeremy Camp. The event will be broadcast live from Colorado Springs, CO, to simulcast host sites all across the country. You can click here to find out more information and here to find a host site near you.
Hi Siestas! I’ve been trying to come up with a great post about our first week with Annabeth, but I can’t seem to be in the right frame of mind to do it when I get a window of opportunity. I am so happy but sleepy and busy! So far, our adjustment has been a lot easier than it was when we had Jackson. It helps so much to have even the smallest clue what I’m doing this time. (Jackson’s diaper was the first I ever changed, if you can believe that.) Also, knowing that these sleepless nights really do end has done a lot for my attitude about sleeplessness. I find myself wanting to keep rocking my baby even after she falls asleep in my arms at night. I would give anything to go back and rock Jackson at this size one more time!
I know this post won’t address some of the questions I’ve been seeing about Annabeth’s name, how Jackson is doing, etc., but I plan on getting to those things soon. Thanks for all your sweet words over the last week. We love you girls!
This is Jackson at just a few hours old. My boy will turn three next Tuesday.
And here’s his little sister at just a few hours old. 
Annabeth meeting her namesake for the first time. 
Two grandmas trying to get a peek at their baby.
My mom and my sweet mother-in-law enjoying their first granddaughter.
This was right before we left the hospital.
You can see her going home outfit better here. I got that in the fall at Janie and Jack. It’s preemie size but still swallowed her. She had a matching hat and shoes, but they were enormous!
Here is Jackson holding Annabeth for the first time. He was so excited. We delayed this moment for quite a while just in case he was going to come down with that stomach bug. Unfortunately, he did get sick last night. At this point it seems to be a less evil strain of the virus than what my dad and sister had, for which I’m very thankful. 
Here is a perfect picture of my son’s gorgeous eyelashes. I’m not ashamed to say I prayed for my daughter to be blessed with them. So far her eyelashes are blond. Her hair is light brown right now if you can’t quite tell.
Annabeth hanging out on her daddy.
The princess, all fresh and clean (and mad) after her first sponge bath at home.
Curt and Jackson went to church last night and my mom came over to keep us girls company. She brought Annabeth some preemie outfits so she would have something that fits for the next couple of weeks. They’re so sweet!
Look at those sweet little lips.
Leave it to me to show you a picture of baked goods. These are my favorite cookies in Houston. They’re from an Italian cafe’ called Paulie’s. Aren’t they beautiful? My co-workers brought us these, along with brownies and a feast of fajitas on the day we came home from the hospital. 
Here’s the amazing cake we had at my LPM baby lunch. It was from Cake Affairs. 
If she didn’t have a Bible study class to teach tonight, I know Bethie would be on here right now talking about how much fun she had meeting so many Siestas in Atlanta. (You almost got a post from her last night but she decided to cook dinner for us instead. Sorry, but it was really good!) She told me she had a blast and that all of you were hilarious. Thanks to Lisa/The Preacher’s Wife and my co-worker KMac for supplying pictures.
Miesta Moose made an appearance!
I’m now 17 days away from my due date, but who’s counting? It’s not like I’m getting impatient or anything! I had an ultrasound yesterday and Baby Girl looks great. Today I got my highlights done, so we are one step closer to being ready. Y’all, I went into the salon as prepared as possible. I didn’t take a pickle jar or a bottle of Sprite, but on this very spring-like day I did take a big jacket to tie around my waist if necessary. Thank you for that tip! The princess got a little excited while my hair was getting foiled and I was just praying she wouldn’t knock anything loose! I cannot think of worse timing than to have chemicals and aluminum in one’s hair when labor begins. I don’t want to scare my daughter when she sees me for the first time. I’d rather her first thought be that, indeed, she has a beautiful inhairitance. (Ps. 16:6, ESV) (That was for my mom, whose love language is speaking in puns.)
I need to get ready to pick up my boy from mother’s day out, but I have to share this real quick. Last night Curt was getting Jackson ready for bed and I overheard him ask if he’d ever seen an angel. Jackson said, “Yes.” Then Curt said, “Well, what did the angel look like?” Jackson said, “Mommy.” Is that not so precious? Don’t think VVPG didn’t almost start crying! Y’all have a great Tuesday!
