First Ultrasound

So yesterday Wes and I went to our first ultrasound! 

We were so excited (we had not heard or seen a heartbeat yet) and so nervous.

Beforehand, I had to drink water like no other... honestly-- drinking that much water without going the bathroom is not easy.  Now ask a pregnant woman to do this... I felt like I was going to explode the entire time!

Before letting Wes into the room, the doctor found all the important information and then let us both see the baby together for the first time (though I must admit... I tried to peak a few times beforehand..)

Wes came into the room and she let us both see the screen-- then we saw our little baby moving all around.  It's unreal.

Obviously, I knew I was pregnant beforehand, but it's not until we saw the baby that it really hit us

We are having a baby together.

I am starting a family with my best friend for the past 6 years

 He and I get the honour of parenting a child together!

Testimony Tuesday- Meet Joanna

Joanna has been a good friend for many years since we met at Girl's Camp at Joy Bible Camp years ago.  This girl defines what a servant heart is, and even after going through many personal struggles, she was always there to talk to and is never found without a smile on her face.  It has been such a blessing to be a part of Joanna's life, and I can't wait for everybody to Meet Joanna. 

When I was three years old, I was with my oldest brother and we were looking at a picture bible.  We got to the part when Jesus was crucified and I asked him what that was. He answered me and led me to the Lord by his bed.  Later on when I was around nine and a half I was sexually abused for a few years almost everyday.  That was such a hard time in my life it seemed like everything was falling apart around me. I became suicidal for a few years and depressed for about a nether 5-6 years. I would cut myself and burn my skin.. I hated God for letting something so bad happen to me. Even in between all this I would go to Joy Bible Camp (where I know Bre from) and I would always seem to find strength there. (My Grandfather would always go there for years so it already has tons of good memories)   About 2 years ago I went on antidepressant pills.  I have now been off of them for over a year now. Only by Gods grace am I able to forgive myself and move on to greater plans I know he has for me.


Joanna and her Papa


Two years ago my Grandpa died at the age of 92. I was very close to him. I would always be able to make him laugh and we would have a ball of a time. That was so hard for me to grasp that he really was gone to be with the Lord. Even the day of the funeral some people would come up to us and ask if he was the one who would always read his Bible everywhere.. We would just say yes, that's the one.  Through that I have been able to go through his Bible and find strength like he always did. I am now free and moving on in life and growing more and more with God.

Another big part of my life is Cuba.. I have been taking mission trips to cuba every 6 months. I have a papa and mama down there.. Its because of them praying for me every day that I am where I am today. They have such a big heart for me and I for them. I thank God every day for them.

Thanks for taking just a bit of time to read this.

Going to See Our Baby!

Well today is the day.  We finally get to look at our baby (although we are not able to find out whether it will be a boy or girl yet-- that is still a bit over a month away). 

I am so nervous/excited for this.  We have had a few doctor appointments until now and so far they have told us everything looks alright, but it will be so nice just to know that everything is okay (for those reading this, please pray for us this afternoon).  I will definately put up some pictures afterwards, but for right now, I will just say that I am so excited to see our baby.

Boy or Girl?

As most of you know, Wes and I will be finding out the gender of our baby as soon as we can. 

Here are some old wives tales for gender predicting (yes they may not be true, but fun to read and compare anyway).

It's a boy if:

• You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
• Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute
• You are carrying the extra weight out front
• Your belly looks like a basketball
• Your areolas have darkened considerably
• You are carrying low
• You are craving salty or sour foods
• You are craving protein -- meats and cheese
• Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy
• The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy
• Your hands are very dry
• Your pillow faces north when you sleep
• Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you
• Pregnancy has you looking better than ever
• Your urine is bright yellow in color
• Your nose is spreading
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it swings left to right
• You are having headaches
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number

It's a girl if:

• You had morning sickness early in pregnancy
• Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute
• You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear
• Your left breast is larger than your right breast
• Your hair develops red highlights
• You are carrying high
• Your belly looks like a watermelon
• You are craving sweets
• You are craving fruit
• You crave orange juice
• You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy
• You are moodier than usual during pregnancy
• Your face breaks out more than usual
• You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread
• Your breasts have really blossomed!
• Your pillow faces south when you sleep
• Your urine is a dull yellow color
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in a circle
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number

(Taken from: Gender Myths)


So that being said I thought it would be fun to get some predictions before we find out (usually around 20 weeks- so another 6 or so weeks).



Which gender do you think Baby Marshall will be?

So Amazing!

I think it is just amazing how God can communicate so largely through one person.  This is an example of exactly that.  I highly suggest watching the whole thing if you have time:)

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
― Confucius

Welcome to the 2nd Trimester

Well there we have it-  I am officially through my first trimester of my first pregnancy.  According to books and websites, those symptoms I have been feeling lately should subside shortly and I will no longer feel the need to have a 2 hour nap in the middle of the day (or go to bed at 7 at night). 



I have been lucky I believe so far though with symptoms:
- I have only had a few mornings where I was to the point I needed a bucket in front of me **just in case**
- My husband wakes up early so he was all over the idea of going to bed earlier than normal
- That metallic taste in your mouth you hear about ?  I have only had it once in the past few weeks, but yes... I could not understand why my mouth tasted like I was sucking on tin foil
- I'm not having crazy mood swings (well... I dont think I am... maybe ask Wes about that one)


Otherwise though, other than the few symptoms here and there I think I may have lucked out with an easier first trimester than others. 
I can't believe I am a third of the way through this whole thing!  I can't wait to meet our little one (and see him/her for the first time on Monday)!

What a Wonderful Day!

Today is a good day.  Everyday is a good day... but today is an especially good day.

I started off my day by waking up to the most amazing guy ever.  After which, we did our couple devotions (we are trying to work our way through a one-year devotion book).  It was early and we both  didn't have to work until later so we decided to walk down the trail behind our apartment.  It was so cool to be out early enough (around 6:45) to see a family of deer and all of God's creation all around us (and it helped that the sun wasn't beating down on us).  After about an hour and a half of walking we were back in our apartment.

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It was nice having an entire morning to hang out with Wesley in the middle of the week (usually we are go-go all week and then have our weekends to relax but that's about it).  Now I am at work early to work on a work report, and found out I have won a giveaway for our child's room (beautiful art that is children-based).

I love just slowly down and taking the time to do the small things that we usually skip over.  I cannot wait to wake up every day by reading God's word with my husband and enjoying the small things in life.  

Everyday is a good day... but today is a especially good day!

Testimony Tuesday - Vanessa

[As some of you may know, I have been getting together a few testimonies to share over the summer, I have decided to share one each week via Testimony Tuesday-- I hope you enjoy reading stories of how God has been working in the lives of these beautiful women and men of God-- If you would like your testimony to be shared please email me at breezy_218@hotmail.com]

Vanessa has been a close friend of mine ever since we met at Joy Bible Camp back when we were little girl campers.  I have been able to see this wonderful lady grow in the Lord, both through study of the Bible and learning from past experiences.  Vanessa is one of the few ladies I know who truly embodies a quiet and thankful soul.  So enough of my talk- meet Vanessa:)

A few girls from camp--Vanessa is second from the right

At the age of three years old before bedtime .. I prayed with my parents to ask God into my heart. My mother has always been my best friend and (more importantly) my inspiration to live closer to God because she takes hardships in life and allows God to take control of them. This is something I have struggled with all of my life.

About 8 years ago now (2007) when I was in grade seven my mother took ill. She was too weak to get out of bed unless it was for doctors appointments. She was in too much pain to eat or drink or even sleep. Through what felt like 1000's of tests after about 6months .. A doctor revealed to us that they found a lump that could potentially be cancerous.

Watching my mother and best friend go through that kind of pain left me feeling helpless and alone and because of that I fell into a deep depression and turned to self- harm which I believed made me feel better at the time.

It wasnt until I went to a weekend retreat at the alter call that I opened my eyes and realized what I was doing was wrong. I dropped to my knees and surrendered all to God. I appologized for trying to "fix" things MY way and re-commited my life to Him. As tears were streaming down my face in that moment alone between myself and the Lord, I felt a burden lifted off of me and felt physically lighter.

Throughout the days/months that she was sick SEVERAL people were praying individually and in prayer groups for moms healing. What I consider to be God's miracle, she gradually started getting better and what was first pre-diagnosed as cancer was never confirmed. To this day she is still with us and that has taught me to never underestimate the power of prayer.

At age 17 I celebrated my love and Faith in God by being baptized in front of friends that feel more like brothers and sisters(bre being one of them! =]) to me at an AMAZING Godly camp that feels more like a home as both have shaped me in my Christian walk after 12 years! The verse that relates most to me and my walk with the Lord is as follows:

Deuteronomy 31:8:

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you: He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged."

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Painful Anticipation

Have you ever known something painful was going to happen to you- so much so that you anticipate the pain over and over again? 

For me, it's needles.  If I know I am getting a needle I worry about it for a long time, and it makes the actual getting of the needle so much more stressful and worse for me.  Another example: this whole labour thing- I find myself watching those TLC shows... making the thought so much worse than it needs to be.

Wes and I were talking about this yesterday after church-  Do you think Jesus had these same thoughts?  He knew he would be killed by one of the most painful deaths there are his whole life.  Knowing that he was fully human and fully God, we were talking about whether or not he would anticipate the pain as we found most humans do. 

But here is the thing.  After the pain, there is joy.  After the needle, I am healthy.  After the labour, we will have a beautiful baby (boy or girl- not sure yet). 

But Jesus knew the greatest joy, having his children come back to him.  He knew this sacrifice was the only way that we would be able to spend eternity with him.  And through his completely unselfish act, he went through all the pain that came with his death for us... for you... for me.

I think the fact that Jesus was fully human and fully God is so amazing.  He knew the pain that awaited him yet loved us that much to endure it.  Now it's our part to decide whether we will accept his gift to us or not.

First Visit

On the more positive side of things- I had my first prenatal visit yesterday!  

I am in good health and everything is running smoothly. 

I found out I was 12.5 weeks pregnant (compared to the 12 I thought)

They took blood- alot of blood (the nurse laughed at me because I was shaking- yes I am still terrified of needles and the thought of them)

We have our first ultrasound in a bit over a week! (Hopefully we will see a beautiful baby and the heartbeat!)

Pray guys- keep praying for Wes and I as we go into this new part of our lives-  I cannot wait to be a parent (though I am not going to lie I am terrified of the labour part)

We Are Excited!

I would just like to clarify.  Wes and I are excited to be parents- we are even more than excited!

So why do I say this?  Well, maybe it is just my luck, but I feel that when dealing with the doctors so far, it tends to be sympathetic looks more than excited. 

Example:
The first doctor we visit back in May to tell us that we were truly pregnant made sure to tell me that "being pregnant is not a disease- it is not contageous"... I was in shock... yes, I know it's not a disease... thank you for clarifying? 

Since then, for each doctor we have seen, each has a piece of advice for me.  But each one concurs that we must not be excited for this baby, due to the fact we are young. 

Sorry for a rant, but I just wanted to let everybody know that we are so excited and we cannot wait to meet Baby Marshall!

Frugal Dates

[Don't forget about the opportunity to share your testimony!]

Wes and I love to spend our Saturday afternoons with each other on a "date night" (or in our case afternoon).  Due to the fact that we are both young, I'm in school, and we have a baby on the way- we have had to make these dates more on the cheap side (though I must say they are just as great). 

Here are some ideas we have done (I would love any more ideas as well!):

• Hikes
• Wes and I love hiking and walking down trails.  We are currently checking out the local waterfalls and trails (they are plentiful!)
• Beach Days
• Now that summer is here, we find ourselves at the beach quite a bit-- it's free, fun and cools you off
• Movie Nights
• Wes and I love renting movies (or watching them on Netflix)- we try to make it so one of us picks it and the next time the other gets to pick (how else would I get him to watch my chick-flicks?)
• If you want to go out for a movie- get a SCENE card (I know... sounds like another commercial) but seriously, the points add up quickly- that or look for coupons on cereal boxes
• Drives
• This may not be the longest date, but we find we talk alot while driving around.  Since Wes is a bricklayer, and I grew up in a family full of bricklayers, we love to look at the houses and make up our dream house
• Mall
• This could end up being a cheap date- or could backfire-  Set a budget and spend a few hours shopping (and not going over the budget)
• Card Games
• I grew up loving card and board games, and every now and again we pick out a few games and play them:)
• Festivals
• During the summer, there are little festivals everywhere!  Look in a local newspaper for one and check it out:)
• Skiing/Snowboarding
• Yes, this winter this option may not be doable due to the pregnancy but Wes and I love to get away for the day to snowboard and ski (Wes=snowboard Bre=Ski).  If you are a student like myself, there are often good deals for certain days:)

This being said, it never hurts to go a little more out there now and again.  We love going away for weekends (Winter Retreat Weekends, Cottage Weekends, Spend nights at a nice hotel), but we just have to make sure it is an occasional thing. 


How do you save money when planning your date nights?

Makeup Free

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" 

1 Peter 3:3–4

Makeup can be a wonderful thing.  It can also be something that we (as ladies) tend to hid behind.  

While at camp one year, the ladies were challenged to go a day without makeup to show their true beauty.  It was wonderful to have a day where girls were able to go the whole day without hiding behind a mask.  This challenge can often be difficult for some people.  

There is nothing wrong with makeup, but when the makeup becomes something that you hid behind, that's where the whole makeup idea falls apart.  We were all made in God's image, Song of Songs 4:7 reads that we are altogether beautiful and there is no flaw in us.  This beauty does not come from the makeup we put on, and often we get stuck with the idea that it is the makeup that makes us beautiful.  This is not true.  

(Take a look at God's thought on us: Psalm 139:14)  

I now put the challenge out there again:  Are you able to go a day without makeup?  Are you using makeup to enhance your beauty or to define your beauty?

[And for the men out there reading- why don't you compliment these ladies now and again on their true beauty-- always nice to know there are true gentlemen out there]  

Upcoming Blogs!

Okay so it's that time again... Coop Report Time... A very large report in not so much time.  Due to this fact I am trying to get together some people to write testimonies so that I will not be blogless until September (Yes I will get a few in here and there but will not get as many due to the fact I should be writing my report).  

I am so excited for some of the testimonies that I have set up so far!   

I would love to share your testimony as well- if you would like to be a part of sharing how you came to know God, how God has moved in your life or just something you have learned on your walk with God, please let me know as I would love to get a few more lined up for the next few weeks!   

Excited to hear all the stories from these wonderful workers of God!

Blunt Words



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[Please note I am not writing this to create any convictions but rather to create conversation as to whether or not this article is true- I would love any comments, whether it be agree or disagree]

I have been blessed to have parents who have stayed together (coming up on 26 years!) my whole life.  I realize how this is a blessing in today's society. 

According to statistics, the divorce rate in Canada is nearly 50%.  
35% of Canadian children are affected by divorce. 

Now, I understand that in some cases, it is much better to get the children out of the home (abusive situations). 

This being said, often you see parents talking badly about the other parent in front of the child.  I do not believe that this is good, no matter what the situation is.  A child should never hear this, as they will always have the other person as a part in their lives (whether a small or large part). 

As a parent, God has given you the opportunity to teach your child love for others.  Parents are one of the first examples of love that a child will see.  Often if this element is missing in the home (whether it be a single-parent home or not), the child will not be able to fully see what unconditional love is. 


What do you think?  Are the Judge's words too blunt?

Happy Birthday Josh!



Happy 18th Birthday Little Brother!

5 Years of Honduras

5 years ago, I was on my way to Honduras- going to take a part of my first out-of-the-country mission trip.  This was the year that I learned so much about myself, the world we live in and most importantly my God. 
Yes I am reminiscing, but the things I learned on this trip are worth remembering!

1.  The Power of Prayer
Even before this trip began, I was able to see prayers answered in clear, amazing ways.  For a few years, I had been trying to get my parents on board with the idea of leaving for a few weeks on a mission trip.  Finally, they agreed!  I had no idea where I wanted to go, but I knew that God would show me if it was meant to be.  A few weeks after my parents agreed, I went to camp.  At camp they talked about sponsoring a Compassion child.  I unfortunately was only 15 and had a job where I worked under 10 hours a week.  I loved the idea of showing God's love to a child somewhere in the world with financial help, but I would only be able to afford half of it.  Well, funny enough, a friend of mine turned to me and voiced the same concern!  So it ended up that we sponsored a child.  We went to the speaker afterwards, but he told us that all of the children he had brought had already been sponsored and he would have to set us up with another child after camp.  We agreed, told him we did not matter where the child was from or if they were a male or female.

So fast forward 3 weeks, I was back on the search for mission trips.  I came across the one to Honduras, it sounded perfect, but I didn't want to jump into anything.  I prayed that God would show me in a clear and obvious way if this was the right trip.  Literally (I kid you not) I said "amen" and my email showed one new message.  Turns out we were paired with a compassion child, and wouldn't you know it, he was from Honduras!  This was my first real encounter with what I clearly knew was answered prayer. 

2.  God is the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever
You know when you read the stories in the Bible of Jesus healing the blind, and doing all these incredible miracles?  How often do we just assume that that was the God of the Bible, but he doesn't do that kind of stuff now?  It was on this trip, that I was able to see God's amazing healing powers in many ways!  One part of the trip was a big concert we put on.  At this concert, we had a time of prayer in which we went out in small groups to pray for those people around us.  One women we meant was unable to walk.  We started praying for her (at this point, I knew God could heal, but I honestly did not expect him to), and a few minutes later she was able to move with full mobility!

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

3.  We are Blessed to Live in Canada
Need I same more?  I LOVE Honduras.  I will always have a place in my heart for Honduras.  But I realize how blessed we are to live in Canada.  How blessed we are to have proper housing, air conditioning (aren't you thankful for that these past few weeks?) and proper food.

My wonderful gift and the beautiful girls who were so kind to share it

That being said, I think we often forget about this.  One little girl at a school we visited while in Honduras was so thankful for a small headband I gave her, that she gave me her beautiful pin she had (I tried to tell her that she did not need to do this, but that is the way they show their gratitude).  I still have this pin, and always remember the joy on these children's eyes everytime we showed up at their schools. 

4.  My Heart Lies With Children's Ministry
I have always loved working with children.  This news was not new to me.  This however was my first time being able to teach to a large crowd of children.  I was so nervous the day I was asked to share my testimony in front of a whole school.  I have always been quiet and though I love teaching, I have never had to speak to a group larger than 10.  God really showed me my passion for speaking to children and just enjoying my time playing with children of all ages. 

5.  I am so Excited for Heaven!
One day at a local church, we were singing a song with the lyrics (in English- "People from every nation and voice from generation to generation, We Worship You").  I loved this song, but nothing compares to hearing all different types of voices (some in Spanish, some English) singing this song.  It really reminded me that the church is everywhere, we are brothers and sisters from all nations and languages.  I am so excited to worship God night and day in heaven with these brothers and sisters!