Happy Birthday dear Jaelle!

Can you believe that it's been one year since I had my beautiful Jaelle Veronica Bornman?  June 1st, 2011 Jaelle Veronica Bornman was born at Gratiot Medical Center in Alma, Michigan.
It was so wonderful last summer being home with all 3 girls, enjoying my new baby and being a stay at home mom.  When it was time to go back to work in September, I just didn't know if I could do it.  I cried and I remember Cornelius pushing me out the door telling me that all would be fine.  And it was....but I cried the first 2 days on my drive to work.

Here are some highlights of the pregnancy and after she was born:
1. Mid March 2011 I started feeling not so good.  I had a cold but also noticed palpatations and had to lay down in my cubicle to catch my breath or rest.
2. By the end of March I was so sick and requesting 1 or 2 days off work a week.  I was in and out of ER for palpatations and then put on a heart monitor. 
3. April 5, 2011 I was put off work.  We found out my sugar was out of control, I was having heart issues and had a kidney infection and sinus infection.  I was a mess and emotionally and physically exhausted.  Doctor Maslovich didn't bat an eye and just wrote for me to be put off work.
4.  I spent the next couple months getting ready to have baby Jaelle.  I rested alot and got my strength back.  For awhile I was too weak to even drive and took naps most the day because of my heart giving me fits.
5. June 1st was our scheduled c-section date. I was so excited to have this baby but terrified of the recovery time after the c-section.  When I went to the hospital that day, Doctor Maslovich could tell something was up.  He asked me how I was feeling about this c-section.  I told him honestly that I was so stressed about the recovery time and that I would be spending most of my time healing and not enjoying the baby.  So 20 minutes before surgery we decided together to give me a normal bikini cut instead of the up and down cut that I had for Abby and Becca.
6. Jaelle was born, big, healthy and strong an hour after that conversation with doctor Maslovich weighing a whopping 10 pounds 15 ounces. They let me hold her by my face while they sewed me up.  I exclaimed to Cornelius and everyone in the room "I want another one!"  Doctor Maslovich said "Well, we will make sure to sew you up good so that you can have another one if you want." :)

                          HERE ARE A FEW NEWBORN PICTURES

OUR FIRST FAMILY PICTURE with Jaelle

                                     This was June 2nd-only 24 days old and Jaelle is so bright eyed!

                     This was the day we went home on June 3rd.  She was so sweet and content.

And Jaelle sucking her finger shortly after she was born. We have an ultrasound pic of her sucking her thumb.  She still sucks her thumb now

HERE ARE BIRTHDAY PARTY PICTURES- taken by Ashlee Elliott (an old piano student of mine who was home from college)

                                      Jaelle ate every bit of her cupcake- not one drop was left!!

                                           Becca made these beautiful cupcakes for the party.

                                 Don't clean me!!  I like being sticky with frosting so I can lick it later!

                                           Damaris Mowat having fun at the party with our bunny.

                                                            YUMMY CUPCAKE!

                                                                   Is this all for me?!

                                             Titus Mowat having fun at the party in Jaelle's room

                          Our beautiful rose fence- the roses weren't in bloom yet but I love this fence!

                                                      Baby Jaelle's hands....so cute.

                           We got Jaelle this kiddy pool and put her new toys into it.  She loved it. :)

                                             Big sister is so much help and loves you so much.

                                      Auntie Gina gave me this toy and I love chewing on it. ;)

                                                                   Opening presents!

                                             Pastor Stephen Mowat and his sweety, Damaris.

                                           Jaelle, you really are a sweet doll and we love you!

  These are her first professional pictures taken of her when she was 3 weeks old by Summer Photography.

And here is our beautiful Jaelle 1 year old just taken by Molly Bea Photography June 21, 2012.  Jaelle you have added so much to our family.  You are a spark of energy, love and silliness that makes our family pefect and complete.

WE LOVE YOU!

First Advocare Mixer

So last night I had 3 gals come over for me to share about Advocare, and actually my friend and trainer, Julia, did the bulk of it.  She's so informative because of her Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and Health.  I was so amazed at how the girls responded and how excited they were to start the program and try the health products.  And what I am learning more and more, so many people want to feel good and healthy and have energy.  Advocare isn't just about weight loss or selling things- it truly is about the overall well being of a person.  I love it!  And not only are the products wonderful but they work. 

I learned that I don't have to be an expert- I learned that I am surrounded by people who are knowledgeable and can be a resource to me and my friends.  I learned that when you share your story and they see results, they want to be apart of it.  So sharing my story is so vital to what I'm doing with Advocare. 

Julia told me that after she left my house last night, she prayed.  She prayed for me and my friends and the whole Mixer.  I am thankful for a friend and someone who truly cares for me and my whole being. :) 

I decided that I am not going to shy away from sharing more about what I'm doing, and especially not shy away about the product and how it has changed my life.  God brought me into this journey for a reason and I'm just taking it one step at a time, remaining faithful and disciplined and who knows where this could go.

I love what Julia told me in her email- I'm going to paste it here so that I can remember it:
"Let me know if you need anything else!  Once again, I loved talking to you last night!  Thank you so much for hosting that mixer!!  It was great!  God has blessed us both by crossing our paths in life.  You motivate me and benefit me just as much as I do you!  God gives us all struggles and hurts for a reason.  You have struggled your whole life with your weight and your food addiction.  God gave you the power to overcome that and now you can help others!  I honestly think that is your purpose.  To help others help themselves and love themselves.  God has given you the gift of compassion and motivation.  Run with it!  You have made a huge impact in my life and I don't even need help with food or weight loss.  You are the answer to so many prayers out there.  Believe me, I talk to many women every week who have the exact same troubles that you do and they all feel like they are alone." from Julia Raglin June 7,2012

My verse today is interesting:
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."
 Provers 13:12

When people lose hope and feel like they are a failure or cant do this, they lose heart.  They literally can become sick with depression or all kinds of things.  BUT when you fulfill that longing (which can be financial peace, health, a career, or dream) than your life is a TREE OF LIFE, thriving.

But that tree of life must be rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus- and HE IS my foundation and HE HAS given me the hope to keep striving and believing for more and more in my life.

"Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home."
Psalm 23:6

Letter of Encouragement

10 REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT FEEL DISCOURAGE​D, BUT IN FACT FEEL LIKE A CHAMPION!!​!
from my friend and trainer, Julia Raglin

1.)  You have lost nearly 20lbs!
2.)  You are miles ahead of where you were just months ago!  Think about the person you were back then!  Would you have imagined yourself where you are now?!?!
3.)  Many people don't have near the courage that you do.  They are all still sitting on the couch WISHING they were had even half the strength and motivation that YOU do.
4.)  In your daughters eyes, Mommy is getting healthy and they admire you and think of you as a SUPERHERO, no matter how fast the weight is falling off.
5.)  You have a new glow about you that everyone sees.
6.)  Food formerly had you in a strong hold and now it can't even touch you.
7.)  You are STILL losing!  (No matter how quickly)
8.)  You have shaved so much time off your 5K!
9.)  You have stuck with it for almost, what, 3 months?!
10.) You have proved that voice in your head that has always told you that you can't do it WRONG!!


So I got this email from Julia today and I needed it.  I have had the time to blog and it's something I need to do regularly because when I take time to retrospect, I'm able to really process all that I'm going through.  Its very emotionally and mentally hard to train your body to submit and discipline itself to eat and exercise.  I feel a little out of wind- out of mental strength.  But it's because I've been trying to rely on just me and I NEED GOD to continue to sustain me.  And you need friends and motivators on this journey.  You can not do this solo!  It's all about finding yourself, your strength and passion and surrounding yourself with those who believe in you too and can encourage you to "keep going!"

I'm reminded of the scripture in Hebrews 12 when writing this because of all the people that are encouraging me, and that includes my loving husband Cornelius.

Romans 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
 I Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Perservere and focus on the prize- the prize of health, submission, discipline and blessing in Christ Jesus.  Because whenever y ou surrender self to God, he honors that and blesses your walk.

I keep thinking how OBEDIENCE to CHRIST always brings blessing.  I have seen that fruit in my life.  It's when I get my eyes off that goal and prize, that I lose focus, wander and falter in my walk.

Tonight I am celebrating God's faithfulness and the fruit of self control and discipline in my life.  I will not give up. 

TODAY MARKS 47 days since I started this journey!

Memorial Weekend 2012

We had a very fun Memorial weekend.  Friday night Cornelius took his girls out to dinner at Leona's in town.  Saturday we did some things at home in the morning and then were gone grocery shopping and got some things for outdoors. Saturday night Cornelius did the finishing touches to his sermon. He made home-made playdough for kids and adults and invited them to participate while he preached.  His message "Like Clay" was very powerful.  Here is the outline of the service- it all just went together.
Welcome and Scripture
Worship Song- God Of Wonders
Announcements
Prayer for OfferingOffering: America (My Country Tis of Thee)
God You Reign
In Christ Alone
He Knows My Name
Message- “Like Clay” by Cornelius Bornman           
Genesis 2:7 and  Jeremiah 18:1-6

I forgot my camera but took a few on my phone to show you the kids and adults using the playdough.  And I took a few pictures of him working the clay.  He took the pottery wheel to church and actually did a pot during part of the worship.  It was probably one of his best messages and I felt and believe that many connected with it.  There were tears and prayers at the alter that day.

Genesis 2:7   Then the Lord God formed a man^[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” ³ So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. ⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me. ⁶ He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

And after Cornelius gave his message we went to Fred and Cheryl Engle's home and enjoyed being on Crystal Lake with their family.  The girls played and swam in the lake and Fred ended the day with a pontoon ride.  Jaelle loved it all!!  She only had 35 minute nap the whole day but she did fabulous and didn't complain all day. :)  It definitely was a lot of work having a baby on the lake but she was so happy and I couldn't have asked for a nice Sunday afternoon.

And here are a few more pictures on Memorial Day.  We spent the day at Lake Michigan in Ludington with just Abby and Becca. Jaelle stayed home with Amanda.  It was a scorcher and it was good that Jaelle stayed home in the cool air conditioned house.  I have to admit that I felt so bad leaving her behind but it was so good for Abby and Becca to have a day with mommy and daddy.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sharing my shebert with Jaelle. 

 Jaelle taking a morning nap on daddy's lap.  Isn't she precious?  I just love sleeping babies. :)

And I had to add this picture of Jaelle pushing the cart at the grocery store.  She thinks she's a big girl.  Can't believe that June 1st, my little baby is going to be 1 year old already. 

Hey, where's my icrecream cone!

Becca giving kisses to her Jaelle.....:)

Jaelle did so good eating her own icream.  Pretty good for an almost 1 year old. :)

How blessed I am to have these precious girls in my life.  And God has given me a wonderful husband who cares and provides for all his ladies. :)