Our trip to Florida, family and many lessons from the Lord!

Eli's back in town!!

And sitting pretty, thanks to his groovy new hairdo (thanks Brandon and Lindsay for the gift card-- he needed this bath badly!)

Well, as I stated before, I would have posted pictures and trip documentaries earlier, but things have been a bit crazy in the life of the WiLd Thornbury's as they joined forces with the Smiths, McCoys and McCunes for a good two weeks, Haha! As you can tell in this picture-- and will be able to tell all the way through this blog posting-- is I am becoming very pregnant. And enjoying every minute of it!

In this picture, I was 17 weeks. I am now in my 19th, and approaching my 20th. On Friday, we actually find out what baby is! I will keep everyone posted ;)

To begin, lets revisit the tail end of March. On March 25th at 1:30am (yes, you heard right...1:30 AM... Oh Alaska...) I left for good ol' Florida! Andrew had some training to do in Pensacola but since we have close friends (Nate and Andrea Smith) living in that area currently, I wanted to come visit a few days earlier to catch up with them for a few days before training began. What a great decision! We had such a great time catching up, watching how our lives are totally different than the other's (climates, babies, jobs, hobbies, etc) and being together again. She and her husband are now into the latest trend of building furniture, just as I have been! Here are their finished projects!! Andrea's project: Nate's project: Nate and Andrea! (I wish I had actually gotten a picture of the four of us.... Oh well... Next time ;)) I did happen to get pictures of some of the things we did together though. The beach:

Yummy shopping snack with Andrea (thats her foot-- haha!).. mmmm....

Outdoor shopping mall in Florida:

A few days after being with the Smiths, Andrew flew down and Andrea took me to Pensacola Naval Air Station (NAS) to meet him. Yet I must admit: I got the better deal in this training experience! As he headed out every morning at 6:20am, I found myself preparing for an entire day of fun in the sun!! Although rain did strike on the first day of my adventures, it was still very enjoyable. It felt more like a mini retreat as I spent the day walking around and enjoying what the Lord had to say about parenting from those who studied his word and walked out this journey already.

I found a series called "Parenting ages infant to five" by Brian Chesemore from Covenant Life Church's resources (located on girltalk blog). It was ExTreMely helpful in getting a biblical view of how to go about bringing up/disciplining children. What an encouragement to someone who does not know the slightest of how to begin-- I highly recommend this series (especially to my dear mamas that are enduring these stages now!).

Besides having my daily starbucks (ha!),I also got to visit the Naval air museum, which is AlWaYs my favorite part of visiting the NAS! My grandfather flew a few of the planes hanging around the museum, so I always enjoy learning more about this place and it's rich aviation history.

Snoopy and his ride!!

The blue angels (I actually saw them practicing one day!!) Very cool indeed ;)

Something i have not done at this base before was take the Fort Baracassas tour. Andrew and I took a lot of pictures-- very interesting overall (too bad I had a serious case of the ADHD that day... But at least Andrew got a lot out of the tour!) I will have to post the pictures once I find them....

Well those three days flew and we hugged our dear friends goodbye, gave our love to their sweet pups, exchanged farewells and headed for mid-Florida: Orlando! It took a good 7.5 hours to reach our destination from Pensacola, but we got there nevertheless! After wrapping up final park ticketing situations and enjoying the shades of green for a bit, we took a nice little ferry trip over to the world famous magic kingdom!

Our first day in the Magic kingdom!!

Can't you just tell he's thrilled to death :)

Downtown disney at the T-Rex store:

For the next several days, we crossed roads with Disney world and universal studios. We saw both siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grammys, and parents in the course of our week long stay. It was a lot of go-go-go, and to be expected with Disney enthusiasts-- yet I was a bit slow to be the initiator this year (due to watching out for the little one I am carrying about!).

The Family (Dad is taking the picture)!

We are at Universal in these pictures. This one was taken for my friend Lindsay!

Harry Potter World:

Moose!!!! Hmm... this breed is a little different from Alaska's...

"I like to move it move it.... You like to MOVE it!!"... O Terry, I couldnt wait to post this one for your enjoyment! Miss ya bud!

Back in Disney World! Hollywood Studios!

I dont think this lady liked dad too much. Thought he was a 'strange looking fellow'!

One of the best rides in the park!!

... yes, I couldnt ride it. So I took pictures of the flowers being shown off in honor of the annual flower festival that Disney does each year. Wish I had more time to enjoy it!

I am TOTALLY making this Mickey Mouse Rice Krispy treat for my husband someday! Talk about AWESOME!!!

The great movie ride:

Great action show!!!

Yes, they have taken the award of the year for greatest grandparents! Haha! (Can you give an award for greatest grandparents if baby isnt even in the picture yet... hmmm... party foul? JK!)

Enjoying our chill time and eating some yummy Mickey ear ice cream! Its a tradition :)

(notice the cute little earrings I am wearing! My cousin got them for me... I just LOVE them! Thanks Krissy!)

The fireworks:

Mickey salutes the military (too bad he didnt have the greatest deal for the military like he usually has!)

The Yeti ride!!

BUZZZ!!!! I'm a bug!!!!

On the merry go around once more!

WEEE!! Look at those big kids... they just get too excited!!

ELI!!! I mean Marmaduke!!!!

..soooo fitting ;).....

Oh, I just love this silly photos!!!

Here is evidence Mom, dad and Andrew all rode the Hulk... and none of them were scared to do it ;)

Last night at Islands of Adventure:

Hard Rock Cafe. Yummy burgers!!

While we were in Orlando, we celebrated the Passover Seder. It was REALLY awesome! Once I get the other pictures posted, I will let you see the rest!

What do you do when you dont have a Jewish kosher candle?? You thank God you are no longer under the law and substitute!

The Seder plate:

After we took Andrew to the airport, we went to explore a town called Celebrations! It was so cute! We had the best breakfast and the greatest chill time at Starbucks... gotta love these times.

Our last night, we also went to a very interesting little restaurant.... let's just say it was a very artsy experience....

As we all presumed,the week flew by and when I wrote this blog entry, I am flying back home. Now its been a couple of days since I have been home... And really, I have been glad about it!

Here are some fun pictures of Andrew and I's adventures since we have been back: Andrew with our new espresso maker (thanks mamadee and daddio-- this one is fun to use!)

... And our first dinner out on our porch in Alaska ;)

As I had been traveling, I was finally understanding what God wanted from me in Alaska: satisfaction with Him, with what he gives and where he puts us. No matter where we are.

After talking to a very Godly friend yesterday, she reminded me that God is providential and to be somewhere thinking "why am I here? why did we pick this?" is to say that God didn't have a plan for me in this season. And the more I remember what he has promised me and done for me in the past, I know that is directly contrasting what he has promised for my life (Jeremiah 29:11, Hebrews 11) can trust I have hope and a future. God has really blessed us both as we return with spunk and enthusiasm for what lies ahead, fighting in faith to be active in our living hope: Jesus Christ.

As I go, I would like to encourage you with a trial I recently endured and learned lots from. It reminds me more and more that these trials are meant to remind me that this is not how it ends-- this is not where my hope remains: It remains in God, who is faithful and will never let me go (1 Peter 1:3-13, Hebrews 6:18-19, Hebrew 10:23):

Has anyone struggled with their appearance before in pregnancy? If you have not, then count yourself a rare but blessed creature... These struggles are the hardest of all to deal with: why? Because there is nothing you can really do about them.

You can't starve yourself to look thinner, you can't dye your hair a different color, get a beauty treatment, exercise yourself to death, stress yourself out over it.... No.

You are caring for more than yourself now: you have someone else to think about through this battle too.

So what do you do?

Bottle it, deal with it, stop fighting and give into every harmful temptation/thought that comes to mind?

No.

Even in the deepest moment of this rutt, these battles are also the sweetest in the light of eternity. We haven't been left alone to fight this battle. We do have hope. Even if we can't quite commit to doing what we know is right and divert ourselves from these condemning thoughts, and want to stay in this helpless, hopeless mindset, we need to have faith and do what we must to see the love he promise to pour out on us. And whatever it takes to get you out of that funk, pray for strength to do it! For me, it was doing the thing I want most NOT to do: sharing my ugly black heart with my husband so he can help speak God's truth to me. I don't always want to share this information with others... especially notmy husband (It's humiliating to share the state the darkness of my heart!) But because he had been sanctioned to lead me as God had called, I knew I need to do it lest it get much worse, God forbid. And I am very glad I did.

It's hard to say when you don't feel like it's a blessing to say it's a blessing to endure these struggles, especially when you are not able to cope with them in a humanly fashion. There couldnt have been a better time for me to experience such a two fold of trial and blessing. A blessing in which you realize you really cannot do anything that is going to make this situation better, no matter what you have tried, without the one Person that never lets you go (Psalm 141:1-4). Your only solution: Jesus Christ. And wow, what a great last and only resort to have!

I hope this encourages you that trials are not always the pits in the light of eternity... but sometimes, they are the sweetest blessings as you realize they are God's discipline as a reminder that you are no longer this world's. You are His... and he is never going to let you go.

" 'My Son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be eary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whome he receives.' It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitmate children and not sons..... he disciplines us for our good, that we might share in his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Hebrews 12:5b-11

Have a wonderful week enjoying the Lord's kindness in your life and learn to enjoy just being in him.... even if you are in Alaska!