The McLendon Whereabouts

A beautiful first day!

2012-05-27T00:34:00.001-04:00

We've had an amazing first day and all the details are over here:

http://riverstoneyouthincostarica.blogspot.com/2012/05/beautiful-first-day.html?m=1

Love you all! Thank you for praying for us!

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We're here!!!

2012-05-26T00:24:00.001-04:00

We're here and doing well! Travel was smooth and the team is doing great!

Tomorrow we spend our morning at the children's home. The boys have a special day planned to teach the armor of God. The girls have an awesome princess day planned. We've already met as a team and we are now in our groups practicing for tomorrow.

We have two more team mates traveling here tomorrow. Please pray for their safe travel.

We'll head to bed soon since it is after midnight back home. We've already fallen in love with our home away from home!

To close, here's just a few pictures of the beautiful sunset we watched tonight!!

Location:Costa Rica

Costa Rica!

2012-05-25T17:31:00.001-04:00

The McLendons are in Costa Rica for the week. Keep up with our other blog while we are gone!

http://riverstoneyouthincostarica.blogspot.com

Thank you in advance for praying for us!!!!

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7...and a winner!

2012-03-27T17:31:00.000-04:00

Several weeks ago I placed a giveaway on my blog...and in my inability to blog as of lately a winner was yet to be picked....but lo and behold...here we are today....with the winner!!!!

Thank you to all that participated in this giveaway (and your patience in waiting!)!

I am very excited to mail a copy of

Jen Hatmaker's New Book....

to.....

Email me at

kristinmclendon at gmail dot com

with your address and

I'll get your copy of Jen's new book

in the mail to you!

Have a great day!!!!

Happy Birthday Jude Robert, My Baby Boy

2012-03-05T22:54:00.001-05:00

One year ago today you made me a mommy...

my world to never be the same.

You are every bit of everything we dreamed of...

and more.

You are strong and courageous.

Full of personality.

Loving, sweet, caring.

We are madly in love with you

and I have a feeling you're madly

in love with us too.

Tonight my sweet boy

I just wanted to hold you a little longer

and thank my sweet Jesus

again for you.

You are our miracle baby

and a blessing from our Jesus.

I have recounted all of our steps

of this day last year

(and March 4th with our water breaking, etc.)

and just remember the excitement

and how much we were eagerly awaiting you....

were you to be a boy or a girl?

The most precious moment was hearing

your Daddy say....

"It's a boy!!!"

A son.

A man of God.

That is who you are.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy...

Here are just a few pictures of

your birthday weekend!

Your 12 month post

and all your birthday party pictures

are coming soon.

We love you!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Cake Smashing!

Trip to the Georgia Aquarium

McLendon Family
March 5, 2012

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7. {a giveaway}

2012-02-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

**As of 2/29 Giveaway is still OPEN (due to this being a super crazy week....my baby is turning ONE...all that to say, there is still time to enter....go for it! Info on the bottom!**

Seven. It's such a fun number isn't it? I'm a fan! So take the number seven.....then add the words, "an experimental mutiny against excess." Yikes! Part of me wants to run the other direction, the other part of me needs this so desperately.

Let me introduce you to my new friend. Jen Hatmaker. I was at the beach celebrating a friends wedding by staying at a beach house with another couple. We had a great weekend and my friend Katie introduced me to Jen Hatmaker. I borrowed Katie's copy of "Out of the Spin Cycle" to read in the swing out back our beach house and it spoke so deeply to my new mama heart that I ordered it as fast as I could upon returning home. I also started following Jen on twitter and immediately became a big fan.

A little while later Jen twittered asking if any of her twitter friends would like to read a copy of her new book, "Seven, an experimental mutiny against excess." Thankfully my sane side responded with yes, please!

I can not even begin to tell you how good this book is. Maybe it's the season of life I am in. Maybe it's I'm tired of the just "too much." Maybe it's the fact that this is the message that we all need to hear. I'm going to go with option E and say it's for me and for you. May our hearts be open to receive this word from Him.

7. What is this 7 all about. It is about 7 things. Things such as....Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. It's about taking a different thing each month, evaluating it, and letting the Lord stir in your heart what He wants to say to you regarding each area.

I read this book front to cover, but it is definitely a book I now want to go back and actually do. As in read a chapter a month and actually do it.

So how do we remove the excess in our lives? We take food for example and we eat 7 foods for one month. That's right 7. And only 7. Do you know how many different kinds of foods we eat each day. I just put dinner in the oven and the recipe says "mix first 6 ingredients together" and that was just the beginning! There were 3 more ingredients to go. If I were doing 7 right now, dinner alone would fail me.

And Food is just the beginning. Clothes. Wear 7 clothes for a month. Spending. Only spend money at 7 different locations for the month. So on and so forth until we've let the Lord Jesus work his way through these areas in our life.

7 is good. 7 is for me. 7 is for you. I highly recommend it.

In the words of Jen in regards to fasting, "It's the means to the harvest. Jesus, may there be less of me and my junk, and more of you and your kingdom. Here we go."

You ready to jump in? Jen and her people have graciously given me a copy of this amazing book to give away.

Want to win? It's easy! Just leave a comment telling me which area you especially want Jesus to come and do a work in. For me, it's the spending. We have a pretty tight reign on our finances and walk the Dave Ramsey way, but I know there is more we could do. I want to invite the Lord to come and do His thing and have complete and absolute control of our finances. And waste....yes, I'd love to become "greener" and plant a garden...that's a dream of mine. Okay...it might be harder than I thought to tell me just one, but go ahead and try!

Want more ways to win?

Mention this giveaway on twitter mentioning Jen Hatmaker (@JenHatmaker) and myself (@kamclendon)
Follow this blog through google friend connect

Mention this giveaway on facebook

(if you do any of the things above, be sure to come back and leave a separate comment

telling me what you did!)

This giveaway is open for the weekend....

and I'll pick the winner on Monday!

Ready, set, let's go and let Jesus come and do what He wants to do!

Jude Robert, You are Eleven Months Old

2012-02-05T14:30:00.000-05:00

You are one month

away from turning ONE!

You are every bit of precious

and I love every ounce

of your 11 month old being!

This month you added the word...

DADA

to your vocabulary!

We are so proud of you

and love that you now say

Mama and Dada

(amongst lots of other jabberings!)

You are crawling full speed ahead....

you are so fast and

into everything!

You pull up on everything

and "walk" around the living

room holding onto the furniture!

You gained about a pound this month

rounding at at about 19 pounds....

and you've grown an inch and a half...

putting you at 30 inches tall!

It's time to install that big boy car seat!!!!

You're our little eater...

eating everything and anything

that we give you.

There isn't anything you don't like.

Your a tall, skinny little man.

For anything that has legs...

you're wearing 12 month clothing.

You can still fit in some 9 month shirts,

but we've mainly moved onto the 12 month category.

Our washing machine broke over

the course of this month, so you were in

disposable diapers more than we would have liked!

While you were in the disposables,

you were in a size 3.

Still trying to figure out the night time

sleeping/diaper arrangement.

Think we're just going to have to give in

to disposables at night (boo!)

You held onto 5 teeth during your 11th month...

tooth number 6 looks to be making an appearance soon!

You completely dropped your morning nap

during your 11th month.

It's been quite interesting getting on a new schedule...

but we are persevering!

We had a very healthy 11th month!

Whoohoo!

It was much needed!

During this month you nursed 2-3 times a day

and we supplemented the rest with a bottle

(some breast milk, some formula).

You eat a huge breakfast and a huge dinner.

Lunch can be tricky bc you

can become toast before we can get you home

(since you've dropped that morning nap!)

but we do our best to get it in you!

And of course there are lots of snacks throughout the day!

You are full of energy....

full of life...

and so much fun!

You still love your Murphy....

and you sleep with 3 lovies and 1 elmo.

You have to have them all

and it is precious to

see you love your little people.

And these cheeks.

I could just eat them up.

Thank you for a beautiful 11 months.

It's been a beautiful ride and I'm

excited for all that the Lord has

for this little McLendon family...

party of three!

InstaFRIDAY

2012-01-20T15:51:00.000-05:00

Has it already been a week since I posted last?

I have full intentions of making 2012

a year of taking the blog to the next level!

But I've been lingering in this cold month of January.

I've been trying to be intentional with my son.

When he's awake.

I'm paying attention to him.

Youth Ministry is in full swing.

And did I mention I started P90X?

For real this time.
{I'm on week #2!)

And that's an hour of my day.

And I have a dear friend

holding me accountable

(or I would have quit by now!)

So all that to say..

I do have big plans

big dreams

for this little space

and my little shop.

It's slowly coming,

but will come I promise!

Meanwhile...

here are my men...

contemplating life.

And the basset hound became a horse. No biggie.

She was thrilled...can't you tell?

A little bit of lingering. A hot cup of tea in one of my favorite mugs.

Youth Ministry. I'm in my 9th year (can you believe that) and I am still in love with what the Lord lets me do. This...this right here...seeing our young men surround and pray for one of our Associate Pastors. Yes, this is beautiful.

And then we had boot camp led by Pastor Terry.

Quite possibly my favorite youth group I've ever been too.

And this man. His smile melts my heart.

The lingering time....I've been finishing this book. And. I. Love. It.

Still working on a post to share with you.....and give you a chance to win your own copy!!!

Our dear friends adopted a precious baby girl. Jude was finally healthy this week and able to meet Ava. Love it. {she's beautiful! and a miracle!}

Jude became too cool for school this week. He found his beach toys in his closet and pulled them all out {including the sunglasses!} Looks like baby is yearning for the beach just as much as his mama is!

Mail. I have a slight addiction to it. I love to check the mail every day. And yesterday? It did not disappoint. Southern Living. Check in the mail. Package. Delightful! And the package? My new kindle snuggie I ordered from Rags to Stitches! Go check her out and tell her hello!

My favorite accessory these days? This little man. He's pulling up on everything...and that includes me. You can usually find him going 90 to nothing....or attached to my legs. I am not complaining!

My little man loves to drink from our cups and drink from a straw. He's talented I tell ya.

That's our week in a nut shell. How was yours?
Linking up!

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InstaFRIDAY & an Update!

2012-01-13T14:05:00.001-05:00

I'm still here, I promise!

I've been enjoying a little down time

with my family!

I'm linking up for InstaFriday!

A fun way to share our mobile pictures from the week

(do you have the app? If so, follow me there: kamclendon)

I also thought it'd be a fun way to

catch you up on our little family!

Christmas was spent

in Richmond Hill/Savannah

with my family and went by

way too fast!

Baby's first Christmas was everything I'd dreamed it would be!

Lots of snuggles with Nana and Grand Dad.

Lots of playing with cousin Aniston.

Lots & lots of new toys!

Road trip for the day down to St. Simons Island with Nana and baby Jude!

The ocean air is good for the heart!

Caught up with old friends and

had coffee dates into the wee hours of the night!

Highlights and a hair cut!

Flying (appropriately) with Grand Dad!

Christmas break can be exhausting!

Visit with Granny!

Four generations strong!

Back in Marietta to bring in the new year.

The hubs was playing football, so Jude and I took a stroll in the park!

We quietly welcomed in 2012....

then on January 2nd I headed to the Georgia Dome

for the Passion Conference with my High School Seniors!

45,000 18-25 year olds.....incredible.

{Not to mention I got to see some of my favorite people...

Heidi Ho & the Sheehan Family!}

And did you know that there are currently 27 million people enslaved in the world?

That's more than ever before. This generation took a stand and raised over 3 million dollars during the conference to go towards stopping modern day slavery.

{take a moment and read!}

Here's my baby. He turned 10 months old while I was at the conference. G-Nan spent the week with him and they got lots of snuggles! I drove back and forth each day and got about 15 minutes each morning with my little man (not to mention about 3 hours of sleep each night). I was grateful I was still the first face he saw in the morning...even if it was just for a moment!

We got new couches for Christmas!

Here they are on delivery day (and not a happy baby!)

We LOVE them!

Hubs bought me a Kindle for Christmas. I've spent every little extra moment I could find reading! I'm currently reading "7" by Jen Hatmaker. More on this over the weekend (and a giveaway, so stay tuned!)

Baby got sick (AGAIN) while I was at the conference. Thankfully he's better---but now the hubs is sick! Can. not. win.

Here's our pretty living room. We completely moved things around and I love it! We took out the coffee table and there's LOTS of play room for Master Jude!

So there's our update via Instagrams!I hope to have the shop back up in the next week.Lots of new things coming and I'm excited!
Do you have big plans for the weekend?We're excited to have absolutely nothing planned.We've had snow flurries already this morning,so we are staying in and staying warm!
Happy Friday Friends!

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Jude Robert, You Are Ten Months Old!

2012-01-09T21:03:00.000-05:00

Ten Months old already and we're already

discussing your first birthday!

How in the world did that happen

my little man???

So much happened during your tenth month!

For starters you

had your very first Christmas!

So much fun!

You LOVED opening

presents!

Another big milestone for the month

YOU STARTED CRAWLING!!!

The week before Christmas you officially

went from Army Crawl Master

to Speedy Gonzalez on all fours!

It made Christmas even more fun!

We finally had your 9 month well visit when you

turned 10 months old!

You weigh 18 pounds, 11 ounces

(only in the 10th percentile)

And you are 28.5 inches tall

(40th percentile)

(only 1.5 inches away from having to get a new car seat!!!!)

You are super active now,

so we're blaming your low weight on that...

because you sure do love to eat!

You'll eat just about everything we give you.

I'd say you do have favorites though

and that's sweet potatoes and

a banana/pear/apple mixture I make for you!

We continue to introduce you to new things

like zucchini, lentils, and wheat just to name a few!

We've figured out that if we mix

your chicken in with your applesauce,

you will eat it!

You can still fit in some of your 9 month clothes,

but for the most part we've

moved into 12 month clothing.

When in disposables,

you wear a size 3 diaper.

You're still holding on strong with 5 teeth.

No new ones for month number 10!

You started to sway a little from your

normal schedule.

Your morning nap is not always a guarantee.

Mama's not ready for you to give that up completely!

You still take a solid afternoon nap

and sleep 12 hours at night.

You love to pull up on everything.

One of your favorite things to do is crawl over to your walker

stand up, then push your walker around

the kitchen. It is the cutest thing!

We're debating about what your first word is..

as you started saying something to the resemblance of

HEY early on...

but officially on December 10th you said...

MAMA!

(and continue to say it over and over....melt.my.heart.)

Also on this same day you started shaking your head

back and forth.

Not sure what that means that both of these

came on the same day!

You LOVE to read!

We read your favorite book,

Daddy Hugs 123

each night while you are in the bath tub.

You got sick again during this month. BLEH.

Mommy was driving back and forth each

day going to the Passion Conference.

GNan and Daddy took good care of you

while you were sick.

The doctor said it was some type of viral infection

that your body was fighting off.

You had puss on your tonsils,

but thankfully tonsillitis was ruled out!

You are still a breastfed baby!

(One year is our goal!)

You nurse 4 times a day

and eat 3 solid food meals a day.

We had a few milk flow issues,

where you had to be supplemented a little bit

while we worked on things.

Thankfully with help from the doctor

and the lactation specialists we are back on track!

Even had enough milk back in the freezer

for Mama to go to the Passion Conference!

You are a joy in our life.

We thank Jesus everyday for you

and can hardly believe you are already 10 months old!

Thank you for being the sweet, cuddly,

calm natured baby that you are!

2011.

2011-12-31T18:13:00.001-05:00

I've been pondering the last few days

on how to wrap up 2011.

I've considered being a woman of many words....

or pictures....

or both....

to wrap up the year.

Instead, I've decided to stay simple and say....

2011.

You changed me forever.

I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father.

Happy New Year my friend.

May you spend the evening reflecting on the goodness

of the Lord

and walking in eager expectation of

all that He has for you in

twenty twelve!

{leave a comment telling me what you are thankful for!}

Merry Christmas, Love The McLendons

2011-12-25T23:24:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas our dear friends.

How I wish we could send this to

each and every one of you.

Thankful for you

and the way that you love us.

Thank you for living life with us.

Thank you for your sweet encouragement.

We are grateful for each of you

and thank our Jesus for you.

Many blessings from us on this

Christmas Evening.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Jessi @ Naptime Diaries

Merry Christmas Friends!

Since we've spent the whole month reading

the Scriptures together,

I just couldn't let today pass without posting

The Christmas Story.

Enjoy my friends.

May you be blessed today.

Luke 2:1-21

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb."

Advent: Day Twenty Four

2011-12-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Jessi @ Naptime Diaries

Epistle Lesson

To read this morning:

Galatians 3:23-4:7

"Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

To read this evening:

Philippians 2:5-11

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Advent: Day Twenty Three

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Jessi @ Naptime Diaries

Epistle Lesson

Galatians 3:15-22

"To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."

Gospel Lesson

Luke 1:67-80

"And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

for he has visited and redeemed his people

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

in the house of his servant David,

as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

that we should be saved from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show the mercy promised to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant,

the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to his people

in the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel."

Advent: Day Twenty Two

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Jessi @ Naptime Diaries

Epistle Lesson

Galatians 3:1-14

"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith."

Gospel Lesson

Luke 1:57-66

"Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him."

Advent: Day Twenty One

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Jessi @ Naptime Diaries

Epistle Lesson

Titus 2:11-3:8

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people."

Gospel Lesson

Luke 1:39-56

"In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home."

Advent: Day Twenty

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Epistle Lesson

Titus 2:1-10

"But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior."

Gospel Lesson

Luke 1:26-38

"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her."

Update on the babe

2011-12-19T13:16:00.001-05:00

If you keep up The McLendon Whereabouts

you know that the babe had been sick :(

Just wanted to update all of you that he

is doing much, much better!

He's off of his antibiotics

and we've been able to take him off

of the breathing treatments

{they were treating him for bronchitis & whooping cough}

We are so thankful to be off the breathing treatments.

For a kid that takes nice morning & afternoon naps--

the treatments wired him & there were no naps to be had!

We felt like we were single parents...

one of us would get home from work,

then the other would leave to go to work.

Not. Fun.

We were suppose to have our

first official family of three

vacation to the beach last week...

but decided to postpone it due to the little one.

We hope to go in January!

But isn't he cute?

I love this picture.

He's totally worth it!

How are you this Monday?

Christmas is coming.

You ready?

Advent: Day Nineteen

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Jessi @ Naptime Diaries

Epistle Lesson

Titus 1:1-16

"Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

To Titus, my true child in a common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."

Gospel Lesson

Luke 1:1-25

"Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, "Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

Advent: Day Eighteen

2011-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Jessi @ Naptime Diaries

Gospel Lesson

Revelation 12:1-10

"And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God."

Gospel Lesson

John 3:16-21

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

Shopping Local?

2011-12-17T10:37:00.001-05:00

Hi friends!

Are you still Christmas shopping?

Don't worry...we are too.

We're 95% done!

Just a few more little things to pick up!

{What do you buy for a 9 month olds stocking???}

Just wanted to check in with you and make sure

we weren't the only one's still shopping!

And if we aren't....I want to tell you of a great local place to go!

Robert and I have tried to do a portion of

our shopping supporting the handmade community...

and we'd love for you to do the same!

If you're in Atlanta....

we have the perfect opportunity for you!

Come on over and visit the Pop-Up Shop

located inside Criminal Records

{@ Little Five Points}

We're so excited to be a part of this shop this year!!!

I received some exciting photo's from a friend

last week that happened to be inside Criminal Records!

How fun is that!

And you can shop too--

now through Christmas Eve!

Take a look at the details below

and/or

VISIT ONLINE

{be sure to click on "our artists" to see everyone!}

***

Not local?

No worries! There is still time to get those

lovelies in time for Christmas!

Earlier this week the

Mommy & Baby Teething Necklaces

sold out....

but we've whipped some up and

listed them in the shop just for this weekend!

Be sure to order by midnight Sunday night {the 18th}

to guarantee Christmas delivery!

**Surprise! When checking out enter the code:

CHRISTMAS15

to receive 15% off your order**

**SHOP ONLINE**

Happy Shopping friends!

Advent: Day Seventeen

2011-12-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Jessi @ Naptime Diaries

Epistle Lesson

Revelation 6:1-17

" Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!" And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!"

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 25:31-46

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

InstaFRIDAY!

2011-12-16T23:59:00.000-05:00

Linking up for InstaFRIDAY!

A beautiful way of sharing our cell phone pics from the week!

And I have 2 weeks to share with you!

Reading our Advent Scripture:

Setting up the advent calendar that I bought from Jessi. Once I did this, I took them all down and we now put a new one up each day. Love it!

My little/big man!

Opening presents/pajama grams that show up in the mail! We love packages!

Game night with the Craigs. Jude was highly amused....and so were we!

Picking out our Christmas tree!

Jude did this to himself. I promise!

Jude was sick last week--which meant lots of extra snuggles!

Jude likes Jingle Bells!

Playing in the park for our 4th anniversary. It was beautiful.

RiverStone Staff Christmas Party tonight! The theme was Feliz Navidad....and surprise! A mariachi band! It. Was. Awesome.

I'm linking up!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Advent: Day Sixteen

2011-12-16T23:38:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Jessi @ Naptime Diaries

Epistle Lesson

Revelation 5:6-14

"And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

"Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth."

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped."

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 25:14-30

"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"