10 months old!

So it’s really hard for me to believe that Haddie is already 10 months old! I can’t believe she will be a year old in 2 months!!! So what is she doing now? She is officially CRAWLING! No more moving in reverse! She is now officially a forward mover! She’s a little slow at it right now, but she is moving forwards! Not only that, she is also pulling up already! This is all super exciting but I have a feeling that I am going to be much busier with her now!

 

I love watching her grow and change, which she totally does every day! She likes trying to grab the ornaments right now and for that matter anything else she can get her small hands on! And if she can, it will go into her mouth! She loves to jabber and she is learning to share! She has started handing her pacifier to you and sometimes she will even share a toy with you! It’s fun to watch her!

 

I can’t wait to see how she will be when she opens her gifts at Christmas this year, though I really think she will just try to eat the paper, but we will see! Well I think that’s all I have to say right now!

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Christmas Decorations…

A couple of years ago, Trent and I decided to be more intentional about our Christmas decorations that we put up on our tree. We bought red and green colored balls (the ones that at one time used to be glass but are now some kind of plastic) and a silver sharpie. We decided to go through Scripture and look for the names of Jesus. We put the names that we found in Scripture (both in the OT and the NT) on one side and the reference on the other side. Every year as we decorate the tree, we look up the reference and read it before we put the ornament on the tree. We really enjoy this and we look forward to having Haddie grow up with this tradition. Now that’s not to say that we don’t put other ornaments on the tree (because we do) but we wanted to have some very intentional ornaments that pointed to Christ

 

First Holiday Season!

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I can’t believe that it is the Christmas season already! I can’t believe that this is Haddie’s first season and I can’t believe she will be 10 months old soon! We are starting to decorate for Christmas and I am having fun “decorating” Haddie at the same time! I am sure I will have more pictures to post during this Holiday season, but here are some that I took this weekend and last night 🙂

By the way…sorry I haven’t written in a while (a long while) but I’ve been a little busy. Love you all 🙂

 

1 Month Old!!!

I cannot believe it but today my baby girl is one month old!!! It’s hard for me to believe it! I never even thought I’d have a baby, but to now have one that is one month old is crazy to me!!!

It’s been quite an adventure this last month. From learning how to bathe a newborn to dress them when they are wiggle worms! I know that I love having a sweet girl take a nap on me and love having her look at me with those big eyes!

I can’t wait til she starts to smile and laugh and play with toys. Now believe me, I don’t want her to grow up any faster than she already is, but I do look forward to having her hug me and all those other fun things!!!

I am eating up every moment with this sweet little girl and look forward to reporting each month all the ways that she changes! Now I know she has gotten bigger, but she is still wearing newborn size clothes (which is crazy to me!) and it is really hard to tell how much bigger she has gotten since I see her every day.

We are looking forward to going home next week so that our families can see Haddie again and so she can meet her great grandma’s. I’m sure it will be an adventure traveling home with her 🙂 Anyways…needless to say, I love being a mom and can’t wait (but I can at the same time) to see the person that she will grow up to be!

I do promise to post a picture of her that I took today later once I get them downloaded!

 

I have been remiss!

My blogging hasn’t been very consistent. Well that only makes since because I’m not that great of a journaler either. I guess I will just tell you a few things that have been going on lately for the Sligh’s.

Last night we went to see the King’s Speech, which I really enjoyed! I feel more educated about British history and about King George VI. I thoroughly recommend it though you do have to remember there are a couple of times in the movie that the “F” word is used quite a bit. I just found the movie quite fascinating.

The baby and I are doing well. Haddie has consistently been measuring bigger, which to me is no surprise since both Trent and I were bigger babies at 8 lbs 8 oz (me) and 8 lbs 8 1/2 oz (Trent). So, I think it is probably safe to say that Haddie will be a bigger baby. We cannot wait for her to make her debut (though we are totally fine waiting on her to finish growing like she needs to!) We definitely don’t want her to get here too early though. Today we will be doing a little bit of work on the Nursery…just some simple organizing and all that fun stuff! I think both Trent and myself are just quite excited and looking forward to becoming parents!

Trent is in search of a second part time job so if all our friends would please pray for him and his search. And that he will be able to find one soon! Also, if you will please pray for my friend Jamie who is pregnant with Jacey. Jacey has spinabifida. They will soon have to go back to San Fransisco for her to deliver and for Jacey to have surgery. So please be in prayer for them as they travel and for their son who will have to stay with family. You can also pray for Haddie that when she arrives she will come here healthy and that the delivery will be easy for me 🙂

Well I think this might be all the goings on in the Sligh family. I know, it isn’t very much but what can I say. I like to read and I like to visit with friends. And soon I will be a mom! I think that’s the best part of it all. When God answers the cry of our heart, that is the best part.

We love all of you and miss you all! Keep in touch with us please!!!

 

Pappy

My grandfather (my mom’s dad) passed away Friday Night/Saturday Morning (or not too long before I wrote this). I just wanted to say a few things about the man that was beloved by so many people.

He was a man unlike any other. I know many people may feel this way about their grandpa’s (and maybe you don’t), but I know for a fact he wasn’t like any other man. He was the kindest man and most gentle man. Everyone who knew him, loved him and everyone that met him probably called him Pappy. He was the kind of man that made you feel special and that you were his favorite (though he had quite a few children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren).

He was a believer and lived out his faith. He is now in a FAR better place and feeling FAR better than he has in the last few years. He loved the Father and loved church more than your average person. He was a plumber by occupation, but when he plumbed, he plumbed for the Father. He loved to sing gospel music and one of his favorite songs was “Serenaded by Angels.” He could play the guitar and loved to sit around and strum out his favorite gospel music and for anyone around him to sing right along with him.

He loved his family more than he loved himself. He was a giver and a wonderful listener. He loved to regail you though with stories from his life. He sure did tell a lot of stories. I will miss this about him. There are many things I will miss about him. One of the main ones is the way he greeted you with a smile. When I was a kid and would sometimes go in the summer to spend a week with him and my Meme, he would take me fishing or push me for hours in the tire swing that was outside the house. He loved to spend time with you. I will miss spending time with him. I am sad that Haddie will never get to meet her great-grandfather. She will surely miss knowing a great man. Though, believe me, she will hear all about him from everyone who knows and loves him.

We will all surely miss him, but the Father has received one of His own and the Angels in Heaven are celebrating his homecoming. Even more than this, he was met by my dad who preceded him. I know they are enjoying singing and praising the Father together. What better thing in the world is there to do than praise our Heavenly Father and the source of our salvation. Praise be the One who created us and sustains us. Praise be to the Father that Pappy isn’t suffering anymore.

I figured I would share some photos with you of the man that we all loved and is affectionately known as Pappy, Daddy, Cliff (and many other names). Clifton Jennings was his name.

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Hadassah Lynn Sligh (Haddie)

In March we will welcome (unless she comes late) our daughter Hadassah Lynn Sligh (Haddie). We are super pumped and thought we would share with you all some pics from our sonogram! Enjoy!!!

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Our unexpected but wonderful news!!!

And Hannah prayed and said,

My heart exults in the LORD;

my strength is exalted in the LORD.

My mouth derides my enemies,

because I rejoice in your salvation.

There is none holy like the LORD;

there is none besides you;

there is no rock like our God.

Talk no more so very proudly,

let not arrogance come from your mouth;

for the LORD is a God of knowledge,

and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are broken,

but the feeble bind on strength.

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,

but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.

The barren has borne seven,

but she who has many children is fororn.

The LORD kills and brings to life;

he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

The LORD makes poor and makes rich;

he brings low and he exalts.

He raises up the poor from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s

and on them he has set the world.

He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,

but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,

for not by might shall a man prevail.

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;

against them he will thunder in heaven.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;

he will give strength to his king

and exalt the power of his annointed.

Yes, the Lord has answered the prayers of mine and Trent’s hearts! He has allowed us to conceive!!!! We are super pumped by this!!! Please be in prayer for us as this pregnancy continues. It seems that I am due with our little miracle around March 13th!!! Thanks for all your prayers for God to bless us with this…please continue to pray for us for my safety and the babies safety. Thanks all and we love you all!!!

 

Hmmmm….

So I am currently sitting in my living room and I got to thinking about whether or not I wanted to blog. It has been quite a while since I shared any thoughts with the world of my few friends that read my blog. I don’t have much to say at all. Something that I do have to say is that I’m super pumped. I have been working on building up my knee so that I could hopefully run again (I have something known as softening of the cartilage behind the patella and haven’t been able to run in years). Well a PT guy at my church has been helping me know what to do to help my knee. I have taken steps, I have walked and I have lunged. Finally I will get to start running. Now mind you not very much. I get to run for two minutes and walk for a minute followed by running for two minutes and walking for a minute and followed again by running for two minutes and walking for 11 minutes to complete a 20 minute set. I am so pumped about this. I have been wanting to run for a while. Now I am just hoping that I can actually handle this and that my knee will be able to handle this. So hopefully one day in the future I will be able to RUN!!!! When my friend told me I could start running for two minutes at a time I think I could’ve broken out in a dance!! Anyways, I will be praying that my knee can handle this and that I will be committed to it. I really, really, really want to run and I’m not sure why. I just know that I want to. Anyways I am going to sign off now. Pray for my sanity and my knees strength! Love and miss you all!!!

 

T.S. Sligh on The Book of Eli

A while back I saw the first advertisement for The Book of Eli.  Now if you are like me, then the first thing that came to mind was, “A Road Warrior-esque, Denzel Washington movie with religious undertones?  Fascinating.”  (If you are not like me then you at least thought, “What was that?”, or, “I wonder what book it is?”  Not everyone thinks like me and this is a good thing that we should thank God for!  Anyway.)  I was intrigued.  However, I did not know what to expect.  While most movies give away too much in the trailers, this one seemed to give too little.  In spite of this, I decided to see the movie this past Friday.  I am writing to tell you this:  This is a great movie!

STORY

The Book of Eli is set some thirty years after a cataclysmic war that has left America (if not the whole world) scorched and cratered.  The story centers around a lone wanderer named Eli (Denzel Washington).  He believes that God has given him a mission.  He is to protect a Bible and travel west until he finds a safe place for it.  This is not just any Bible; it is the last Bible.  Eli endures hellish environmental conditions, scarcity, cannibalistic brigands and marauding motorcycle gangs on his journey across the vast, dead wasteland that was the USA.  While stopped in a small town, Eli meets the despotic Carnegie (Gary Oldman).  Carnegie controls the town through fear with the help of a large group of thugs.  He is one of the few literate people in the town and understands the power of books.  He constantly sends groups into the wasteland with the task of looking for them.  Carnegie’s ultimate goal is to find one particular book:  a Bible (the plot thickens).  He believes that he can use it to control people and expand his territory.  When Carnegie witnesses Eli fight some of his men, he offers him a job.  Eli declines, but Carnegie sends a young girl named Solara (Mila Kunis) to seduce him and get him to stay.  Solara sees Eli’s Bible and is later forced to tell Carnegie about it.  This revelation leads to open warfare between Eli and Carnegie’s forces.  As Eli continues west, joined by Solara, Carnegie and his men give chase across the barren, desolate desert.

REVIEW

First, let me answer this question:  “Is this a Christian movie?”  NO.  I answer that way for three reasons.  First, there is language.  That is not to say that they cuss so much that it becomes almost like background noise.  The language is few and far between (as I remember it).  That is to say that when a character cusses you notice it because it is not the norm.  As a side note, I am fairly confident that Eli does not cuss.  However, he does kill a lot of people.  And that brings me to the second thing.  The movie is violent.  It is brutal.  Eli is not afraid to take someone apart to defend the Bible (his weapon of choice is a razor sharp dagger, so sometimes this is very literal!).  However, the violence is no where close to movies such as Saving Private Ryan.  It is more like a Die Hard movie in regards to violence.  Third, and most importantly, this movie does not contain the gospel.  What do I mean?  Allow me to get on my soapbox for a moment:  At no point in time is the name Jesus even mentioned.  If they don’t even say Jesus’ name (THE PERSON THE ENTIRE BIBLE IS ABOUT!) ,then there is no way the gospel is present.  Why?  Jesus IS the gospel!  Now, I do not know the religious beliefs of the directors or Denzel.  If they are not believers then I can understand the lack of the gospel.  I should not expect people who do not believe the gospel to endorse it in their movies.  But come on!  It is a movie about the Bible!  Can’t the risen Lord of the Universe get at least an honorable mention!  Johnny Cash is referenced but not Jesus?!  I’m not hatin’ on the Boy Named Sue ,but he ain’t the Son Called Immanuel.  OK, I’m off the soapbox now.  At this point you might be wondering, “I thought he said this was a great movie?”  I did say that, and it is.  There are four things that make this movie great.  One, good characters.  In particular Denzel’s Eli and Oldman’s Carnegie are great (Oldman does come across sometimes as a Jack Nicholson impersonator, but even then he is still great).  You slowly begin to realize that Eli does not act like everyone else.  He is kind.  He does not take want he does not need.  He could easily be the baddest dude in the desert, but he tries to avoid fighting.  He does not want to kill anyone, but he will if he is forced to.  By the end of the movie you are actively rooting for him (and he blows your mind in the end!).  Carnegie is the exact opposite.  He is evil and ruthless.  The only reason he has power is because of his thugs.  He kind of reminds you of a really sketchy preacher.  The two characters play off each other very well.  Also, Jennifer Beals plays Claudia, Carnegie’s blind concubine (yes, concubine.).  It is a minor role but she has some powerful moments, especially at end.  Two, the story is intense and moving.  I was on the edge of my seat several times (3 words: dagger versus chainsaw).  There is plenty of action and suspense.  By the end of the movie, I admit that I shed a tear or two(people who know me will not be surprised by this).  I cannot tell you why because it is the ending and the ending makes you say, “Whoa!!  That is A-ma-zing!!”  It is very satisfying when you get there.  Three, it is thought provoking.  Seriously, haven’t you ever wondered what you do in a situation like this (Well, I have).  I mean would you be like Eli, who is the closest thing to a Christian in the movie, or would you just try to survive?  If you had the last Bible on earth, what would you do to protect it?  Would you march across hell to preserve it?  Seriously, its the Bible.  People die for it everyday.  When is the last time you or me really suffered anything for the Word of God?  Just a thought.  Four, the story revolves around a Bible.  Think about that.  How many major motion pictures focus on the idea that God’s Word is powerful and worthy of preservation?  I can only think of one minor example.  In The Day After Tomorrow,  an atheist (yes, an atheist) saves a copy of the Gutenburg Bible from the frozen remains of New York.  That was only one character and not the thrust of the whole movie.  The Book of Eli is centered on the Bible.  The entire story is driven by the Bible.  Carnegie wants to use it and Eli wants to protect it.  I do not want to get into to many details, but this is clear in the movie:  God’s Word is powerful and He will preserve it!

So, The Book of Eli is not a Christian movie, but it is still a great movie.  If you can handle the violence and language (there is no nudity if you were wondering), then I highly recommend it to anyone old enough to see it.  If you are like me, then you will walk out of the theater with this on your mind: “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.  The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.  The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:6b-8 (ESV).  Four out of five stars.