fromjoy

then there was Ramey

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:39:00 +0000

and we will never be the same.

OH Give thanks to the LORD for He is good!

Ramey Kate was born Thursday Aug 21st at 6:57 am. 7.1 lbs 21 inches long. It was probably the most peaceful and wonderful experience of my whole life. My Lucy story was so different! Terrible labor, but amazing delivery. But this - this was so fantastic i almost feel guilty about it.

Here's the Ramey story: Contractions started Wed afternoon when i woke up from my nap. I was timing my contractions at Thayer Botham's memorial service. Went to dinner at Water Stone Pizza down town. i just had this feeling it was the night. I had to hold the table and breath thru even at the restaurant. We stopped by the bible study group that i usually go to Wed nights cause i wanted to tell them i was in labor and that i wanted them to pray for me and Ramey. They were so thrilled and everyone laid their hands on me and prayed for Brian, Lucy and i. we were all there together. It was beautiful. Lots of people i didn't know there that night but I knew that His presence was over us all. So when we got home i just knew there was going to be a hospital visit during the night so i finished up packing and took a shower. They were getting pretty intense so i called mom to come over and sit with me while i let brian take a nap. We timed them for an hour they were like 5-10 min apart.

I was so afraid that they would send me home so i just kept doing what i could to get thru them. One of the things that i loved was, I had told Brian that i wrote some scripture that i wanted to focus on during labor so i asked him to try picking one of them and just reading a phrase to me as i rode the wave of the contraction. I asked him to give me the Bread of Life. I didn't know if i would be able to hear him or concentrate on it or not but it totally worked! It was great. Some of the phrases were: The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent (Exo 14:14) Abide in Me, apart from Me you can do nothing (Jn 15:15) not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake (Phil 1:29)

We got to the hospital around 1:30am.They admited me cause i was dilated at a 5-score! hooked me up to an IV got my epi and was chillen with my peeps by like 3am. Deaven went to stay the night with Lucy. Mom, Kim and Steph were with us. Brian fell asleep on the little couch and the girls and i just enjoyed the night together. We spent some time being thankful and sharing about the day. It felt like we were just sitting in Gods presence together hanging out. I have never experienced the Peace of God in such a great way before. It was thick in the room. Rm #8. He was there waiting for His sweet little Ramey to come into the world. Once i was ready it only took 3 pushes, i had no ripping and she was out. Perfect, Beautiful, Blessed. OMG i love this kid. She nurses great and she is just the most peaceful baby you have ever seen. When things are crazy around here i just hold her and she centers me. I am reminded of His presence and i am so thankful for this gift.

I know this is already a long post and if you have gotten this far - I LOVE YOU! but i must include my thankful list for the week. Some girls and i joined together in Thanksgiving in the weeks leading up to Rameys birth and we committed to each-other to work on cultivating Thanksgiving. We met 3 mondays and gave our anxieties to the Lord and shared our thankfulness with each other. We now send emails of thanksgiving during the week and it is the most uplifting thing to receive their lists. Especially when some are in hard places in their journey and they still choose to be thankful. It is such an encouragement to me! Since i am just BURSTING with thanksgiving i must post my list here. I invite you to comment and post your own thankful list. It is amazing how great it feels to be thankful.
Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Phil 4:6)

- for a storybook birth
- for the amazing father of my girls who loves me and walks with me even in hard times
- my mother for being my best nurse and caregiver when i need her.
- my BFF Kim for sacrificing and being here 3 entire days to help me with the girls so i could rest
- my sweet Steph helping usher in the Kingdom of Heaven into my delivery room and work thru my stormy emotions these first days home.
- my sweet Deaven for coming to be with Lucy that night and being here with me even when i was in a funk last night and still just seeing me.
- my sweet Jen for stopping in just to say hi while i eat lunch. I felt so loved. (she threw my shower too)
- the rain filling my house with a cool breeze
-my new windows love my sweet screens!!
- my fridge i have been filling up my water jug (they give you in the hospital) all day
- my sweet Lucy and the way she loves her Ramey already. loves to give her kisses
- the cuddling that Lucy's fever brought. I hated that she was sick but she never sits still enough for me to hold her anymore and it was so precious to sit with her. She has never had a fever like this before and it happened after i had Ramey which means i had a lap to put her on. It was so special to be close to her.
- Candace & Tim for bringing dinner
-this great house. I. love. every. room! I hate leaving i love it so much!
- baby cloths, dirty diapers and spit up... ahh i'm so happy. (i know i'm crazy but i looove it!)
- sitting here on the couch with my sweetie listening to the rain, on our macs, the girls are sleeping. I've been wanting to blog forever! and he is working on his school. His degree in learning to be more like Jesus. I love that he finally found the right program for him.

ok i could go on all night seriously! your turn Make known His deeds among the peoples! (1Chron 6:8) Women shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts and will tell of Your greatness (Psa 145:5)

Thanks for reading! Lord Bless you this night
ps:i knit the blanket in pic #3 love the way she looks in it :)

Pool time with my sweeties

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:51:00 +0000

We have been enjoying this house so much. The front yard is one of my favorite things about this house. I mean the whole house is my favorite place i have ever lived. It just feels like we've been here forever! This summer we have been enjoying our little pool out front. Not so much in the past few weeks it's so hot out there i can't breath plus i'm swelling real bad lately too! here's some shots of a Saturday we actually got daddy to join us in the pool. Yay for Saturdays with him!
my huge belly -this was taken in June i feel much more stretched now only 2.5 weeks to go!! i can't wait to meet my little Ramey (thanks Tim & Candace for loaning us your sweet camera - the first 2 pics are with that camera)

she waits expectantly..

I feel so blessed to have the family i do. I'm so excited to meet this baby and to see the way Lucy is going to love her. Brian is just such a great dad, i know he will be just what the girls need in a dad to teach them what a man of God looks like. Thank you Jesus for my family.

Crafty Lucy

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:41:00 +0000

I figured it was about time i posted some Lucy luv on here. She has been so much fun lately and loving hands on stuff. I love to watch her play and explore. She gets such a kick out of little things. I really am going to miss my alone time with her. Enjoy my Luce - i do every stinking day!

Of course Cinderella has to finish her chores before play time every day.. such concentration.

She will literally play with these beans up to 45 min. i just lay a table cloth on the floor and give her the baggy of mixed beans and she's just scoop, poor, pick out the big white ones (?) scoop, poor, pick out the big white ones, wait for mommy to clean them all up and do it all again.. Jen got us started on this. Thanks for the beans Jen!

Then there's play dough time. looooves her some play dough. She does like to sniff it and put it in her mouth from time to time but we try and keep that to a minimum :)

nice smoothie mouth Luce...

I love when she pretend feeds her little dough dog... so cute!

we have fun with our water color too. I love this myself. It's nice to find something we both like.

On another random note. Brian, mom and i watched The Bucket List, last night. Oh my gosh i laughed & cried so hard. it is such a great movie. If you or anyone you know has lost someone to cancer it is a must see. I just really love the dynamic between Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicolson.. some hilarious lines! my favorite one of his was "never trust a fart" check out the trailer

Ramey Reeves

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:07:00 +0000

You will be missed by all who knew you and knew of you. I prayed for you at Grace that Sunday but i didn't stay to introduce myself cause i thought i'd have another chance, and that you probably wanted to see all your buddies. I wish i would have said, "Hi Ramey, I'm Joy. I'm having another girl and i'm naming her after you cause your name is so cool and i think you are so great" I hope my little Ramy loves Jesus the way you did. I hope she lets Him fill her life with music, love and laughter the way you did. We will pray for John and Judah and the rest of your family loving and missing you now.

If you wanna know Ramey go here, here and here
An amazing video about her battle with cancer here

If you wanna hear her angelic voice go here.

Her name is...

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:33:00 +0000

Ramy Kathryne or Ramy Kate for short. I am so thrilled that my baby will be here in less than 2 months. I just can't contain myself i'm so happy about it. I am so Thankful for another little girl growing inside me. Thought i would share her name with you so you can join me in praying for her coming and her little heart to be inclined to trust and obey God. Jen made these for the girls. I love to see their names together.

I know i've been MIA. All is well and my house and i are getting to be best friends. I love living here, i love what it does to me and how the Lord has already allowed us to use it. I will post pictures soon of our home. When i sit to blog there is always something else that is a priority, like eating, playing with Luce, sewing, or sleeping. I will blog again, soon. Pictures of the Lucy and my huge belly to come too.

Have a great 4th of July! May the Lord Bless you & your families as you celebrate the independence this country has enjoyed for many years.

So much to do!

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:35:00 +0000

This is my once beautiful craft room that has been renamed "the junk room". Looking at this mess is getting me no were, sitting at the computer isn't either. Moving day is the 24th and i feel it closing in on me. There is so much i want to blog about. Lucy and i have been everywhere cause the weather is so great and the renovations on the house are really coming along. There is still so much more to tell about France, just to name a few things i really want to post about. But they can wait. I need to clean out the cabinet under the sink, call the exterminator, buy paint for the kithchen and start packing the closet in the junk room... um, today, ahh so much to do. I'm tired just thinking about it.

We are having a painting party Saturday and i have to get supplies for that too!! I'll be glad when this part is over. And I actually think i'm going to get a Prince Caspian date with Brian tomorrow - yeah right!! I'll post more pictures of the house soon. You are gonna love it!

France Tales

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:40:00 +0000

Altho we had a wonderful time there and have many happy memories, the trip began with a terrible plane ride. Working thru my anxiety of traveling with Lucy would have been helpful for the plane ride to Paris. Lucy had this ear infection that we were treating with Amoxicilin. She seemed to be feeling much better but Monday morning (travel day) we noticed some spots on her back. Apparently she had a terrible allergy to the antibiotic. That just got worse as the day progressed. She was whiny pretty much the whole 7hr ride but literally screamed the last hour and 1/2. We were "those people" with the screaming kid. This is what she looked like the day we arrived.

Nothing would calm her down and i was literally going insane, just ask brian! Needless to say when we arrived in Paris i hated France, hated everyone, i was so disappointed in Lucy. I was so disappointed in my self. I just didn't think i could be a mom! then i'm looking at my belling going - why am i doing this again?? Ok so it was a bad day.

It took me a few days to get used to the time change, feel rested & sane again. Once i got unpacked and went for a walk with Grammy and Lucy i felt much better. It was like oh ok i'm in France, that was bad, but this place is amazing. Then i just wanted to enjoy it.

My in-laws live 5 min from the beach. One night we got some KFC (i know in France right?) and had a picnic. It was the first time for Lucy to be at the Ocean. She had been to Smith Mountain Lake and to a little spring in FL. I was so excited that it was in France. It was kinda chilly but so beautiful. I had my camcorder out and was taking it all in.

She loved the sand so much - she ate some. (which she of course threw up in the middle of the night along with her KFC fries)

This is my handsome father-in-law Mike. i think i kinda look like i could be his daughter in this picture. He's so great, always so patient and kind with me. Love him so much!

Lucy and i havin' a good ol' time

leaving the beach was the hardest thing for her tho. Her love affair with sand will go on for ever i'm sure.

After realizing that i had let myself think those thoughts on the plane and in Paris. I knew i needed to spend some time with the Lord confessing my sin and letting Him heal places in my heart that were unkept. Lucy was not sleeping thru the night and every time she would wake up when i hadn't had enough sleep i kept getting crazier and crazier. It was like during the day i was happy American tourist in France but at night i was a monster mother wanting to give up on everything good. My wonderful in-laws were so patient with me, making me delicious French coffee and letting me nap while they watched Lucy was so special.

They even let Brian and i spend some time together while they hung with Luce a few times. Dad dropped us off at this nature walk close to their house. It was so special just to spend time with Brian. He is going to school right taking a degree in Spiritual Formation. Basically to be more like Jesus. I really see him growing so much everyday and becoming more like Christ. He is such a rock for me. This day was no different. We talked at length about what my issues were. Somewhere mixed in with the bad trip, pregnancy hormones & lack of sleep, there were some other things going on. I had this realization that i am controlled by my emotions and well basically i'm a spoiled brat and can't handle when things go wrong. I just go insane. literally. He prayed with me and left me alone for some solitude while he walked a ways down the path. He just led me right back to Jesus the only one that could heal me. Brian is going to be such a great spiritual director one day, i mean he already is for me.

He said something to me in Paris to the effect of Jesus striping me of everything, till nothings left but love.
Hebrews says that even Jesus, tho he was the Son learned obedience thru suffering. I knew Jesus obeyed but he had to LEARN that? I really think God is teaching me to persevere in my own suffering. I know others suffering is so much more than mine and i desire with all my heart to be the kind of woman to be strong, but my threshold is so low right now. All i can do is cling to my Savior as the boat rocks in my stormy emotions. I know he will make me well as i continue to seek His face. One of the things i'm learning to do is be thankful in all things. Thanksgiving helps defuse usually any thing that makes me crazy. I also read psalm 116 over and over in the middle of the night when i just couldn't stay calm.

I started by saying - Jesus teach me how to suffer, teach me how to obey.
1 I love the LORD, because He hears
My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death encompassed me
And the terrors of Sheol came upon me;
I found distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!"
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is compassionate.
6 The LORD preserves the simple; (mothers)
I was brought low, and He saved me.
7 Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For You have rescued my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
My feet from stumbling.
9 I shall walk before the LORD
In the land of the living. (tomorrow morning)
I think this was one of the psalms read at passover too. definitely the cry of my soul in those times.

I love this picture cause it is so symbolic of what happen that day. I began a new walk down a new path. He leads me in paths of righteousness, for His name sake.

It was just so fun to see her spending time with my in-laws they love her so much and we will never forget this wonderful time together. Lucy & Grammy watering her plants. (she's obsessed with water too)

Promised Land?

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:10:00 +0000

Here it is the Tremont house. We have been looking at this house for a little while now and it is really the perfect house for us. Even the way that it came to us was of the Lord. Brian finally gave me the ok to post about it. His Boss's wife Caroline just came into his office one day asking him if we were still looking for a house. Her brother owns it and she thought it would be a perfect fit for us. As soon as Brian pulled up this picture, he knew it was the house for us. It is, less than a mile away from the Sussex- Westover - Yeardley neighbors we love so much.

The thing is that if we were looking on MLS we would have never seen this house because of the stats. It's a 2 bed 1 bath but is 200 more square ft than where we live in right now. Brian and i have always wanted to find something that was just enough for us & that we could manage. Every-time i look at a bigger house i get all excited about all the room but i literally get sick to my stomach thinking of cleaning day. OH MY GOSH.. i can barely keep this tiny apartment clean. Brian and i have known since we saw the outside of this house, peeking in the windows (we couldn't get into it for like 2 weeks because of a key issue) that this house was so right for us. Instead of having our 20yr plan the way we did with the other house. We are just ready to do what we can do right now. It may be 2 years maybe 10. We just know this is the right house for us for right now. I'm getting excited about being creative with the space. It is such an great open floor plan i just love it. Lucy's room is already painted bright pink, i love it!

We have closed on the house and have started work on it already. This is moving month We'll be sleeping in it the night of June 1. Yippee!! We have been having some trouble with the type of loan we got and some work has to be done on it before they will release the funds - don't ask what that means cause i don't know really. So in my mind it's mine but it's kind of not yet. In purgatory maybe? We have to put up a fence, fix the chimney, get the bathroom done and some odds and ends, then i guess we're done. We have to do all this by Monday. I'm quite frustrated to be honest, but i've talked about it so much i just don't feel like doing it again. I know it has to be done so i'm trying to just bite the bullet and get it done. I will post b4 and after pictures as we go along. And i promise to post pictures of France and the beautiful things we saw. Right now this is my special memory of the trip. Have you ever had a Beignet? ok, with Nutella? OH.MY.GOSH. France from my preggo perspective.

Hurray for PINK!

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:16:00 +0000

IT'S A GIRL!!! i can't believe i am so excited about this. i really thought i'd be bummed. i have no names picked out and i wanted my Liam so badly. But great news is i'm not. i'm actually psyched about this! Lucy is going to have a little sister and we are going to have so much fun together. i had wanted the kids to share a room and now it's going to work out perfect! as long as they never date the same guy we'll be OK.

WE had such a great time in France minus the plane trip there and her waking up before the sun pretty much every morning. My inlaws had a great time with her. I'll post pictures as soon as i get them up and tell you all about it. We are thrilled to be home and news on the house front to come too. Missed you!

Off to France

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:58:00 +0000

Ciao my friends! we're off tomorrow morning. don't know if i'll get a chance to post while we are there, but i know i'll post tons of pictures when we get back. I'm not even taking my phone so if you need to get me, or want to send me a friendly note, just email Brian. He'll have his computer there.

For some reason i have been plagued with an abnormal level of anxiety about this trip (mainly the getting there) I'm not the teenager i was. I would have been dreaming of this trip for weeks. I think it is just the pregnancy and the exhaustion i've been feeling that is keeping me from really getting as excited as i'd hoped to be the night before we left. Please pray that i chose to let Jesus be my rock and keep turning my mind to him even at 3am when Lucy is crying and my stomach is killing me. I really want to learn to let the Holy Spirit control me even when i am not physically or emotionally well. Pray with me about this.

We leave tomorrow morning to drive to DC for our 4pm flight to Paris, huge layover before we fly to Montpellier and we'll be back the 15th of April. Kim will have the key to our place while we're gone - so if i've borrowed something from you and forgot about it or someone needs a season of Gilmore's (Erin's DVD's so ask her first) that is being held hostage in my apartment just call Kim.

see ya soon! bye

"pool" time

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:47:00 +0000

Lucy in her make shift pool, originally uploaded by Joyspeak.

It was so nice out yesterday and she was feeling so great when she got up from her nap. I decided it was pool time.We don't have a yard yet, all we have is a little apartment deck so i just put her in her suit, which she hated the top- and put her in a little plastic container i had with some toys & water. She really had a great time. She looked so cute in her bikini!

Here she is havin' a good ol time. I LOVE this weather. i can't wait to have a yard. course then it's freezing today. I've got to get to packing for the trip to France anyway - no pool today.

sometimes she's good

sometimes not :)

have a great weekend!

Double Trouble

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:26:00 +0000

Lucy has not been herself since i took her for her shots on Thursday last week. She had a little cold when we went but, she just got worse and worse. She spend most this weekend looking like this. This is a bib i made for Chloe back in November and Lucy wasn't really cooperating with trying it on for me. Monday night was the kicker. We were up every 2 hrs with her and she wouldn't even nurse she would just cry unless she was sitting in front of her video. Even then she wasn't happy. She wasn't eating and i was just freaking out that something, having to do with the shots, was terribly wrong with her. I woke up Tuesday feeling like i had been rolled out of my pasta machine so Brian called the doctor for me and took her. Sure enough she has an ear infection in BOTH ears! I'm so glad i didn't go, they had to get all that wax out of her ears and Brian said she was screaming the whole time.

We are leaving for France Monday and i was just panicked about taking a sick baby on that plane! Since she came home from the doctor and is on her antibiotic she has been back to good ol smily Lucy. Man i missed this kid. Here she is dancing to the Gilmore Girls ending tune - or more like doing some aerobics. She loooves to dance to anything, even when my phone rings.

Please pray for our trip. I am still nervous about getting on the plane with her over night. I am so excited to go to France to see my in-laws but its the getting there that i'm nervous about. Pray that i will have Peace that night and be kind to Brian. When i don't get sleep i turn to a crazy woman and i'm soo mean. Don't know how that man stays with me day after day!

Crabby Cream Cheese Won-tons

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:35:00 +0000

Here you go Heidi. The recipe you were waiting for. I have been craving won-tons like no body's business! oh my gosh it's insane! Kim and i made these last week. We made a plate full then had enough to freeze for later. I um, made them the next day..... i know what you are thinking not the best fuel for making baby parts huh? i know. save it.

(i used the foil around the stove top cause i hate getting oil on my oven.. yuck!)

I had been having some trouble with my hip and knee last week and one night was so bad that i was crying from the pain. Good ol Tylenol was doing nothing for me! Brian gets up with me and looks up Ibprofen on line to see "just how bad" it was for the baby. He said it was more a 3rd trimester thing and it had to do with the baby's heart rate or something like that. Anyway he says cause the pain was so bad that i could have one with my Tylenol to see if that helped. I swear i never do anything unless Brian says it's ok. then i guess i can blame it all on him right?

crying from terrible pain joy: i just don't want to hurt the baby. Brian, i would feel terrible if something happen cause i took the Ibprofen this one time.

in his most sarcastic tone brian: Joy, one Ibprofen is not going to hurt the baby, you are doing worse things by eating all those won-tons

so there you have it... Well i stopped crying and tried some silly defense about my wontons. it was so lame i can't remember it now. here is the delicious recipe Kim and i (and Brian if he'll admit it) enjoy. trust me they won't last long. delicious!

Machy-Machy Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:42:00 +0000

Nothing makes me want to blog more than clipping my nails and having a cup of Clover coffee. i love the way my fingertips feel on the keys.. ahh it's the little things. My sweet husband who has been working so hard at doing school every free moment and watching Luce when i'm exhausted, went to The Good Cherry this morning to finish some stuff up. He called on the way home to check on me and brought me a cup of Clover. I love you sweetie!

So here's our Easter pictures. I got the idea to make Lucy and i matching shirts to wear to church. I have been so lazy lately i didn't think i would actually get around to it. But lo and behold, since i picked an easy pattern idea. I got it from the pillowcase dress idea, and added some pockets. It was super easy. Course mine looks more like a moo-moo than a shirt but hey i'm pregnant right so who cares?? Lucy just looks adorable. Brian loved the way her dress looked on her.
She has been sick with a cold and fever for a few days so she wasn't extra happy yesterday morning.

Brian and i have been talking about Easter a lot this Lenten season and really wanting it to be a special time. We both grew up in the church hearing about "Jesus died on the cross for your sins". As wonderful as it was to grow up in family's that taught us that, you just become callused to hearing about it. I was just hating the fact that Easter wasn't really affecting me as i hoped. I was longing for feelings of thanksgiving, awe, humility and all that goes with understanding that - Jesus really did die on the cross for my sins and for my soul! We went to the Tenebrae service at Grace which was amazing. A very quiet, dark service. Like a memorial for Jesus reading thru the passion story.

We had decided to watch The Passion, which has got to be the hardest movies to watch. Brian and i aren't ones to watch a graphic violent film unaffected. But this was something we chose to watch, trying not to shut our eyes the entire time.

I had prayed earlier Saturday that He would impress on me the importance of Jesus death and give me a sense of thanksgiving for it. HE totally came thru for me while we were watching the movie. I'm sure the pregnancy hormones were helping too, but i couldn't stop crying the entire time. The strongest sense i had was just deep sadness that this horrible death of precious Jesus was truly the ONLY WAY for us to have life. My awareness, respect & connection with Mary was so different this time, because it was the first time we had seen it since Lucy was born and i was totally there with Her. Man, that actress that plays Mary is soo amazing. I will never see Mary any other way.. I am so thankful that Mel Gibson chose to make that movie. Beside the fact that it is the story of our faith, it is really well done. I want to encourage you, if you were also having trouble this Easter to "get into the season" to watch this movie. Trust me i was praying to Jesus to help me get thru the movie the entire time and it is NOT FUN. but the blessings i received from watching it were so worth while! There is this part in the beginning that keeps sticking in my mind. He's in the garden praying and Satan is saying stuff like, "do you really think this will work? you really think you can save their souls?" He was not just afraid of what would happen to him, he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

***BEFORE YOU WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEO...We had an art exhibit at our church about Easter and i wanted so badly to participate. The only thing that kept coming to mind was the U2 song - Until the end of the world. It was written about Judas betrayal. I wanted to do something with it but couldn't think of what. Someone has dubbed it over clips of The Passion movie and it is AMAZING. I spent the entire 4 min crying.. I'm posting it here but i'm warning you, don't hit play until you are ready. If you have a queasy stomach (pregnant friends) don't watch it. If you haven't seen the movie and are wondering if you should, Candace, you may not want to start with this. If you love U2 and have seen the movie, say a quick prayer to make your heart ready. It may even help you see Judas in a different way - then hit play.

Because Brian and i worked hard to prepare our hearts for long awaited Easter Sunday, we both enjoyed the most amazing Easter we ever have. He actually went to a sunrise service then we went to our church, Grace Ev Free. The songs that we sang made me weep the entire service and the joy i felt knowing that Jesus had answered my prayer with establishing the importance of His sacrifice in my heart was so special. We have this tradition of flowering the cross. It was so beautiful. Everyone brings flowers and we are dismissed by rows to put our flowers on the cross. This is the best picture we got. Lighting isn't best.

If you have gotten this far, thanks so much for reading my Easter journey. I will treasure this year in my heart and hope every year i will reflect on His death and resurrection in a new way. Easter is so important.

tried Clover coffee. I'll never be the same

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:10:00 +0000

i was going to wait and tell you about The Good Cherry later but i just couldn't wait. Kim and i made won-tons today but instead of having 2 food posts back to back.. i'm starting to look like a food psycho! I am dying to tell you about this new place i found. I got the invite on face book for the Paul Brunett gig at The Good Cherry but didn't get a chance to go. Brian then tells me after talking to someone that went that they roast their own coffee beans and their hot chocolate is real chocolate with chili powder. Just like Chocolat the movie!

This morning Lucy and i stopped in to try a cup. She explained that they have this Clover coffee brewer that is a mix of the french press taste and the vacuum brewer. So i try some of their Sumatra. OH MY GOSH! i can't remember having such a great cup of coffee. I am so impressed. The place was amazing too. this is the picture on their site. there is even a little area with toys, so Lucy was perfectly content while i drank my cupa coffee. if you like coffee you must go and try some. promise me you won't get a to-go cup at least the for the first time. it's totally worth it! i'm already planning how to go out of my way up to forest just to get some more. yum!

Way to start my week

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:16:00 +0000

You know you are pregnant when you are dreaming of what you will make for breakfast before you get out of bed! I was thisclose to just going to McDonalds for my favorite bacon, egg & cheese when i remembered we had 2 slices of bread left - that is if brian did't make a PB&J before he left for work. I had one slice of American cheese left which i have recently discovered is the best for making a kickin' grilled cheese. When i was pregnant with Luce i lived on those things!

So i'm dragging my self out of bed already planning on being mad at poor Brian if he used the last of "my" bread. Yea right, like he doesn't pay for every stinking thing i eat!! sheeesh! how does he live with me??!! and taking Lucy in her Pjs to Micky D's for that bagel! It is just nuts how insane i get when i get an idea or craving i've just got to have it! Yesterday i'm craving cream cheese won-tons again. Brian's like, "babe, didn't you just have some yesterday? maybe we should make it an every other day thing.." Bless his ever loving heart he wants a healthy wife and baby so bad! ok- fine! could be worse, he could ground me from my won-tons all together if he wanted. it's his baby too! You know it's bad when the asian girl in yoga class makes you think about your won-tons! sheesh!! "..mm, look at her, wonder if she works at a chinese place around here.. wonder how much their won-tons run.. wonder if she hates them by now.." i know i'm retarded!

As i arrive to the fridge.. ta da! the bread is still there, along with one of his green smoothies for me. I am so thankful for that man and the way he cares for me. Yay i can make my own bacon, egg and cheese. I even made my eggs shaped like my bread. (thought of that in bed) obsessive i know! But it was soo delicious especially after i added some tomato. YUM! Had some of my French coffee, my in-laws brought me, to go with my breakfast. Some water with my tin cup for my vitamins and Juice Plus.

Mean while i'm watching this! i thought this day would never come!! seriously, what a way to start my week.. love this kid!

While i was getting ready for church yesterday, daddy & Lucy were playing a little Harry Potter. love that grin! have a great week!

Things aren't always what they seem

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:17:00 +0000

I just couldn't help myself. these have got to be the funniest commercials i've ever seen!! I'm still laughing just thinking about them! Happy Friday! have a great weekend..

France, Baby & God Tube

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:31:00 +0000

We went to our first sonogram today. I'm right at 16 weeks but they couldn't really see the "goods" yet sad! I've got to wait till next month to know if i'm going to have my Liam or not! I was so happy i got to see my little Morykon. I was surprised that i started crying when i saw him. I can't believe there's actually a baby in there! so exciting!

It was so good to see my Dr Phemister again. He is so much fun! I was getting ready for my check, you know in the holy of holys like Kelly has been known to call it, and i realized i hadn't shaved.. i mean we are talking days here! ahhhh why didn't i shave??!! My first day back to see my doctor the least thing i could have done for him. I'm sure he's used to that sort of thing but gross.. I'm just picturing what he would have said if he could, "Ok Joy i'm just gonna get you to slide down.. ahhhhhh, oh sorry i just sliced my hand on your razor legs. i'll just go get a bandage to stop the bleeding.." Embarrassing!!

When i was pregnant with Lucy we decided to take a trip to Hawaii and this time decided we would go see his parents in France before Lucy is 2 and we have to pay for a 3rd ticket. So we decided to go after i was done with the first trimester yuckies. We leave March 31st, we'll be there for 2 1/2 weeks. Brian is getting a weeks vacation then he's going to work while he's there. So Lucy and i can still spend some extra time with his parents. We are so blessed that he works a job that can be done from anywhere (in the world literally) as long as there is internet. I am soo excited about this trip. I just know the minute i'm there i'm going to want to move to France.. We are going to a city called Montpellier in southern France. I was trying to find some pictures but the best thing i found was this youtube video. I think this guy is from there and is in love with Montpellier because his sound track is "Your beautiful" it's not too long. enjoy, and picture Brian, Lucy and i walking around that place. ahhh can't wait.

Thought this was kinda funny. ever heard of God Tube? broadcast Him... Found this there. looove Switchfoot and this song means a lot to me. It was the song that helped me leave Mary Kay after thinking it was my "calling". I had been selling MK for 3 years when my dad died. I remember listening to this song real loud riding around in that great Pontiac GrandAm, that yes i had to give back to the company when i left. That had to be the hardest part. That was the nicest car i have ever had. We were meant to live for so much more than make up.. i'm sure.

Freaky Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:20:00 +0000

Thought you've been patient enough waiting for more Lucy pictures so this morning along with needing to trim my nails, i was inspired to paint them black again. Looove the way that looks on short nails. Thanks for the great idea KiKi! then i thought, lets do Lucy's too! and our toes. It's so much fun to be matchy-matchy. Don't know what daddy will think when he gets home but there's always nail polish remover. i mean i could have gotten the matching tatoo idea again! jk

enjoy some lucy luv

I got a sweet new phone that even takes pictures yesterday - must be why i'm in such a good mood. Thanks for my new phone baby! i loooove seeing your picture when you call :)

chowing down on some sweet potato chips, yum!

Breakthrough

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:12:00 +0000

I am so thankful for the support around me right now. I know there are so many people praying that we will find the right house and i am so grateful for that. I've been talking to the Lord about my feelings about the house and how discouraged i've been. I realized i was doing exactly what i can't stand in other people. Saying things like IF I ONLY HAD ...... i'd be happy. fill in the blank with whatever, boyfriend, husband, baby, job whatever it is. Wanting something so bad you just can't think about anything else or anyone else.

Because i arrogantly i think to myself well if Jesus was filling every part of them they wouldn't feel like they need that something to be whole. Jesus would be making them whole. So now it's my turn. That is where i have sinned. I am now confessing this to you. In addition to the sin of judging others, I really somehow got to the point that i believed if we had a house i would be so much happier, settled, whole, at peace. I was wrong. I recognize that having a house will be a good thing i'm sure but, i want to refocus and remember that all of those things i was thinking a house would give me, really comes from my relationship with Jesus. i want to be whole in Him. This Lent has been hard not constantly searching for a house, but I know as He teaches me that He is all i need to be full, my heart will be at peace. As i was listening to Pray as you Go this week the passage was Jeremiah 17:7 I felt like it was just for me

7 But blessed is the woman who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.

8 She will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; (August due date)
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."

This is what i want to be is unmoving. Always trusting in Him. I want to be this to Brian, Lucy and baby on the way, and to my family and friends. I hate for people to worry," Oh no what is Joy going to do now that things aren't going her way?" I feel like they have to brace them selves for all my whining and complaining when things aren't going well. Wouldn't it be nicer if they thought, "This is going to be a hard time on Joy, but she has really learned to handle when things don't go her way, she is trusting in Jesus, she'll be fine" And NOT be afraid to be around me! I know especially for poor Brian who sees me and hears my every complaint, i'd especially love for him to feel safer around me.

If i continue to keep going to the Source to let His word change my heart and perspective i am confident this image of the tree by the water can and will be me one day, and i will never fail to bear fruit. I am so thankful for this passage this week it has been food for my soul.

Thank you for all your sweet comments and your prayers. I know there are so many others that are going thru a much more difficult time of waiting than i but it means so much to me that you know my heart and care for me. Thank you.

Prayer house

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:07:00 +0000

Prayer house, originally uploaded by Joyspeak.

I pray everyday for a house. I made this one out of clay to help focus my mind when i do. And also picture this house in His hand. He knows what i need and when. I hold this house every day.

Waiting is so hard

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:18:00 +0000

*Warning, the following post might be kinda of a downer - i promise i in no way want to discourage you today, i'm just trying honesty on for size. If you've read my blog in the past you would have never come across one of these. here goes. You may want to plan on getting a latté when you get done. i know i am!

We went out with Jason our realtor on Saturday and looked at half a dozen houses. There was a couple of cute ones but none we were ready to commit to. We told Jason that we didn't want to look anymore. We have an email notifying us of any new listings, so we sit tight till then. I'm going crazy doing that! I just keep wanting to paint a room or rearrange. I go back and forth on does Lucy need her own room or do i need the craft room more. It's about use ablitliy. We play in there anyway and she sleeps so good in the nice dark walk-in right now i don't know if i want to mess with her sleep. Since in 6 short months we'll all be loosing sleep. Just trying to get as much as i can.

I was so discouraged when we got home Sat i felt sick, like a nervous sick when you have to have a talk with someone you hurt or something. I had this sick feeling we were never going to find the right place. Cause we are so stinking picky! Sunday was terrible too. I just feel like i have nothing to look forward to, not even the baby... cause i just keep thinking, where am i going to put him? don't get me wrong i am so excited about this baby and my nesting is kicking in but i have no where to nest! i have nested and renested this apartment till it is what it is till we leave here. I know it will work out and Jesus knows what we need but what the heck am i supposed to do in the mean time.

My dad died 4 years ago this Sunday, Feb 24th i can't believe it has been that long. This waiting for the "answer" of which house it is (cause i convince myself if i just knew where i could settle down and be creative again and wait till closing or renovations or whatever) has reminded me so much of that month of waiting for dad to die. I know that sounds terrible but the truth is my dad died way before Feb 24th. If you have ever been around someone with cancer you know that chemo kills them a little at a time. For weeks i remember just getting in to the shower and praying that today would be the day that he would go. When you have spend all day and all night taking shifts with your mom to spoon feed your dad and take him to the bathroom all you want is for it to be over and never have to do it again. While we waited, we could do nothing, but wait. Some how we survived but i couldn't even dream of what i would do when it was all over i just wanted it to be over, to go out side, to some how move on with my life with out my dad. I know i'm waiting for something wonderful this time for a baby and a house. But the feeling is so similar. I don't feel creative, energetic, excited about anything, i just go thru every day wondering what i should do today and will I have hope or not.

When i got back that year after my dad died, mid march, i changed everything! I went on a diet, i started yoga and swimming i bought new cloths i decorated my apartment. i mean EVERYTHING changed. I feel that kind of change brewing. I know having a house will renew my motivation for many things and having another child will tire that motivation out but i know everything will change again. I look forward to this. I am not the kind to resist change. i love change. i always have.

I ran across a blog today. Her name is Heather. As i am whining about not having a house, she is happy that her MRI was clear from cancer. There's a shot of perspective for you.

Brian says when he is discouraged about something the best remedy is Thanksgiving. Here is what i am thankful for right now.

- My sweet friends. After a yucky day on Sunday something urged me to go see Gaylyn that night. I felt so sick i told Brian i'd be back in 20 min as i walked out the door at 7pm. Um.. got home after 2am. Thanks for a great time Gay! i love spending time with you your coffee and stories make me feel 17 again and cheered me up so much! She even made me heart shaped brownies!!

Then Kim came by yesterday for a bit and we had a great talk. She was sharing with me what she had just learned about the Good Shepherd. I had just read a section of psalm 23 that day. no coincidence i'm sure! She said that sheep are so dumb that if they are prone to wander that the shepherd will break it's legs to teach him not to leave the flock. Then carries him till his legs are healed. So bizarre! needless to say i feel like my legs are broken right now.

- Sacred Space "By quiet waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit." (Psalm 23) This was part of the intro prayer. This is such a sweet site to help refocus my mind. it's short and sweet.

- Brian and i have started doing chapel a couple of nights a week using the Celtic Daily Prayer book and singing Cuirim songs, sometimes we feel like it sometimes we don't. We have a schedule so we do it when we've decided we will either way. when we get done, every time we are glad we did. We feel lighter. last night we read, Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. Psalm 63:3

there are so many more things to be thankful for like her nap right now and my sweet Brian caring so much for me i'll spend the rest of the day thinking of them. Will you join me? Kel? even tho your renovation isn't done yet - what are you thankful for?
Holli? altho you don't live in the burg right this minute- what are you thankful for? Heather altho you are freezing and hibernating in the snow- what are you thankful for? Heidi, altho your whole family is sick AGAIN - what are you thankful for?
Can, altho closing got put off another freaking week -what are you thankful for? Kim, altho long distance relationships SUCK - what are you thankful for?

i know the rest of you got some junk going on that sucks too - what are you thankful for?

House Blues

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:41:00 +0000

Lucy-Bday (29), originally uploaded by Joyspeak.

Thanks so much for your comments. it's nice to know i have friends that still want to read my stories after so long. Don't think you won't hear them again. Just cause i'm posting them doesn't mean i wont give you the same story with hand motions and voice inflections. You're gonna get them one way or another if you see me around. Thanks for caring. love you guys!

I don't know if i can go thru with 40 days of not searching for a house. There are so many houses for sale in the area where we want to live. Couldn't we just have one? We have been so picky for just the right house no wonder it has taken us over a year to find the right one. We had set up an appointment with our realtor to take a look at a handful of houses tomorrow. We decided we'd go ahead and go and then just wait and see how we felt. We told him Monday we wanted to see them. Altho we are giving up an intense search for a house on MLS we are open to suggestions and if you know of any that you think we might like. Let me know. I want a few things specifically: Main level laundry (i know Jen you are tired of hearing this) i hate doing laundry in the basement! 3 bed with room for my craft space, 1 1/2 to 2 bathrooms. Fort Hill area. Level lot no stairs to the front door! This is so huge since i have been living on the 2nd floor for so long. I am tired of carrying up the groceries and Lucy. I really want a nice kitchen too (who doesn't) i've been so spoiled by the cabinets and appliances here at the apt, I'd love to have the same. so let me know if you hear of something along those lines. Max we'd like to pay is $120.

Yesterday i just broke down crying on the phone with Brian. I just want so badly to be settled. Every time i walk up those stairs i pray," Jesus, i trust in you" on every step. I want so badly to trust Him. I can't remember the last time i wanted something so bad. It is like wanting to be pregnant and i wanted that reeeally bad for about 8 mos but i don't know if i wanted it quite this bad. I REALLY WANT A HOUSE. Ok, i am done wining. I know He loves us and knows right where we should live and i don't have any angry feelings toward Him or anyone. But i'm just mainly sad. that's just it. sad that we are still living in this great apartment. i mean i do love this place, i just didn't think we'd be here so long.

Here's one of my favs of Lucy to Cheer me up and make your day. Ryan did a great job taking pictures for Lucy's Birthday party. They turned out amazing!
if i am ever tempted to get bitter about what i don't have oh my gosh i am so thankful for this child! She is amazing. Just look at that face!!! Holli, check out my Flickr for more Lucy love..

Have a great weekend!

Oh how i've missed you

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:28:00 +0000

We've finally got our very own internet, after bumming off our neighbors for the past 4 years. So to make it up to them we didn't password protect ours this time. Soooo I'm back. I have missed blogging so much. Every time i would think of coming back, i just thought no that's not witty enough or that's not important. Well i've decided to blog and i'm going to write what is on my mind. I just want to be faithful. Which is another reason why i haven't posted anything. I thought if i start then i don't keep up then i've let myself down again. But here it is. Me. no caps, no spell check or grammar check and some serious run on sentences. When i go back to my old posts to see what was going on. I'm always glad i wrote it somewhere. Here's to new beginnings. I'm so excited!

The Great news is that we are pregnant with #2! Yippee! i have been praying for a boy for months now. I had such a great pregnancy and delivery with Luce that i was just dying to do it again. Plus my great Dr. Phemister just makes you want to get knocked up so you can go see him again. Dr Bakers girls know what i'm talking about. So yes after a long time of deciding if i was going to leave the practice and go to Forest Women's Center or not i've decided i'm staying with my favorite doctor. I was so worried that i'd get one of the less liked doctors at our practice i was going to leave. But i can't. I was really making that choice out of fear anyway and i don't want to have any fear in this pregnancy either. We are 3 mos pregnant and pretty excited about this new little one. I've had some pretty bad days and weeks sitting around watching Gilmore Girls and sleeping every time Lucy does. Poor tired Brian comes home and takes care of Lucy for me. Good news is i'm over the ginger ale and saltines, i've graduated to orange juice - lots of orange juice and cheetos and pickles. Pretty much eating that all day long. Luce loves the pickles too.

The update on the house is not such a happy story. We saw Yeardley 323 for the first time in September and it took us a long time to decide we wanted to live there and get the kind of loan we needed to redo the kitchen, the floors and add the new bathroom. The house is in really bad shape. It is basically a party house. Take a look. So needless to say if we ever got this house we would have to pressure wash it in Holy Water before we could actually live in it. The closing was a couple of weeks ago but no we don't own the house. The owner who was about to be foreclosed on decided she wasn't making enough or something and ditches her realtor and us and never showed up. He still has no idea where she is. We just talked to him yesterday and basically she still owns the house not the bank, so we can't get it. it's not for sale. i can't believe we have been looking for a house for this long. It's just so crazy. I've always loved this apartment (Except for grocery day, we are on the 2nd floor) but it's just getting to be tight. This baby keeps on growing inside me and Lucy sleeps in her closet bedroom so i can have a craft room and i want a house soo badly. We loved this Yeardley house so much specifically because of the location. it was backed up to Alistair Mcphersons house, across the street from Kelly a block from the Ashcrofts, walking distance from both Torrences. So sad that we didn't get it. But- the good news is that that loan we were getting into was all wrong. I'm so glad God saved us from that. It was way more than we planned on getting it for and the closing costs were astronomical! I am such a mix of thankfulness that he kept us from that loan but so sad that we have to start over. It's kinda like being dumped at the altar.

Brian and i have decided we aren't going to start "dating" right away. It's so easy to get sucked into the search and just go crazy with it all again. it's so addicting, tiring and draining. We have decided we are giving up the search for Lent. If someone mentions a house we should see then maybe we'll see it on a Sunday, but as for us, our Safari will stay away from Lynchburg MLS.

I got an email recently from Soule Mama. I had asked her for some advice on my blog and being myself and being faithful in posting. She was so encouraging. I love her blog. take a look it will make you want to spend more time with your kids, making things, and getting away from your computer. Crazy how she does that WITH her computer. Thanks Soule Mama!

Well that's me for now. lets see how faithful i can be on my "new" blog.

Mexico time

noreply@blogger.com (Joy Morykon) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:57:00 +0000

a window in the library, originally uploaded by Joyspeak.

Hello all! Brian and i just had a few days in betweent he the next team coming in and took a trip to Tucson. We stayed the night last night and are staying again tonight. Our summer has been great. Hard and wonderful at the same time. Be sure to check here for more pictures.

Brian has been doing amazing at leading worship durring our chapel times. Which happen 3x a day. He also goes out and works on screen doors on peoples houses. There are so many houses that need them because of the flies.

Lucy & I are doing our thing. Making new friends and helping out in the kitchen some & where ever else. She just got her first 2 teeth and she looks so cute. She loves mexico. The heat doesn't bother her at all. I'm learning a lot. It has been really streching to be here. I've done a little of pretty much everything i avoid doing back home. I am learning from Jesus that i don't have to be comfortable to serve Him and that He wants me to obey and trust in Him. I have met amazing people and have enjoyed many aspects of Mexico. It actually makes me miss Chile a lot. The next few weeks will be good. the Ashcrofts arrive and the Grace group comes next week. Should be a good time. I do look forward to getting home.. i won't lie. I looove AC and man i miss my starbucks. I think we are going to try and find one today.

Brian has been sick too so its nice that we are here at a comfortable hotel so he can rest. Thanks so much for your prayers. The Lord has been so good to us during this time. Lord Bless and Keep you, Lord make His face shine on on you and be gracious to you, Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.