The Roland Family: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

A Mother's Love

So last night as I sang Abigail to sleep I teared up. Her sweet smiling face looked up at me with so much trust in her eyes. She cooed right along with me, trying to join in my song.

When you get pregnant, you know that you will love your child and you can even feel that love grow as your child does inside of you. However, I don't think anyone can really explain to you the deep love that fills a mother's heart as she cares for her baby. Every diaper changed, every spit up cleaned, every hungry cry satisfied, every snuggle enjoyed and every smile returned only intensifies this protective love that flows from my heart!

When Abigail's little face lights up with a coo or smile, her eyes get so bright as she gazes up at me and I realize that her trust and love for me is so pure and true. She has no idea the many mistakes I will make in parenting or how often I may feel inadequate to exemplify Christ to her, but what she knows is that I'm Mommy and she is safe in my arms.

When I think of my love for Abigail it makes me think of Christ's love for me. Sometimes it's hard for me to fathom how He could ever love such a sinner as me. Yet, as His creation, I was made in His likeness and any love that I give to others is only a very small shadow of His deep, unchanging love for me! I love because He enables me to love. However imperfect my love is, His perfect love sets the standard for me. Christ teaches me how to love my husband and daughter as I observe His love.

"Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus; vast, unmeasured, boundless, free."

I have to ask myself, "If Christ's love for me is so true, pure, and perfect, do I trust Him? If Abigail can feel my love and return that with a pure trust, can I say the same for me when I think of Christ's love?" Trusting God and people is sometimes very difficult for me. My sinful flesh seeks to be in control instead of yielding myself to God's perfect plan and trusting that He truly knows best.

God is already using my daughter to teach me a little more about love and trust! I hope and pray that God will enable me to exemplify trust in Christ to my daughter as she grows into a young lady.

A Mother's love is such a small reflection of Christ, who is Love!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Abigail is 3 Months Old

Abigail is growing so quickly! She now weighs 12lbs. 10oz. and is wearing 6 month size clothes.

She spends her time charming others with her cute smile, loveable coos, and fun personality. She's adorable when she "talks" to you, trying to mimic your tones. She loves to suck on blankets, her puppy, her left thumb, her hands, and her new wooden teether. When there is nothing else to hold, she loves to pull up her shirt and start sucking on that. She drools a lot now too! haha...

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Rolands & CJ Mahaney

Today in chapel, at Southern Seminary, where Kyle works full-time and goes to school, we were blessed to hear one of my all-time favorite preachers: CJ Mahaney. I was first introduced to Mahaney's teaching and ministry back in 2005 when some good friends from Criswell College, where I attended at the time, told me about Sovereign Grace Ministries. Ever since hearing him, I have soaked up his sermons, books, and conferences. His preaching, while rich in theology and centered on the cross, is so applicable and in his teaching he is so transparent. I have heard him laugh and weep while preaching and when you talk to him, his gentle, quiet, and humble spirit is so evident.

Here are a couple of my favorite sermons that he has preached:

God as Father: Understanding the Doctrine of Adoption in God's Word

The One To Whom I Will Look from his series on Humility

The Suffering Servant

Check out his books and sermons (that you can download for free!) at the Sovereign Grace Ministries online store.

His wife, Carolyn, and three married daughters all write at their blog entitled GirlTalk. This has been another huge resource for me in my christian walk. I have gone to their site for encouragement as a single woman, a newly married wife, and now even as a new mommy. I would encourage all you ladies to take advantage of this site. It's well worth your time! Check out their resources page to find posts on various topics.

Here is the video of Mahaney's sermon from today in Chapel. It's entitled "Deflating the Puffed Up Church." Hope you enjoy!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Twinkies!

The first night that Kyle and I walked into our Bradley birthing class, we met a wonderful couple who we sat next to. Little did we know then that a great friendship would be formed and that our daughters, both named Abigail Grace, would be born just five days apart! Emily and I have sent countless text messages back and forth, seeking advice and wisdom throughout our pregnancies and also with our baby girls, who have had many things in common.

Today, Emily and I met up and took some fun pictures of our girls. Emily's Abigail Grace (Abby Grace) was born on November 20th and my Abigail Grace (Abigail) was born on November 25th. It's so fun to have the girls together and to be able to chat Mommy to Mommy now!

There are so many cute pictures that I just have to share a bunch. Emily also posted more pictures over at her blog along with more fun stuff about the similarities between our families! Check it out!