Oh how the last six weeks have flown! God has blessed us with a daughter who truly lives up to her name, "giver of joy." Abigail Theone Hamann was born on March 15th, 2011. Weighing in at 7 lbs 7 ounces, she had already packed on three pounds by her six week appointment!
We are just in love...including big sister who cannot get enough of her. Madelines adjustment to Abigail has been so sweet...she is still adjusting to mommy and daddy not being focused on her all the time, and every week we have seen progress! It's good for her. And for us!
We cannot wait to be a part of what the Lord has for this little ones life!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Oh Little Baby Girl
As the final countdown is here until baby girl #2 arrives, I have been overwhelmed by so many emotions. I have had days where I am anxious, days where I am overjoyed, days where I am at peace, and days where I feel at war within myself. I know that God will work out everything, and I will look back on this post in a few months and probably laugh. However, today is where I am living and these feelings are very real and very valid.
Today I am reminiscing about our sweet Madeline Rose. Exactly two years, eight months, and three days ago our lives changed forever with her arrival. What a rich joy God has given us through her little life!
I have been busy packing bags for the hospital today and making a playlist for our time there, etc. One of the songs that I played brought me to tears...its's our "Maddie song" that we played over and over on the day she was born. I'm sitting and listening to it and bawling like a baby just remembering so many sweet moments with her. It made me want to post it along with pictures of how fast she's growing up!
Today I am reminiscing about our sweet Madeline Rose. Exactly two years, eight months, and three days ago our lives changed forever with her arrival. What a rich joy God has given us through her little life!
I have been busy packing bags for the hospital today and making a playlist for our time there, etc. One of the songs that I played brought me to tears...its's our "Maddie song" that we played over and over on the day she was born. I'm sitting and listening to it and bawling like a baby just remembering so many sweet moments with her. It made me want to post it along with pictures of how fast she's growing up!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Mary Pondered These Things in Her Heart...
So much of what happens during Christmas is external...it can be seen and experienced and measured with hugs, wrapping paper, Christmas cards and food. I was really struck by the passage in Luke 9:27 where the Word became flesh, bore to a teenager named Mary...and Luke says that "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." I think I was more convicted about the lack of "pondering" and "treasuring" that had taken place in my heart as I rushed to Target for the 30th time in a week or as I baked my eleventh batch of cookies. Praise the Lord for Scripture that knocks me outside the head when I need it (which is a lot). Slow down....treasure these truths, Rachel! That's what it is all about.
Friday, December 10, 2010
His Ways Are Not My Own...
Every year in December, our church encourages it's members to be a part of a "Christmas Gathering." Christmas Gatherings are a Campus Crusade ministry that focuses on inviting neighbors over to get to know one another...and a speaker typically lays out the plan of salvation. The neighbor hosting then offers a follow up neighborhood Bible study to those who are interested. They go on all over the world and are VERY successful....as a matter of fact, there are many families in my church body who have come to know the Lord through a gathering.
So...this was my year. I have been feeling really led and compelled to reach out to my neighborhood for the Kingdom of Jesus since day one....I just didn't really know how. Most of my neighbors work full-time, there aren't many kids on my street, and a lot of them are my parents age. So Greg and I have been working on building what relationships we can with those around us...hoping that someday we will be able to bear fruit for Christ in those friendships.
I was really torn about the approach of the Christmas gathering...I didn't want it to be (for many) the first time these neighbors were in my home and then I launch a "Jesus grenade" at them. I typically believe that relational evangelism is how God has wired me. However, I knew that the Holy Spirit was leading me to host this party, and I went with it....through a series of events my speaker had to back out....and most of the neighbors I knew did not practice a faith at all could not make it.
Last night, six of the fifteen women I invited came over. I had women from my church and my family covering us in prayer. God did not dissapoint. It was an organic time together, where the conversational was intentional. I sat in silence (and awe) as I heard each neighbor share about her values, her faith, and how she lives that out.
I really feel that God orchestrated all the events leading up to last night (like the fact that NONE of my non-Christian neighbors could make it) in order to show me that His ways are not mine. My idea of what the night would look like was so different from what God had in store. Instead of laying out the plan of salvation tonight for the lost, He totally surprised me by revealing sisters in Him in my neighborhood to join in the pursuit of souls for His kingdom. I feel so encouraged and empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue to be intentional with these ladies and reach out TOGETHER for the lost.
So awesome is our God.
I know this is a lengthy read, and the last thing I want to do is come across like I am so great for doing this. My reason for sharing is to encourage you to be obedient to the Spirit's leading...God has such treasures along the way for the faithful. It only took me six years to learn that. I can't believe all the fear, rationalization, and procrastination that took place in my heart before the Spirit broke through and gave me courage. Now I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders...and that I can continue on as Scripture and the Holy Spirit leads.
So...this was my year. I have been feeling really led and compelled to reach out to my neighborhood for the Kingdom of Jesus since day one....I just didn't really know how. Most of my neighbors work full-time, there aren't many kids on my street, and a lot of them are my parents age. So Greg and I have been working on building what relationships we can with those around us...hoping that someday we will be able to bear fruit for Christ in those friendships.
I was really torn about the approach of the Christmas gathering...I didn't want it to be (for many) the first time these neighbors were in my home and then I launch a "Jesus grenade" at them. I typically believe that relational evangelism is how God has wired me. However, I knew that the Holy Spirit was leading me to host this party, and I went with it....through a series of events my speaker had to back out....and most of the neighbors I knew did not practice a faith at all could not make it.
Last night, six of the fifteen women I invited came over. I had women from my church and my family covering us in prayer. God did not dissapoint. It was an organic time together, where the conversational was intentional. I sat in silence (and awe) as I heard each neighbor share about her values, her faith, and how she lives that out.
I really feel that God orchestrated all the events leading up to last night (like the fact that NONE of my non-Christian neighbors could make it) in order to show me that His ways are not mine. My idea of what the night would look like was so different from what God had in store. Instead of laying out the plan of salvation tonight for the lost, He totally surprised me by revealing sisters in Him in my neighborhood to join in the pursuit of souls for His kingdom. I feel so encouraged and empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue to be intentional with these ladies and reach out TOGETHER for the lost.
So awesome is our God.
I know this is a lengthy read, and the last thing I want to do is come across like I am so great for doing this. My reason for sharing is to encourage you to be obedient to the Spirit's leading...God has such treasures along the way for the faithful. It only took me six years to learn that. I can't believe all the fear, rationalization, and procrastination that took place in my heart before the Spirit broke through and gave me courage. Now I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders...and that I can continue on as Scripture and the Holy Spirit leads.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Catching Up
Hamann Cousins Halloween 2010
Our little fairy princess!
My loves. Candy stores and Madeline.
Building a Fort with Daddy!
Praising God for a healthy baby girl! 21 weeks and counting...Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous
reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD
Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people
succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalms 37:4-7
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Galatians 6:14
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14
I have a lot of earthly things to be proud of in an earthly way. But lately I have been challenged by the Spirit to really take an inventory of my day, how I spend time talking, and what I communicate to others...am I boasting in the cross? Not my accomplishments through the cross, but the actual literal cross of Jesus Christ my Lord?
We all have goals. Physically, Financially, Relationally, etc. I just get so caught up in those goals sometimes that I forget that I am a dirty rotten sinner that is saved by the bloody cross of Jesus Christ. SAVED. That is worth bragging about.
I have a lot of earthly things to be proud of in an earthly way. But lately I have been challenged by the Spirit to really take an inventory of my day, how I spend time talking, and what I communicate to others...am I boasting in the cross? Not my accomplishments through the cross, but the actual literal cross of Jesus Christ my Lord?
We all have goals. Physically, Financially, Relationally, etc. I just get so caught up in those goals sometimes that I forget that I am a dirty rotten sinner that is saved by the bloody cross of Jesus Christ. SAVED. That is worth bragging about.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Summer has come to an end....
Maddie on a walk in Michigan with Nonny and Poppa
Her love of the summer: stuffed "amals"
March 22nd, 2011:)
Goofing off with Tay and Lyss
At the Bluebird in Michigan after having a ceremony for my Grandma, who passed away last September. It was her favorite place to take us.And we are so ready for fall, which has always been my favorite. I have been feeling better in the pregnancy (I'm now 12 weeks) and have more energy to enjoy the outdoors when it's crisp and cool as opposed to hot and muggy. There is just too much to update on the past two months since I last blogged, so please enjoy the story that the pictures tell.:)
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