Friday Videos

These are two new videos of our little girl walking and talking!  During the talking video, it is so cute to hear Karis having a "semi" conversation.  We were laughing so much at this!  She's going to be quite the talker one day....soon probably!  

Update: A wedding, a walking baby, and the bun in the oven

It has been forever again. It always happens with me. What can you do but pick up, brush off, and write a new post! : )

We have had some busy but really fun times in the past few weeks! Here are a few highlights from what's been going on.....

We did some traveling for my friend Summer's wedding! I was excited to be the matron of honor, but with that came some responsibilities that were stretching for me! I planned the bachelorette/lingerie shower (which I have never ever done anything like that before), I ran around doing some last minute things with the lovely bride, and entrusted my child to the gracious care of my mom and sister for the majority of the week we were there! It was crazy at times, but the wedding was wonderful and so much fun! It was one big college reunion for sure! So many faces that I haven't seen in forever, and it was just wonderful to catch up with some of them!

Also big news....Karis is WALKING now! Hello big girl! She started out taking a few steps and would then fall and crawl, but just in the past 2 weeks or so, she has taken off! It has been so much fun to see her discover her new ability and all the cute faces she makes when walking around! A video of this magnificent ability is definitely on the way!

Finally, in the current events in the Hollander family, we found out yesterday that we are going to have a little BOY! We are so excited to add a little fella to our family, and are praying for a continued healthy pregnancy and delivery for the little guy!

So, that's a little update. Things are going well here! I will try my best to post more and be a bit more consistent, but with a walking crazy little girl, we shall see! : )

Karis is One!!!

I can hardly believe the words that I am typing now, my daughter is ONE. It does not seem like a year since she came into our lives. I think having kids, not just getting older, makes time go by so so much faster! This first birthday for my little girl was wonderful! We had cake and several varieties of homemade ice cream! We celebrated Monday night (before her actual birthday I know) with some great friends and family. My mom and step-dad were able to be here which was so nice! We had our old neighbors from our seminary apartment come over, and then lots of folks from our church. There was a house full for sure! I know Karis won't remember it, but with pictures and videos she will be able to look back and see how cared for she was on her first birthday! We are so thankful for everyone that was able to come celebrate, and wish that all our friends and family could have been there with us. For those who couldn't be there, here are some sweet pictures of the birthday girl at her party!






We are so excited to see what the Lord does in our little girl's life! I already see such a fun little personality, and such a friendly spirit within her. She loves people, and I pray that the Lord will use her as a mighty tool for His kingdom. He formed her, He is sustaining her, and He has the plan for her life. We love Karis and are daily blessed by her. It's hard to believe that on her 2nd birthday she will have a little brother or sister! Crazy! God is so good!

Also, for video Friday......

check out this link to a video of Karis enjoying her birthday cake! My mom videoed this for us while Karis was trying to figure out the whole eating cake thing! It's cute!
Click Here!!

New Video

We have this awesome little flip video camera that my step-mom so graciously gave us to use, so we have been able to capture some GREAT videos of Karis in this first months of her little life!  I have loved posting some of these already and I want to get into a better habit of putting them on here.  So, with hope, I am going to try to make Friday's video days here on our little blog.  I know there are some times that I do better than others with posting, so maybe this will help keep me accountable to putting stuff on here!  

So, for the first video for Friday videos.....

I have been meaning to post this for a little while, it is so funny to me!  Karis has discovered a new ability that she really only does when she eats!  It's so funny, hope you enjoy!

Our New Adventure

Well, at the end of my last post I made a comment wondering what the next adventure in the life of the Hollanders will be.  I knew at that moment (although no one else did) that our newest adventure was already beginning.  I found out around June 1st that Blake and I are expecting our second little baby!  We are very excited, but I still have some nervousness about it all as well.  I feel like I have life pretty well figured out with the one little girl.  She's on a great schedule, loves to go out and about, and is really a great easy baby.  So, I just don't know what to expect when the next little Hollander comes around.  I do rest in the fact that this is the Lord's timing and His perfect plan for us.  Children ARE such a blessing from the Lord, and I am so honored that He would see fit for us to prepare for baby number 2. 

I am having all the wonderful first trimester fun with nausea and tiredness, but hopefully it won't last too much longer!  I am coming in on being 10 weeks along now, so we are close to the second trimester!  Crazy!  I am noticing with this pregnancy how often I forget that I am pregnant.  Karis keeps me busy during the day and half the time I don't even think about the new little one growing.  It was ALWAYS on my mind the first time around, so it's kind of funny now.  We were able to have an initial ultrasound to verify pregnancy a few days ago, and there was a little bean there!  That made it quite real!  It's one thing to take a test at home and a totally different thing to actually see the growing baby!  So exciting, and overwhelming!  We are praying for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.  We are trusting the Lord to sustain life and provide for us all the things we need.  I'll keep things updated more on here as things go along!  Looking forward to it all!  

Four Years Today

June 4th, 2005 is a big day in the history of Blake and Heather. It's the day that we took a vow to always love, honor, and cherish one another. We were married at my home church surrounded by so many friends and family. It was a wonderful day. In four years of marriage we have moved three times, worked our first full time jobs, started seminary, work part-time jobs, had a baby, I graduated from seminary, and bought a house. Life is surely rolling! I wonder what the next big adventure will be.......

Before the Throne of God Above

I love my church and am so glad to be a part of this fellowship of believers! I have never felt so clearly what a gift the church is to believers in Jesus until being a part of Treasuring Christ Church. Yesterday was such an encouraging time in the Word, partaking in the Lord's Supper, and worshiping my God through song. I was reminded of what a Savior I have and the grace that He bestowed on me, the chief of sinners.

We sang the Hymn "Before the Throne of God Above" after taking the Lord's Supper, and I was so moved by the truths that lay in these lyrics. Read the hymn below, and worship our great God who, because of Christ, pardons those who trust in Him.

Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea
A great high Priest whose name is love, who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands, My name is written on His Heart
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on High
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
2 Corinthians 5:21