Happy New Year!

2009
What a year for the Stout Family. I am just so, so thankful for this year. Colin and I have grown closer together through this past year. Parenting brings you to a whole new level in your relationship, and sometimes I am not at my best. My sweet husband is the most supportive, encouraging, loving man....I am such a lucky girl. Well I want to walk through the year month to month and list some things that I am so VERY thankful for.
*January -I was thrilled to come off of bedrest and head back to the classroom. We celebrated birthdays, two really big ones when Sophie and Riley Jennings were born, and I was getting Camden's nursery together.
*February-Ice Storm, Babymoon in Nashville, St. Louis, and I passed my diabetes test!! I feared that my last few months of pregnancy would be without blizzards and chocolate....what a relief and now I am paying for it!
*March-3 baby showers, 4 new babies, back on bed rest for high blood pressure, surprise visits (love ya Ali), and Maternity Pix with Melanie Mauer
April- (MY FAVORITE MONTH OF 2009) Baby Camden, Stef's baby shower for Jordan, Baby Camden, installing and assembling many baby items, Baby Camden, and Baby Camden!!!
May-my first Mother's Day, Paloric Stenois and surgery for my baby boy (yikes), special visitors...tons of special visitors, KY Derby and my horse won I brought home $12!!
June-Welcomed home our dear friend Jordan, tried to sleep some, Father's Day and Birthday celebrations, and I started training with KJ.
July-first trip to the lake, makeovers with the girls (peach is my color), and even more special visits (Posie and mama and papa)
August-IT, a very special wedding (I have a sister now), trip to Florida with the family (and my dear friend Jess)...really rough car ride to ATL, visit with the Barber's
September-first time subbing back at TLS (joke was I'd be at school more as a sub then I was working full-time pregnant), trip to Colorado without our baby boy to see the Nickell's, Camden starts eating rice cereal and other food
October-Sock Monkey!!! First haircut, first niece is born (baby Katelyn), pumpkin carving party, Boyd Orchards, 50th Anniversary (mommy got to dress up), family pix!!
November-Thanksgiving with 20 friends and family, more birthdays, 7 year anniversary, Camden rolled over
December-FIRST CHRISTMAS (spoiled rotten...we got Camden a red wagon), hosted a Christmas brunch for the family, Camden started to eat some people food, Christmas Eve at the Day home, New Years Eve at Malones with 6 great friends.
Going back through my blog has made me laugh and cry both. We are so very blessed. I am looking forward to 2010.....

Deep Breath....

We had an amazing Christmas! It was full of family, friends, and fun. We are so blessed to have so much family to want to spend time with us, and we are feeling so very loved. Camden has so many new toys and some sweet threads to sport throughout the next year. The kid scored HUGE this Christmas....which means less shopping mommy has to do, which means daddy is happy about saving money. :) We hosted Colin's mom (Nana Pam), and her husband Craig, (Papa Craig) over the week. It was so nice to have them here. We had some really great conversations, meals, and just time together. They drove up from Dallas, TX with a car FULL of homemade pumpkin pies, rolls, gifts, and I think they had luggage. Our gift from them this year was a really, really, really, really, really cool trashcan (I have a picture to be posted soon). It is HUGE and holds so much (we were taking our trash out 2-3 times a day before). It also has a lid that closes quietly and on its own. It is awesome...oh and stainless. If you haven't noticed I LOVE it! They also got us a coffee pot, our other one was a little bit of a pain when you went to pour coffee....sorry. My mom and dad also got me the Shark steam floor mop.....I am so excited about tackling my floors. (I just realized I am officially old....excited about my gifts of trashcan, coffee pot, and steamer....geesh).

One of my favorite parts of Christmas Day was when we went to put Camden to bed. Colin and I had some time alone with Camden. We all read through the Christmas Story together. We talked about the meaning of Christmas with Camden (I am sure he gets it) and we prayed together as a family. Camden loves books and especially liked the picture of baby Jesus on the last page....(he loves babies). What a gift Jesus is, I know that I couldn't live without Him. He is my strength, the reason I wake up, and my purpose for this life. I am praying for Him to continue to guide and direct our family in his radical plan. I am praying that He give us wisdom in raising this little guy he has blessed us with. I am thanking him for all the many blessings of 2009. Happy Birthday Jesus!!!!!!

Pix to be posted soon...I think I will do a slideshow like my friend Sarah...I would put a link to your blog friend, but I don't know how....

Em

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2009

32 and counting

I had the best birthday ever. It started with my dear friend Jaci bringing me coffee and fun Christmas presents for Camden. She stayed for a nice visit and got to snuggle with Cam.I had lunch with my be fri J. Corn....we had some Moe's and great conversation. She made me some sweet treats and gave me a pair of earrings that I LOVE. Colin came home early from work (which rarely happens and I love it when it does). We ran around and actually went to the mall for a few last minute gifts (the mall was CRAZY). Then we went to my mom and dad's for dinner. Mom made spanish rice and we were joined for the delightful meal by KJ, Nakada, Sophie, Riley, Mac, and Whitney. It was perfect! My mom knows I love cookie cakes so she made one for me...totally forgot to take a picture...it was perfect.

So anyhow, I was thinking yesterday about 32 years. I have been alive 32 years. I always thought 32 sounded so old as a kid, and now I think it is the new 20's. I love my life. I love that i got to wake up yesterday to a happy 8 month old baby. That I got a phone call from the best hubs in the world first thing in the morning. That I have so many great friends that called, text, and FB'd me birthday wishes. God is so good to me. I am so thankful for where he has placed me and the people he has surrounded me with.

Today Nana Pam and Craig (Colin's mom and stepdad) arrive from Texas. We are excited that they get to share in Cam's first Christmas with us. We will also have Craig's parents in town for the weekend. Everyone (including my fam) will join us for Christmas brunch. I will take a picture of my table and post it.....

Merry Christmas friends!!

What's Your Story?

I have been overwhelmed thinking through what God is calling me to do. Our church has been in a series where we have been looking at our lives as a story. God has written and continues to write the best story for Emily Stout. He knew me before I was born, He knew my hair color, my eye color, my interests, my personality (Stef and Michelle S,F,L,P...I have no idea what that means), my struggles, my fears, my husband, my life.....isn't that crazy to think about. He knew all of that before He created me. That's how he knows each of us.....with such intimacy. Yet, I try to write my own story, knowing that I don't even begin to see the whole picture. He does....why is it so hard to trust him from beginning to end, chapter to chapter, page to page, really for me the beginning of one word to the end. I really do feel like I know what is best for me, who am I kidding. It is a daily struggle to surrender my plans for His.

I am really praying for God to reveal the way He wants to use me. What do I need to focus on? What do I need to give up? Please pray with me, I want to make a difference in this world while I am here. I want to leave here with people knowing they were loved by me, but most importantly by Jesus. I want to have such a relationship with God that I just ooze him!

Em

Santa!

We went to Lexington Green today to visit Santa and have dinner. If you are looking to get your picture with Santa I highly recommend going there, absolutely now wait, quick and so easy. We got one 4x6 for less then $10. We have a busy weekend ahead with two Christmas parties tomorrow. Looking forward to celebrating with both family and friends.

What God is teaching me....

2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Translation)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

A few weeks ago I committed this scripture to memory and I just couldn't get past the last word. Self-disipline....I am the kind of girl who will try something new, go full force for maybe a month and then fall off the wagon. I have tried so many things, I feel that I struggle with self-discipline in so many areas in my life.....prayer, friends, family, diet, exercise, MONEY, etc. I want to start small, I want to committ to something, COMMITT and pray through it for self-discipline as I walk (run) through it and know that I can't do anything without Christ. I am not testing God, I am simply asking Him to lead me, and I will follow. So....here's the deal....

I am going to run the first ever Lexington mini-marathon in March. 13.2 miles. http://www.lexingtonhalfmarathon.com/ I have printing off a training schedule http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm and now I am committing in front of you for accountability that I will run this in March. I will continue to strength train throughout the week, and add to that by running according to the Hal Higdon schedule. I am thrilled to know that my friend Taryn is getting a group together every weekend to do the long runs together.

Not only is this going to take self-discipline but also prayer... Would you please pray with me for the following.

1. That I remain healthy, my body strong, and mind focused on His will during this time. I don't want this to be about me, I want it to be about the relationship I have with God.

2. I tend to be a hypochondriac and find something new wrong with me each day, pray that my mind will be less focused on me and what is wrong and more focused on others.

3. Each run I worship! I pray, and know that it is only with Him I am able to run!

4. Please let me know how I can pray for you....I am going to have a lot of time to do so.

5. I am running for the refuge. A group that is devoted to helping women who want to get out of the adult entertainment industry. Such an amazing group! Pray for these women

Thanks friends....I am looking forward to this.

Em

December

Checking out the Christmas tree

Enjoying pj day by the fire

This month looks like it is going to be full of family, friends, and fun! I love Christmas, and I love that we are going to celebrate Camden's first Christmas this year. He won't remember this year, but we are already starting our own family traditions. We plan on having our family Christmas (the three of us, plus bulldog) first thing in the morning. Following our celebration mom, dad, Mac, and Whitney will come over for some breakfast. This is the first year that we haven't spent the night at mom and dad's and celebrated over there. Crazy how kids will switch things up :) All and all, we are so looking forward to focusing on what this holiday is truly about as a family. I am also hoping we can do something in the community as a family.

As for now, I hope you enjoy the above pix of our December so far.

Happy 30th to my Hubs!

SURPRISE!!!

The Camo Cake from Kerry was cute and delicious and you can also see Mingle and Jingle in the background from Jay (bulldogge)

Friends....so blessed

The infamous Wife Group

Baby Buds celebrating!!

Love me some JALaub Photography...especially Abby! (Thanks friend)

So I gonna be honest, I haven't blogged over the past few weeks because I have been planning a surprise 30th party for my husband over the past few months and I was afraid I would spill the beans somehow, someway. If you know me, you know that I have the best intentions, but usually blow the surprise somehow. Well, I didn't this time.....we got him good! The camo themed party was a huge success thanks to gracious hosts, Trent and Joy and deliecious desserts, and AMAZING friends who love Colin. Friends we are so thankful for you, and loved celebrating with you.

Colin thought that I was out of town on a retreat and that he was going to have a birthday dinner at Sal's with his dad. Dennis told Colin they needed to swing by Trent and Joy's house to pick up and application to rent down on UK's property (for Colin's brother Mark). When Colin walked through the door and saw me, he was shocked and then when he saw all of his friends you couldn't wipe the grin off his face! So much fun.

Love you babe!