Fullness of Joy

3 dates...1 week!

2009-08-26T20:19:00.002-04:00

Last week, Ang and I had three dates! Can you believe it? Well, they weren't technically all real dates, but we were out of the house together. That qualifies, right? :)

Tuesday night, we had our Young Life committee meeting. What a great night it was! We got to sit and listen to leaders tell stories about camp this summer. So many high schoolers came away with a much bigger and much more personal grasp of who Jesus is. So many made life-changing decisions. Listening to those leaders talk about their love for these kids and their desire for them to know Jesus was so exciting and encouraging. It was a challenge for me to think about who I'm burdened for and who I'm really praying for in my own life.

Thursday night, Andrew and I had Spur group. We have started going to a community group which has been so good. We meet with other men and women from our church and discuss a passage of scripture and then break up for men/women prayer time. This has really been an answer to prayer for us! We've been wanting to develop deeper relationships with people at church and this has been such a blessing. I have absolutely loved the girl prayer time. It is so sweet to share with other women and pray for each other.

Friday night, we had a real date...well a quadruple date....and had a blast! We met up with the Blackwells, Evans, and Casons at Miyo's in Forest Acres. I had to laugh because girls sat at one end of the table and guys on the other. At times, we would overhear the guys conversation and it was so funny to hear what they were talking about. Gotta love male/female differences, right? We then went to Baskin Robbins where I thoroughly enjoyed my ice cream. Its been a long year of no dairy and I am enjoying working it back into my life (and slowly introducing Drew to it - he had yogurt for the first time the other day and absolutely loved it!).

We are so, so blessed to have our families so close by and so willing to give us weeks like this! Uncle Brad, Grammy, and Nana and Papa all babysat Drew this week. (Let's be honest...I think it is just as much a treat for them as it for us!) Thank you for giving us a fun and full week! I really did miss my baby boy though! It sure is tough to leave him just for the evening. (Andrew and I love sneaking into his room and watching him sleep, so you can be sure we did that every night we missed putting him to bed ourselves!)

On a separate note...Drew had his first year doctor's checkup and drum roll please.....he made the growth chart!! After almost a full year of not being big enough to even make the percentile chart, he did it! He now weights 20 pounds 8 ounces (putting him at 16%) and is around 30 inches long (putting him at 65% - I think?). He had a great appointment and it was so fun to hear a great report. What a stud he is!

I wish I had some pictures to post, but my sweet husband has given me a Starbucks night, so I am downtown in the Vista reliving college days and typing on my laptop. Gotta love it!

Goodnight all!

Water Baby

2009-08-05T20:42:00.010-04:00

On Tuesday, we took Drew in the pool for the first time! He's seen the lake, he's seen the ocean, and he's seen the bath and shower...but this was the first time for the pool.

He did pretty well - he cried everytime he saw the yellow baby float and held on for dear life to my mom's measuring spoons, but other than that - he was a champ!

Just a couple pictures of that cute boy -

Doesn't he look like a big boy in this picture?? And so much like Andrew! What a handsome dude!

Drew's First Birthday!

2009-08-01T13:03:00.001-04:00

I cannot believe my baby boy is ONE! Everyone told me that the time flies by but seriously...I thought they were all being kind of cheesy. I'm such a believer now!

Saturday was the big day and we celebrated Drew with a party with friends and family.

Here's some pics from the day...

Uncle Brad got Drew this tuxedo to wear on his big day - complete with cumberbund and bowtie! Doesn't he look handsome?

This is Drew's latest face. I think he is doing the Blue Steel face from Zoolander.

Check out the cake and cupcakes my amazing mom made!

Singing Happy Birthday to the little guy.

I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed that Drew wasn't that interested in sugar and frosting....

Opening gifts/playing with paper. Thank goodness for Archie and Connie Anne who really stepped up to the plate and opened presents for us!

Our only successful family picture from the day. Don't we all look exhausted?! Happy, but exhausted!

And lets just take a little trip down memory lane. Here we are a year ago - August 1, 2008!

Happy birthday baby boy! You bless me in so many ways and I'm so grateful you are my boy! What an amazing year its been. I love you!

Shout out to an AWESOME dad!

2009-06-26T13:06:00.008-04:00

So…Father’s Day was this past weekend and Drew and I had a lot to celebrate! I just want to give a huge shout-out to Andrew who really is one amazing dad! Why, you ask? Well, read on!

Andrew makes up the best songs about Drew – I mean these diddys are catchy and will stay in your head for months at a time. And they are pure fact – all about how awesome little Drew is!

He is such a selfless dad. I really know he would do anything for that boy – even changing really stinky diapers and making Drew laugh the whole time. Or, better yet, walking 20 laps around the house helping Drew go back to sleep at 1am.

Speaking of selfless – he is seriously the best teammate. He goes above and beyond the call of duty and doesn’t complain. (He really is the best floor mopper ever!)

He prays for his boy – among other things, that he would know Jesus and love Jesus at an early age.

Andrew is a fun dad. He loves experiencing new things with Drew and showing him a good time. (And yes, sometimes a good time is just hitting two blocks together repeatedly).
Drew will inevitably master Andrew’s signature dance by the time he is 18 months. That is just a given.

He is a dad who loves hanging out with his family.

He is excited to learn about Drew’s passions and what makes him tick. We talk and wonder a lot about what Drew is going to love and I can’t wait to see those boys discover it together.

Andrew loves Jesus and loves people. Drew has an awesome role model in that.

He’s hot. :)

Seriously, I’m one blessed girl.

Here's Ang and his mini me -

Oh, and my dad is pretty awesome too! I’m really grateful to have a dad who loves Jesus, has never been afraid to make me think and learn, and who really loves his family.

Happy Father's Day (just a little belated!)!

He is Risen!

2009-04-12T18:45:00.007-04:00

He is Risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

Thief

2009-04-08T12:32:00.002-04:00

This past Sunday, Andrew sang a Third Day song in church called "Thief." It's the story of the thief on the cross beside Jesus and his realization that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the World. The words are so powerful and just a great reminder of what Jesus went through to cover every stinkin' sin of mine. My prayer this Easter is to really see with fresh eyes the love and glory of the Cross and Resurrection.

I wish you could hear Andrew sing it, but I guess you'll have to settle for the Third Day version! :) Here's a link if you are interested...http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=0d1949c25e186087c106.

Child of the Covenant!

2009-04-02T20:40:00.004-04:00

I think I will always remember March 29...Drew's baptism. It really was a special day and just amazing to realize that God invites not only us, but our children into a covenant relationship with Him. Our prayer for Drew is that at a young age the Lord would be irresistible to him and he would have a personal relationship with Christ. And, we are praying for ourselves that God would give us the grace and wisdom needed to demonstrate to him the irresistibility of Christ in our own lives.

Here are some pictures from the big day (taken by our wonderful Aunt Robin!)....oh and by the way...Drew was a rock star the whole day! I was a little worried about him because he played in his crib through his morning nap, but he did great! He thrives on being the center of attention...he really is his daddy's boy! :)

Already a slacker!

2009-02-18T14:06:00.011-05:00

Well, I was a little afraid I would be bad at this blogging business...and apparantly I am! I had high hopes of updating with pictures and news but I let about 5 months slide with nothing! Just to get everyone a little caught up...here is a picture update on my life in the new year (can I even call 2009 new anymore??)

celebrating the New Year in Charlotte with that hot husband of mine!

a beautiful January day at the park

my wonderful college roomies came to visit!

at Windy Gap with the Richardsons and Hams

celebrating Drew's 1/2 birthday

zoo with Annie and Ruth Louise

baby shower for Sara...hurry up and get here Avery!

Mmmm...squash!

latest family photo

That's a quick update on life with the Eckstroms! Here's hoping I become a more faithful blogger!

Hello World...

2008-09-22T09:39:00.000-04:00

...welcome to my world!

I have to admit that this whole blogging business is something I have wanted to do for quite sometime. It was just one of those things that I never got around to. But here goes…my desire is to share with you the goings-on in our lives and my thoughts about it all.

Fullness of Joy…I didn’t realize there were so many decisions to make before starting a blog – one of them being a name. I wanted this to be something that reminded me of the Lord and His continuous work and presence in my life and in my heart.

Psalm 16:11

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

There are times when it is easy to see that fullness and see where God’s path is leading us and then there are times when I have to pray for the Lord to be the desire of my heart because there are so many life distractions vying for my attention.

Right now my heart finds it easy to praise Him for the ways He blesses me. I am married to my best friend and one that I am really in love with. He is so easy to love (and easy on the eyes too!). I am grateful for the way he continually puts up with me and loves me in a gentle and faithful way. He reminds me to laugh even when I don’t feel like it and I love that he never meets a stranger.

About 7 weeks ago God gave us another reason to rejoice – the birth of our son Drew. I never knew my heart would be so full. My son really is a treasure and the gospel has never seemed more amazing to me. That anyone would give up their only son for me is absolutely unbelievable and awesome.

So there you have it…my life is full and it’s the relationships that make it that way…family and friends and most importantly my relationship with Jesus my Savior. While I may not always live up to its fullness, I know I’m being refined and molded into the woman God intends me to be. And that in itself is a reason to rejoice.

Love you all.