3rd Degree Burns

Family Cruise for Mom and Dad's 45th Anniversary

2010-10-08T12:30:00.012-04:00

This is the Salarium on the boat. Best place for grown ups to hang out and relax by the pool!

This is the crazy pool where there were masses of craxy people and great music! Very fun!

First stop was Key West then we were off to Cozamel Mexico! Beautiful time to travel!

Royal Carribbean was a great cruise line! We all had such a fun time together!

Freshman Orientation at Mandarin HS

2010-08-14T15:20:00.007-04:00

For the first time in over 10 years Student Venture has made its dramatic debut at Mandarin High School to the Freshman class of 2010-2011

The excitement in the cafeteria was incredible! Students from last year's Christian Club came to help represent and are full of faith that this year Student Venture is going to have a big impact!

Just this morning I was reminded that it's not anything we can do by ourselves as Zeph 4:6 says, "Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty"

We not only met several new incoming freshmen, but also parents who are so grateful to hear there are other Christian students with morals and values who will be a positive influence for their kids!

Many of the parents I met were transferring their kids from private Christian or Catholic schools to attend public school for the first time. The fear and concern on their faces was undeniable! I'm so grateful Student Venture is here not only to reach out to the lost kids who have no spiritual influence in their life, but also to help those who do have a relationship with God and want to continue growing in their walk with God!

Our after school meeting will give Christian students an opportunity to lead others to the Lord and be a positive example to their peers. We will have weekly discussion groups for students to interact, share prayer requests and pray for each other. We will create a safe and welcoming environment where they will be accepted and loved unconditionally with the grace and forgiveness that Christ offers all of us!

Please pray for the first day of school, August 23rd, that God leads us to the teacher and classroom where we will be holding our weekly meetings.

First Year in Jacksonville....Happy Anniversary to US!

2010-08-10T13:22:00.004-04:00

August 6 was our one year Anniversary since we moved to our home in Jacksonville. We went out to eat to celebrate the night before Steve had to go to Washington DC for business trip. It's been a great year! When I returned from my mission trip to Venezuela in July, I was a little bummed because I had such a wonderful living with and working beside a team of 18 people for 18 days! When I returned, I was a bit lonely since everyone I knew was out and about busy as usual.

But the good news is I have found a women's Bible study that is still meeting every other Tuesday night that I used to meet with last fall. They are doing a Beth Moore study together now. I was with another church ladies group doing the exact same Beth Moore study in the spring but missed the second half because of my travels in June and July. So, this other group is exactly at week 7 where I left off and they are letting me join with them to finish the study together! Yeah! This is meeting such a big need in my life!

Another blessing is a Thursday group of ladies that meet at Panera at 11am. I met with them when I could throughout the year. They have continued to meet over the summer and it's been such a treat to reconnect with them. We have all grown and changed over the year and its such an encouragement to share our highs and lows with each other!

I also found out about a local BSF group starting in September on Wednesday mornings. I plan to join with them to study Isaiah for nine months. Steve is going to take the same BSF class with men on Monday nights. WE will get to study the Word of God and share with each other our thoughts and process things with each other! Yeah!

So, that's the latest with us. We are still renting out our home in Deltona and renting the same place in Mandarin. It's all we can do for now. I wish we could bring our Deltona home up here. We miss it so darn much, but not Deltona!

Jaguar Game live!

2010-01-06T20:11:00.002-05:00

Turkey Bowl Outreach

2009-11-17T21:38:00.009-05:00

I'm on campuses doing field ministry again. Reaching out to a new school called Mandarin HS in Jacksonville, FL. The kids are awesome and it's been such a God thing to watch them catch the vision each week. They represent at least 4 different churches and already have a heart for God but now they are getting equipped to reach their campus for Christ. Today we did a Turkey Bowl and 12 new kids came and heard the Gospel to add to the 20 that already come every week. A freshman girl named Jessica accepted Christ today. She is pictured here on the left with red hair. Praise God for our new sister in Christ!

Halloween and Wedding

2009-11-09T19:46:00.006-05:00

Crazy Candy Lady....had to dress up to pass out candy to make it more fun. Why should kids have all the fun?! We need to make a baby soon cuz I'm going crazy! November 1st I went to Orlando to see my folks and take my mom to a wedding with me. I had to see my friend Karen marry her best friend Tim.

Karen led me to Christ almost 17 years ago. I was starting my senior year at UCF and she just moved to Orlando to work with Campus Crusade for Christ. She shared the 4Laws booklet with me and I accepted Christ on January 12, 1993. She continued to disciple me for months after as she led a Bible study for college girls. We even became roommates for a year back in 1998 before she moved to Paris where she lived and ministered for five years. God answered her prayers for a godly husband! So excited for them both! Such a beautiful family! God's answer to many prayers!

Wednesday Ministry Update

2009-10-14T14:52:00.003-04:00

It's been a busy week already and it's only Wednesday. I'm waiting for Michelle Beckman to come over after her meeting with Ken. We all had lunch together at some Italian restuarant today with a SV boardmember named Mike. Great time of sharing!

We have an outreach to the JV Football Team from Bartrum Trails HS later today. We will pick the boys up after practice, yes, all sweaty and smelly from practice (good thing I was a football trainer my senior year of HS so I'm used to the odor). We will go to a students home where pizza, games, and a student testimony will lead into Justin sharing the Gospel to the whole team. I live for this kind of stuff! We typically see 10% of the kids accept Christ who have not heard a clear presentation of the Gospel before. Then we offer a follow up Bible study led by Ken and older students for the whole team to attend every week so they can grow in their faith and understanding of what Christ did for them on the cross.

Please pray for these young men. This is the foundation of our ministry. By reaching the young football players early in thier HS education, we have 4 years to help mold and shape them into the godly men God created them to be. Even though I am not the one discipling them personally, I still have a role in influencing their lives for Christ. The interaction we share at the conferences we go to, the weekly SV meetings, and the pizza pub we go to after is all part of building relationship and showing them what being a Christ follower is all about.

I can't wait to see what God has in store for these young students. If God had not called me to serve here in Jacksonville, I would not be apart of where He is at work in their lives. I trust that God has something big planned for reaching these campuses for His Glory!

Student Venture this week

2009-09-18T19:06:00.005-04:00

Pictured here with Christine Kennedy, our temporary roommate and guest in our home! She has joined staff with Student Venture this summer and I will be training her in ministry.

Katie, Christine, and Gracie at the SV meeting Thursday night.

Katie II playing the guitar for fun. Adam is the boy who leads our worship time.

Greta, Kimberly, and Deb hanging out before the meeting. They go to Creekside HS.

Labor Day Weekend Trips to Amelia Island and St.Augustine

2009-09-09T09:38:00.008-04:00

This is downtown Ferdinando and Amelia Island, we had lunch at the Marina, so yummy!

This is a place I checked out for future vacation spots.

Front entrance porch which wraps around to the deck out back for more seating with tables too.

This is the continuation of the porch around back overlooking the beach pictured above.

So, those were the highlights of our adventurous labor day weekend of fun.

Miss you much! love debbie and steve

Our New Home

2009-08-25T10:49:00.008-04:00

We are all moved in and settled. Boxes are gone, pictures are hung, drapes are adorning the windows, and we kind of know where everything is. It feels like home already. Here is the inside of our new home on Finchley Lane!

Steve has gotten 4 hours a day of his life back and is very grateful to be done with that commute after six months. I've started ministry with Student Venture again and love it. I'm learning the area thanks to my handy GPS! I found a gym I like and made a new friend who is training me for free 3x a week. What an answer to prayer. Plus, we have already found a great church nearby that we love. It's called Christian Family Chapel. One of my SV students from Lake Brantley HS attends the church so we are reconnecting as well. I need to go get my license and tag renewed today or sometime this week before my birthday. Mom and Dad came for a visit last weekend and love the place. Joe and Robin are coming up Sunday and I'm hoping to take them to Sticky Fingers, a great local restaurant we like. Next weekend we are hoping Steve's mom and stepdad will come visit us. We'll keep you posted. love deb

We have a new place to call home

2009-07-24T18:53:00.003-04:00

We Found A Home in Jacksonville! 11345 Finchley Lane

We've been waiting since January for a buyer or renter for our Deltona home and just yesterday, July 23rd a couple came by and they love it. They already started the application process and will sign the lease on Monday. Steve and I went to jacksonville today and looked at 4 places. We decided on this one. So, now I will continue packing our home and we will have movers come on Thursday, August 6th. It's great timing and we are so grateful it has all worked out finally. We have been patient and God has once again shown Himself faithful and trustworthy.

Now Steve won't have to commute to work 2 hours up and back. I have one more week at the Sanford Crisis Pregnancy Center where I am training my replacement, Jennifer Bauer. I start my job with Student Venture, the High School Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ August 15th.

I have begun to raise the financial support needed to do ministry full-time. I'm going to be training a new staff girl, Christine Kennedy, from Atlanta, as well as mentoring the college students who volunteer witih Student Venture. I am most looking forward to those two things. Reaching kids for Christ on public school campuses is a bonus too!

Things are really turning out perfect and Steve and I are so excited to see our future unfold in Jacksonville and making it our HOME. This is our backyard:

Soon to be on our way.....

2009-06-11T21:44:00.006-04:00

The time has come that we must face the inevitable and prepare for our move from Deltona to Jacksonville. Steve has accepted a position there and has been commuting daily since February. We have had our home on the market for sale but not much is happening there so we have decided to find a renter instead.

We are going to Jacksonville this weekend to look at some homes for rent in the Mandarin/St. Johns area. If we find something that meets our needs (and some desires) we will move forward and make plans to move at the end of the month.

I'm already training my replacement at the crisis pregnancy center where I have been working for six years. It will be sad to leave such wonderful women that I have grown to love and respect very much over the years. We currently have 15 volunteers weekly and 5 staff. It's been amazing experience to see God working through them to help young women facing an unplanned pregnancy. We see up to 160 clients every month and that's with only being open 24 hours a week. Crazy! Right!

So, what will I be doing in Jacksonville? Well, after much prayer for God to lead me to where He is already at work and where I am most needed. I have found that the Student Venture ministry in JAX has need of a woman staff trainer to train a new staff girl coming to town from Atlanta. Since I have trained new staff before, I can bring my past experience with SV to help her. I was on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ from 1993-2002. It was such a wonderful experience and I have missed it for some time now.

The director of SV has been there for 20 years leading a thriving ministry but with no adult staff women to help reach and mentor the teen girls. This will be a new opportunity for all of us. I believe God is leading myself and this other young woman to work in JAX and I'm just so excited to see what He has in store for the students we are going to be meeting in the fall!

It's funny, I left SV 6 years ago because I had such a burden to help girls protect their purity and thought the crisis pregnancy center would be a way to reach out to more kids in that specific area. Granted, the kids we met were already sexually active and coming to our center for a free pregnancy test, but I digress. If it was negative, we had an opportunity to educate them on the risks of STD's and encourage them to try abstaining. "Sexual Integrity" was the latest catch phrase that seemed to be more tolerable than "abstinence" ~ at least we got less eye rolls.

If the pregnancy test was positive, we educated them on all three options and explained the risks of abortion so they would make an educated decision. We offered support and resources to help them throughout their pregnancy and beyond. We even had a boutique full of donated maternity clothes and baby items to help the financial burden most people face. I was always amazed at how we never ran out of supplies and just when we needed something, someone would walk in with what we needed in the same hour. Or a double stroller or car seat would be donated the day before someone called needing one. It was so cool to see God circulate stuff to help those in need.

I got to witness God bringing people to our door that needed more than a pregnancy test, they need prayer, they needed to know someone cared, and he would always equip us with just what they needed to face their crisis. God was already working in their life to bring them to us! He was just allowing us to be his hands and heart to show them unconditional love.

I'm already talking about it past tense. My mind is jumping foward to doing SV ministry and I'm continually in prayer about the kids I"m going to be meeting. I'm looking foward to building relationships and watching them grow spiritually from freshman to senior year and beyond!

I'm looking foward to stepping out in faith with creative outreaches, evangelism, team talks, Bible studies, and training the new girl. I hope it all comes back to me like riding a bike. I want to reach kids before they need a free pregnancy test at a crisis center! I want to encourage them to walk in purity and with integrity for the rest of their lives. I want to help them learn how to make good decisions and follow God's plan for their lives.

Steve and I are really looking foward to getting involved in a church and starting a new phase of our life together. We truly belive God is calling us to Jacksonville for a bigger purpose and we are following His will for our lives whole heartedly!

2009-05-02T19:46:00.003-04:00

This is our kitchen. Sharing this with miraclemama since she posted hers. I will miss our first home very much. We are moving from Deltona to Jacksonville whenever we can find a renter. here is the link to find out more. www.obeo.com/519251

we have it listed for sale for $199,900 It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage, and 1900 square feet. Rebuilt in 2005 with new laminate floors, updated kitchen and baths, and new roof. If you know anyone interested please let us know! thanks!

This was my fall place setting last November 2008. Now I have spring stuff out. I'll take a picture later if you'd like to see it.

2009-05-02T19:27:00.001-04:00

This is a chicken and broccoli roll with cheese, cream cheese and sour cream inside. It was very yummy. I love to experiment with whatever I have in the house at the time and a little help from Kraftfoods.com too.

2009-05-02T19:24:00.001-04:00

This is an Italian almond pastry I made for Easter with my family.

April 2009

2009-04-24T21:46:00.005-04:00

Lots to catch you up on. . . . . Here are the highlights: Steve and I went to San Antonio and Austin, TX in March for my brother's wedding. Introducing: Joe and Robin Muscarella!

In April, Steve had to travel for work to Wisconsin one week and North Carolina another week. In May we are going to NY for my cousins' wedding. We are still trying to move to Jacksonville wehre Steve has been commuting to every day since February. Our house in Deltona is for sale or rent. We are looking for a place to rent in Jacksonville and a job for me. My dream job would be to do Student Venture ministry again in that area. I miss it a lot and want something different that doing crisis counseling at the pregnancy center. I could still volunteer at a center in JAX once I'm there, which would be great.

Another big accomplishment is I've been actually using my gym membership since January! Yeah, who does that?! I've lost a total of 35 pounds and 5% body fat in four months so far. It's a long road but we are seeing progress finally. I have a trainer named Linda that I meet with once or twice a week. That helps a lot! I highly recommend finding the right trainer to meet your needs. I figure she knows best what I need to do to keep losing and its an investment worth making for my future. Every workout is different and intense. I'm enjoying pushing my body to do things I don't think I'm strong enough to do.

Lately the weather has been so perfect that I just have to go to the beach to walk. I just don't want to be stuck inside a gym when the weather is so nice. Last week I started with just walking 2 miles. But this week I've gone twice and did 3.2 miles each day. Steve is goin with me tomorrow to walk together. yeah!

Well, that's the latest news from the Burns'.

We are off to Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa for New Year's Eve Vacation

2008-12-30T21:03:00.002-05:00

Steve surprised me with booking a vacation getaway for us to enjoy three days and two night at a beautiful resort. We've never been to Sanibel but we heard good things about it. He wanted me to enjoy some spa treatments and the package includes four hours of massage, facials, body wraps, body scrubs, etc to choose from. I'm sooooo going to be pampered and loving it!

The best part is how God provided for all this. We've had a blessed year and had our first garage sale to raise more money so we could help others during the Christmas season as needs presented themselves to us. After Steve booked this wonderful vacation, we received a check from our Mortgage company because we had too much in our Escrow account after our insurance and taxes were paid for the year. it was such a wonderful surprise. We are debt free and guilt free and it is such a great way to start the new year! isn't God amazing at blessing and providing! I knew God was faithful but I had no idea He could show off His goodness like this!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2008-12-28T20:43:00.005-05:00

Hello Friends,

We had a great Christmas and made special memories with our families. God has blessed us abundantly throughout 2008 and we are looking forward to see what is ahead for us in '09. We wish you all the very best and pray God's abundant blessings on you and your family too!

My traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies were gone fast.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T18:24:00.003-04:00

Carving pumpkins....toasting seeds....baking cookies......making chicken pot pie for dinner....and passing out candy to total strangers.....what a wierd holiday!

Don't eat too much Candy!

Debra Burns Designs . . . . Jewelry

2008-10-16T11:16:00.009-04:00

Here are some of my favorite latest pieces I've created . . .enjoy!

Here are some of my handmade pieces I've made lately. Let me know what you think!

Fall Blessings

2008-10-15T22:26:00.006-04:00

Monday was a free day off thanks to Columbus and Canada celebrating Thanksgiving a little too early, but I'm not complaining. since we don't have fall leaves in Florida, I thought it would be fun to make my own fall leave cookies by using a snowflake cookie cutter. I made them for my staff at the crisis pregnancy center. I try to come up with different ways to bless them and make them feel special and appreciated! Here's how they came out:

Pretty Lady Day

2008-10-11T15:19:00.002-04:00

Hello Friends,
It's Saturday, other wise known as, Pretty Lady Day, around here. Ever since meeting Steve, he has proclaimed Saturday's to be Pretty Lady Day. Hence, I am "Pretty Lady". He starts the day around 8am by letting me sleep in as late as my little heart desires. He fixes his own breakfast or goes to BK and watches Fox News or some other political panel discussion. I eventually roll out of bed whenever I please. The joy of not have kids yet! And then we discuss what we feel like doing. If there are not good movies out, we usually opt for hanging at home, doing yard work, or some light shopping. Today we chose to go shopping. His one and only men's store The Men's Warehouse is always a first pick for him. He needed to replace a dress shirt that got ruined in the wash last weekend. So we ventured out to Altamonte Springs to get him a shirt. We were pleasantly surprised that because he had spent an enormous amount of money there recently, he earned a $50 gift vouture to put towards our purchase. i was so thrilled. We walked out with our $50 and only spent $5.00! That NEVER happens where I shop! So, we figured we had $50 free money to spend.

Being "Pretty Lady Day" he left it up to me to pick where we should go next. I wanted to browse the furniture stores that I have not been in for quite some time. We stopped at Ethan Allen, Haverty's and Best Buy (for him). He is a great sport and I enjoy hearing his imput on what he likes and doesn't like. The furniture was pretty elaborate for our taste and lifestyle, but I just enjoy looking to see the latest trends in home decor. We did find a bedroom set he liked and we also discussed some new ideas for the living room furniture to be replaced one day. It's fun to shop when you don't "need" anything, that way there's no preasure to buy!

We got tired of that and with no other ideas, we headed home for some lunch. It's Pretty Lady Day and it's nice to hang out without a million errands to run and chores to do! he's napping and I'm probably going to go join him.

Sunday, I get to go to a cooking class with my friend Beverly and some of her friends and then we are going to stroll around the WP Art Festival. Quality girl time! yeah!

Monday I'm off from work for Columbus Day so I thought I should take myself to the beach for an early morning walk and look at the Horizon in Honor of Columbus! I know, it sounds rough, but someone has to enjoy this nice weather we're having.

so, that's what's going on here. Happy Pretty Lady Day to you all. love deb

New Pics of McKenna Weld

2008-10-08T11:04:00.004-04:00

I learned how to crochet baby hats recently and made my first one for McKenna Weld. She seemed to take a liking to it.

2008-09-26T16:10:00.003-04:00

more new handmade cards i worked on . . .

2008-09-21T23:54:00.003-04:00

Hand crafted cards I made this weekend

2008-09-21T23:44:00.004-04:00

New kids at the center

2008-09-06T22:33:00.005-04:00

Addison

GraceyLynn

My 38th Birthday in Key Largo, FL 8-31-08

2008-09-03T19:15:00.009-04:00

Steve agreed to take me to Key Largo during Labor Day weekend to see my friend Olivia Morris get married to Jim Mueller. It was a wonderful excuse to get away and relax too. We had such a super time together and he really made by birthday special.

He came home Friday with roses and had a card for me to open each day throughout the weekend. So sweet and thoughtful.

The wedding was beautiful.

Babyshower gift ideas for you . . .

2008-08-28T23:30:00.003-04:00

A babyshower gift for McKenna Weld my friends' first baby girl.

another cutie patootie at work

2008-08-28T23:14:00.002-04:00

Good Bye Fay

2008-08-25T21:40:00.002-04:00

Well, we did get hit eventually. I swear I think meteoroligist need to be shot. what a waste they are. in florida it's either going to rain somewhere at some point so their's a 50% chance of rain every day. they can't predict anything and their timing couldn't be more off. they closed schools tues, wed, and friday and the one day they were in school, thurs, was the worst ever. what idiots. so i was home tuesday and thursday and wed. i just went in the office from 9-12. being home when you have to be is not very fun. i was getting a little stir crazy. we were getting low on toilet paper so steve drove me to publix so i could get out of the house thursday evening.

thank God my friend Cindy came into town and hung out with me on Friday and spent the night with us. Her and I went to the mall, had lunch, and got home before it rained again. at one point, cindy, steve, and i were all on our own laptops doing whatever instead of talking. that was funny. i taught her how to use facebook and then we had dinner, made cookies, and watched the movie "collateral" with tom cruise and jamie fox. not a chick flic.

we did have some water get in from under our back door and part of our roof was broken and hanging and hitting the back of the house. i think its called a soffit. no idea how to spell it. so steve fixed it friday afternoon and now were considering getting a new back door and getting the molding fixed. we need to watch out for mold in the floor. i feel so very bad those who are knee deep in water in their homes. that is devistating. being a new home owner makes me really appreciate what we have and understand once again the need for insurance.

we're watching the convention on CNN tonight. not all that impressed with what the delegates look like. they seem like wacky people all dressed in goofy hats and outfits. not what i expected at all. i'm so very bored.

Where is Fay???

2008-08-19T19:25:00.002-04:00

Been home all day waiting for a storm, but nothing is happening. lost cable for all of 5 minutes and paniced, but other than that not a peep.

So I read and finishind reading a book called The Shack. Anyone else out there read this? I actually liked it. I was sceptical but I totally got into the second half and cried, laughed, cried some more. it was emotionally draining. love to hear what others think.

Camelia and Dan visit Deltona

2008-08-09T15:49:00.004-04:00

My Romanian friends (who I met 14 years ago on a mission trip), Camellia and Dan, drove from Gainsville to Deltona to spend some time with Steve and I. Dan was in Romania for two months getting his student visa renewed. He has to leave Monday for Iowa to continue his PHD in statistics while Camelia will continue her PHD in English Lit. at UF in Gainsville. It will be sad for them to be apart for 4 months, but Dan will return for a brief holiday break for Christmas. Then next summer Camelia will spend 4 months with him during her summer break. Not an ideal situation but it will have to do until Gainsville can let Dan into their program.

Here is the sweet couple during our time Friday in Sanford at Lake Monroe.

We introduced them to Wii and had a lot of fun!

Cute Little Girl came in today

2008-07-28T19:51:00.003-04:00

2008-07-27T11:21:00.002-04:00

This is Olivia and I back in the day when we were in Myrtle
Beach, SC for a Getaway Conference.

She's getting married August 31st and I can't wait to see her again!

This is Olivia with her little sister recently on a night out...

check this out

2008-07-19T12:23:00.003-04:00

just had to show you this little pumpkin posing.

hanging out today while steve is at work on a saturday. don't want to go anywhere cuz i dont' want to shop and spend money. trying to cut back and stay out of debt. not easy or fun, but it will be worth it so we can go on vacation again in August.

Over my birthday weekend, which is Labor Day, we're going to spend a few night in Key Largo for Olivia's wedding on August 31st. I so happy Steve said we could go. Olivia is one of my old students from Student Venture days and is 26 years old. I am so happy for her!

Wow, someone is reading?

2008-07-16T21:10:00.007-04:00

I never get comments so I wasn't sure if anyone reads blogs anymore, but i just saw that 44 people have looked at my site, so that encourages me.

Today I had a wonderful late lunch with Marci at Seasons 52 for her birthday. She's such a great new friend that I just met this year. Her and her hubby are trying to get pregnant too so we have a lot in common. We sure are enjoying our freedom for now. She came by the pregnancy center where I work and got a tour.

Here are some more cute pictures I've taken recently....

checkout this cutie-patootie

2008-07-14T21:24:00.004-04:00

What a Cutie-Patootie!

This was her attempt at winking. isn't she the most adorable little girl. we put her in this new outfit to make feel like a new woman. she loved it and so did her mommy.

Just another good day at the center

Friends of the center!

2008-07-09T20:31:00.006-04:00

Meet my precious boys, Angel and Steven. They are friends from the CPC where I work. I've seen them grow up since day one.

These are the twins Justin and Steven. they are 3 and half now and soooo adorable.

This is Daniel (10) and Natasha (9) and they are amazing, smart, and sweet youngsters. They are such a huge help taking care of their three younger siblings. love them!!!!

Meet Jade!

2008-07-07T19:47:00.005-04:00

This is Jade. Her mommy was facing an unplanned crisis pregnancy last year and after counseling her and offering her a free ultrasound, her and her new husband decided to have the baby. They came back to the center for another pregnancy test (she is pregnant again!)and I got to meet Jade for the first time. She was born on Thanksgiving day and is 7 months old. I made her a purple crochet blanket and gave it to her on her second visit. Isn't she so beautiful!!!! Love those cheeks. Can't wait to see what God has in store for Miss Jade.

One more day til our Baby Making Vacation!!!!

2008-07-01T15:21:00.003-04:00

We can't wait to get away to Cocoa Beach for the 4th of July Weekend! whooo-hooooo! We plan to go to the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday and get an annual pass so we can return the next day or anytime after. We plan to stay the night at a Marriott, using our hard earned reward points, and then enjoy the next day walking on the beach early in the morning. Then if we get bored we can go back to KSC Friday. We may see fireworks Friday night or we may make our own. Steve seems to think we need to make a baby on vacation and not just on a regular day at home. So, here goes another attempt to start a family. Wish us luck!

Thoughts on a Tuesday

2008-05-27T15:54:00.003-04:00

Funny how timing is everything....I just found out Steve has to go to Tampa in June for just a quick over night trip, but it falls exactly on the date that would be perfect for making a baby girl. So, it looks like this little baby making machine is going to get another free month to relax. I feel like I've just been handed a "Get out of Jail Free" card!

I want to keep putting off the inevitable, but I'm running out of time and excuses. I'll be turning 38 in August! YIKES! I don't feel 37, I still feel 27 and still wish I was. My biological clock has been broken for years. After being a Nanny and raising other people's babies, I just lost all interest in having a baby for a while.

Now that we've been married three years and we're getting older, it makes perfect sense to start reproducing. But I just wish there was a way to make Steve carry the baby instead of me.

still wishing . . . .

Thoughts on a Thursday

2008-05-15T18:22:00.003-04:00

Today is Thursday and I've spent the day with my old friend Liz at her new home in Oviedo with her 2 year old Nicholas and 4 year old Braylin. Braylin can read already! Is that normal? It was good to see life with two kids at home. It confirmed to me that I only want ONE child and that I will probably work part-time at the Pregnancy Center where I've been for the past five years. It's hard to know at this point, of course.

All my friends have kids now and all of them are stay at home moms. I think that's really amazing! I enjoyed being a nanny for the Roberge family during my 20's and I really admired their mom's lifestyle of shopping, working out, and having lunch with friends while I babysat for her. She also had someone else come in to cook, clean, and do laundry once a week. So, she had it made!

I'm thinking of signing up at our local YMCA after I check out a few classes. I really need to work on getting in shape before making a baby. I've put it off for three years and It's getting out of hand. I've tried many different diets over the past year . . . all making me feel like a total failure. I know I just need to eat less and move more and stop trying every other shortcut out there. Any advice or encouragement would be appreciated!

God's Timing

2008-05-01T15:07:00.002-04:00

I realized my first blog sounded like I might be pregnant already. Let me clarify that we are not pregnant. Believe me, I'll be sure to let my friends and family know in person!

Today I woke up feeling like I should wait til July to start making a baby. I really want to hear from God on this decision and not rush it. I don't rush into anything, except when it comes to impulse buying. My shopping habits are another story.

Did you know we bought a Wii this week for our 3rd Wedding Anniversary Gift to ourselves? It's been fun playing each other every night this week. A good stress reliever too. Of course, I keep letting Steve beat me so he feels like a man. Bowling scores SB 159, DB 153, last night SB 183, DB 160? I think. Way better than I do normally and we don't have to wear other peoples shoes! yeah!

It's our 3rd Anniversary!

2008-04-30T11:30:00.002-04:00

Welcome to our New Blog!

3 years ago today, April 30, 2005, Steve and Debra got married! We are finally ready to start a family and this will be our blog to keep track of our progress as this new journey into parenthood begins. Hence the name "3rd Degree Burns". We feel compelled to continue the family name. But more than that, we want to create life out of Love and share our life with a new human being.

Of course there are a ton of fears of the future. This is one area I will totally have to trust God in a whole new way. I will not be in control and that shakes me up to the core of my being!

Stay tuned for future blogs, pics, stories, and adventures!