5 Weekends In A Row

Blessed by this father/son pair!!

A LOT has happened in the past 44 days since our last blog post...including the fact that we were at home in Nashville for 5 weekends in a ROW! I think that must be a Nall record for us :) Coming off of the "Nashville to Birmingham traveling extravaganza" from January and February, it was a real treat to stay put as our family of three for the entire month of MARCH! I would have an occasional inkling to hop on the blog and give an update, but there seemed like too much to say and not enough energy to say it! And now even more time has passed so there's even MORE to say but instead of continuing to put it off...I figure that it's better to give a short update than none at all...and you know this is just a few of the highlights! Let's hit on a few of the most common questions of the times: 

Are you all settled in your new spot? We love our new spot in Nashville! As you may have read in a previous post, we decided to keep our house (the Nashville home that we own) as a rental property ... and we are currently renting a different place! It's a super cute spot in a convenient part of town and we have friends in the neighborhood and it's been a wonderful fit for our family. We feel more and more settled each day. Let's just say that moving with a baby is a whole different kind of move. It's not like the previous moves where after the first 7-10 days everything is spick and span and in its spot. We have amazing friends that have come over and helped me crank out different projects - and that has been a huge blessing - but I also reminded myself to put "relationships over perfectionism" and that has been a great way to sum up the past couple of weeks. When you move with a baby and have feedings every couple of hours and a precious life to take care of instead of your main focus being to unpack everything and find a spot immediately...you are reminded that the sweet lives in front of you are more important anyways than having things in their spot! If you were to come over for a visit, you'd say it looks like we've lived there for awhile and like everything is in order...but I still know of a few projects here and there that can be done *wink* But yes, for the most part, we are settled in (physically speaking)...but I can say that it feels like we haven't skipped a beat as far as picking up where we left off with our community of friends. People have been SO welcoming...from coming to the house to bring meals, reaching out to us at Church, and just simply loving us well in the day-to-day! 

Do you all miss Birmingham? Of course! We were very happy in Birmingham!! It would be hard to live in a spot for two years and all of a sudden move and NOT miss it!! That's just my take :) I have said all along that we could be happy wherever the Lord leads...because the Lord is the one leading us AND we are together!! We did not have any clue that the Lord would be leading us away from Nashville TO Birmingham two years ago when He did...and we did not have any clue that our next move (after living in Birmingham) would be BACK to Nashville!! The whole thing is part of the great adventure the Lord has us on as a family! We have friends that we have known for years in Birmingham (from me growing up in Chattanooga, from B growing up in Dothan, from college years at Auburn, etc) and we have friends that God connected us with during these past two years in Bible Studies, through our Church family, through the Men's Baseball League, dear neighbors, and divine appointments of people that walked with us through pregnancy and birth of our first baby!! The neat thing about this day in age is that we can stay connected with these people, just as we had been with our Nashville friends while away...these relationships will always be something that we treasure about this great city! 

How is Nelson doing? Nelson has been a champ through each stage of this whole move! He is so chill and easy going and really the one that God has provided to bring us back to the reality of how much we have to be thankful for and what truly matters...even when all around us changed very quickly! He just turned 8 months on April 7...but month 7 of his life (the month of March) was FULL of a lot of changes and new milestones!! You may have read in the last post that as of February 26, Nels went from wearing his snowboard 22 hours a day to wearing it just at night - which is generally a 12 hour time frame from the time he goes to bed around 7pm to the time he wakes up in the morning around 7am. He also moved from sleeping in his co-sleeper crib in our room to sleeping in his crib in his new room. He started sitting in a high-chair! He started playing on his A,B,C,1,2,3 bright and colorful rubber playmat! On March 21, he started crawling! We've even set up the pack-and-play in the living room for him to play in at times because if we don't watch him like a hawk, he is into everything!! We've been able to use the Ergo Carrier more since he's free of the snowboard!! He loves playing peek-a-boo! He blabbers all the time to the point you think he's going to start speaking in sentences!! We started using sign language for certain words (mommy, daddy, shoes, dog, milk, more, all done) and many more to come! He is such a happy baby and truly lives up to his Instagram hashtag of #AdorableNels!!

How are Nelson's feet? They are doing great! We had a check-up on March 28 and the doctor confirmed that they were right how they are supposed to be and to keep up the great work!! So that means that we continue to have him in the snowboard for 12 hours in the evening and we always stretch his little feet before we put him in his shoes. The doctor pointed out how she could tell that Nelson liked his shoes (Nelson LOVES his shoes and whenever he spots them in the room, grabs for them and wants to eat them) which means that the parents have made a point to make the shoes fun. Apparently there are some children at this phase of the club feet journey that still cry and fuss when the shoes come out because the parents have probably had negative body language and attitudes toward the shoes. It has been our goal since day one to make the shoes a positive experience - and we can't thank you enough for YOUR prayers for and with us in this journey because by the grace of God, we do truly see these shoes as the blessing that they really are!! He is now at the point where he will go for his next check up at the end of May! He got fitted for a new pair of shoes at his last appointment (since the others were almost too small) and tonight is his first night in his new shoes!! Growing boy!

How are you and Brandon? We are doing well! Right after the move was when we had a few "come to Jesus" type of moments of really talking through communication and expectations (the two words that have and I think always will be such a huge part of our marriage) but to God be the glory for how He is working in and through us. Funny now that I can't even remember all the details of what those talks were even about - even though in the moment they seemed like such a big deal! I think we can both attest to the fact that after a "heavy" talk, we are learning to forgive and forget and move on. Our time together is so short that it's neat to see how what used to be more of us analyzing this or that or beating the horse into the ground on a topic back when we were first married - now is something that we can deal with, drop it, and move on...which is SUCH a blessing to see that growth. Brandon has been such a blessing to me to give me time to get out and have some time to run some errands, go to the grocery, go by Babies R Us, go get my nails done, etc (!!!) in the evenings sometime so that I can have a "mommy moment" and he watches Nelson. And now that Nelson is down for the night by 7pm or 7:30pm, that gives B and I a great window of time for some quality time. We've learned to make the most of our family time as the three of us while Nels is awake in that small window between B getting home and Nels going down for the night. The other day B even said, "Ya know babe, sometimes I wish Nels got to stay up later...I love playing with him!" Melted my heart!! I am so thankful for a God-fearing husband that works hard for our family which allows me to stay home with our son! It's something I don't take for granted. God is continuing to show us how HE is the only one that is going to satisfy our every need! We pray to be more like HIM ... as HE is the ultimate example of how we are to love and forgive and walk through this LIFE with one another!! 

So much more to say...but hopefully we'll have a window of time to share another glimpse into the Nall family before another 44 days go by!! 

In All Three Stages At Once : Birmingham, Nashville, Club Feet Update

Wow. I read a blog post today, "For When You Need Hope To Float Up" that really spoke right to where I am. The writer refers to the quote from the movie Hope Floats about beginnings, the middle, and endings. And I quote...

“Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts the most. You need to remember that when you find yourself at the beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up.” --Ramona Calvert, Hope Floats

"...If you’re standing in the middle, I hope you’ll remember it hasn’t always been this way and one day it won’t be like this again. Collect what you need, be faithful where you are, and remember the sacred gift of ordinary days.

If you’re stepping into a beginning, remember love drives out fear, you are not alone, and courage will grow as you move.

And if you find yourself approaching an ending, looking back over the colorful mess of joy and sorrow that have shaped all the days before,  give yourself permission to grieve your losses, celebrate your loves, and anticipate the start of something new." --Emily, Chatting at the Sky

As I mentioned in the subject of today's blog post,

I really do feel like we are in all three stages at once . . .

We are ending a sweet chapter of life which has been two years in Birmingham. It has been remarkable at how God has literally ordered our steps to see dear friends before we go. Whether that be walking out of Church, the Whole Foods parking lot, the CAbi Show, friends bringing a meal, cookies being dropped off, or people dropping by for a visit or a hug...it's been amazing at how the opportunities have come up for us to have closure and say "see ya later"...since it's certainly not "goodbye"! I feel like I would be so sad if I didn't know that it was the LORD who brought us here and it is the LORD who is moving us along. He is the ONE guiding the ship that we are sailing in. Yet at the same time, I am thankful to feel that I will miss these dear friends, neighbors, and Church that have been such a part of our lives for the past two years - for it is a reminder that the Lord has allowed us to bloom where we've been planted. Birmingham will always hold a special place in our heart as... 5 years ago, Brandon and I went on our first date here. And then 3 years after that, we moved here for Brandon's job and have enjoyed the "quality time" God has provided for the two of us in this season, enjoyed time with Alabama friends, 9 months of pregnancy and 6 amazing months with our firstborn son. 

We are beginning another exciting chapter of life which is moving back to a place that is "home" in Nashville. Anyone who knows us well knows that Nashville is near and dear to our hearts and that it was not easy to leave two years ago...we hoped to be back one day...never knew it would be this soon...and could not be more excited! You know that feeling before a big trip when it doesn't really "click" that you're going until you're all packed and loaded on the plane and finally sitting down and taking a breather before "take off" when you realize, "oh...this is really happening"...well, that's a bit what we're feeling. Even though Brandon has been in his new position for the past 5+ weeks and we've been up in Nashville during the weeks already, it hasn't really clicked that we are actually moving back there for good. Even if you came over to our house right now...you'd take a look around and say, "Really, I don't see any boxes!!!" Well, that's because this move is unlike any we've ever had and the moving company will show up at our door with PACKERS tomorrow morning at 8am and pack up everything we have...every piece of furniture, every dish, every picture, etc.... And instead of scurrying around and trying to "prep"...we are just enjoying a cozy night with the three of us and trusting the Lord with the details! It's really been a reminder of how the LORD is in control and He doesn't need our busy little hands to try and get all involved and try to be "on the throne"...HE is the ONE on the throne and HE is in control and just wants us to TRUST HIM. That's the picture we've had through this whole moving process and we have an unshakable peace. 

My precious bundle of JOY and I ... about to receive the good news!!!

And last but not least...we are in the middle stage of Nelson's journey with club feet and have SUPER exciting news to share this evening! For the past 6 months, if you have been following our journey, our precious baby boy has been quite the trooper through the casting and "snowboard" phases of his club foot progress. Today at his appointment, his doctor shared that Nelson is now "graduating" from wearing his snowboard 22 hours/per day...to now wearing his snowboard for nighttime wear only. Meaning...our dear little Nels will get to be FREE during the days now (watch out, world...our little roly poly will probably start crawling in the near future or he may just take off running!!!) and then he will sleep in his snowboard at night. With tears in my eyes I type this...and I know those of you who have been with us each "step" of the way probably feel the same...because it has been a journey of hard days and easier days...but today is certainly a joyous occasion to be celebrated. We have learned that each child and each set of feet is different...and there is no telling how long he will be in nighttime wear (usually a few years)...so that is why I say that we are in the "middle" (refer to blog post above) and I love what she says about that: Collect what you need, be faithful where you are, and remember the sacred gift of ordinary days. I feel so encouraged today...we are not at the starting line, we are not at the finish line, but we really are somewhere in that "middle" being faithful where God has called us to and truly recognizing the GIFT that comes on those ordinary days...look for God's fingerprints...they are all around! Thank you for your prayers....please keep them coming! The next step in the game is for us to go back for a check-up in one month...so we will certainly keep you posted! In the meantime, let the daily "legs lifted high" fun begin!!! 

Earlier when my Mom was praying over our upcoming move and I was on my knees with my Bible in front of me, precious Nels rolled over mid-prayer and put his hand on the WORD!! He is a BLESSING from above!

You know how we have said that the "Jesus Calling" devotional is always right on...well today it could not make me smile anymore! The title of today's message is "I AM LEADING YOU, STEP BY STEP"...is God into the details or what?!! It was such a sweet reminder to read, "Whenever you find yourself worrying about the future, repent and return to Me. I will show you the next step forward, and the one after that, and the one after that. Relax and enjoy the journey in My Presence, trusting Me to open up the way before you as you go."

Thankful for the TRUTH of Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Amen and Amen. Will close this last post from Birmingham and catch ya on the flip side soon in Nashville!! Thanks for all your prayers here, there, and in between! To GOD be the glory as we close this one chapter, start a new one, and enjoy where HE has us today...

Feeling The Love

Valentine's Dinner 2013

A lot to update on since our last post! We decided to break it into categories to make it easier to read and keep up...

Nashville House: Many of you have been asking if we were going to move back into our Nashville home ... You may remember when we moved to Birmingham, we decided to rent out our house in Nashville. After much prayer, we have decided to let the tenants stay in there since they are happy and taking good care of the house - and we are going to keep the house as a rental property. We will be renting a town home for a year (which just so happens to be next door to some of our dear friends that just had a baby boy!) until we figure out which part of Nashville we want to live in for the long-term. Our official move into the town home will be next Friday, March 1st! 

Current Living Situation: Since Brandon started his new position, we have been living in Nashville during the weeks and in Birmingham on the weekends. It's what we decided would be the best plan for us 3 to stay together. Obviously we didn't want to be apart for 5 weeks...so the 3 of us are in Nashville for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights...and then back in Birmingham for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. It's a lot of back and forth but it has been good to have some sense of "normalcy" on the weekends - being at home. We have also been overly blessed by our dear Nashville friends that have opened their home for us to stay in during this transition...which leads me to our next update...

Valentine's Day Blessing: Not only has this dear family opened their home for us to stay in during this time of transition (see "current living situation" update above)...but for Valentine's Day they had a Candlelight Dinner for two (including steaks, potatoes, salad, AND chocolate covered strawberries) for Brandon and I...while they watched our precious Nelson and gave us some time alone! It was more than we could have asked for at the end of a what was a really busy and long week...so very amazing to see how the Lord provides...in every detail! It was one of those "marriage moments" where you sit down in your comfy clothes and finally take a breath...saying that coming upstairs for dinner in the house where we're staying was MORE than we could have dreamed of in that current moment. Normally the fun desire is to get dressed up and go out on the town...but 5 years of marriage later, we are seeing that priorities shift and this was the "dream dinner" this year! 

Nelson's Feet: His feet continue to stretch well and stay in position in the snowboard...major praise! We have not had another visit since our last post at the end of January...but we go next Wednesday, February 27 and will certainly keep you posted. Thank you in advance for your prayers for continued healing 100% for Nelson's precious feet. 

Nelson At 6 Months: Nelson loves to ROLL! He is not yet crawling but he sure can roll everywhere! We will put toys and little stuffed animal friends all around and just watch him roll from one side of the room to the other as he discovers everything in sight...it's so cute! He will try and copy what we are saying...like he's trying to talk or something! Especially sounds like ba-ba or da-da...so in the mornings he has a field day as he babbles, "ba-ba" and "da-da"...which sounds like bye bye dada! I tried to get a video of him saying it (see above) but he was so focused on trying to grab the camera from me that it looks like he got a little camera shy. I'll work on trying to capture that moment! He is such a joy! Still a great eater and sleeper...happy healthy growing boy! We thank the Lord for him everyday...we can't imagine our life without him! 

Our Rest: Thank you for your prayers since our last post for REST for the 3 of us. We have been sleeping well and getting rest whenever we can!! In fact, Nelson and I just had a nice hour and a half long nap this afternoon! Please continue to pray for this when God brings us to mind...as our days are busy and we are doing a lot of traveling...so sound sleep at night (body, mind and soul!) when it's time for our heads to hit the pillow is SUCH a blessing! 

To wrap up this post, we'll close by saying that when people ask..."how's it going"...the first thing that comes to mind is that the overarching BLESSINGS of this season, farrrrr outweigh the daily challenges that arise. We thank the Lord that we know Him and are traveling this road with Him, for the health of the three of us, for Brandon's job, that we're all together, moving back to our favorite city...and choose to not let the little day-in-and-day-out things get us down....for that is how LIFE in this broken world is going to go! We are also learning to allow people to bless us. I know that may sound funny but it's not always easy to be on the receiving end...and we are learning that people are blessed by us ALLOWING THEM to bless us...so really just asking the Lord to let us receive how He is providing and the blessings all around us. Thank you again for all YOUR prayers for us during this time. 10 more days until we're "home sweet home"...enjoying each step of the journey! 

Transitions, Teething, & More!

Look closely and you will see Nelson's first TWO teeth!!! 

Hard to believe that it’s already the last week of January! 2013 started off with a bang as we were on the road to Nashville, Chattanooga, and Atlanta...all within 10 days and a 5 month old in tow! Not to mention, we discovered Nels has his first two teeth!!! A few weeks ago, our dear friend and “sister” that we affectionately call “ADM” (Aunt Doula Mary) was the one to notice his first tooth as he was gnawing on her finger...then a few days later, B noticed the second tooth! Our boy is growing up before our very eyes! 

For those that may have missed the news from our last post, Brandon has been offered a position with his company back in the Nashville territory and we will be moving back to Nashville on March 1st! We had a feeling that we could be moving from Birmingham at some point for Brandon’s job, but it was no where on our radar that we would be offered the opportunity to be back in Nashville at this point...just another testimony of how God is into the details of our lives and truly has given us the desires of our heart. It’s a different kind of move this time, since the “light at the end of the tunnel” is our dear community of friends back in Nashville...yet it still is a process to wrap up the sweet time that we have had this past year and a half (+) in Birmingham and the friends that we will miss as we start this next chapter. 

As you can probably imagine just from reading what’s been mentioned above, there is a lot going on. It’s amazing though to feel the PEACE that we know is straight from the LORD. As people ask how they can pray, help and support us through this transition...the thing that comes to mind is to ask for prayers for our REST. It’s quite a task to “shut down the mind” in the evening when it’s time for bed...and it’s a whole other issue to wake up from the short bit of sound sleep to nurture our dear teething son. The first two teeth came in with no issue but now we think it’s been a combination of being on the go PLUS the teething that have led to our sleep being a bit off! *wink* 

Thankfully we have kept the lines of communication between husband and wife wide open and are able to hear each other out on what our “needs” are...For instance, this week we have put our finger on the issue that I, as a Mom and Wife, need to make some time in the day for some “me” time...and that does not include doing dishes, laundry, or a run to the grocery store. We are making every effort for this to be some time apart for some personal exercise, bubble bath, or even today...the gift beyond my very imagination which was...a massage! God bless my dear hubby for having a play date with Nels and giving me some hours away for relaxation and rejuvenation! And vice versa, we see the importance of me really helping to guard his “cave time” to watch a TV show, read a book, or whatever it takes to wind down from the day and gear up for the next day. 

We also wanted to make sure and update you with the praise report on Nelson’s feet! Our last club foot clinic appointment was last week and the doctor said that Nelson’s feet are looking great and that we will keep him in his “snowboard” (22 hours/each day) for another month...and then at the end of February when we have our appointment, we will find out if he is ready to move into just wearing his snowboard at night when he sleeps. This would be a HUGE step! Our “mover and shaker” rolls all around (with or without his snowboard on) and at some points it looks like he is about to take off and crawl! Who knows what will happen when the sweet thing is without his snowboard all day...!!! We praise God for His faithfulness in this journey so far and know that He will be the one to direct our path from here...and that Nelson will crawl, walk, run, and play all in God’s perfect timing. Please continue to pray for Nelson and his feet when the Lord brings him to mind - that the snowboard will stay on and that his feet will continue to 100% correction. 

Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. Please continue to pray that our eyes will be fixed on JESUS in the midst of all that is going on around us. We know that nothing is more important than HIM and through HIM, everything else will fall into place...

Final Thoughts Of 2012

Happy New Year from the Nalls!

With only a few more hours left in 2012, here is a reflection on this year as we look back at what the Lord has done and look forward to all that's to come in 2013...

We continue to learn to WALK by FAITH and take ONE STEP AT A TIME

Thankful for a healthy pregnancy and birth of our precious son that has brought more JOY to our lives than we could ever put into words

We have enjoyed our new and old friends in Birmingham, AL and have enjoyed this place that has become our home

Thankful for our church, The Church at Brook Hills, and all that the Lord continues to teach us through making the WORD come alive in our lives 

We continue to learn more about functioning as a team and being there for each other in the moments where it seems the other person's patience is about to run out

Thankful for family and friends that have come alongside us in a whole new way as we raise our son

As the new year is right around the corner, we would love to share the following news with each of you in person, but this seems to be the best way to tell all at once...

We are moving back to Nashville! 

Brandon's company has offered him a position in the Nashville territory. We are truly in awe of the Lord's divine plan and excited to be on this journey with HIM. Lots of details (as far as living arrangements, dates, etc) that we don't know the answer to at this point...but we are in the midst of planning a move for sometime in the first quarter of 2013, as B will be starting his new position officially on February 1st. 

Thank you in advance for your prayers and praises with us during this exciting time. 

Much love and blessings to you as we step into this NEW YEAR. Something so refreshing about a fresh new start! Here's to making much of JESUS, no matter where we are, as we journey forward with HIM...as one chapter closes and another is just beginning! 

In Sickness And In Health

What a weekend it's been! Friday night started off with a bang, as B and I had our first "official babysitter" (aka: not a family member) come and stay with Nelson while we had a night on the town with some friends at a Christmas Party. It was a lot of fun to have some "us time" and enjoy dinner, dancing, and fellowship with great friends. 

Always fun to get dressed up!!

Then on Saturday is when things took a turn... B wasn't feeling the best before we went to bed on Saturday night but we didn't think much of it. Then around midnight he decided to go sleep in the guest room because he knew he was getting sick. Starting at 2:15am, he threw up every hour until 6:15am...it was awful. There is nothing worse than watching someone you love be sick. 

I decided this morning that I was going to have FACE MY FEAR of throwing up and step right into this because throwing up in part of life and family. I didn't sleep last night and prayed for healing for Brandon - and for protection for Nelson and I - as I cleaned toilets, sheets, towels and so forth throughout the day. The joy of the Lord has been my strength, even in the midst of not sleeping much...last night OR the night before really. So thankful to be Brandon's wife and there is no where else I'd rather be than right by his side. 

I literally have not thrown up since high school...and pray that I never will (but know that's not reality, ha!) ... I was so thankful to make it through pregnancy and childbirth without getting sick like that, too. A true answer to so many prayers!! But today I realized that the marriage moment of this week was realizing that I was NOT going to put on a mask and gloves and be afraid to get near my husband. I was going to embrace what was going on and pray to be the hands and feet of Jesus as B has been aching from head to toe. 

Thanks to my MOM for teaching me over the years
how to make even a "sick tray" look pretty!

He hasn't eaten anything all day except for a few nibbles on some applesauce and saltines...but he got adjusted by our chiropractor this afternoon...so Lord willing, he will wake up feeling like a new man tomorrow. Thank you in advance for your prayers of healing for Brandon - and prayers of protection for Nelson and I - as we face this stomach virus head on.

Keepin' it real with this pic!! This is what playtime in the jungle looks like
while Daddy is sick and Mommy folds laundry! 

This weekend I have really felt like my "mama role" has come into full fledged action...as we had our first babysitter and our first stomach virus roll through. Never a dull moment! 

Our little acrobat during one of his "snowboard breaks"!!!

We would like to close with a praise report: Nelson's snowboard has been staying on ALL day throughout the past couple of days! From the time we put it on, until the time we take it off for his 2 hour daily break...his shoes and bar (aka: snowboard) have been staying on AND staying in place. That is a TRUE answer to prayer!! Thank you to each and every one of you that have been lifting that up. Those first few days and weeks were really tough...as we would put the snowboard on and then within five minutes at times, it seemed that he had wiggled right out. We have been learning dedication and perseverance and seeing how that really pays off. So please be encouraged IF YOU are going through something in life where it seems like you just did that, or just learned that, or just took that thought captive, or so on and so forth...keep at it! Your dedication, perseverance, and persistence WILL PAY OFF! We go in on Wednesday for our next appointment with the club foot doctor...we will keep you posted! Thank you for your continued prayers as we take ONE STEP AT A TIME! We are so encouraged each time we look down and see the progress of Nelson's feet. To GOD be the glory! 

Merry Christmas!

To all of our blog readers, Facebook friends, and Twitter followers...Merry Christmas! Thank you for your prayers for us always...we are so very encouraged by you! This birth announcement and Christmas card says it all...we are so very thankful for God's precious gift to us this year in baby Nelson...but more importantly, His gift to the world in the birth of Jesus. Soooo very much to be celebrated. May we take time to slow down here at the beginning of December and savor each and every moment of this special season. 

            O come, let us adore Him! JOY to the WORLD!! Glory to the newborn King!!!