Baby #4

We were excited to find out that baby #4 is on the way. My current due date is September 1st, but my doctor usually changes that, so we will see. I have also only made it to 38 weeks and a few days with the other 3, so we fairly certain this baby will make his/her appearance around late August. We have two other birthdays around that time, my step-sister's is on the 18th, and my step-mom's birthday is the 24th. I am guessing the 22nd, but it is still early. I am hoping to give weekly updates, so here we go.

Week 5:

I am so nauseous! I am not usually nauseous until around week 7, but I was actually a little nauseous before my test turned up positive.

I am craving beef, corn, and black beans. Really it love any form of protein which of course will help my nausea. 

I am drinking lemon water, and root beer (not the best, but my nausea is gone with the first sip, and we all like those "miracle cures"). 

A friend of mine recommended the Brewer's Diet, associated with the Bradley method, for me to try, so as soon as I have an appetite I will start that.

My emotions are so high! We are so excited, but I have this constant lump in my throat. My mother-in-law was always excited, and would help with the kids while I got things ready, watching them for appointments, and watching them when the baby was born. We know God has a plan, and we know she is in a much better place, but it is still difficult for those left behind. We will miss her as we celebrate the milestones of this pregnancy. 

Also, here is how we shared the news with Facebook.

The caption to this is "Next year we will need another stocking."

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! May God richly bless you!

All ready for bed in their new Christmas jammies.

Can you keep a secret

I have a little secret, I trust you won't make a peep.

It is a very special secret that I need you to keep.

It will only be a secret for a small amount of time.

But this little secret truly is sublime.

This secret is not easy, but it is a load a I gladly bear.

For this secret is a blessing, a feeling I hope we both can share!

Coming this September to a blog near you! :)

Chippy

Chippy is our "Elf on the Shelf". My father-in-law purchased him for our children. We do not really play up Santa. We try to focus on the birth of our Savior. Needless to say we have failed some this year after an aunt sent letters to the children from Santa in the mail, and the children were told Santa would visit a family members house. It is difficult to focus on what is most important when well meaning family members do not help. 

After the season has ended we are going to discuss some about next year. Chippy will still come out to play, and we may even take a nice Christmasy family picture with Santa. We may or may ot "play" Santa, but we will most definitely make sure everyone understands the focus will be more about Jesus. 

Until then I hope you enjoy some of the things our elf has done.

Time

They say "Time heals all wounds," but I do not think that is true. Time only makes the wound more bearable. If you have ever had a serious injury you know what I am talking about. The initial injury is very painful, but you begin to heal and slowly things get back to your new normal. There may be some set backs along the way, but eventually you find your feet. These kinds of injuries though never really heal, some will even cause daily pain, this depends on how much you rely upon that particular part of your body.

This same is true when you lose a loved one. As holidays draw near, you begin to be reminded of their absence. It does get easier as life goes on, but it is never easy. We will still grieve no matter how long or short the time has been. That is ok. We need those moments of raw emotion where we can call out to God for His comfort and peace. We thank Him for our time with them, and He can bring good memories for us to cling to. 

I am reminded of my mother and now my mother-in-law this holiday season. They were both wonderful, beautiful, and very special women. My mother has been gone for 15 years, and I still get stopped in my tracks sometimes. My wound from my mother-in-law is still very fresh and new. My children are learning what it is like to grieve, and how to deal with those feelings. They are so young the concept is difficult, and they are missing her a lot these days. We are all joining together and leaning on each other for support, and by God's great grace we will persevere.

No time may not heal, but it can certainly help.

I hope if you have any wounds this holiday season you can find comfort in God's loving arms. 

My mom

My mother-in-law and Ray-J decorating the tree for his 1st Christmas

This also reminds me, take lots of pictures of everyone you love, because when they are gone you do not want one of the few pictures you have of them at Christmas to not even have their face in it.

Christmas: a Day 7

I had planned on sharing everyday, but my children decided that it would be a good time for them to get a mild stomach virus and strep throat. There has been a lot of movies, medicine, soup, laundry, and snuggles, but we seem to be out of it for now. Here are a few photos though,

My sickies

All she wanted to do was be held.

So thankful for crockpots, rice cookers, and bread makers that cook for me while I needed to snuggle!

Oh, my son also decided to stick this piece of hard wax up his nose, which required a doctor, and 2 big male nurses holding him down to get out. I hope that it scared child #2 enough for her not to do it as well!

Oh the joys of motherhood!

Christmas: Day 3

My father-in-law bought us a new little friend....

My children named him, Chippy.

We are having fun "playing" elf on the shelf and Santa. My children know that Christmas is really about Jesus and His birth. They know Santa is not real, but we don't over stress it. We have friends who do not do Santa at all and others who do tell their children he is real. It is up to each parent, and we have fun playing Santa. 

Today, Chippy decided he wants to watch mommy's favorite Christmas movie (good job Chippy!) 

Christmas: Day 2

We enjoyed our advent time last night, and I am looking forward to finishing it this year, but we may go a different direction next year (more on that later). 

Christmas: Day 1

I purchased an ebook bundle earlier this year that had "Truth in the Tinsel" included in it. I have heard so many good things about it, so I am looking forward to doing it this year. I have made my advent calendar, and am ready to start focusing more on the reason for the season! 

Thankful: Day 30

Today I am thankful for the little blogging world I have found! The more seasoned women, mothers, Christians, who are willing to share a little about what they have learned along the way. I enjoy their wisdom, recipes, and encouragement. It is nice to be reminded that we are not alone, and someone else has been through it and survived so we can too. Some are only a few steps ahead while others are much further ahead of me in life, they are from different parts of the country and the world. The internet brings us together in the comfort of our homes any hour of the day or night. I enjoy several blogs that I will find myself reading and rereading posts by these sweet ladies. I have exchanged emails with some, and only marveled at others. To be perfectly honest a few are more like celebrities to me ( I know silly), but I know I would be "star struck" more so if I met some of these ladies in person than if I had met a real celebrity. Thank you ladies for all you do! (Maybe once I email them I will get permission to put links to their blogs here)

Thankful: Day 29

I am thankful for Christmas trees!

Thankful: Day 28

I am thankful for Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for our ancestors, and while things have not always been peaceful, or the way that is best for all those involved. I am still grateful we set aside a time to remember the beginning of it all. I am thankful for a time to gather with family and celebrate things we are thankful for. I enjoy family without the pressure of gifts, just a time to enjoy each other. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful: Day 27

Today I am thankful for glasses! I am able to see the joy on my kids faces without having to be a foot away!

Thankful: Day 26

Today I am thankful that I am able to homeschool! I did not even hear of homeschooling until middle school, then it lumped homeschooling into the stereotype. It was not until I first had my son, four and a half years ago, that the thought of homeschool came to mind. The more I read about public school these days and private is just not an option financially (especially now that we have 3). I love my children here at home where I can make sure that God is the center of their education, and I know that none of the current world views, evolution, feminism, and anything else is not getting into their hearts and mind. I am hoping and praying I get to homeschool all of our children all the way through their schooling. I love spending time with them, and I love seeing those light bulbs go off. I love that I get to be there for each experience, and I get to see for myself which things they enjoy. I get to see where they excel, and I get to be there to lean on when they are struggling. I love that I will be the one to help them through each of these experiences and many many others. 

Crocheting was not part of school, but I am making Christmas presents and I have to work every chance I get

Thankful: Day 25

Today I am thankful for "girl friends"! These are ladies who I have made friends with through our church, and have become close friends. I love each and everyone of these ladies, and they are all very special. Some I am closer with than others, but I know if I need anything I can call any of them in a heartbeat (and they know the offer goes the other way as well!

Rachel and me

Holly and her son 

Melody and her husband

Joy and her son

Rebecca and her daughter 

Rachel and Lesa

Lindsey and her girls

Marie with her family (minus their baby girl who was born last Thursday)

Thankful: Day 24

I am thankful for the zoo! We have made it clear that our family loves the zoo. When my husband and I first started dating we went to the local zoo all the time. Now we enjoy taking our children. We love the animals, and God's amazing creation. We also love the time together!

Thankful: Day 23

Today I am thankful for my Aunt Cathy! She is my mother's sister. I grew up going to her house often and remember her pet chicken Henrietta, who would use the restroom outside. I enjoyed spending time with her and my cousins (her children Jamey and Brandy). We had some time apart, but I am so happy we have reconnected in the last few years and my children have been able to meet her. She is her own person, but she is also similar to my mom in many ways. I love that my children are getting the opportunity to get to know her, she is such a special lady! I love you Aunt Cathy!

My beautiful Aunt Cathy

Aunt Cathy and her husband Uncle Roy 

My cousins Brandy and Jamey

Aunt Cathy with her granddaughter, Jessie (Jamey's daughter) and Jessie's son Richie

Her beautiful house in Montana, if it wasn't so cold I might move there. She takes amazing pictures of God's creation!

Thankful: Day 22

Today I am thankful for our home! Yes, we live in a small apartment, but home is what we make it. They say "Home is where you heart is." That is so true, my home is where my husband and children are. We can make our home anywhere. I love the memories we are amking in these walls, no matter how small!

Kitchen

Porch

Bedroom

Old picture of the living room

Our "Count Your Blessings" wall

Other living room wall (and yes that is a punching bag)

Thankful: Day 21

Today I am thankful for our car! It fits us for now, and it is paid off. We made a mistake of buying it new and not always paying on time, but it is a good reliable vehicle. Mostly we are thankful it is ours free and clear!

Thankful: Day 20

Today I am thankful for my stepmother, Chris! When my dad started dating her I thought she was a little weird, and I was not even sure if I liked her (she gave me my first detention). Then I saw that my dad was happy so that was all that mattered, it would not be so bad. After they married I fought her with everything I had, she was changing my world, and I was not ready for that. I thought I am 16 and I am done being raised who are you to try and change me, but she dug in her heels even more than mine. We butted heads, we cried, we probably even yelled some. She did things that made me mad, sad, and even things I thought were crazy (some I still do). I am so grateful for all she did for me! Words cannot express how thankful I am for this woman who married a man she loved and put up with his head strong stubborn daughter. She just loved me and did not understand. She kept trying to pull me in and I pushed away. God gave me a precious precious gift when He gave her to me. I know I was not easy to love, and I am so glad she decided to do it anyway. She stepped in and filled a void. She knew she could never take the place of my mother, but she knew she could fill the empty hole in my heart. I do not deserve her love, but I am so glad she chose to love me despite myself. She has done so much for me, and I am who I am today partly because of her. Now I enjoy our "mother-daughter" talks, and I enjoy her enjoying my children. I love you Chris!

Chris with Ray-J (2months)

Chris with Emma (4 months)

Chris with Ray-J and Emma at the beach this past August 

With Cathy Belle (2 days old)

My dad and Chris on a cruise (world travelers)