Amazing!

Who would have known that 8 1/2 years ago when Handsome and I said "I Do" that the best man in the world was officially unavailable because he was married to me!?!?!?

I have known he was amazing and wonderful all along, but this pregnancy has shown to me an entirely different level of amazing about my husband!

He takes over the Patch when I have appointments (should out to his bosses for letting him! Thanks!)  He has taken over much of the house responsibilities and now officially the bathing of our children (I cannot hang over the tub any more!)

But yesterday he went about and beyond the call of amazing!  I wokr up at 1:30 am with pains in the sides of my belly but did not want to wake him because I wasn't sure if there was a reason to.  But a little before 6 am he heard me and asked what was up.  He ended up making an early morning trip to the store for 7 up!  I finally fell asleep while he was gone and when he returned home he got the kids ready for church and the 3 of them went - leaving me to rest...and I did!  I slept until about 15 mintues before they arrived home - when I found an 'I Love You' card in which he thanked me for being willing to carry our daughter!  Who does that!?!?!?

He made lunch and fed the kids, kept me hydrated through the day, and did other things that really were not his responsibility!  He is Amazing!

Cupcake rewarded him at bed time by moving and kicking him ALOT!  He hadn't felt her move for a while now....so that was fun!

What a blessing my Handsome is!

Exciting News!

Yesterday I had my 30 week appointment and it was all good!  Her hearbeat was still strong in the 150's, bloodpressure was good, everything was good!  And her is the most fun news, I am still measuring close to 3 weeks ahead!  They are not officially changing my due date just 'warning' that she may be here a little earlier than planned.  According to our due date of April 2nd, I am to turn 31 weeks tomorrow....BUT, if I am 3 weeks ahead of that she will be 34 weeks tomorrow!  That means that in 3 weeks she would be considered full term!  I have been wanting her to come on March 27th and for the last 12 weeks it was looking like she wasn't going to hold on that long, but now a February 27th baby could be real!  We are excited that we are getting so close to the time that she can safely come into our world!

In case you are wondering why the 27th, while I do not believe in lucky numbers...27 is a good one for me.  Princess was born on the 27th of her birth month, Sunshine was born 3 month later on the 27th of his birth month.  That alone was good enough that 27 was a good number, however, Cupcake likely came about right around my 27th birthday and will be born while I am still 27....all the more reason that 27 is a good number!  So February or March 27th would be my picks for a baby to be born...we will see if she cooperates! 

Thankful Thursday

Today (and every day) I am thankful for music.  But one hymn in particular has been a blessing and encouragement lately!

It is an old Scandinavian hymn written by the "Fanny Crosby of Sweden," Karolina W. Sandell-Berg.  Lina was born in Frvderyd on October 3rd, 1832, the daughter of Jonas Sandell, pastor of the village's Lutheran church.  Though frail in body, she had a strong spirit, feasting on the artistic, literary, and religious influences of her home life.

But tragedy struck when she was twenty-six.  Lina and her father were enjoying a boat trip on the east coast of Sweden mear Gothenburg when the ship suddenly lurched.  Before her eyes, Rev. Sandell pitched overboard and drowned.  Returning home alone, Lina began processing her grief trhough the Scriptures and expressing her faith in poetry.  Fourteen poems were published that year, 1858, one of which is sung to this day:  Children of the havenly Father / Safely in His bosom gather; / Mestling bird nor star in heaven / Such a refuge e'er was given.

Seven years later, her best-known hymn, "Day by Day," was published.  In it, Lina spoke from personal experience about the daily strength the Lord provides for His struggling children:  Day by day, and with each passing moment, / Strength I find, to meet my trials here; / Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, / I've no cause for worry or for fear.

If you need strength for a particular trial, take this grand old hymn into the day with you, and claim some of the wonderful promises God has given:

* "The LORD is my strenth and song, and He has become my salvation" Exodus 15:2
* "As your days, so shall your strenth be" Deuteronomy 33:25
* "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" Nehemiah 8:10
* "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" Psalm 46:1
* "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength" Isaiah 40:31
* "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" II Corinthians 12:9
* "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13

"Day by Day"

Day by Day and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here. 

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear. 

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Give until each day what He deems best,

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour,

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Councelor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treasure,

Is a charge that on Himself He laid,

"As your days, your strength shall be in measure,"

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in ev'ry tribulation,

So to trust Your promises, O Lord.

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,

Offered me within Your holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E'er to take, as from a Father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whome shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1



With promises like this we have so much to be thankful for!  "Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me / With a special mercy for each hour, / All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me, / He whose name is Councelor and Pow'r." Just one of my favorite parts of this hymn!  The music is so beautiful too though!  I am thankful that we have such a loving, faithful Lord to serve that is in control of each and every moment of the day! 

What are you thankful for today?


*Information and exerpts about the author and her writing of this hymn came from "Then Sings My Soul" but Robert J. Morgan

Trials

I was going to write a post about an ongoing trials that has been facing us since May of 2009, but have since decided that I do not want to be known for someone that complains whenever something doesn't go according to planned! 

There are many things that have been on my mind about how people can get cranky and crabby and take all their frustration out on internet and technology.  Have you ever sat down and read someone's 'status' updates from the last month or more?  What do your 'status' updates relay about you?  I have had my share of grumbling and complaining on FB, but have really tried to turn that around in the last year or so! 

It is really unfortunate the way people use their FB account to manipulate people or talk down people without using names.  I read a status yesterday from a schoolmate of mine who was asking people to at least tag her in their posts if they were going to 'smack talk' her so she could know about it then instead of hearing about it a month later. 

What a coward of a person to talk bad about someone all over the internet and not use names!  My husband taught about the tongue to our 6-11 year old Sunday School class on Sunday.  How it is the most dangerous part of our body.  You see the thing is that what is in your heart and mind will always come out.  If you have wicked thoughts they will come out eventually.  How do you use your tongue?  How do you use your freedom to have access to writing whatever you want on the internet for hundreds/thousands of people to see (yes I do have friends that have thousands of FB 'friends') daily/hourly?  Is it not right to be honorable?  Do you think that it is really pleasing to people to selfishly bash people or talk them down just because it will momentarily make you feel better?  Does it really make you feel better after all?

How often could some of the 'issues' be taken care of if we would truely communicate with people.  Communication can come in many forms.  I believe FB is a wonderful form of communication because you can be in touch with people when it is convenient for you and for them...but instantly at the same time.  There are other forms of getting in touch with people too. 

I have been trying and will continue to try and keep my 'paper trail' free from bashing others or just simply being cranky or grumpy consistantly.  So if this is for no one else it is a reminder to myself that we need to be kind, be respectful, be loving, be friendly and many other positive things!

Thinking Back!

We love where we live!  There are so many fun places to go and beautiful things to see and most are free!  One of our favorite places is the drive up the canyon where you can see a few waterfalls.  This past summer we did that often, because there is also hiking that you can do too!  Well this particular time we went with my mom and Handsome's parents.  I remember feeling 'fat' that day and after looking at pictures thinking my belly was swollen and not being happy because of the hard work I was putting into getting healthy and in shape!  Well looking back that swollen belly was working on growing the smallest little one that is now less than 10 weeks from entering our world!  What a shock it is to look back at pictures from June & July 2010 now and say 'cute, my little belly was swollen due to Cupcake and I didn't even know!"  But then when I looked at the pictures I was just discusted that I wasn't working hard enough or what have you. 

God is good to us in so many ways!  We have our Princess and Sunshine, we are expecting our Cupcake, and still waiting to hear news about our Texas baby!  When the time is right God will allow the 'perfect' birth mommy to find our profile and pick us as her precious babies adoptive family.  But we also are looking at 8 1/2 wonderful years togeter as a married couple.  Meeting some of the greatest friends in the last year and all sorts of other amazing things!  While there are many things that feel like they are falling apart, we feel solid as a family.  Handsome, Mama, Princess, Sunshine, Cupcake, and Texas baby are a solid family that will be together and enjoy life every single day!  That is a blessing! 

Baby Belly to 30 weeks!

 14 weeks

 15 weeks

 16 weeks

 17 weeks

 20 weeks

 21 weeks

 22 weeks

23 weeks 

 24 weeks

 25 weeks

 28 weeks

 29 weeks

30 weeks!

The Beauty

I have to say that I am rather enjoying winter this year!  In know, I know, all you Minnesota family and friends probably want to throw your frozen tomatos at me or something for saying that since your actual temps today were negative 20-30 degrees!  But I work at home (a blessing) and have been excused from shoveling duty (thanks Cupcake!) and it has been beautiful.  Now while we have had over 40 inches of snow, it usually melts in between our 6-12 inch falls!  We are looking to get another system this weekend that should bring us something (they say 3-6, but I am guessing it will be more because it usually is!) good and this is fine by me.  I have only had one snow day with work and that has been okay too! 

This picture is from last February, we did have snow on the ground but the thick frost on EVERYTHING made it all beautiful!  I am a crazy and would really have a difficult time moving somewhere where we would not get the chance to experience all four seasons.  Fall is my favorite, but they all have their own beauty.  God knew what He was doing when creating the seasons, He gave them to us to celebrate the beauty in each one!

I enjoy winter, I enjoy snow, and I enjoy the excitment of my own two children plus the Pumpkins with each time beautiful snow starts falling from the sky.  What do you enjoy about winter?

Disclaimer~ However, if Cupcake decides to come in the middle of one of our no travel PERIOD 3 foot Spring snows I might have a different outlook....but that would only last a little while!  8-) 

Thankful Thursday

I have been having a difficult time this week trying to decide just what I was going to write about today.  We all have SOOOO many things to be thankful for and it is difficult to pick just ONE!  But I think that I am going to be thankful for Facebook this week!

I know this is crazy, I do not always love FB and there are times I do not even like it.  But there are a handful of ladies I do not live close to that FB helps me stay in touch with!  What a blessing to be in immediate contact with a friend from Washington State that I (up until last month) hadn't seen since college to hear her good news, and trust me she has had some GREAT news over the past few months!  Or another friend from the other side of the state who is a Mama to one little girl and expecting her second that is very godly and always an encourager!  I also know she will be finding out big news on the 10th of February and sweet little FB will help to get that news out!  It also is how 2 of the 3 wonderful ladies that did fundraisers for our adoption found out that we were adopting again and in need of financial help!  Or just simply some of my good friends from college/the past that are spread through the country!  New York, Indiana, Missouri...etc. etc.!

There are also family members that do not live anywhere close to me, yet I am able to 'shoot them a note' as quickly as I want to just because!  Or when you have cousins serving overseas (or friends) and you can stay in touch with them and keep up with them to know they are safe and sound!

FB was also a great encouragement while I was on my diet, I was open about my weight and it was a great place to be accountable. 

Now, I know that there have not always been the best of outcomes through FB....but I have learned you do not have to have the most friends on FB but have the friends that matter!  It was a big lesson to learn!  But when people are only being cruel and critical they are really not 'friends'! 

So today I am thankful for the technology that FB is!  I am thankful for a place to go and see friends with encouraging scriptures or quotes on their status, or being able to just stay in touch!  I enjoy being able to stay in touch via FB!

Milk

Milk ~ liquid gold (though gas is becoming more of liquid gold) ~ but I have always thought of milk as such.  I love milk, I grew up on a farm and we were never without milk!  Going away to college I didn't have as much milk as I did growing up at home and that was a problem for me, but it helped set the pace for married life without a ton of money.  When we first got married we literally lived paycheck to paycheck and didn't usually have alot left over.  So we would buy milk because it is important to the body, but we only were allowed some on our cereal (if we had cereal) and a glass at the evening meal.  None of this ~ drink all you want ~ stuff! 

Then kids entered the picture, and while I do not let my children drink all the milk they want, it is important to their growing bodies too...so we started having a little more around.  Now I have a daycare and so we have a little more than that around.  Until Sunday. 

Being in my 3rd trimester I have not exactly had the most ambission in the world and when my day at the Patch is finished I am pretty well tired so getting to the store isn't something that happens like it should sometimes, but if we are getting low on milk that is usually insentive enough ~ LIQUID GOLD!~  However, in the midst of another busy weekend some how we managed to drink the last of the milk on Sunday night and I was not able to get out and get some before work on Monday.  Then Monday we had plans so we went two entire days without the beloved liquid gold.  This is terrible, I know, and being pregnant my body needs that milk.  Having a daycare we NEED that around!  So when we finally made it to the store we bought 4 gallons!!!  I feel like I am trying to make up for lost time and am enjoying greatly going to the fridge several times a day for a glass!

Not the most important post in the world....but liquid gold is an amazing thing and I can promise that unless it happens while I am giving birth to Cupcake, we will not be running out of milk any time in the near future! 

A quote and my thoughts...

"One woman will brag about her children, while another complains about hers; they could probably swap children without swapping tunes"

I found this quote (without author noted) and it really hit home to me.  I have always tried very hard not to sound like a mother complaining about my children.  Have I failed, YES, but I try each day to be ONLY thankful for my children and where we are.  Do I complain about other things, more than I should...but why would I complain about one of the top three most amazing gifts God has blessed me with?

I know many women who have very little good to say about being a mother, or sharing the experience with their spouse.  Is being a mother hard, YES!  It is probably one of the most difficult hats I have to wear.  But it is amazing, and I find it amazing how God has pieced our family together in His most perfect way!  Now I know I have complained of situations before, but what do you hear fairly new mothers complain about out of the gates? 

"I am so tired, this child wakes up for nightly feedings and I cannot sleep."  I always found the night time feedings a blessing.  The house is quiet, the lights are dim, and there are no distractions and absolutely nothing else for me to be doing but feeding that precious baby.  I find this true of all my babies, even our foster babies, I have never minded getting up for that precious bonding time no matter what the hour.

"Changing diapers is for the birds, those blow outs are the worst."  Here, I do tend to say that it isn't the most pleasant thing in the world to do...but having two children that struggled to go 'stinky' more than once a week as little ones I was always relieved when they would go...no matter how the outcome showed itself.  Pleasant, no, but you had to know this was bound to happen when you started thinking about having children.

These are just a couple of things that I hear often even at baby showers when the blissful expectant mother is 'getting advise' from the already 'experienced' parents.  It makes me sad that such things have to be brought into that precious happiness that expecting your first baby brings!

Now I am getting to experience a new level of parenthood.  Both of my children to this point are adopted, because I was 'pre-menopausal' (however  you spell it) and would not have any children after our 4th miscarriage.  God prooved Himself to be still in the miracle business when in August of 2010 we discovered we were expecting!  As I sit here now we are at 29 weeks and still doing well!  You hear many women with a vast number of complaints about pregnancy.  Here is another place I try very hard not to complain...this is a blessing, I know MANY people that would do almost anything to be in the state I am in right now.  They wouldn't be caring about how much the scale has changed in 7 months or that they waddle everywhere they walk or they are not sleeping all the way through the night or that they cannot fit into 'normal' clothing or how uncomfortable they are or all the other things you often hear from pregnant women.  Here again, I have tried very hard to not complain...have I failed, most likely, but my desire is to be thankful for this pregnancy that God has blessed me with.  It has been exciting to get to experience the amazingness of a baby growing inside of my womb and feeling the kicks, and while my pregnancy hasn't been a bed of roses, even that has been somewhat exciting.  We have had something like 7 ultrasounds since 6 weeks, 5 days and our last being just two weeks ago.  I get to have at least one more before she is born too! 

So going back to that quote, what kind of a mother do you want to be.  If I were to constantly complain about my children, now that they are 4 years old, they would be hearing that and what would that do to them?  Not only that, but what does it do to the people you are complaining to?  Do they have children of their own?  Do they not?  Are they having trouble having children and are sitting there thinking 'lady if only you knew how much I would love to take your children off your hands and love on them' because of what they have been through?  Our words strike farther than we think sometimes, and when dealing with such a precious gift as children we need to watch what we say....not only for ourselves, but for our children and people around us!

2010 in Pictures ~ Our Sunshine!

 West River Birthday Party!

 Painting his ice cream bowl for Valentines Day!

 Playing in the snow

 Friends birthday party in March

 Spring pictures

 New bikes in April!

 Annual Mother's Day pictures in May!

 Swimming at the Patch in May

 I love his many faces!

 Riding the 1880 Train with Mama!

 Dancing with Mama

 4th of July parade (Cool Dude!)

 Wild bowler at Sissy's birthday!

 Visiting the fire station

 Family pictures in October

Getting spoiled at Grandpa and Grandmas for Chritmas!

2010 in Pictures ~ Princess Style!

 Some months I couldn't pick just one!

 Playing in the snow in February!

 Nice Spring pictures in March!

 The kids got their bikes in April!

 Dance recital in May

 Annual Mother's Day pictures in May!

 Roughlock Falls in June....family time!

 Helped Mama make carmel rolls in July!

 4th of July parade!

 4th Birthday Pictures!

 Still talking Daddy into doing the 'Daddy Dance' in October!

 Family pictures in October!

 Our dancing Princess!

Getting spoiled at Grandma and Grandpa's for Christmas!

Thankful Thursday

"Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."  John 10:25-30

I am thankful the Jesus died on the cross and did not stay dead!  He is alive!  He was resurrected!  I am thankful that he really made it so easy to trust in Him and to be part of His flock!  I think sometimes Christians take for granted the life Christ has opened for us through salvation in Him.  Do you realize that once you make the decision to put your trust in Him forever that He has adopted you?  By today's standards when you adopt a child the state would have a more difficult time taking that adopted child away from you than if you had birthed them, that puts a larger relationship between you and your Savior than that of you and any other human being on earth!  What will you do with this blessed relationship? 

I will be thankful for it and strive daily to grow that relationship! 

Homemade Orange Julius!

My sister-in-law shared this with me about 8 years ago and it has stayed a favorite treat in our home!

1/2 can orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup mik
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
10 ice cubes

Blend on ice crush for 10-15 seconds!

Enjoy!

January 3rd!

On this day 9 years ago my Handsome proposed and I said YES!  What a fun 9 years it has been committed to you Handsome!  God has brought us through many tough times, but He has also richly blessed us.  I cannot put into words how thankful I am to have such a rock in my life!  Every day is an adventure but I know every day this man is going to be the leader of our home and a godly example to our family!  What a ride to have such an amazing man to walk through life with! 

Thank you for choosing me Handsome!  Thank you for loving me!  Thank you for becoming the best friend I always wanted....thank you for being YOU!

In 7 months and 7 days we will celebrate our 9th Anniversary...I still think it was so special of you to calculate the time between engagement and wedding day (yes, we had our wedding day picked out before he asked me to marry him...but my dad is a farmer, and we needed to make sure to plan around hay cuttings!) and how perfect, 7 months and 7 days!

While your attention to little details like that is not the same as it was then, we have added a few other details to our lives since then.  I look forward to each and every day that I get to spend with you.  You are an amazing husband and the best Daddy!  While I see you with Princess and Sunshine every day, I look forward to welcoming our cupcake into our family with you in just a few months!

I still say YES! 

Love you HANDSOME!