God's Perfect Plan...

Just some observations...

In the past year people who do not know Chris and I well have commented on the fact that we "still act like newlyweds". Actually, we don't. At least not like we used to. We made the mistake that many couples make and believed we would be happy because we were in love with each other. After many, MANY difficult years we reached a turning point in our marriage. The reason Chris and I act so in love with each other is because we are so in love with Jesus. The reason we act like newlyweds is because we know where we've been and we know where God has led us and we are so grateful to Him that we strive to do what He commanded us to and that is to glorify Him through our marriage. We are truly blessed.

When Chris and I are out without our other children numerous people have asked us if the baby I'm carrying is our first. Nope, but it never, NEVER gets old for us. Through fertility problems and miscarriages we have learned to celebrate and embrace every second with have with our children from conception on. Sometimes we only have a few weeks, even days to enjoy our children here on earth and that is okay. We are always saddened by our loss, but we are so thankful that God holds all our children in His hands. We can see clearly the gift God has given Chris and I and that is a true understanding that our children belong to God.

Maybe I'm just getting older and maybe wisdom does indeed come from age. I know it took me longer to grasp these truths than God would have wanted. I could have been spared myself and others so much sorrow and pain if I had listened more closely to His voice and truths from the beginning. All I know now is that I should have rejoiced in the midst of every trial because God was with me, molding me and shaping me and teaching me truths that will help to sustain me in future trials. Now I just need to remember to read this post when the next trial hits! :D

Two Interesting Questions...

Z's Question: "Mom, are you emailing Jesus?"

M's Question: "Why are you using a picture of praying hands instead of praying knees?"

The Promised Land...

"They went to the promise land. The land of milk and honey. And cake and ice-cream!"
-Z

Why Z Had Time-Out...

Me: Will you two please stop being so loud and calm down!
Z: Will you please stop interrupting us to tell us to calm down!

Funny Story I Keep Forgetting...

Late in my 1st trimester I went to Target and there was a woman there who had already finished her shopping. She struck up a conversation with me and finally asked when I was due. I told her and she asked if I would do her a favor. She told me that she had turned fifty last year and her husband had made a huge deal about her being older than he was and "over the hill". So she had thought of a perfect present for him and she was hoping I could help her out. I was a bit confused until she pulled a pregnancy test out of her bag! So I went in the ladies room, peed on the stick and gave it back to her. Can you imagine the look on his face when he opened his "gift"??? Still makes me laugh!!! :D

Housing Update...

God provided some temporary housing near Chris's office right on the bus line. Small, but with 2 bedrooms. It will make it possible for Chris to bus so I can have the car 5 days a week. It will work out just fine. We are hoping to close on the house by mid-August, but it is what it is. We can deal with it:D Thanks for all your prayers. Hopefully the next update I type will just be a closing date!

True Contentment...

Well, we are officially going to be homeless as of June 30th. Today we rented a storage unit to hold all our worldly possessions. Z walked into that 10x10 storage unit and asked Chris (in a very excited voice), "Is this our new house?" What a wonderful example of true contentment and a good reminder of how blessed we truly are.

Why I Love My Husband...I Think...

I got pregnant right after we took the kids to see Madagascar 2. After I started showing Chris would grin at me and say, "Baby, you huge!" which is the pick-up line the one hippo uses to hit on the other hippo. I just rolled my eyes at him, but I was usually grinning. Probably would've gotten old pretty quick, but luckily Chris saw a commercial for the new Ice Age movie and the one mammoth hits on the other mammoth. So now he keeps grinning at me and saying,
"Round is foxy!" Lucky for him I'm still laughing:D

Good Advice...

My kids and I have a rhyme to remind us that we should be grateful for what we get. Today M and I were discussing whether the baby will be a girl or a boy and I reminded him that "we get what we get and we don't throw a fit". M's response?

"Or we get what we get and we don't throw it. That would work, too!"

Good advice indeed...

Name That Tune...

M (singing): "Risky for my men, but not for the horses!"
Z: "No! Its whiskers for my men, beards for my horses!"

Can anyone name the country song they were singing along to? :D

Lilly's Prayer/Science Lesson...

Lilly offered to pray during Sunday school today...

Dear Jesus-Thank you for this day and night. Thank you for the food you provide for us that we grow, pick, cook and serve. Thank you for the insects like the bumblebees that gather pollen to make us honey. And thank you for the birds that fly in the sky except the penguin who doesn't. And thank for the mammals, like the ones with long necks like giraffes and the ones with long trunks like the elephants. And thank you for the things in the ocean like fish and sharks and turtles that come up on land to lay their eggs, but swim in the ocean sometimes, too. And thank you for all our friends and cousins. Amen.

Jon And Kate...

Okay, I watched the show a few times. The kids are cute as a button. Jon seems like a fairly decent father when he's around (the episodes I've seen he is mostly at work, but I think that's because they mostly took place during the day). Kate is...well, in my opinion she does not show her husband the respect he deserves as her husband and the father of her children. Plus she kinda needs to chill out a little. I was reading that this show has a following of mostly married women with young children, so women like me, but I am just out. I'm not reading anything more about the show or the couples private lives. I am praying for the children (especially the older two) who are now living out their parents alleged problems in full view of the gossip world. And I am trying hard not to be judgmental of parents whose first decision for their children seems to be to place them under a microscope for the world to see. So no Jon and Kate for us, gossip or otherwise. I wish you the best with your very busy household and do sincerely believe that you love your beautiful children. Good luck to you both!

Clara's Mommy Get's Married...

*This is a true story. Clara is 5 years old and her mommy is getting remarried. Clara is the flower girl.

Scene: The bridesmaids have just finished making their way down the aisle, cue the flower girl. Clara enters wearing her fancy new dress.

Step...step...sprinkle flowers...smile at nearest guest..."I'm throwing flowers 'cause I'm the flower girl"...step...step...sprinkle flowers...smile at nearest guest..."See my new dress? I'm the flower girl"...step...step...sprinkle flowers...smile at nearest guest..."My mommy's getting married. I'm the flower girl"...

(Flower girl finally makes it to the end of the aisle. Guest are grinning, but have managed to control themselves so far.) Clara looks in her basket and then turns it upside down and begins to pound on the bottom of basket to make good and sure that the basket contains no stray petals. A few guests chuckle. Bridesmaid gently moves Clara to her position. Music changes and crowd stands to watch the bride make her way down the aisle. Bride reaches the front of the church, organ stops, guests begin to sit and flower girl grins at bride and yells.

"MOMMY!!! YOU LOOK JUST LIKE GETTIN' MARRIED BARBIE!!!"

Groom cracks up.