Ch-Ch-Changes

In the next few days I am going to figure out how to archive all of my old posts and start over. I don't want to switch to a new blog name so I'll be doing some experimenting.
I want to get back to the original purpose of this blog AND hold myself accountable to things I want to change around here.
I'm hoping that I will be able to keep this updated more as well.
Anyway, just an FYI! :)
Be Blessed!

What to post!?!?

Well, I started on Thursday to post about our adoption day. We celebrated but the weeks leading up to it were hard and very personal. The struggles we have encountered with one of our children has really been at the front and center of our lives lately. Before it was just an occasional disruption. Lately it's an everyday disruption. I deleted that post because some who would have read it would not have understood it. I don't know that the relationship with this child will ever be fully restored. It was that bad. But we are praying through it. God works everything together for the good.

Yesterday I tried to find quotes or excerpts about front porches. Thus, all the front porch pictures. I must have really stunk at that search because I could not find anything. Please feel free to add some in the comments section if you know some.

It was just a front porch kind of day yesterday. I spent it in the house sick as a dog, but it was beautiful outside. :)

Then I was reading about some people who are facing or still facing unemployment. I thought, "Oh, I will talk about how we have survived over two years of unemployment." Then, I realized that some of my suggestions were kind of personal and I better check with my husband before I post them. So, later on this week I will post about our journey through this wilderness.

So there you have it. A whole lot of nothing. But hey, I posted. :) I guess you could just enjoy the pictures?

Be Blessed!

Random thoughts about family size

When I was a young girl I knew I wanted to grow up, get married, have lots of babies and stay home. Sometime around my highschool/college years I decided I wanted to homeschool them. I always have other careers lined up for when people asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up. In my heart though, I knew, I wanted a family. I don't remember when exactly, but I did at one point decide I wanted 10 children. People, mostly my family who knew me all too well, scoffed. I actually have one aunt who loves to tell me how amazed she is at the responsible person I turned out to be. LOL I was just not a responsible hard working child. I was not. People are always commenting on what great people we are for adopting all these kids. Should I tell them it was all part of my plan? LOL Don't get me wrong I KNOW it was all God's plan, but well, I had to get the desire from someplace right?? I was so excited to find out that Lily was on her way. You see, we have run into some issues that might mean we never step onto that adoption train again. I'm not writing that in stone because God is truly the author of our story, but we would definitely pray long and hard about it. It's always been in the back of my mind that I would not mind adopting again, but it would be with much caution. The fun part was the fact that everyone was so accepting and excited about our pregnancy. I remember at one point looking at my DH and telling him that if we ever found we were expecting again we should be prepared for some reservations from some people. No, I'm not expecting right now, but it's never far from my thoughts. I hear some sad, sad stories from some of my friends online. People who are afraid to even tell grandparents because of the reaction they usually get. Grandparents. That is so sad. While, my mom might not necessarily agree with our decision regarding family size she has never been anything less than thrilled to welcome another grandchild. I would love to have another baby. I think that we will someday. God gave me Gideon's name for a reason. I have some other girl names I would love to use as well. A boy or two after Gideon would have some fantastic names from my list. :) I'll admit part of me really hopes that God waits until Roy has a job. Then, he did provide so that we had minimal debt from Lily's birth. We are still paying for her birth, but God has provided. A big part of me would love to see Roy get a good job soon and God bless us again soon after. Jonathan is 4.5 years older than Lily I would really love for her to have some closer in age siblings. Plus as hard as it is I think it's cute to see two or three little people around the same age running around together. LOL, yes, I do have everything together so well that I think three or four kids under age five would be fun. Right. Not fun. Cute. :) Well, I guess I will close the random file for tonight. Be Blessed!!

Cleaning up

I have been thinking for awhile of cleaning my blog up some. I have been blogging for awhile. I love looking back and seeing how I have grown and changed. It's also been a source of serious conviction in some areas. This past winter as I was dealing with being allergic to winter I read through some posts and realized that what was missing in my life was my passion. I used to be so passionate about my duties here at home.
I feel that passion coming back and I am so excited!
I don't yet know what I'll be changing around here.
I guess we'll all just have to wait and see!

Be Blessed!

FYI

I am doing some cleaning up around here. If you see all the blogs in my sidebar disappear it's only temporary.. I promise! :)
Nesting on the blog.
Be Blessed!

Still Here

I'm still around. Just nesting. Getting ready for baby. She will be here in just a few short weeks. (Yes, I heard that chuckle from your experienced birthers out there.. "she said short!" snicker, snort, snicker)
To me time is just flying right now. I have two Dr appts a week, a busy household that just keeps going, baby showers, an upcoming vacation, dance recitals, end of the year parties... it seems my calendar just keeps filling up with fun things.
I know it could and probably will all slow down in the next few weeks. I am already starting to feel the awkwardness and tiredness and lack of overall energy. It slows me down for about an hour in the afternoon and at night I have to go to bed earlier. Although I get up every few hours to go to the bathroom and I have discovered I have to wake up to roll over. LOL Not a lot of good sleep there.
It's all good though. Lily is doing AWESOME! She is in the 61st percentile growth wise.. PERFECT! My health is amazing! God is so good!
I hope all my friends are doing well!
Be Blessed!

It's an obsession

I am obsessed with pink right now. No kidding. Pink! And if it's pink and polka-dotty.. BE STILL MY HEART! It's quiet pathetic really. Growing up I was not a girly girl. NOT A LITTLE BIT! But now as the mommy of girls... I love pink!

On my registry I even declared that Miss Lily's favorite color is pink. This poor child. She will be in pink until she is at least five. I can already see it. Seriously. It's an addiction. I need help!!

Thankfully my girls are ok with pink. They don't really wear it but they don't oppose it either. I hate seeing their tastes emerge.. LOL Just kidding. I love seeing their tastes emerge. But it does seem the girlier I get the girlier they are not. I think it's an act of rebellion. :)

Anyways, since I don't know what to write about I thought I would share my passion for pink. I'm sure you all are glad you clicked on this blog today. I'm sure you had NOTHING better to do then to read about the scary pink lady. I promise to one day be back to my old stir the pot, troublemaking self. Someday. Maybe. :)

Be Blessed!

Where am I?

I don't know what is up with all the bloggy breaks. I have just not had much to write about. Well, or wanted to write about. LOL We had a great weekend with friends over Easter. They have a big yard and my kids played outside ALL DAY! Oh yeah. I am so moving out of this subdivision. Look for the moving sign after Lily is born. :)

I am experimenting with couponing. I did pretty good but then my perfectionism kicked in and I have stalled. What is up with that? I am going to work on it some today and hit some stores tomorrow I think. The first time was a lot of fun and I look forward to getting better at it.

Miss Lily seems to be doing well. I have another ultrasound next week. In May I go weekly for scans and Non Stress Tests. We are hoping to sneak out of town at the end of May and stay in my mom's condo in Orlando. The Florida homeschool convention is that weekend so we might head to that while we are there. I have always wanted to go and check it out.

Well that's about all I have.

Be Blessed!

Randomness

I have been lacking in motivation lately. Motivation to do anything. I don't know what it is. I am glad to say that we got a whole week of school done last week. We are almost to the third week in January. *Sigh* My house is... mediocre clean. Nothing to write home about. My kids have spent hours watching videos. Hours. It's quiet ridiculous. Even my Bible time has seemed to be lacking lately. I read through a chapter mumble some words of prayer and go on. I just want out of this rut.
I'm still waiting for that miraculous burst of energy that is supposed to come in the 2nd trimester. Anyone seen it? Could you send it my way?

Someone mentioned the other day that all the states had snow. Not in my part of the state. *Sigh* I would like snow. It was cold and rainy all day yesterday but the snow just went on it's merry way. We saw it on the weather map yesterday heading out to sea. Oh well. We had fun. A day at the museum. We were supposed to be cleaning the beach for our Give a Day/Get a Day Disney tickets, but the beach was not the ideal place to be yesterday. The museum, however, was. I hope the guy is able to reschedule us the kids were looking forward to it.

I have been busy planning Karly's sixth grade year to start in September. Yeah. My poor little guinea pig. I have no idea how it's going to work out, but we will jump in with both feet and see where we land.

I signed up for a Bradley Birthing class starting in April. I don't know. I'm super nervous. I will most likely be induced before 40 weeks. I have heard the horror stories of induced child birth. Does not sound like a ton of fun. Bradley, for those who don't know, is a natural childbirth method. Teaching you how to let your body do it's job and not fight the contractions. I have heard that contractions from induction are a lot worse then regular contractions. I am going to the Bradley classes to try to empower myself. We'll see.

Next week we go for another sonogram. There will also be a fetal echo cardiogram. So far her heart has sounded great at my weekly OB appts. I just hope that it looks great as well. They will also be checking her organs and other stuff. I pray everything is where it should be and working properly.

Well, that's my random update. I hope you all are doing well.

Be Blessed!

Welcome

One of the things I like best about having these new floors is that I feel free to open my home again. As I cleaned today and made a salad for some friends coming over for lunch I thought of how much I enjoy just inviting a friend over.
I stirred the lemon aide and hummed a merry little tune. I'm grateful for friends. I'm grateful for a home I can invite friends to share with me.
I need to do it more often. I really do enjoy the feeling of opening my home.

Be Blessed!

Home Again, Home Again

I had another quick trip out of town. This time to welcome into the world a new baby. My oldest and best friend became a real grandmother this past weekend for the first time. Because she was a lot like a mom to me growing up my kids call her Grandma Karen. But this baby is a part of her oldest son.
I was thrilled to be there in the waiting room at 3am Friday morning. I loved being there around noon time yesterday when baby and mama came home. I got to snuggle with her for awhile yesterday.
Children surely are a blessing from the Lord! I can not wait for our promised baby. I know it's all in the Lord's timing, but oh how impatient I get sometimes.
For now I will just rejoice with others as they welcome their little ones and I will pray faithfully that the Lord will open my womb up soon!

Be Blessed!

I'm sure I have a post in here somewhere...

with pictures and everything. I just don't know what it is.
We are at a pretty busy time in life. Sick family members. Sick car/no car. Home education discoveries that are turning my well laid plans upside down. Relying on God for everything.
My children are happily playing with their cooking stuff while the real dinner is heating up.
Peace is coming to our home through conviction.
Lots and lots of stuff I can't wait to share, but my brain is too confused right now.
And of course there is the small problem of not knowing where my download cord is at the moment. That would be helpful.

What are you up to as we near the end of July? Are you already looking to Christmas? What about to the year beyond? Are you enjoying these last lazy days of summer?

Be Blessed!

Preachers I enjoy hearing

My preacher's wife told me sometime back that when her kids were growing up they listened to preacher's on the radio a lot. They are both grown now and both have relayed to her how much they learned from that.

I decided to make that a habit around here as well. First was the quest to find good solid preaching. WOW! There is a lot out there.

Sermonaudio is my favorite place on the web.

Especially since... this guy joined! WOOHOO!

Another favorite, when I am wanting to get hit between the eyes with a 2x4, which is often a lot more than you would think... LOL is this inspired man of God

I am sad to say that even as a Southern Baptist born and bred I was not very familiar with this man until my favorite preacher Voddie Baucham began to talk about him. Now, I am just thrilled with his sermons.

I like this man, and this man, and this man as well.

The great thing about sermonaudio is the awesome line up of preaching from classic preachers that they have.

George Whitfield

E.M. Bounds

C.H. Spurgeon

and so many more! We put someone on while we clean or for our quiet times in the morning. I like to listen some more at night while I am buttoning up the house. When it's quiet time in the afternoon I will often play a sermon or two.

So many ways to get in the good preaching. I hope you all can find some time to enjoy them as well.

Be Blessed!

Through this season

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1

As I grow older the above verse makes more and more sense to me. I understand the different seasons of my life a little bit more.

As the mother of children ranging in ages of 3-12 I realize that I am at a very unique season of life.

As the wife of a man with parents in their 70s I understand that this season is a time of selflessness.

The sandwich generation is what they are calling it. Adults who are caring not only for the needs of their own children, but also taking care of ailing parents.

This past week Dh and I experienced this in a whole new way. My father in law had hip replacement surgery so we loaded up our kids and our van and left on Thursday night. He had some complications so when we got there he'd been moved from his rehab back to the hospital. Fortunately my SIL, a CNA, was staying with his mother during this time so she was able to tell us about the complication and everything that went with it. In the end it turned out to be pretty minor and he was sent back to rehab on Friday.
Friday we took my SIL to the airport and it was game on for our family. We were left to care for my MIL. It was a very trying weekend and on Sunday Dh sent the kids and I home for a day or two of respite. I spent all day Monday in prayer and asking for prayer from others. I also started the second half of our school year. I knew due to certain circumstances that I would be able to successfully school at my in laws home on Wed. and Thurs. So instead of postponing everything I went ahead and started.
Tuesday afternoon I loaded the kids and the car back up and headed back down ready to be a better helpmeet to my husband.



The next few days were hard, but Roy and I had a couple of opportunities to share Jesus with my MIL. I was given new insight into the absolute utter lostness of man apart from Jesus that has completely changed my heart. With God's help I made it to Friday before I snapped and only just a little bit. My kids were able to see what a difference our home is to a lost person's home. They were also given opportunity to serve and honor their grandparents.
Through all the downs and downs God sustained us and made us stronger with every passing day. He gave my FIL healing in such a sense that we were able to return home as a family on Friday after he got out of rehab.
God has also given us some new decisions to make. One is whether we will be moving closer to them. They are only about 3.5 hours away right now, but that is still a hoof with a van full of kids. Also with a home of our own down there I believe we would be better able to minister to them physically and spiritually without neglecting our small children.
Roy is not really sure yet this is the direction he wants to take. It was hard on him the last few days. He is praying through the possibility. Me? My bags are packed. But then that's why I married a Mr. Steady to keep me from making rash moves.
In the end I realize I could have been more gracious and had more of a servant's heart. I am so thankful that God is teaching me through all of this. I am starting to see my theme for the year run it's way through this part of my life. The theme of choosing joy and letting go of my happiness. Maybe that's what the first half of the year was about. Getting me to this place where I can easily say that yes, moving closer to them is an option. An option I would be open to and sincerely content with.

Who knows where God is taking us this time. LOL

Be Blessed!

Thoughts and Musings

We were out of town for the better part of last week. We went and visited with my inlaws for a few days and then hopped over to Tampa to visit my husbands best friend and his family. It was a busy but joyful week.

Karly has her schoolwork caught up. A huge deal around here. We are ready on Thursday to start June. WOOHOO! I won't tell you that I just decided to move all of May to June and just pick up there. LOL I really do love homeschooling.

Roy went for a test for a job on last Tuesday. Please say prayers that it all works out. He is very excited about this prospect and I pray with my whole heart that this is it for him. He really feels that God is leading him in this certain direction and is trying to be obedient. Of course it would mean major life adjustments for our family, but hey, I'm all for it if my husband is loving what he is doing.

We have our yearly used curriculum sale Saturday. I look forward to this all year. I am so lame. LOL It's so much fun pouring over the curriculum and finding that treasure. You know, like last year Saxon 5/4 the whole package brand new for $24.00. No lie! Or how about Keeping Your Child's Heart by the Maxwells for $1.00. A book I have come to love and treasure. Of course occasionally I walk out with a dud or something I end up not using but for a few dollars a piece it's not a huge loss. Of course God always sends someone my way that I can bless with my oops purchases.

Potty training. Stubborn. Do I need to say more? "Jonathan, you can't play the Wii until you are potty trained. You have to be a big boy." "Ok," he says cheerfully. Ask him if he wants to play the Wii. "No, not til after potty trained," he replies and then goes on his merry way. Seriously?

"Jonathan, you can't spend the night with grandma. She does not like changing diapers." "Ok, I wait," he replies with a grin. *Sigh* I do so love this little boy though!

Anyway, just a glimpse into the everyday chaos that I call life. Hope you are all well.

Be Blessed!

When daddy is home we...

take impromptu trips to the zoo!
This giraffe walked right up to us.. until he figured out we weren't going to pay to feed him. So he stormed off. Ok, not really but it sounded good.

Adrian, asked me to take this picture with him and Jonathan. After 30 minutes of trying to get them up there both boys were like, "Hot, sweaty, are we done?" Cute pic, huh?

This is my girly girl. LOL Seriously. But today she had the urge to climb and swing. See daddy's strong arms in the background ready to catch?

Yes, my children, please dip your fingers into the dirty water. I will take the picture to remind me of you after you catch swine flu.

Just stand still! I don't care if you smile! This is the entrance to the new Asian garden. It was really quiet lovely.

Come on, I have this new camera and I must take pictures. This is the third attempt with this picture. This is by the lotus pond. Then you cross The Bridge of the Weeping Tree (or something like that) and leave the Lotus behind to venture onto the Koi pond. Thrilling.

I cracked up when I looked at this picture. Can you see the pained expression on Tamara's face? You would never know it was overcast by the squints and glares I was getting.

Mom, why are you taking pictures of flowers? Hush, it's my camera! I thought these hydrangeas were pretty and they made me think of my sister in law who loves hydrangeas. Plus, they did not squint, glare, move, or complain when I took the picture.

Blurry, but oh so worth it. I love the look of pure delight. Apparently she did not know I was taking the picture. Thus the smile.

My spider monkey. He wanted me to take a picture of him and I Am Speed (Lightening McQueen) in the spider web. "Ha, Ha, that's punny, mommy!"

Can you tell they are holding hands? Ha, Ha, caught ya! You do love each other. The other picture I had was too blurry. And check out those clouds. It was still to be another hour and a half before it rained. Although the lightening crackling above us made us move pretty quickly towards the parking lot.

More pretty flowers that preened and curtsied as I took their picture. Thank you flowers for allowing me to play with my camera today.

As we left the zoo I had to snap this picture. Still no rain, but we half expected to see our first funnel cloud. Look at the sun trying to break through though. I thought it was a beautiful ending to a beautiful day.

Be Blessed!

Someday...

I have decided! One day I will look out my window and see trees that look like this! I will know what a crisp Autumn day feels like, smells like, looks like.

I will don my long sleeve orange shirt, my brown corduroy skirt, my brown tights and brown walking boots and listen to the leaves crunch beneath my feet. At night my children and I will snuggle under quilts (homemade of course) in front of the fire and eat popcorn while daddy reads to us or we just reminisce about the day.

Someday...

When Christmas comes around I will look at my window and see this! I will ponder the beauty as I heat up the hot chocolate. I will listen to my family laughing around the puzzle or board game for the evening. We will share hot chocolate and cookies before bed, while laughing over the day that was.

During the day we will sled down the hill (ok they will.. Im a big chicken). I will clap my gloved hands and shout with joy and glee as they tumble over into the soft snow. I will be in a sweater. OH! I can't wait to wear sweaters. I love sweaters. (Hand knit of course!) We will stomp back into the house. As the older children get the younger children undressed, I will make some more hot chocolate. We will have soup that has simmered all morning and sandwhiches for lunch.

Someday....

A girl who has lived her whole love in FL can dream can't she? ;)

Be Blessed!

Christmas Happenings

I have not been around lately. So much to do. I can't believe Christmas is already here. I'm really not ready. Can you believe I am actually venturing out tomorrow to finish up my Christmas shopping? The last Saturday before Christmas and I am going out. UGGG!
We just got back from a great anniversary trip to Atlanta. Yep. Eight years now. It's been great. I remember when we went on our honeymoon. I spent the drive time addressing our first Christmas cards. I was so excited to sign my new last name. I remember everything was magical. It was a lot different going back with five kids. LOL
I got to meet an online friend and her family which was a lot of fun. I will upload the pictures from our trip soon... ok, well it might be after Christmas! :)

As I rushed off to dance practice with the girls last night I thought about the fact that we have not even taken time to drive around and look at Christmas lights. That's one of my all time favorite holiday traditions. I will remedy that soon. Maybe Monday or Sunday night. Tuesday night we will be going to my mom's to open presents. Wednesday night we will go to my granny's for the big family get together. We will probably leave after that to go to my inlaws house in Central Florida. Christmas day will be spent there and probably most of the next day.

Tonight the girls are dancing at a nursing home, then we will go to my mom's church for a Christmas party, then to my friend's house for our church Christmas party. Yes, I really do plan on accomplishing all of that. LOL

I hope you are all well. I will post once more before Christmas!!

Be Blessed!

She comes back with this??

Ok so I have been away for over a week and I come back with this! I had to laugh at it though because it is so true. I still think about all my old boyfriends all the time. Not in a bad way, just sentimental like.

I have watched all the Jane Austen movies I can online on Netflix this week and put the ones I could not on my que. I'm just in one of those old fashioned romance type moods. LOL

Your Love Life is Like Casablanca

"Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time." For you, love is never finished. If you've loved someone once, you'll always love them. You're an old fashioned romantic... even if your relationships don't end up as romantic as you'd like. Your love style: Traditional and understated Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Complicated and ambiguous

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

Grumpy..

I am so grumpy today. I'm not 100 percent sure why. My kids have been very trying this past week. The older girls will work on corrections today and the younger ones will watch a video. I will probably crash on the couch...
Oh yeah, I will do some reading with the younger kids. I try to do phonics with them at least 3x a week. I can do that from the comfort of my couch. :) We are working on the Great room right now. The kids rooms may wait until tomorrow. I have some maintenance to do in the kitchen. I have learned to make myself get some simple cleaning done on days when I feel bad. They are not as frequent as they used to be, but because of some of my health problems I still have them.
Oh well, I hope you all are having a fantastic week!

Be Blessed!