Deal with death again and again…

My grandma (my mom’s mom) is going downhill fast.  That means I will soon have lost 3 grandparents in 3 years.  Please keep my family in your prayers.

I was working on getting song lyrics for my Women’s Connection Group, and God used this song to really speak to my heart.  I wish you could hear it, because it’s simple and yet very beautiful.  However,  I pray that the words will minister to you also. 

Keep Singing  MercyMe (Undone cd)

Another rainy day
I can’t recall having sunshine on my face
All I feel is pain
All I wanna do is walk out of this place
But when I am stuck and I can’t move
When I don’t know what I should do
When I wonder if I’ll ever make it through

I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
Your the one that’s keeping my heart beating
I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
That’s the only way that I’ll find healing

Can I climb up in Your lap
I don’t wanna leave
Jesus, sing over me

I gotta keep singing

Can I climb up in Your lap
I don’t wanna leave
Jesus, sing over me
Oh, You’re everything I need

And I gotta keep singing

Let’s Pray

I haven’t had much time to write…as you can tell.  Three kids is definitely an adjustment.  I was thinking the other day that I have been pregnant or nursing (and sometimes both) since 2003!  Wow!  Maybe we’ll put a little more than 19 months in between Eva and the next one.  However, Abbye, our first child, was the only one planned (by us but not by God, of course!).  So, we’ll see!  Anyway, I received this reminder in an email.  I decided to post it here to encourage you and me to continually lift up our troops in prayer.

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.  
   

“Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they  protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they   perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our  Lord and Savior. Amen.” 

They say “Don’t cry over spilled milk”…

What about spilled hot chocolate?!  =)

Tomorrow I will be one month away from having Eva Elizabeth.  (We finally decided on a name!)  OK…I know that December 8th isn’t my Dec. 28th due date.  However, three weeks early is usually OK with the doctors.  I’m praying for labor to start Dec. 8th for several reasons.  One reason is that I really don’t want Eva to be born too close to Christmas.  Another is that since Abbye was 7 lbs 13 oz and then Hannah came weighing 9 lbs 2 oz, I’m hoping not to have to push out (naturally, may I add!) a 10 lbs 7 oz baby!!  I would love to try a smaller baby this time!  =)

Anyway… Back to crying over spilled hot chocolate.  Abbye had a doctor appointment this morning.  Then I had some errands to run downtown.  Since we just happened to be close to the newly opened bookstore and coffee shop, I decided to get a drink!  Abbye asked if she could have some hot chocolate.  I thought that would be fun to get a large and all share it after their nap.  Well, Abbye kept insisting on holding it, since it was hers!  No, that was not going to happen…You are little  and it is big and very hot!  However, I caved when we got home and let her carry it from the car to the kitchen table.  I thought that she’s big enough, it’s not very far, it’ll be OK, it had a lid.  But, I was wrong!  She spilled it all when she didn’t raise it enough to set it on the table.  The lid came off and it went all over the table, and floor, and wall, and chairs!!  I was soooooooo frustrated and mad, more at myself than Abbye since I knew better!  I got Abbye and Hannah down for a nap.  They went right to sleep, which was a very smart move on their part (but I’m sure it has more to do with them being sick, since Abbye doesn’t even normally take a morning nap!)!  Momma wasn’t happy!!  Matt was coming home for lunch early since he went to work at 5:00 am.  So, when he got home I was still cleaning the mess up and … crying!  Yes, I was crying over spilled hot chocolate.  I was crying because I knew better than to let her carry it.  I was crying because I let her whining get to me.  I was crying because here lately she seems to be whining a lot.  I was crying because I paid good money for that wasted drink.  I was crying because I’m tired.  I was crying because I am sick.  And probably that main reason why I was crying… because I’m pregnant and my emotions are in overdrive!!  =)

Please keep me and my household in your prayers!  Thanks!!

Abbye turned 3!

I’m a little late, but my oldest turned 3 on September 23, 2006!  (But with five extra people living in our about 1,000 square foot home, I didn’t have the time or space!! =)  … )  

I can’t believe that Abbye is 3 years old!!  I remember her waking me up with contractions EARLY in the morning.  I thought for several hours that I need to just go back to sleep.  However, I couldn’t!  I woke Matt up and hopped in the shower.  Matt tried to go back to sleep, but it didn’t work for him either!  He watched ESPN and timed my contractions until they were five minutes apart.  Then we drove quickly to the town where our hospital was.  Since, I had been sitting my contractions had slowed down.  So, we joined quite a few elderly people walking around the mall, which is only open to walkers at that time in the morning!  It was very easy to tell that we were the topic of their conversations that morning!!  When my contractions became closer together, we went to the hospital.  As soon as I could, I started walking again.  I walked until I couldn’t any more!!  (I didn’t want to take any drugs – better for the baby and for me!)  It was around 11:00 am when Matt and I headed back to the room, since the nurse wanted to check me.  That’s the same time that I was finding it very very hard to walk!  Matt was wonderful during all of this.  He helped me remember to breath and stay calm!  My mom counted through the contractions to remind me that they would end.  And Matt’s mom was ready with the camera to take pictures as soon Abbye was born.  Then Abbye was born at 12:45 pm!  Wow!!  What a miracle!  I can’t believe anyone can go through pregnancy and birth and not believe in God or the sanctity of life!  =)

Now, Abbye is full of energy and smiles.  She’s very very verbal!  It’s not that she just talks all the time, but she says things and uses words that you don’t expect to come from such a young child.  (And they’re in the right context!)  She’s so beautiful with big brown eyes and a very expressive face…no, not just face…it would be “very expressive body” since she uses all of her!!  =)  She loves to read, to watch Andy Griffith, to play, to color, to help with anything I’m doing, and to dress up.  She tells me all the time that God is in her heart!  When she’s “reading” her Bible she says “When God loves, God loves me” and “Let’s pray for God.”  During Abbye’s dedication our previous pastor, Pastor Jerry, said that she would be a voice to her generation!  That is what we are praying for our little princess!!  =)

Abbye, Daddy and I love you!!

Let’s Live a Life with NO Regrets!!

Live so that you can look back without regret!

     Here lately that statement has been in my mind and in my heart.  What would our lives be like if we made the most of our time with the Lord, with our spouse, with our family, and with our friends?! 

     As I was cooking lunch, I noticed Matt’s state trooper magazine.  On the cover was a picture of a young man who was killed recently (and not too far from here) on the line of duty.  A couple months after he died, his first child was born.  The baby was a boy and was named after his daddy.  I thought of the young widow with a new baby to raise by herself.  (Please lift up that family in your prayers.)  Does she look back with regret or rejoicing for the time, though short, that she shared with her husband.  Does she think, ”I wish I would have appreciated, loved, cared for, shared with…him more!”  Or does she say, “Thank you, Father, for giving me the wisdom to choose everyday to love and respect him with my whole being!”

     God, I want to choose everyday (because it is a choice not a feeling) to love You, Matt, my girls, my family, and my friends with all that I am…without regret, without holding back, and without expecting anything in return.  Amen!!

What a Wonderful Day!

I wrote a great post, but when I tried to post it, it disappeared!  How very annoying!!  I considered not even worrying about trying to write it again.  However, I really enjoyed yesterday and wanted to share it!  =)_________________________________________________________

After Matt got home from work, I ran some errands.  Normally we like to pack up the girls and head out together, but I didn’t suggest it this time and neither did Matt.  I think I just needed a little time by myself.  Matt probably wanted to make sure he was ready for his fantasy football draft that was occurring that evening.  I needed to run some book club books (Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis) by some friends, return a library book (Found by Karen Kingsbury), drop off some clothes at a consignment store, and make a deposit at the bank.

My first stop was taking Corinna’s book to her.  I had not seen her in awhile, especially since book club took a break for the summer.  She allowed me to interrupt her busy day of the paperwork side of the self-employed!!  Thank you, Corinna!  I really enjoyed talking to you! 

Next I dropped of the clothes and then the library book.  Outside of the library I ran in to another dear friend, Alice.  We haven’t seen each other in awhile, so had a good chat.  It’s wonderful getting caught up with people you love!  Thanks you, Alice, for putting your boys on hold to chat with me!!

The bank was my next stop.  The teller went on about how adorable my girls were (she just saw us in McDonalds at lunch) and gave me some candy to take home to them.  After that I dropped another book club book off at Cheryl’s house.  She was rearranging, cleaning, and trying to get ready for family coming.  We visited a little, but I could tell that she was anxious!  Cheryl, I hope your weekend goes well, especially as you enjoy your little granddaughter!!  (Everyone please keep Cheryl’s health in your prayers.  Thanks!)

My last stop was at a new friend’s house.  Lisa and her sister (who’s family is living with them until they find a house) are new to this area and especially new to living in a small town!!  The last time I talked to them they were looking for things to do.  So, I took a book club book to them.  They can check out the book and come September 15, which is the date of the next meeting, to see if they are interested.  Also, I attend a Connection Group at our church on Thursday mornings.  I took them a couple copies of the chapter that we are discussing next week.  Lisa, the book club and the connection group would love for you and your sister to come!!

Then I went back home.  Now that may not sound so wonderful to you, but I truly enjoyed it!!  I normally don’t see that many people in one day.  Also, it’s always wonderful to see and visit with friends you don’t get to see often!!!

__________________________________________________

Hopefully this will finally work!  I’ve lost it a couple more times!! 

Congrats, Mark and Julie!

My brother and his fiancée eloped Friday!  We knew they weren’t going to do anything big, but we were hoping for a small wedding that we would get to be apart of!!  But Mark was worried about who would get invited and who wouldn’t.  So, they decided to just get married! 

Congratulations, Mark and Julie!!!  =)

(Please keep them in your prayers.)

Good Morning!

I meant to post something before we left on our trip, but I ran out of time.  (Time…now that's something I'm running out of often!!)  Anyway, Matt and I got back home Monday.  Matt took Tuesday off so we could hang out with the girls. 

The Trip - Matt and I dropped the girls off at my parents Thursday evening.  We went back to their house three times!  First, we forgot their hanging clothes.  Then, we took over a couple of waterproof pads and I grabbed a Sprite for myself because I wasn't feeling well.  Ok, now I can't remember the other reason, but I'm pretty sure we went back over one more time!!  However, our reasons were good ones so don't laugh!  I wasn't missing them already!  =)   

We left really early on Friday.  I wasn't sure if I was going to survive at this pace!!  We survived the drive, the Houston traffic, and finally found the hotel.  We ate at Steak and Ale, which was good.  Then we called it a day…I was exhausted!!  (Oh, by the way, we realized that we forgot our nice digital camera with excellent zoom.  We grabbed a couple disposable cameras, but Matt was very frustrated since our camera would have worked great at the baseball game on Sunday!)

Our plan on Saturday was to, first of all, sleep in.  However, we both woke up around 6:00 am!  Ok, we tried to get a little more sleep, but we were out of bed at 7:00 am.  So much for sleeping in!!  We ate breakfast at Dennis.  I love breakfast!!  Then we hung out at the Downtown Aquarium.  It was pretty neat.  We kept saying, “The girls would enjoy this!”  We drove to the Woodland’s mall to meet a friend of Matt’s and his family.  We ate at the Cheesecake Factory, which was very good!  I didn’t know that it sold real food too!!  Even though I really don’t have any desire for sweets I had to try a slice of cheesecake.  I got a slice of the brownie sundae cheesecake and shared it with the rest of our party, except Matt who doesn’t like cheesecake.  It was excellent!!  We visited a little bit, and then Matt and I checked out the mall after they left.  Later we went back to the Aquarium’s restaurant for supper.  That was really cool.  It has this floor to ceiling fish tank.  It was huge and full of all sorts of fish and other sea life.  We took a horse-drawn carriage ride around downtown Houston.  We really enjoyed the ride!!  It was nice, laid back, and relaxing.  Then we tried to find an event that was happening that night, but we couldn’t find it and just decided to go back to the hotel.

Sunday we got up early, ate breakfast at IHOP, and made it to Minute Maid stadium by 8:30 am.  The gate was opening at 10 am and the first 3,500 people got a nice leather Astros photo album and got to go down around the field to take pictures of the players.  The line was extremely long already, wrapping around three sides of the stadium, so we didn’t have high hopes that we would be in the first 3,500.  However, we were!!  Matt was really excided, even thought he’s not an Astros fan he appreciates good players!  Matt got his picture with a couple of Astros players (the catch and a guy who was with the Yankees) and the Astros manager.  If Matt was here, I could include their name, but you’re lucky I remembered that much info!!  The roof was closed on the stadium, and it’s temperature controlled.  So, I was very comfortable during the game!  Actually sometimes it was a little chilly, but I would rather be that than hot!  The game didn’t go well for Braves fans, but we enjoyed it anyway!!! =)  Then we shared some excellent fajitas at Cabo, which is a interesting restaurant in downtown Houston.  After that we headed back to the hotel.  Then we got everything possible packed and loaded in the van.  We were pretty tired, so we thought about renting a movie at the hotel, but it was ridiculously expensive.  Instead, we just hung out, found something to watch on TV, and went to bed.

We left early on Monday, not quite as early as on Friday.  We made it home in much better time, since we didn’t end up dealing with bad Houston traffic and we knew how to get everywhere.  We were ready to see the girls.  We talked to them a couple times of each day.  Overall we had an excellent time just spending with each other, and I did fine being gone from the girls.  Also, I was tired off and on, but I did pretty well with that too!  Thank you, Jesus!!

Please Pray!!

Next Friday Matt and I are going on a trip!  We are leaving on June 9th and coming back on the 12th.  We are going to Houston and will watch the Braves play the Astros.  (Matt's a Braves fan.)  We are excited and looking forward to this time with just us!!  However, I must ask for your prayer for me.  I have been sooooooo exhausted.  When the girls both go down for a nap, I take one too.  Then I can finish the rest of the day.  But when I don't take a nap, I am ready to call it a day around 7pm.  However, this is not good on a trip!!  I don't want to need a nap or to go to bed extremely early!!  So, please pray for health and TONS of energy for me!!!!!!  =)   Thanks!!

My due date is December 28th!

I still can’t figure out how to make pictures bigger and clearer on here, but here’s the first picture of our baby!  I had a doctor appointment yesterday, and the due date is December 28th.  The doctor said everything looks great! 

Keep the baby and I in your prayers.  I don’t feel well and am extremely tired.  I’m so far behind with our laundry and other household jobs!  I’ve been trying to lay down when the girls are both down for a nap.  I never realized how much I got done during that time!  =)