It's a Girl!

Usually when you find out whether you are having a boy or a girl, it is a joyous occassion.  Clothes are bought, names are thought of, and thoughts of the future are exciting and hopeful. 

Today we found out that we were having a little girl.  The baby that lived inside me for 15 1/2 weeks was a sweet little girl.  Except, there was no celebration, no clothes were bought, and the only thoughts about the future were "what could have been".  I cried today, wept today, and longed for the daughter that I will never know.................until I get to heaven.  I know she will be waiting for me there.  Maybe she'll have pigtails, maybe she'll look like Anne, maybe she'll be funny like John, maybe she'll be as tender as Stuart............that's what I'm looking forward to.  Looking forward to meeting my 3 kids in heaven some day, getting to hold them like I do my 3 precious kiddo's here on earth. 

Today I'm trusting in God.  Today I'm putting my faith in God that He works for good.  Today I'm choosing to be thankful.  Today I'm choosing to thank God for my blessings.  Today I am choosing to be in His presence.  Today I'm choosing to trust in His plan.

"I have a wonderful plan for your life.  But you may not always understand that plan.  Sometimes My blessings come to you in mysterious ways: even through pain and trouble.  I use tough times to teach you more about Me.  I can use trouble at home to help you find peace and comfort in Me.  I can use a disappointment to teach you that there is joy in My Presence.  You won't always understand, but you can learn to trust that I am always good."  (an excerpt from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young).

Sewing

Lately I have been "trying" to sew and I do mean "trying".  Sewing has not been one of my talents, but I am working on it.  Anne currently wears only skirts or dresses so I thought I would try a very simple skirt.  It was so much easier than I thought that I decided to make her a little top to go with it.  Don't look too closely at it, because there are a ton of errors.  All in all, I thought it turned out pretty well for my first attempt at sewing clothing.  A big bonus is that it is Anne's new favorite outfit!! :)  Happy sewing!

When in Georgia.....

One of our most favorite things about Georgia is the WEATHER!!  We have been so spoiled with such nice warm weather, that it's hard to believe in some places it's still snowing!  Wow!  Since it was such a long week, we decided to spend it outside playing.  Hope you have a great Sunday!

We couldn't find our sprinkler, so we had to make one. :)

Silly kids!

Stuart thoroughly enjoying himself. :)

Favorite Joke

I had to share Stuart and John's most favorite joke:

Question:  What is invisible and smells likes a carrot?

Answer:  A bunny's toot.

Go ahead and laugh!  You know you want to. :)

One of those weeks....

It's been "one of those weeks" at my house.  It started with several sleepless nights with Anne and after a doctors visit we discovered she has ear infections and now taking medicine 2 times a day.  Next, John had a rash on his chin that turned out to be something contagious so after another doctors visit (yes, same doctor), we are now applying cream 3 times a day.  Now, it's Stuart's turn.  He came home yesterday with a high fever and sore throat.  Surely it couldn't be the strep throat that he just got over last week, right?  Well, after a doctor's visit, (yes, the same doctor 3 times in one week) we discovered it was strep throat again.  So now Stuart is taking medicine 2 times a day.  As you can imagine, I'm starting to lose my mind remembering to give the right medicines, the right amount of times per day to each child.  Just when Friday evening is here and only hours away from Daddy coming home from work..................it's John's turn again.  Boo!  John somehow manages to fall on one of Anne's castles and lacerates his gumline/lip.  I, trying to remain calm in spite of the blood, call the doctor (yes, same doctor) and she keeps the office open for us to come in b/c after all it is 5pm.  We rush to the office and the doctor (yes, the same doctor for the 4th time this week) graciously takes us back to her office and looks at John.  Thankfully, no stitches are need, just some time for it to heal on its own. 

My brave little boy!

Ouch!!  The tooth fairy might end up coming a little early for this little boy. :)

 

So needless to say, it has been one of those weeks at my house. :)

Awww.......Brothers

Just had to post this precious picture of my boys.......................such sweet brothers.............most of the time. :)

Elsa Cape

Anne is really into everything that has to do with the movie Frozen.  She loves Anna and Elsa and she especially loves their beautiful dresses, but most of all she loves Elsa's cape.  So I had a brilliant idea; I'll make her a cape for her birthday!!  So after looking around on the internet, I came up with an Elsa cape that was easy, quick, and pretty inexpensive.  And since I couldn't have Anne model it for you, since it's not her birthday yet and it's a surprise..............poor little John had to be my model. :) 

I'm so excited!!!  I can't wait to give it to her for her birthday!  Woohoo!

Anne's Friends

Lately, Anne and I have been going grocery shopping together after the boys are settled in bed.  Aaron stays with the boys and Anne and I have a great time shopping together.  Before we left the other night, Anne said, "Momma, can I bring a friend?'...............and this is how she came back. :)

Needless to say, Anne, I and her 3 friends all went grocery shopping together and we had a marvelous time!

God is Good

I am going to use my blog as a way to record my memories and a way to release my feelings, because there are things that you never want to forget.  Especially when you see God moving in your life; it's amazing!

This is going to be a little out of order, but I wanted to record it before I forgot about it.  We had our 3rd miscarriage on February 6, 2014 at exactly 15 1/2 weeks pregnant.  I will write about that story and our other 2 miscarriage stories at another time when I have my thoughts more gathered.  However, this I wanted to make sure I recorded today.  This was on the morning before my D & E surgery and this is how I saw God watching over me, protecting me, saying He's with me, and never letting me go:

On the day of my surgery, I woke up extra early b/c my mind was racing so I grabbed the kids devotional that we read together at night.  It's called "Jesus Calling" and when you read it, you read it as though Jesus is actually talking to you.  I'm going to share with you what the devotion of the day was on that specific day.  All I can say is, God is so good!

"Why am I so sad?  Why am I so upset?  I should put my hope in God.  I should keep praising him, my Savior and my God."  Psalm 42:11

"Sometimes things just don't go the way you expect them to, or even the way you think they should.  But I have a plan.  I also have the Power to take all those unexpected things-even the not-so-good ones-and use them for good in your life.  Your job is to pay attention to Me.  Let Me guide you through the many choices you face each day.  That may sound easy, but it's not.  The devil wants your attention too.  He knows that things that will distract you from Me.  The devil tries to trip you up.  But it is My path that you are on, and I will help you follow it one step, one decision, at a time."

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

HOW AMAZING IS THAT????  Had to share this and how good God is through all circumstances!

Go Shockers!

I can't even begin to say how excited and proud my hubby and I are of being a Shocker Alumni!!  Once again this year, their basketball team is doing amazing!!  UNDEFEATED!!!  It would be so cool if they made it all the way to the end and won this year.  Go Shockers!

Last year, the Shockers made it to the Final Four and lo and behold, the games were being held in Atlanta, GA.  We took it as a sign from the good Lord that since we were in Georgia and since we are alumni, we should go to the game.  So we did!!  I have to say that it was one of the best vacations I have ever had.  We had so much fun at the game; it was definitely a night to remember!  We shouted, cheered, jumped out of our chairs, ate overpriced hotdogs, and paid way too much for our tickets but Aaron and I made some amazing memories at that game.  So in honor of the Shockers, I had to post some of last years pictures:

(Of course I had to buy a Final Four shirt while we there!)

(The hubby and I supporting the Shockers!)

(The Georgia Dome.....so huge!!!)

(Such a fun night!)

So here's to another exciting round of March Madness!  GO SHOCKERS!!!!

Who knew???

At worship today, Stuart decided to stay with Aaron and I instead of going to his usual class.  As communion was being passed, I noticed Stuart watching me with a very grossed out look as I took the cup.  He grabbed my cup, put it up to his nose and smelled it.  A huge smile crossed over his face as his whispered loudly, "Thank goodness!  Jesus' blood is grape juice!" 

Ha!!!!  Who knew? :)

Career Day

Today is Career Day at Stuart's school.  The students were asked to dress up according to what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Stuart knew immediately what he wanted to be....."An Explorer!".  So, we worked on his costume last night...nothing like waiting til the last minute. :)  We made some binoculars, a compass, cut up one of my old shirts to make a vest, and a crazy cool explorer's hat!  He couldn't wait to go to school today!  What a fun career he chose!

First Grade, Age 6

Smile!

Anne came up to me and yelled, "Take my picture!!".  Of course I will take your picture you sweet little girl.  I get my camera ready and I say, "Smile!"..........and this is what I get.  Hilarious!  Don't you love when that happens?

(Doesn't this look totally natural?  Ha!)

About that time...........

Well, it's about that time for a ..................hair cut.  Aaron likes the boys hair to be long while I much prefer a more groomed look. :)  Also, I was going through a bottle of hair gel a week trying to keep the hair down on their heads.  John was so excited about getting his hair cut, he was practically begging me to cut it off.  On the other hand, Stuart was a little less enthused.  Stuart absolutely LOVES his "poofy" hair, as he calls it.  He cried and begged me not to cut it, so we ended up with a compromise.  I cut the sides and left the top long.  And since I am not a barber or have any type of skill with a shaver, it sure makes for an interesting hair cut.  Ha!  But, Stuart's happy so that's all that matters, right?  So here are the before and after photos:

Stuart Before:

(Wouldn't you love to have that volume? Ha!)

Stuart After:

(I knew he had ears under there!)

John Before:

(Super Johnny!)

John After:

(This boy can make me laugh!)

 

 

 

Here's to many more happy hair cutting memories!!

Where has the time gone?

Wow!  Has it really been this long since I posted?  Where has the time gone?  I thought I would start with a simple post, a recent picture of my kiddo's.  They are growing so fast and I honestly can't believe it!  Here they are:

Happy Wednesday everyone!