It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!

We have been so blessed with the birth of our beautiful baby girl!  She is 2 weeks old and has brought us so much JOY already!  The timing, labor, and delivery went so smoothly.  Hubby and I enjoyed our bonding time in the hospital ... getting to know our newest blessing.  My 4 daughters have enjoyed their new sister so much.  There is always, and I mean always, a very willing set of hands to hold her =)  What a blessing.  It has been so fun to watch my children, from the oldest down to the youngest, love on their new sister.  It amazes me how well they all have adjusted to having our new baby at home.  God is good and has blessed us more than words can even express!!!

We made it to November!

I've made it pretty clear during this pregnancy that I really did not want baby to arrive on halloween.  The last week or so I was at somewhat of a peace knowing that God already knew what day this baby would arrive.  I would just have to be okay if that was on October 31st.  Today, I'm jumping up and down (not literally, I am 9 mos pregnant!), that yesterday is over.  This baby will be born in November!!!  Now, we continue to wait and see what day the Lord has picked for baby to bless us with his/her arrival.   We are looking so forward to that wonderful day!!!  With my due date only 2 days away, we are hoping that we will be holding our baby very, very soon!!!

Waiting....

I am sitting here at four in the morning, unable to sleep again, waiting for the time when this baby decides to arrive. I am 13 days away from my due date and most the time I am waiting patiently.  The days are so busy with being a wife, mom, and homeschooling my girls.  But,  at other times, like at four in the morning, it is so hard to wait.  I want to see my new baby.  I want to know if baby is a boy or girl.  I want to feel that precious babe laid upon my chest for the first time.  I want to see my hubby's face as we welcome this new baby into our arms.  I want to hear that first cry.  I want to be nursing baby for the first time.   I want to see my four daughters welcome their new sibling into their lives.  I want to see the excitement of the grandparents as they hold their new grand baby.  I want to smell the newborn smell.  I want to fall asleep with baby sleeping on my chest.

While I'm waiting, I am nesting!  I am dusting the ceiling lights, vacuuming under beds, washing window screens, organizing my spice cupboard, cleaning out the coat closet,  freezing some meals to have post-baby, ummmmm...lets just say it again... I am nesting!   Anyone who has been 9 mos. pregnant can relate to this I'm sure (hubby laughs that I need to get the pantry organized before baby arrives but you pregnant mommy's understand!).  I change my mind hourly as to when I want baby to arrive.  At times I want it to happen right now .... I just can't wait!  At other times, I look at my list of things I want to get done before baby arrives, and I want him or her to wait until the list is complete (but please don't baby as the list will never be complete!).  I am so thankful that God will decide when baby arrives and that I don't have to make that big decision.  I am trusting Him and His perfect timing, sometimes patiently, sometimes not so patiently!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5

Are you hoping for a boy?

The question I have been getting over and over again lately  forever is "Are you hoping for a boy?"  I have been getting this question since my second pregnancy, and now being on my fifth pregnancy, you can imagine how many times I have answered this =) My answer is "Yes, I am hoping for a boy but no more than I am hoping for a girl!" Seriously, I know some people have a hard time believing that but it is the honest truth.  Some people even assume we are only having more children because we are trying for a boy.  I have been so blessed with the gift of four beautiful girls, and I will be just as blessed with another girl, as I would be with a boy.

My daughters and I were talking about this Monday when I was asked this again, in front of my girls, at the zoo.   I always wonder how this makes my girls feel when they keep hearing people say "Are you hoping for a boy?"   I explained to my girls that each and every baby is a GIFT, boy or girl, and that no matter how many girls we have they are all so precious to us.  My oldest said "I hope so, that would be so sad to live in a family that didn't love you."  So, I continue to answer this question honestly.  I am hoping for a boy, or a girl, and feeling this baby in me and seeing my growing belly, I'm pretty sure I'll be getting one of them in the next month!!!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above."  James 1:17

Anxiously awaiting....

I miss my husband dearly when we are apart.  He doesn't travel often for work, and when he does it's normally for a short time.  This week, however, he has been gone for 6 nights!  I am so thankful that the week is almost over, and his arms will be around me in about 30 hours (not that I'm counting down or anything!).  The longer we've been married the harder it has gotten to be apart.  It is so hard to say good-bye to him when he is leaving.  He is my other half.  He completes me.  I need him.  I miss him.  Anxiously awaiting tomorrow when he will be home!

"My beloved is mine, and I am his."  Song of Solomon 2:16

Rejoice Always...

My hubby and I strive to teach character traits to our children.   We feel it is just as important, if not more important, then academics.  We decided this school year we would focus on a different character trait every month or so.  Throughout the month of August we focused on JOY! 

One of the things I've enjoyed most this month is hearing my 3 year old memorize scripture =)  Our Bible verse for JOY was "Rejoice Always" (1 Thess. 5:16).  Although it is a very short verse it was priceless to hear her say "Rejoice Always" when we would ask her what the Bible says about JOY. 

It was just amazing to read  some of the Bible stories regarding JOY.  The story that really spoke to me was the one about  Paul and Silas.  How they were thrown into prison and bound in stocks as though they were very dangerous.  What did they do?  Complain?  Whine?  Curse?  NO!  "Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God." (Acts 16:25)  What a lesson here.  I find it so easy to complain over much less grave circumstances.  I'm thankful that God gave us this example to learn from.

We also learned  how some animals can teach us about JOY.  We studied the chickadee and how even in the depths of winter, the chickadee still sings its cheerful song.  Definitely a good example of "rejoicing always" and not letting our environment or circumstances get us down.

Studying JOY has been an eye-opening experience to me.  I find it so easy to complain about things when they aren't going smooth/perfect.  Selfishness, I know.  The Lord is teaching me much in this area.  I'm currently suffering from extreme arm itching, sciatic nerve pain, and gestational diabetes.  Some days I feel like crying about all this .... I don't want to lose sleep from the itching, I want to get out of bed without my back side hurting, and I really don't want to poke myself 4 times a day and watch every bit of food that goes in my mouth for about 9 more weeks.  But, the Lord is working on me.  I'm trying to be JOYFUL even in these things.  Am I always?  NO.  But when I think of Paul and Silas still singing praises to God in their situation, I can't help but be thankful for even these things.  After all, who wouldn't put up with a few months of itching arms, a painful backside, and poking fingers for the GIFT OF LIFE?  Rejoice Always?  I'm working on it ... it's a work in progress!  

"Rejoice always."  1 Thessalonians 5:16

Time to catch up!

We're back in the swing of school and schedules at our house and I've decided that my blog is another thing I'm going to get back in the swing of =)  I have so many ideas of things to post about.  I'm hoping to blog more regularly ... maybe even a few times a week!  I've been having trouble getting to sleep at night after my children and husband have called it a day, so I'm planning on using some of that time for blogging.

The most exciting "thing" going on in our lives right now is the anticipation of the arrival of our newest blessing.  He/She is only 10 weeks away from their due date.  Wow - this pregnancy is going extremely fast (as they all have except the first one).  The girls are getting so excited.  My three year old tells me daily that she is going to hold the baby when it is born.  It is so sweet how my 18 month old points to my belly when I ask her where the baby is.  Although she obviously is too young to understand what is happening she loves babies.  We've had two babies born to families at our church in the last month and she can't get enough of touching them ... she loves touching their heads and their feet.  It is so precious how the mothering starts at such a young age!  I love watching all my girls and how they mother each other and how much they love to play dolls.  It was my absolutely favorite thing to do as a child too.  I always wanted a baby brother or sister, but since I didn't get that (I'm still waiting mom!) I made due with my dolls.

Anyhow, I'm planning on blogging more regularly this Fall and hope you stop by and say "hi"!   I'm already thinking about what topic to blog about first ......

Great reminder....

I just finished reading a great blog post from one of my favorite blogs.  She always has such great topics and encouragement.  I wanted to share part of it here .... click on the link below to read the entire post.  I hope you will be blessed by this reading, as I was.  There are so many distractions in this world .... may we focus on the important "things" in life!

Twenty-four hours–that’s all you get. Time is our most valuable commodity. We not only have a limited number of hours per day, but we are only given a limited number of hours to live. How we choose to spend this gift is very important. Think about your family’s purpose, your goals, your vision. What do you want to accomplish in this small space of time here? What things are the most important to you?  Which things will last? Which things will soonest be forgotten? What kind of legacy do you wish to leave?
Refusing to acknowledge that our time here is pretty limited causes most people to twitter a great deal of it away. Time is our life. Wasted time is wasted life. Ouch.
A few activities that Americans seem to adore, even to the detriment of their relationships are:  http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2011/07/simplify-time-life.html

JOYS of pregnancy!!!!

Pregnancy is such a GIFT that brings so many JOYS with it.  Yes, there is the not feeling so well stage, the  extremely tired I'm going to fall asleep standing up stage, the backaches, heartburn, and some other "hard" things (like labor!), but the JOYS far outweigh these.  I came up with a list of my top 11 things I enjoy with pregnancy -- yes, I know it should be a top 10 list but I just couldn't narrow it down =)

1. The first thing I love about being pregnant is finding out!  I can remember when, where, and how I found out with each of my babies.  What a moment of complete and utter JOY!!!!  Finding out that new life, a miracle, is growing inside my womb. 

2.  I love telling others our good news and especially love the excitement that our children show.  They just light up and say the most precious things.  We're raising them to view children as God does, as blessings, and they are so quick to say "I'm so excited God's blessed us again!"   It is also so fun to watch their excitement throughout the entire pregnancy. 

3.  My husband is such a part of each pregnancy, and is so supportive the whole nine months.  He goes to every Dr's appointment with me (he's missed only 1 appointment out of all 5 of my pregnancies!!!), he picks up food when I don't feel well enough to cook, and he gets so excited to see me grow and to feel the baby kicking.  It is such a GIFT to have a husband who thinks pregnancy is a beautiful thing!

4.  Pregnancy also makes me feel close to God.  I know that each baby is a GIFT from HIM and I feel so blessed when he chooses to grow another miracle in me.   Pregnancy makes GOD very real to me.

5.  I love hearing the heartbeat for the first time and confirming that there is life growing inside me.  There is no sound like hearing your newborn baby's heart beating for the first time! 

6.  I know this is an odd one to a lot of people but I actually love to show!  I love to feel my "baby bump" and to see it.  It makes baby even more real to me.

7.  It is such a GIFT to feel the baby moving around inside me.  I love feeling the kicks, turns,  and even the hiccups (although sometimes they feel a little too weird!).  I also love it when baby gets big enough for my husband and children to feel these movements with their hands on my belly. 

8.  I love seeing the baby in the ultrasound.  I never want to know if the baby is a boy or girl so I do get a bit nervous we might be able to tell.  I make it clear to the Dr. though and so far our surprise hasn't been spoiled.  It is so fun to see baby's little face, hands, feet, everything is just so cute!!!

9.  My husband and I usually have fun picking out baby names (at times this has been stressful too!).  We have just started throwing some names around and yes it did keep me up awhile last night thinking about this.  It is just so fun to come up with just the perfect name for each baby.   We have always agreed on a a girls name going into labor (I guess God was trying to tell us that is what we were having!), but have had a harder time agreeing on a boys name.  We'll see what happens this time. 

10.  Another reason I love pregnancy is it is my dream come true!  My whole life I have always wanted to be a wife and mom.  I went to college and got my degree, but my desire never changed.  I wanted to get married, have children, and stay home to raise them.  At times I just can't believe how God has blessed me.  We had some fertility issues with our first pregnancy, and it took over a year.  I wondered if I would ever be pregnant.  I am living my dream come true with each pregnancy. What a GIFT!

11.  Finally, my very favorite part of pregnancy is that final push during labor when the baby arrives!  Finally, I get to meet my precious boy or girl.  I love the little, screaming, wet newborn being laid on my chest the second they arrive.  What a very precious moment!!!   As odd as it sounds, I am always sad that my pregnancy is over, but so joyful to be holding my baby. 

Pregnancy is such a GIFT.  I would love to hear what were/are your favorite parts of pregnancy. 

"Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."  ~James 1:17

Just wanted to share....

I so enjoyed the posting at "Raising Homemakers" today and wanted to share it here.  I so often feel like a failure as a mom. I just want to get this "mom thing" right.  This article was an encouragement to me and I hope it encourages you too.  Click on the link below to read the whole article.

I’m not sure there are any words more frequently bounced around the heart of a mom than some version of “I’m a failure.” (I heard that amen.)

In fact, I am prone to wake up in the middle of the night only to start rehearsing all the ways I’m letting my kids down, all the inadequacies and deficiencies, what I’m not giving them, and on and on. Until one night around 3am, as I was praying all my fretting back to the Lord, He’d had enough.

“Are you trusting in your good parenting, or are you trusting in Me?” He asked point blank.

Um, whoopsies (to borrow daughter’s terminology.)

That night stopped me short because He had just placed His finger on an idol in my life: my self reliance and overemphasis and worry over being a good mom.

The Bible teaches it’s not my own good parenting choices or how together I am as a mom that God wants me to feel confident about. Paul said it this way, “I place no confidence in the flesh…” (Phil 3:3) I’ve learned that failure can, in fact, be very useful because it exposes the object of my faith.

God has allowed me to be utterly broken as a mom in order for me to get this lesson right. In it all, He has shown me He wants me to transfer my trust from myself (my good choices, my hard work, my skills and abilities, my wisdom, etc) to Him and His character. Because God’s good plans for my life and my children’s lives never depended upon me in the first place. 

http://raisinghomemakers.com/2011/the-making-of-a-mother-how-to-overcome-failure/



Words are so meaningful....

I just love the new song "Blessings" by Laura Story.   The words are so meaningful and so true.  I do pray for blessings, peace, comfort, protection, healing, prosperity ... for my life to be "easy" with no trials.  But what if through our trials we see HIS mercies,  that HE is made known.  As my faith has grown stronger in the last few years, I've often said I'm afraid to get too close to GOD because then I'm afraid HE'll throw a trial at me to see how I (through HIS strength) handle it.  Anyhow, I just wanted to share the words to this meaningful song and hope it blesses you too! =)   And I'm new at this blogging thing but here's the youtube video .... http://youtu.be/1CSVqHcdhXQ  ... hope it works =)

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come thru raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if  trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
And we doubt Your goodness, We doubt Your love
As if each promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come thru raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if  trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win, we know
That pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come thru raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if  trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

"Blessings" by Laura Story

Trying to stay focused!!!

So this is our last "official" week of school for this school year.   We (especially me!) are trying to stay focused this week and finish up all of our school work.  The countdown is on ... today in Math my oldest child realized she only has 4 pages of math work left to finish her book.  The past couple of years we were "done" with school by Memorial Day Weekend, but this year we couldn't quite finish everything up by than.  I ended up taking some time off when we had a death in the family, and also when some of us were sick, so our new ending date is June 3rd.  Anyhow, we have enjoyed school so much this year, and we loved the curriculum we used (http://www.mfwbooks.com/).   The girls have had a good year and I so much enjoy being their teacher.  It is a lot of work, but so rewarding.  I am so thankful we have the freedom to home school our children.  What a GIFT!!!!

This summer we will be doing a lot of "real life" learning through our gardening, planting, and caring for "our" birds.  The girls (all except my littlest one) and I planted our garden yesterday and now we anxiously await for growth.  The girls are excited about helping to care for it this summer ... although I know the weed pulling will get old for all of us:)   We all enjoy birds in our family and we are constantly filling the feeders (seriously, I'm amazed how fast the birds are going through the suet cakes!).  We have had so much fun watching some baby robins close up.  They nested on the ground under a rock climbing wall on our swing set, so we literally have been able to watch every step of the hatching process.   We will continue to study birds throughout the summer ... the girls have enjoyed that so much in school.  

I enjoy the structure and scheduling of my school days, but I'm also looking forward to the free-time we'll have this summer.  I know it will go fast.  We will be starting our first day of school on August 1st this year, so we'll only be off June and July.  That will be plenty.  I'm always excited to start a new school year and see what God has in store for us.   I have my curriculum for next year already, and I am already looking forward to digging into it.  But for now (well, in 3 days!), it's time for a break.  A time for refreshment.  A time for enjoying summer: playing outside, working outside, running through sprinklers, going to the park, the library summer reading program, root beer floats,  just enjoying each day and each other!!! 

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

Wait till they're teenagers!

It's been awhile since I posted but I wanted to continue with another comment we receive on a regular basis.  We often hear from the cashiers at stores, as well as other places, "Oh, four girls huh, just wait till they're teenagers!"  After hearing this comment many, many times, I went to some valued resources: the moms and dads at my church who have teenage girls.

The teenage girls at our church (there are about 12 between 5 families) seemed to me to be such precious girls.  They are so respectful, calling adults by Mr. or Mrs., they dress modestly, they are so helpful with the younger children, they still hold  their parents hands, they put their arms around their siblings during church, and when we've had some of these young ladies over for meals, they helped clear the table and clean up - without being asked.  I had to ask these parents if the teenage years are as bad as so many strangers keep telling me.  I was so encouraged after talking to these parents.  They reassured me that their teenage daughters really are precious young ladies.   I asked them how they raised their children and I received much helpful advice.  The most important thing, of course, is to pray for our children daily and to seek God for guidance on everything.  Our children are a gift from God and I need to remember He loves them even more than me, I need to go to Him with every detail in their life.  I need to place them in His hands on a daily (hourly!) basis!

These parents also encouraged me with many other things that have helped them to raise these godly young ladies.  They suggested monitoring what my children watch and read, how they dress, who they are friends with, and what they are being taught.  My husband and I do monitor what our children watch.  We really don't have make time for TV at our house, except on either Friday or Saturday night when we watch a family movie.  I also let them watch a "Little House" show during lunch on Fridays -- just a special treat for getting our school week done.  We also watch videos if the kids are sick.  We mostly just do movies/videos so they aren't seeing commercials which are usually either scarry or the women are not dressed modestly at all.   We also monitor what books they are reading.  If they want to read a book we don't know anything about my husband will read it first until he decides if it's appropriate or not.  It's amazing, and sad, how a lot of books slip in things about evolution or other gods or how they take God's name in vain with the slang talk.  We also have some trusted book lists in our homeschool resources that help us out tremendously. 

The teenage girls at our church, and Mary and Laura on "Little House"!!!, have been such great role models in how my girls like to dress.  We are training our girls what it means to dress modestly.  This really is hard in the society we live in today.  It is such a blessing to have teenagers who dress modestly around my girls on a weekly basis.  My girls look up to them so much.  I also try to dress modestly but I'm still learning in this area too. 

We also monitor who our girls are friends with and what they are being taught.  This is easier for us since we home school our children and I'm with them almost all the time.  When the neighborhood kids want to play with our girls, we have them play in our yard.   It is such a blessing to be my girls' teacher and to be with them almost all the time. 

My husband and I aren't deceived thinking the teenage years will be easy.  Training our children isn't easy, but  very hard work.  Girls are full of emotions -- I am aware of that being a girl myself (and a pregnant one at that!)!!!  I am so thankful for these moms and dads of teenagers at my church who have blessed me so much with their advice and encouragement.  They will continue to be a rich resource for me in regards to raising my children. 

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Are they all yours?

I still wanted to have some fun this week talking about some of the other comments I get from time to time when I'm out and about.  Another comment I hear is "Are they all yours?!?" or "There not all yours are they?!?"  I would expect this comment if I had 24 children, but with only four children it makes me laugh!!!! As I look to see that I still only have my four children with me, and I haven't picked up any extra along the way, I simply say "Yes!"  I told my husband I think I get this comment because I look way too young to have four children already.  Ummm, nope, we're certain that's not it.  It was a sweet thought though!!! 

This comment does remind me though, that my children aren't "mine" but God's.  He has given these gifts to my husband and I to raise for His glory.  We pray on a regular basis that we would be able to raise them the way He calls us to.  It is a big responsibility that can only be done through Christ who strengthens us.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~Philippians 4:13

You have your hands full!

I have always been a people pleaser.  I want to "fit in" with the crowd and not stand out as being "different."  I don't want to be the "weird" one!  Well, ever since I became the mom of four children, I don't seem to "fit in" anymore.  It is very rare that I can go to a public place with my children: at the library, store, restaurant, clinic, without getting a comment.  They have mostly been fun and light-hearted, but some have been sad.  The way some people view children as a burden is heart-breaking.  There have been comments that have brought a tear to my eye, and that I've had to explain to my children why someone would say that.  Anyhow, I thought it would be fun to do some posts on the light-hearted comments I get on a weekly basis. 

I'll start with the comment I get most often.  "You have your hands full!"  Ummm, yep, can't argue with that.  Could you get the door for me?   I have my baby in the carrier, I'm pushing the cart/stroller with my toddler in it, and I have my two young girls walking beside me, sometimes holding the hand that isn't pushing the cart/stroller.  Literally, my hands are full!!!  Most importantly, however, is that my hands are full of the BLESSINGS GOD HAS GIVEN TO ME. 

I respond differently to this comment depending on the day and how many times I've heard this:)  Sometimes I simply smile, sometimes I say "they are so much fun," and sometimes I say "I'm sure blessed."  I always try to be pleasant, no matter how the comment was said to me.  I want my children to know that it is a blessing to have full hands.  That I wouldn't have it any other way.  I am so thankful that God has given me full hands!


"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please Man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."  ~ Galatians 1:10

Failed Plans

I am a planner.  I'm not a spur of the moment "let's do this" type of girl.  I plan out a weekly menu (except during these first months of pregnancy when the thought of food makes me want to .... well you understand!), I do weekly lesson plans for school, I even have a schedule with what chores get done on what day (although this has taken a back seat during these not feeling so good pregnancy days!).  So, other than the "survival mode" I'm in during the beginning of pregnancy, I like my planned days and I don't want anything to mess them up.  God is teaching me that my plans are not always HIS plans.  He taught me this in a very big, difficult way last week.

In my last post I wrote about my plans for our homeschool conference getaway.  What I wasn't planning for was one of my children waking up sick the morning we were suppose to leave.  Bright and early on Thursday morning I woke up to "my tummy hurts, mommy."  At first I thought, "Oh, you're just excited about going to Grandma and Grandpa's."  NOPE ... I was wrong ... she was sick!!!  I was crushed.  I struggle so much when my children are sick.  It has by far been my hardest struggle as a mom.  I can't stand it.  I feel so bad for them and yes, to the surprise of many, I worry.  I also was heartbroken that the weekend plans my hubby and I had been counting down to for so many weeks (since January) were thrown out the window.  I was so sad (my husband and mom can attest to this!).

I prayed that God would help me through this time, and of course HE did.  He even gave me some glimpses of what good can come out of something bad.  First of all, the love and support of my husband was amazing.  He kept things in perspective and had lots of encouraging words throughout the weekend.  He also was brave enough to take our sick child to the clinic, bucket in hands and all, as she had the constant feeling of needing that bucket for hours and hours and hours (did I mention for hours!).   The poor girl was sick!!!  He ran to the store for popsicles, soup, applesauce, and all those other "must haves."  Secondly, my oldest child was very sympathetic with her sister and never laid any blame on her for "messing" up the weekend plans.  She was very sad but very understanding.  She also was quick to color some pictures and write a get well note to her sister.  Very sweet.  Finally, my mom was so willing to help out, sick kid and all.  My husband and I decided we couldn't leave our sick child, but my mom had offered to still care for the children so we could go.  Amazing!  There's not too many people who are willing to jump at the chance to care for sick children.  My mom taught me a lot through her example last weekend.

My daughter felt much better on Friday afternoon ... Praise the Lord!  My mom came up Friday evening.  My husband and I left at 5a.m. Saturday morning, drove 3 hours, attended one day of the homeschool conference, and drove home the same night.  It was a long day but it was a blessing to be able to attend at all.  We didn't get our three nights in a hotel, we didn't get to eat many meals out, we didn't have a lot of relaxing time to talk, but we did enjoy the one day we had.   I will always be a planner, but I am trying to hold loosely to my plans and trust HIS plans for me!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  ~Jeremiah 29:11

Homeschool Conference Getaway

This weekend my hubby and I are going to a homeschool conference in MN.  This will be the 5th year that we have attended this conference and we always enjoy it so much.  There is so much I'm looking forward to.

I love seeing the excitement of my children as they await their sleep-over at Grandma and Grandpa's.  They are going to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Thursday, but they started packing on Monday!!!!  Yes, I would call that excitement!!! 

I love the long, peaceful drive to our destination.  This year the conference is about three hours away, so my hubby and I will have much time to "catch up" on the things we want to talk about.  We will be able to talk and talk, without any interruptions.  Over the last month we've said several times, "We'll have to talk about that during our weekend conference."  I know we won't have time to talk about everything we want to, but we will make good use of the time we have.

I love the conference itself.  I love being in a room full of about five thousand homeschooling parents.  It is so encouraging and refreshing to look around the convention center and see that we are not in this alone.  Of course, we have never been in this adventure alone.  God led us to it five years ago (before my oldest was school age) and He has been guiding us all along.   We have leaned on Him every step of the way.

I love the workshops and have such a hard time deciding on which ones to attend.  There are over 50 workshops offered.  Right now I have 24 marked that I want to go to, but there is only enough time to attend six workshops!!! 

I love the exhibitor hall and the used book sale.  There are over 100 curriculum booths in the exhibitor hall. This is so helpful because we get to talk with the publishers about the curriculum one on one.  This year we have been using the "My Fathers World" curriculum (http://www.mfwbooks.com/), and have loved it.  Our plan is to buy the next grade levels for next year (1st grade and 3rd grade).  We do need to research different math curriculums, as we are ready to try something new for math. We always leave the exhibitor hall and the used book sale with a backpack full of books, and our arms full of books too!!!!  We all love books in this house!!!!

I love how my husband and I both get encouraged and  refreshed.  We have always left these conferences with a hundred different things to try.  There are so many homeschool professionals at the conference that can answer any question and lead you to whatever you are looking for.  It is always so, so refreshing.

I love eating meals out for a few days and being "off duty."  I don't have to buy groceries, make the meals, and do the dishes for several meals.  Don't get me wrong, I love this part of homemaking (well, maybe not the dishes!) but it is always relaxing to have a break from it.

I love catching up with homeschooling friends, some that we only see once a year at this conference.  We are having dinner on Friday with some of our dear friends.  They recently had a baby so we will get to meet their little guy too!!!  My dear, dear friend from high school usually attends too, but isn't this year.  I'll miss you Monica!

Finally, I love that at the end of the day, I'm holding my hubby's hand, and it's just him and I.  We have a few moments to just spend with each other.  To talk about our day, what we learned, what we want to do differently in our homeschooling, what we want to keep doing the same.  It is a blessing to give each other our undivided attention.  No interruptions. We try to make our marriage a priority, no matter how busy homeschooling life with little children is.

Introducing A Life Full of Gifts

Greetings!  I am so excited about starting this blog.  Over the last three years, I have been encouraged in my walk as a Christian, wife, mom, and homeschooler through some like-minded blogs. So, with my husbands support and encouragement, I've decided to start my own blog.

Why "A Life Full of Gifts?"  I have been  blessed with so many GIFTS in my life.  I have the GIFT of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  This is the most important GIFT.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~ Romans 6:23 

I have been blessed with the GIFT of my amazing husband.  He is the love of my life and my very best friend.  We just celebrated our 12 year anniversary,  and we're more in love today than the day we said "I do."
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." ~Ephesians 5:31

God has blessed our marriage with the GIFT of children.  We have four beautiful daughters and they each have such a special place in our hearts.  They bring us so much joy. We also have been given the GIFT of new life!!!   That's right, we are expecting our fifth child this Fall!!!  What an amazing GIFT to experience life growing inside me again. 
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." ~Psalm 127:3

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in the beginning of my blog and also in our exciting news!!!