Hearts at Home...

Ever since I was a little girl,  I have always dreamed of being a wife and mom.  It is my passion!  It is exactly what I want to be doing with my life: loving my husband and raising the precious children God's given to us.  I am so excited that this weekend, I will have a time to be encouraged and refreshed in these roles.  I am attending Hearts at Home (www.hearts-at-home.org/).  I will be spending time with some of my like-minded dear friends, and I get to hear Michelle Duggar speak (I'm a little giddy about this and hope to get my picture taken with her!)!!!  It is always so refreshing, so encouraging, to be around other wives and moms who are so passionate about these roles.  So here's to a weekend of laughing, crying, learning, being star-struck (did I mention Michelle Duggar will be there?!?)  and eating chocolate (of course!)!

No longer barren....

Barren.  The first definition of "barren" in the dictionary is "not producing young or offspring."  I remember 'those days' of barrenness.  The days I spent crying out to God to please bless me with a child.  I pleaded with Him, I cried out to Him, and sometimes I got angry with Him.  It was a hard time, a sad time, a time of waiting.  But God heard my cries and He answered my prayers in His time, in an even bigger way than I imagined.  He not only opened my womb once, but now has blessed me for the sixth time!!!   My days are now full with five beautiful girls, and a growing baby in my womb.  I am so thankful, so grateful, so overjoyed with His goodness to me.

"He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.  Praise the Lord!"  Psalm 113:9

Happy Birthday Dave!

It was just over four months ago that we got the dreaded news.  My father-in-law, Dave, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, the cancer had spread to many areas in his body, and it was aggressive.  All his family and friends, and even strangers, started praying for him.  God has been answering our prayers in an amazing way!  The cancer has been shrinking all over and responding well to chemo.  Dave has been fighting this horrible disease and he is winning!  He is so strong, so brave, a true fighter.  Today is such a gift, we will all be together to celebrate his 63rd birthday.  Happy Birthday Dave!  Keep on fighting and we'll keep on praying!

Serve Joyfully...

Servants.  God tells us to serve one another in love.  God tells us to do all things joyfully.  Oh, how I fail at that, even though I am constantly reminding my children of this verse (1 Thess. 5:16  "Rejoice always.").    I am to serve others and to do it joyfully.   Today was a hard day for this.  I have three children that need help with either diapers or on the toilet.  Some days I feel like all I do is wipe bottoms.  By the end of the day today, I actually had tears in my eyes when I had to change the 3rd messy diaper in a matter of minutes (I blame it on the pregnancy hormones!).  But yet, God tells me to rejoice always.  Even when I am changing the 10th diaper of the day, or being called in the bathroom for the 5th time to help my toddler or preschooler.  Oh that I would remember that God tells me to rejoice even in this.  The fact that I have that many young children to help out is such a gift.  On days when I'm tired, and not feeling the best (I am 6mos. pregnant!),  I need to remember what God instructs me to do.  To serve others joyfully.   Praying that tomorrow I would serve my children joyfully, especially during diaper  time!

" ...but through love serve one another."  Galatians 5:13

Looking to Him for strength...

Do you ever feel like God gives you more than you can handle?  That He thinks you can handle more than you really can?    I am there right now.  It has been a hard summer for many reasons, some of which I shared in my last post, and some that are just between God and I.  I know with all my heart that God will give me the strength I need for whatever He brings into my life.  I just need to turn to Him and trust that He will see me through.  Tomorrow my husband is having major back surgery.  The next month, and probably longer, will be an adjustment, and there will be tough times.  I know I won't break, if I just look to God for the strength I need. 

Hard things....

This summer has been full of hard things.  In mid-June, my dear father-in-law was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.   He is a strong, middle-age man, and this caught us all by surprise.  My heart is broken for him, for his dear wife, for his children (and children-in-laws!), his grand-children (who adore him!), and for all his family and friends.  We are hopeful that he will fight this for a long time and that we will be blessed with many more wonderful memories together.  We already have done a lot of fun things this summer, the best part is just being together.

Then, in mid-July, my sweet sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer.  This is such heart-breaking news, but we are hopeful they caught it early and that surgery will cure her!  She will be going in early next week for surgery.  She is a loving wife and mom and she means so much to so many people, including me!

Finally, my dear husband is having "back issues" again.  He has had two back surgeries, in less than two years for a herniated disc.  His pain in his back, down his backside, and into his leg has resurfaced.  The Dr. confirmed today that it is reherniated, again, but that he also has genomic spine disorder.  The Dr. thinks that he has had this since birth, but it didn't cause issues until later in life. 

Life can throw us curve-balls, can't it?!?  How we handle it says a lot about our faith in God.  God never said our life would be easy.  In fact, He tells us that in this world we will have trouble, but that He has overcome the world.  Resting in God with all of these hard things.

"In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!   I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  Phil. 4:19

These are a few of my favorite smells!

I've been digging and planting in the yard lately, and just love the smell of flowers, plants, and dirt.  I thought it would be fun to list some of my favorite smells.

1. The smell of  a newborn baby is one of the best smells in the world!  There is just something about breathing in that newborn =)

2. I love the smell of homemade bread.  The smell is almost as rewarding as taking that first bite of warm bread!

3. Love the smell of my hubby's cologne/body wash.  It's just so, well, manly!

4. As I said at the beginning of this post I love the smell of flowers, plants, and dirt.  We've been digging in our garden this morning and it is a sweet smell =)

5. Love the smell of a Fall night, so cool and crisp.  And if there is a campfire too that's even better!

6. I just love the smell of my children after they've had a bath.  Love to smell their clean hair!

7. Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie ... enough said!

8.  My mom's kitchen.  It reminds me of my childhood and she is the best cook.  No matter what she is cooking, it smells good =) 

9.  Mmmmm,  love to smell grilled meat.  When the neighbors are grilling it makes my mouth water for grilled food (our grill is "out of order" thanks to some birds nesting in it) !

10.  Chocolate chip cookies (or any cookies for that matter)!!!!

What are some of your favorite smells? 

Losing a pet...

He gave the wettest "kisses".   He had the worst smelling breath.  He would get so excited when I came home that he would pee (well, okay, he got so excited no matter who the person was, that he would pee)!  He yelped loudly whenever my kids would get in their high chair to eat (we have no idea why he did this!).    And I miss him (and all of his quirks)  every day....

We had to have our Jedi, our pet dog of over 11 years, put to sleep last December.  It all started about two years previous to that, when he had a cancerous lump removed.  Surgery was successful and he lived for almost another two years, enjoying good health.  However, last October, he began to have signs that he was sick again.  Unfortunately,  the cancer was in his stomach this time, surgery would be thousands of dollars, and chances of him making it through were slim.  We knew that once he started suffering badly we would have to make the painful decision to put him to sleep (if he didn't die on his own).  And that is what happened after a hard night and morning back in early December.

I will never forget having to tell my dear, sweet girls the terrible news on that Sunday morning.  There were many tears shed as we said good-bye.  Watching each of my girls' hearts break, along with mine,  felt like more than I could  bear.  Saying good-bye to Jedi, our pet of over 11 years,  was so hard.  It was an awful day.

It has already been 5mos. since we lost Jedi, and my girls still say things that Break. My. Heart.  Last week, my 6 year old told us that every day since Jedi died has been the worst day of her life.  We quickly reminded her that we have enjoyed many good days since he died, but we understand that she misses him terribly.  She agreed that saving up her money and buying an American Girl Doll was a good day!  My 3 year old occasionally tells me that she wants to see Jedi now, and see what he looks like.  I quickly say that he looks like he's sleeping, and then turn away before she sees my tears.  My 9 year old asks me why her sister (the 6 year old) always cries in front of us, since my 9 year old waits and cries in bed when she's alone.  That thought breaks my heart. Then there is my 2 year old, who looks out the door where hubby last left with Jedi, and says "Jedi go?  Jedi old, sick."   This week when I was explaining to my 6 year old (who by far has shed the most tears over Jedi in front of me) that if someone says "My heart is broken" it's just an expression.  Their heart isn't really broken in pieces.  She replied, " Yea, except that my heart really is broken in half over Jedi."  What could I say to that?  And then there is this momma, who misses that wet, stinky, peeing, yelping companion so very much.  

Jedi looking disgusted being dressed in girls clothes!

A simple tradition

Our last day of  "school" will be this Friday.   I feel like we just started our home school  journey, and we are already wrapping up our 4th year!  Our family has been so blessed with the gift of homeschooling.  I love that my girls are learning together, with me, side-by-side, day after day.  Love it!  Is it always easy?  No.  Does it always go smoothly?  No.  Am I able to keep up with my housework as much as I want?  No.   Is it worth every hard, rough, messy day we've had?  Yes!  

We will be celebrating our last day of school with, are you ready for this, root beer floats!  I started this "tradition", not knowing it would become a tradition, on my oldest daughters last day of Kindergarten.  I just happened to buy stuff to have root beer floats to celebrate her last day of school.  Then, as her last day of first grade was approaching, she asked me if I had the ice cream and root beer ready.  That is how our tradition started, and continues to this day.  I love how excited they get for this very simple treat.  They started talking about it at least a month ago.  I have the ice cream and root beer bought and now we are waiting for the last day of school, to enjoy our very simple treat!  What do you do to celebrate the last day of school?  What family traditions, no matter how simple, have you started for your family?

I'm back...

Life has been so busy adjusting to being a family of seven, but it has gone so incredibly good.  The four big sisters amaze me with their willingness to help and love on their new sister.  Let's just say there is something so special with having a baby in the house!  It is such a gift to watch these little mothers in training! 

Anyhow, just wanted to say that I'm back and planning on blogging as time allows (or as I make time for it!).  I have a lot of different ideas in mind that I want to blog about.  One of my first posts will be a bit sad as I share the hurt our family went through as we lost our dog, our special companion, in early December.  You may want a tissue for that post, as I share some of the precious things my children have said as they miss their dog, Jedi.  Looking forward to getting back in touch with the blogging world.  Hope you stop back soon!