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