I keep saying this, and you're probably getting tired of it, but you'll just have to endure :) I cannot believe my boy is already 2!
He has a little sister.
He runs, he jumps, he twirls, he dances, he stomps his feet, he does giant steps...
He laughs, he talks, he yells, he squeals, he screams, he whispers...
He hugs, he high-fives, he kisses, he snuggles, he sits in our laps, he curls up with blankets...
He chases our fur babies (and we think it's hilarious... hehe), he launches balls and other toy items like a pro, he uses our dining room table as a race track, and our hallway as a drag strip for racing
He also does too many things like me... which make me giggle and my hubby shake his head ;) Things like: saving his favorite color fruit loop for last (his happens to be red... mine was always blue), he lines up all of his cars (facing all the same direction, and a lot of times they are color coordinated), he builds towers in alternating color blocks (patterns...)... yeah. We'll leave it to that list for now ;)
Anywho, for this 2nd birthday, we kept it low-key... mostly because hubby had to work... but thankfully it wasn't a 14-hr day like we expected! Hooray for dinner OUT! Plus, we're planning on a small gathering to celebrate for this Saturday!
It's been an interesting day... moreso for me (Aaron has no clue... not a single clue... bless him for his toddler innocence!).
All started with me wanting to sneak into his room this morning and get a picture of him sleeping at the exact time of his birth 5:46am. Rebekah woke me up at 5:15 (started nursing her at 5:20ish, finished at about 5:30, got her back into her bassinet at 5:40)... was thankful I didn't have to listen to my alarm, but was a little panicky about her possibly not going back to sleep easily. Thankfully, she was great!
So, I head to the living room to retrieve the camera, and make it into his room at exactly 5:46. Phew! I'm good... until.......
I try to take a picture, it sets up to take, and then bam... black screen. The lens pulls in and then it gives me this screen:
"Battery Exhausted"
Well, shoot. I'm exhausted too... but I'm still in here, and come on! I want this picture!
So, I try again... same deal.
Huffing and puffing (and about the blow the house down), I stomp back to the living room to find replacement batteries... I stumble upon rechargeable ones... head back to his room.
I try to get a picture again... and AGAIN, black screen and exhausted message. SERIOUSLY?! Now I'm about to scream lol.
Then it happens, Aaron wakes up because he heard his door squeak (blasted squeaky hinges!)... so, now I have to pick him up, and then he requests "Juice"... so, we go get juice and I try to find some other other batteries. Hooray! I find some!
So, I did get a picture (at 5:58... ugh)... but guess what? Aaron was not about to go back to sleep.
GOOD MORNING! :)
Definitely wasn't expecting to start out my day with him already there... but it's ok :) He ate his breakfast while watching a movie (hooray for birthdays!), I still got a nice breakfast and a hot cup of coffee (rare!).
We did a TON of TV today... but hey, it's not all the time, and it was pouring down rain for most of the day (not the kind that's easy for a kiddo to play in... it was torrential... ). He played with his cars, dumped out his bins of toys (so, essentially had every toy out), watched movies, and we did get to go puddle jumping during a break in the weather :) He loves going "spash!"
Dinner was Buffalo Wild Wings, and boy, did Aaron have a blast. He was pretty restless, but enjoyed his time sitting in the booth with Daddy (hooray for being big enough/old enough for a booster!).
We're waiting to give him our gifts until Saturday, so that he can have something for that celebration. Plus, he received a few cards and some presents from my sister and brother-in-law. She used the same concept we're hoping to stick to as parents in gifting to our children... which is this:
1 Toy
1 Book
1 Outfit
It's simple, it's well balanced, and it keeps the TOYS in check. We certainly don't have room for myriads of toys...
What gifting "rules" or concepts do you hold to? (if any) We may get into having our kiddos give something away as a donation when they're older (instead of constantly receiving, allowing them to know what it's like to give away).
All-in-all, it was a fantastic day! Exhausting, but great!
Now it's time to feed Rufie and Gildie and head to bed... Goodnight all! :)
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Car rides and What's For Dinner?
Things have continued to be busy here... oy. We have had 5 straight days of long car rides (helps that everyone is so spread out, and it takes us usually at least 30min to get to our normal places...), and I have got to say... I dislike car rides with my baby girl.
Harsh?
Maybe.
But let me explain...
Our daughter was born at home... what a wonderful experience! This may just be her, or it may be a by-product of such a birth scenario, but she HATES being in the car. Loathes it, even. It started with her throwing the largest scream fest the second she would get in the carseat... but she and the carseat have seemed to reconcile their differences (she's 4.5mos now). She and the car, however, are still at odds. Screamo, insane guttural vocalizations are what I have faced over the last 5 days... well, mostly just Thursday and Friday (when I had it all by myself... thankful to have hubby for Saturday and Sunday... and for a wonderful day of a car ride today!).
When my baby is screaming... even just crying... it tears me up... I have such a visceral response. The sounds she makes leads me to believe she's being attacked (by what... only her little mind and God's know the answer to that... I can speculate all I want)... which throws me into super uber protective momma-bear mode. Seriously. Only... there's nothing to protect her from... so where does all that energy get thrown on? My kiddos. It's horrible. It's ugly. And I know it. And yet, too many times, I let myself go there. And then I apologize profusely. Thankfully, there's such a thing as grace.
You wanna know how grace is present?
My children are so young, they'll not remember my outbursts (as long as they are not the norm... as long as they don't become my default... as long as it does not become my identity). They may recognize it to some extent, but as long as I am seeking Christ and striving to grow in my walk... I ought to always seek forgiveness and be willing to apologize, especially to my kiddos in these times. And THAT they will also remember :) They will remember that we're not perfect, but that we also cannot hold so tightly to our own pride and selfishness (ie--refusing to admit when we're wrong... even to our own kiddos in regards to wrong reactions toward them).
Something that helped the car ride today... prayer, time in the Word, and PRAYER! I was praying... my hubby was praying... and God was at work. Even as the Father of Lies was trying to get me flustered and frustrated enough to get me going at my kiddos... via me hitting every possible red light... God was giving me strength, peace, and control over my emotions/reactions. When a 40min trip takes about an hour or more solely from the red lights... you know it's a long tedious trip lol.
I finally installed one of those seat mirrors too... finally... that may have had a hand in the happiness too ;)
And now, for What's For Dinner?!!
We ate all leftovers yesterday... meaning, we finished off whatever we had left... except for the pizza we ordered in a few nights back. Which will make Aaron super happy... he's been requesting "meeena!" (aka pizza) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ever since we ordered it ha! It's an easy way to get him to eat all sorts of veggies ("eat your veggies and you'll get somemore pizza...")... he's really good about veggies anyway, but sometimes motivation is needed.
Anywho, back to the topic at hand. I'm needing to make a grocery trip... so we don't have too many options available for meals... usually leaving me pacing, and opening up multiple cabinets, fridge, freezer, and repeat with exasperation. Then I saw it... a partial carton of whipping cream... still good... hmm, what to do? What to do? I should be creative!
So, I peruse the fridge further... boneless, skinless chicken breast; fresh broccoli, fresh asparagus, celery, carrots, chicken broth... I shall make chicken noodle casserole and make my own cream of something sauce! Yep... that's what I'll do!
I've never made any cream of something sauce before... so I'm punting. And I decided to go into it without any sort of recipe reference :) Schwoah!
Long story short, it was delicious! My hubby loved it! And my toddler GOBBLED (and I mean GOBBLED) it up! So, without further adieu, here is the recipe (ish... I don't really have exact measurements for the cream of something sauce):
1 boneless skinless chicken breast (rinse in cool water, dry with paper towel, place in ungreased baking dish, cover with foil, and cook for roughly 20min at 400* or until juices run clear)--small diced
Egg noodles (cook for about 5min, they will cook further with all ingredients)
Fresh broccoli florets
Fresh asparagus (I used about 5 spears)
Fresh carrot (I used one)
Fresh celery (About 3 stalks)
**amounts of veggies depends on number you're serving, how large a casserole dish you're filling, etc.
Cream of something sauce:
Whipping cream (I probably had half to a little less than half a pint--I used what I had left in the carton)
1 cup Chicken broth (I use the 33% reduced sodium)
1 Tbsp Cornstarch
Garlic powder (I didn't have exact measurements for the spices....... so, add to your taste!)
Onion powder
Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Celery (I used about a 2-3in. section of a stalk cut into very small dice)
Directions:
In small saucepan, combine whipping cream, 3/4 cup chicken broth, garlic, onion, pepper. Heat till bubbling. In measuring cup or small dish, mix cornstarch in 1/4 cup chicken broth. Slowly stir cornstarch mixture in to contents in saucepan. Bring to boil, let boil for 2-3min while stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally. Add celery and olive oil. Continue to stir occasionally. Sauce is ready for use when it begins to "stick" to the spoon, means it is thick enough.
In casserole dish, have fresh veggies cut into small pieces, diced chicken, and noodles. Pour sauce over all, and mix thoroughly with spoon. Add about a tsp of salt and mix thoroughly. Cover with lid and place in oven for 30-45min at 350*.
Serve hot. Add some fresh fruit and water and you've got a complete meal! We also decided to have a special "crunch factor" in eating some plain potato chips (gives a nice little crunch, a little more salt to the meal... just be sure to exercise self-control in how many you eat! A little goes a long way :) )
Tomorrow is our "baby" boy's birthday! The big 2! Can hardly believe it... I'm in denial haha! Better get some sleep so I can make sure to sneak in to his room at the exact moment of his arrival (5:46am!).
May God bless you! His Mercies are new every morning! What a blessing! :)
Harsh?
Maybe.
But let me explain...
Our daughter was born at home... what a wonderful experience! This may just be her, or it may be a by-product of such a birth scenario, but she HATES being in the car. Loathes it, even. It started with her throwing the largest scream fest the second she would get in the carseat... but she and the carseat have seemed to reconcile their differences (she's 4.5mos now). She and the car, however, are still at odds. Screamo, insane guttural vocalizations are what I have faced over the last 5 days... well, mostly just Thursday and Friday (when I had it all by myself... thankful to have hubby for Saturday and Sunday... and for a wonderful day of a car ride today!).
When my baby is screaming... even just crying... it tears me up... I have such a visceral response. The sounds she makes leads me to believe she's being attacked (by what... only her little mind and God's know the answer to that... I can speculate all I want)... which throws me into super uber protective momma-bear mode. Seriously. Only... there's nothing to protect her from... so where does all that energy get thrown on? My kiddos. It's horrible. It's ugly. And I know it. And yet, too many times, I let myself go there. And then I apologize profusely. Thankfully, there's such a thing as grace.
You wanna know how grace is present?
My children are so young, they'll not remember my outbursts (as long as they are not the norm... as long as they don't become my default... as long as it does not become my identity). They may recognize it to some extent, but as long as I am seeking Christ and striving to grow in my walk... I ought to always seek forgiveness and be willing to apologize, especially to my kiddos in these times. And THAT they will also remember :) They will remember that we're not perfect, but that we also cannot hold so tightly to our own pride and selfishness (ie--refusing to admit when we're wrong... even to our own kiddos in regards to wrong reactions toward them).
Something that helped the car ride today... prayer, time in the Word, and PRAYER! I was praying... my hubby was praying... and God was at work. Even as the Father of Lies was trying to get me flustered and frustrated enough to get me going at my kiddos... via me hitting every possible red light... God was giving me strength, peace, and control over my emotions/reactions. When a 40min trip takes about an hour or more solely from the red lights... you know it's a long tedious trip lol.
I finally installed one of those seat mirrors too... finally... that may have had a hand in the happiness too ;)
And now, for What's For Dinner?!!
We ate all leftovers yesterday... meaning, we finished off whatever we had left... except for the pizza we ordered in a few nights back. Which will make Aaron super happy... he's been requesting "meeena!" (aka pizza) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ever since we ordered it ha! It's an easy way to get him to eat all sorts of veggies ("eat your veggies and you'll get somemore pizza...")... he's really good about veggies anyway, but sometimes motivation is needed.
Anywho, back to the topic at hand. I'm needing to make a grocery trip... so we don't have too many options available for meals... usually leaving me pacing, and opening up multiple cabinets, fridge, freezer, and repeat with exasperation. Then I saw it... a partial carton of whipping cream... still good... hmm, what to do? What to do? I should be creative!
So, I peruse the fridge further... boneless, skinless chicken breast; fresh broccoli, fresh asparagus, celery, carrots, chicken broth... I shall make chicken noodle casserole and make my own cream of something sauce! Yep... that's what I'll do!
I've never made any cream of something sauce before... so I'm punting. And I decided to go into it without any sort of recipe reference :) Schwoah!
Long story short, it was delicious! My hubby loved it! And my toddler GOBBLED (and I mean GOBBLED) it up! So, without further adieu, here is the recipe (ish... I don't really have exact measurements for the cream of something sauce):
1 boneless skinless chicken breast (rinse in cool water, dry with paper towel, place in ungreased baking dish, cover with foil, and cook for roughly 20min at 400* or until juices run clear)--small diced
Egg noodles (cook for about 5min, they will cook further with all ingredients)
Fresh broccoli florets
Fresh asparagus (I used about 5 spears)
Fresh carrot (I used one)
Fresh celery (About 3 stalks)
**amounts of veggies depends on number you're serving, how large a casserole dish you're filling, etc.
Cream of something sauce:
Whipping cream (I probably had half to a little less than half a pint--I used what I had left in the carton)
1 cup Chicken broth (I use the 33% reduced sodium)
1 Tbsp Cornstarch
Garlic powder (I didn't have exact measurements for the spices....... so, add to your taste!)
Onion powder
Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Celery (I used about a 2-3in. section of a stalk cut into very small dice)
Directions:
In small saucepan, combine whipping cream, 3/4 cup chicken broth, garlic, onion, pepper. Heat till bubbling. In measuring cup or small dish, mix cornstarch in 1/4 cup chicken broth. Slowly stir cornstarch mixture in to contents in saucepan. Bring to boil, let boil for 2-3min while stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally. Add celery and olive oil. Continue to stir occasionally. Sauce is ready for use when it begins to "stick" to the spoon, means it is thick enough.
In casserole dish, have fresh veggies cut into small pieces, diced chicken, and noodles. Pour sauce over all, and mix thoroughly with spoon. Add about a tsp of salt and mix thoroughly. Cover with lid and place in oven for 30-45min at 350*.
Serve hot. Add some fresh fruit and water and you've got a complete meal! We also decided to have a special "crunch factor" in eating some plain potato chips (gives a nice little crunch, a little more salt to the meal... just be sure to exercise self-control in how many you eat! A little goes a long way :) )
Tomorrow is our "baby" boy's birthday! The big 2! Can hardly believe it... I'm in denial haha! Better get some sleep so I can make sure to sneak in to his room at the exact moment of his arrival (5:46am!).
May God bless you! His Mercies are new every morning! What a blessing! :)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
What's for Dinner??
Wanted to share a delicious, homemade, super easy, refreshing, and HEALTHY dinner idea :)
This evening, I finally put into practice my homemade taco seasoning recipe that I collected from an online search. We had chicken tacos! I'm just going to jump in and give you the rundown on prep and recipe and such.
Taco Seasoning recipe:
1 Tbsp Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Onion Powder
1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes OR 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper (I used the Cayenne! Worked GREAT!)
1/4 tsp Dried Oregano
1/2 tsp Paprika
1 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
Combine all ingredients in small plastic container (I used the smallest RubberMaid storage container I have), secure lid, and shake till mixed... store with other spices when done using :)
Chicken: **Note: amount I used was good for 6 tacos
1 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Rinse chicken breast under cool water and dry off with paper towel. Place in clean baking dish and cover with lid or aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven at 400* for about 20min (until juices run clear). Allow to cool fully in baking dish.
Once cooled, remove from dish and use a sharp knife (chef's knife works wonders) to dice into small cubes. Place in medium frying pan (best to use a good nonstick pan). Heat on medium heat till you begin to hear a soft sizzle. Add 1-2 tsp of taco seasoning and roughly 1/2 cup water and mix with spatula/spoon into chicken. Bring to boil, then decrease heat back to medium to simmer, stirring occasionally to avoid burning seasonings.
Remove from heat and serve.
Taco Fixings:
Romaine Lettuce leaves (Rinsed and dried, with lower portion "stem" taken off)-- To be used as the
taco shells in place of tortillas or traditional taco shells
Shredded Cheese (I use block cheese and shred myself to save a TON on cost and avoid the
preservatives and "anti-caking agents" aka--sawdust--masquerading as cellulose)
I used Mild Cheddar and Monterey Jack for a traditional mixture, and then had a separate
bowl of Pepper Jack for my hubby
1 Jalepeno Pepper (seeds removed, cut into small pieces)--again, for my hubby
1 Avocado (diced)
1 Tomato (diced)
Sour Cream
Tortilla chip strips (can add 1 or 2 to your taco for some nice salty crunch, and to give some of your taco shell fix, without having the mass amount of shell)
Add Chicken and fixings to your Romaine Lettuce leaves, wrap up and enjoy! I got a high-five from my hubby... so must have been a good dinner! He ate 3, I had 2, and our toddler fiddled around with his... he's getting a second chance with his at lunch tomorrow ;) teehee!
Add to this some fresh fruit, water to drink, and you're all set to have a healthy, tasty, refreshing, and enjoyably easy dinner! :)
This evening, I finally put into practice my homemade taco seasoning recipe that I collected from an online search. We had chicken tacos! I'm just going to jump in and give you the rundown on prep and recipe and such.
Taco Seasoning recipe:
1 Tbsp Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Onion Powder
1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes OR 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper (I used the Cayenne! Worked GREAT!)
1/4 tsp Dried Oregano
1/2 tsp Paprika
1 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
Combine all ingredients in small plastic container (I used the smallest RubberMaid storage container I have), secure lid, and shake till mixed... store with other spices when done using :)
Chicken: **Note: amount I used was good for 6 tacos
1 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Rinse chicken breast under cool water and dry off with paper towel. Place in clean baking dish and cover with lid or aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven at 400* for about 20min (until juices run clear). Allow to cool fully in baking dish.
Once cooled, remove from dish and use a sharp knife (chef's knife works wonders) to dice into small cubes. Place in medium frying pan (best to use a good nonstick pan). Heat on medium heat till you begin to hear a soft sizzle. Add 1-2 tsp of taco seasoning and roughly 1/2 cup water and mix with spatula/spoon into chicken. Bring to boil, then decrease heat back to medium to simmer, stirring occasionally to avoid burning seasonings.
Remove from heat and serve.
Taco Fixings:
Romaine Lettuce leaves (Rinsed and dried, with lower portion "stem" taken off)-- To be used as the
taco shells in place of tortillas or traditional taco shells
Shredded Cheese (I use block cheese and shred myself to save a TON on cost and avoid the
preservatives and "anti-caking agents" aka--sawdust--masquerading as cellulose)
I used Mild Cheddar and Monterey Jack for a traditional mixture, and then had a separate
bowl of Pepper Jack for my hubby
1 Jalepeno Pepper (seeds removed, cut into small pieces)--again, for my hubby
1 Avocado (diced)
1 Tomato (diced)
Sour Cream
Tortilla chip strips (can add 1 or 2 to your taco for some nice salty crunch, and to give some of your taco shell fix, without having the mass amount of shell)
Add Chicken and fixings to your Romaine Lettuce leaves, wrap up and enjoy! I got a high-five from my hubby... so must have been a good dinner! He ate 3, I had 2, and our toddler fiddled around with his... he's getting a second chance with his at lunch tomorrow ;) teehee!
Add to this some fresh fruit, water to drink, and you're all set to have a healthy, tasty, refreshing, and enjoyably easy dinner! :)
Monday, June 17, 2013
Father's Day, Upcoming Celebrations, and Update on Complaining
I know this is the day after, but to all you Daddies out there, Happy Father's Day! Or as a friend of mine put it: "Happy Eldest Child Day... for without me, you wouldn't be a Father" haha! I am not the eldest child for either of my parents... but I am the eldest for their marriage to each other. We are one of those "yours, mine, and ours" kind of families :)
Aaanywho, this Father's Day weekend was amazing! Hubby, aka the Daddy to our 2 little ones, was able to be home all weekend! He was supposed to work Saturday, but we got a fantastic call Friday evening that another guy was going to take the shift instead :) We all did some pretty embarrassing happy dances ;) Hubby really got to enjoy some quality playtime with Aaron, and some good snuggle naps with Rebekah (one of his favorite things to do with a baby)... which was all very much needed since he's been working so much. The nature of truck drivers (CDL): can work up to 14hr days... and no more than 70hrs a week... oh really? That's all, DOT? Just 70? (dripping with sarcasm if you didn't catch that right away lol). But I digress.
Sunday was spent in the best way possible: time worshipping our Heavenly Father at church with other believers! He is, after all, the best Father there is... He is Father to all, He loves us no matter how many stupid things we do, He directs our steps, and He truly knows what is best for everyone (even though we may think our plans are better in the moment... yeah, they're not!). Sunday School (or ABF time as our church calls it for the adults) was spent reflecting on all the scriptures that speak on the matter of Christ's Resurrection... the most powerful significance to our Faith. Sadly, I cannot bring any info on the sermon... Miss Rebekah was ready to eat, so I spent that time down in the nursery.
We spent lunch and the afternoon with some dear friends from church, and it was a wonderful time together! Lots of giggles, and laughs to be had by all! Rebekah even had her first belly laughs :) Was neat to share that with our friends (she's been a giggler, but did her first big laughs at their house).
Seth thoroughly enjoyed his 2nd Father's Day! I felt bad, initially, that he was doing things like changing diapers, wrangling kiddos, and such... but really, he enjoyed those times... with how much he works during the week, he looks forward to those moments to spend with them and to help me. What a blessing my hubby is to me and to our children!
Now on to my Daddy... I miss him! We live about 2400miles apart... so I didn't get to see him, but I got to talk to him :) Phone conversations tend to be a smidge on the awkward side with him (he's very quiet, reserved, and not the biggest conversationalist... it runs through his family--well, the guys anyway), so keeping one going is some work. However, it was very nice... and it was great to find out that he had the day off from work (he had to work Mother's Day, which left my mom on her own... thankfully my brother-in-law was kind to do something special with her!... and he's been having to do mandatory overtime at work--72hr workweeks, blah), and that he enjoyed church, and was on his way to my sister and brother-in-law's house for BBQ and time to relax :) I wanted to let my Daddy know how much I love him... and respect him... he works SO hard, hardly complains, and has been beat down by the work system so much over the years, it's a wonder he can still stand. And you want to know WHY he does such hard work and hours? For my Mom. Us kids were in on the benefits too when we were under his care, but really, it's about my Mom. He works a thankless job because the insurance is just what my Mom, and her battle with cancer, needs... ever since the cancer entered our lives on Thanksgiving 1997, my Dad has placed good insurance coverage at the forefront of his job searches. What a Man! He is the Biblical definition of protection, service, self-sacrifice, and LOVE. Thank you, Daddy... for being MY Dad!
Boy, this is going to be a novel... bear with me ;)
My "baby" boy, Aaron, is going to be 2 next week! How in the world is this even possible?????? Seems like just yesterday, we were bringing him home from the hospital... so unsure of what we had gotten ourselves into haha! Now, here he is... a rambunctious toddler... so much fun (and such a challenge!)... and becoming such a neat little individual :) He loves to "help" me in anyway he can... and I'll take it! One thing, in particular, that cracks me up every time, is that we cloth diaper, and we use cloth wipes (Hello, money savings!); the cloth wipes are "collected" in a little whicker waste basket, and anytime I bring it out of his room for diaper laundry time, he will run and take it out of my hands to carry it to the laundry closet himself. He LOVES to do it! Far be it from me to steal his joy ;) He loves his baby sister, but only if she's not touching him ;) ha! I actually have a little video of the two of them sitting on our glider rocker, and her little foot kept touching him on the leg, and he would keep looking down at her foot and try to scoot further away from her! Super cute!
Also, next week, my parents are coming for a visit! Their first time here since Aaron was born, and their first time seeing our house :) I'm pretty stoked for this! We did make a trip "home" back in November, so they've seen Aaron, but not Rebekah (I was decently pregnant at that time though... so, they got to see her acrobatics via my belly haha)... so this will be very special! My Dad (Grandpa) is probably going to have Aaron outside or at least thoroughly engaged in TONS of physical activity and play the whole time, and my Mom (Grandma) is looking forward to holding Rebekah a lot :) Soooo... as my Mom said, "It's going to be like a vacation for you" (WAHOO!!!). I will probably clean... ha! No, seriously ;) *sigh* This is going to be great!
Now, time for an update on my journey to eliminating complaints as my default response to life. It's been hard. Gotta say, it's when I'm most determined to nip this thing in the bud that Satan, the Father of Lies, works his hardest to make me fail. Friday, I was going to have a playdate with a friend and her girls... had a rough evening the night before, and was tired the morning of. I was all set to cancel on her... allow defeat to set in... allow negative thoughts to override the day. And that's when it hit me... that's precisely what I needed to fight! I needed to steer clear of this desire to "escape" accountability, positive interaction, etc. So, I was determined to keep the playdate! I was determined to speak with my friend, ask her forgiveness for the abuse our friendship has taken on my account, and make our relationship more about the positives and thankfulness I have! As I was washing dishes, I was mentally going through how I would say it all... how best to convey my intentions, my repentance, and my gratitude for all she has put up with on my account. It was with my son that Satan began hitting me again... Aaron got sick (stomach variety) during his breakfast... pretty sure it was teething related... but couldn't be sure. So, blast... had to cancel the playdate just incase it was a bug. :( I was effectively cut off from that in-person conversation. Then the screaming, defiant toddler entered the scene... and... and... and...
I was beginning to lose it. I felt it... I was turning ugly just as quickly as I had decided I was going to beat this thing! You wanna know what broke my back? Rinsing out a cloth diaper, and having JUST the right angle of a "canal" in the middle of it to shoot pee-water all down the front of me as I wrung it out... I began to cry (I know... I know... lame). I cried out to God to help me, because I couldn't do this thing on my own. I was being attacked... and I needed His help to fight this. Well, I made it through the day. When Hubby got home, he graciously allowed me to finally get a bath so I could clean up, relax, unwind, and refresh. It was the most therapeutic bath I've ever taken (sounds weird to say, but seriously, have never come out of one feeling better than I did that day). I had so much to be thankful for... Aaron didn't get sick anymore, and he ate lunch very well... he played well at least in the afternoon... Rebekah had a good day, and then, Seth got the call that evening that we would get to enjoy the weekend together!
Complaining... oy... this is quite a journey. And so worth it!
Thank you for sticking with me here... it was a loooooong entry, but I promise they won't all be this long :) I will try to update more often... yeah, that will help ha!
Aaanywho, this Father's Day weekend was amazing! Hubby, aka the Daddy to our 2 little ones, was able to be home all weekend! He was supposed to work Saturday, but we got a fantastic call Friday evening that another guy was going to take the shift instead :) We all did some pretty embarrassing happy dances ;) Hubby really got to enjoy some quality playtime with Aaron, and some good snuggle naps with Rebekah (one of his favorite things to do with a baby)... which was all very much needed since he's been working so much. The nature of truck drivers (CDL): can work up to 14hr days... and no more than 70hrs a week... oh really? That's all, DOT? Just 70? (dripping with sarcasm if you didn't catch that right away lol). But I digress.
Sunday was spent in the best way possible: time worshipping our Heavenly Father at church with other believers! He is, after all, the best Father there is... He is Father to all, He loves us no matter how many stupid things we do, He directs our steps, and He truly knows what is best for everyone (even though we may think our plans are better in the moment... yeah, they're not!). Sunday School (or ABF time as our church calls it for the adults) was spent reflecting on all the scriptures that speak on the matter of Christ's Resurrection... the most powerful significance to our Faith. Sadly, I cannot bring any info on the sermon... Miss Rebekah was ready to eat, so I spent that time down in the nursery.
We spent lunch and the afternoon with some dear friends from church, and it was a wonderful time together! Lots of giggles, and laughs to be had by all! Rebekah even had her first belly laughs :) Was neat to share that with our friends (she's been a giggler, but did her first big laughs at their house).
Seth thoroughly enjoyed his 2nd Father's Day! I felt bad, initially, that he was doing things like changing diapers, wrangling kiddos, and such... but really, he enjoyed those times... with how much he works during the week, he looks forward to those moments to spend with them and to help me. What a blessing my hubby is to me and to our children!
Now on to my Daddy... I miss him! We live about 2400miles apart... so I didn't get to see him, but I got to talk to him :) Phone conversations tend to be a smidge on the awkward side with him (he's very quiet, reserved, and not the biggest conversationalist... it runs through his family--well, the guys anyway), so keeping one going is some work. However, it was very nice... and it was great to find out that he had the day off from work (he had to work Mother's Day, which left my mom on her own... thankfully my brother-in-law was kind to do something special with her!... and he's been having to do mandatory overtime at work--72hr workweeks, blah), and that he enjoyed church, and was on his way to my sister and brother-in-law's house for BBQ and time to relax :) I wanted to let my Daddy know how much I love him... and respect him... he works SO hard, hardly complains, and has been beat down by the work system so much over the years, it's a wonder he can still stand. And you want to know WHY he does such hard work and hours? For my Mom. Us kids were in on the benefits too when we were under his care, but really, it's about my Mom. He works a thankless job because the insurance is just what my Mom, and her battle with cancer, needs... ever since the cancer entered our lives on Thanksgiving 1997, my Dad has placed good insurance coverage at the forefront of his job searches. What a Man! He is the Biblical definition of protection, service, self-sacrifice, and LOVE. Thank you, Daddy... for being MY Dad!
Boy, this is going to be a novel... bear with me ;)
My "baby" boy, Aaron, is going to be 2 next week! How in the world is this even possible?????? Seems like just yesterday, we were bringing him home from the hospital... so unsure of what we had gotten ourselves into haha! Now, here he is... a rambunctious toddler... so much fun (and such a challenge!)... and becoming such a neat little individual :) He loves to "help" me in anyway he can... and I'll take it! One thing, in particular, that cracks me up every time, is that we cloth diaper, and we use cloth wipes (Hello, money savings!); the cloth wipes are "collected" in a little whicker waste basket, and anytime I bring it out of his room for diaper laundry time, he will run and take it out of my hands to carry it to the laundry closet himself. He LOVES to do it! Far be it from me to steal his joy ;) He loves his baby sister, but only if she's not touching him ;) ha! I actually have a little video of the two of them sitting on our glider rocker, and her little foot kept touching him on the leg, and he would keep looking down at her foot and try to scoot further away from her! Super cute!
Also, next week, my parents are coming for a visit! Their first time here since Aaron was born, and their first time seeing our house :) I'm pretty stoked for this! We did make a trip "home" back in November, so they've seen Aaron, but not Rebekah (I was decently pregnant at that time though... so, they got to see her acrobatics via my belly haha)... so this will be very special! My Dad (Grandpa) is probably going to have Aaron outside or at least thoroughly engaged in TONS of physical activity and play the whole time, and my Mom (Grandma) is looking forward to holding Rebekah a lot :) Soooo... as my Mom said, "It's going to be like a vacation for you" (WAHOO!!!). I will probably clean... ha! No, seriously ;) *sigh* This is going to be great!
Now, time for an update on my journey to eliminating complaints as my default response to life. It's been hard. Gotta say, it's when I'm most determined to nip this thing in the bud that Satan, the Father of Lies, works his hardest to make me fail. Friday, I was going to have a playdate with a friend and her girls... had a rough evening the night before, and was tired the morning of. I was all set to cancel on her... allow defeat to set in... allow negative thoughts to override the day. And that's when it hit me... that's precisely what I needed to fight! I needed to steer clear of this desire to "escape" accountability, positive interaction, etc. So, I was determined to keep the playdate! I was determined to speak with my friend, ask her forgiveness for the abuse our friendship has taken on my account, and make our relationship more about the positives and thankfulness I have! As I was washing dishes, I was mentally going through how I would say it all... how best to convey my intentions, my repentance, and my gratitude for all she has put up with on my account. It was with my son that Satan began hitting me again... Aaron got sick (stomach variety) during his breakfast... pretty sure it was teething related... but couldn't be sure. So, blast... had to cancel the playdate just incase it was a bug. :( I was effectively cut off from that in-person conversation. Then the screaming, defiant toddler entered the scene... and... and... and...
I was beginning to lose it. I felt it... I was turning ugly just as quickly as I had decided I was going to beat this thing! You wanna know what broke my back? Rinsing out a cloth diaper, and having JUST the right angle of a "canal" in the middle of it to shoot pee-water all down the front of me as I wrung it out... I began to cry (I know... I know... lame). I cried out to God to help me, because I couldn't do this thing on my own. I was being attacked... and I needed His help to fight this. Well, I made it through the day. When Hubby got home, he graciously allowed me to finally get a bath so I could clean up, relax, unwind, and refresh. It was the most therapeutic bath I've ever taken (sounds weird to say, but seriously, have never come out of one feeling better than I did that day). I had so much to be thankful for... Aaron didn't get sick anymore, and he ate lunch very well... he played well at least in the afternoon... Rebekah had a good day, and then, Seth got the call that evening that we would get to enjoy the weekend together!
Complaining... oy... this is quite a journey. And so worth it!
Thank you for sticking with me here... it was a loooooong entry, but I promise they won't all be this long :) I will try to update more often... yeah, that will help ha!
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Complaints, Negativity, and the like
So very common... and equally destructive, joy-suckers, life-stunters.
Day-to-day life can be tough... alright, it IS tough. If anyone tries to tell you that they never have bad days, they're lying to your face (seriously). Bad days happen... trials come (Remember that passage in James??). But how do we choose to react to them?
Better yet, how do we choose to reveal them to those around us? (The friend who asks how you are... the family members stepping into conversation space with us... neighbors, coworkers, innocent random bystanders)
I am a stay-at-home wife and mommy. I absolutely LOVE my "job" as such! But, ya know what? It's HARD. "Don't worry... Mommies always scream into their pillows when they're happy" (search for Rob Paravonian on YouTube and look for his video on a children's song... you'll find this quote there). It's hard to even WANT to go outside the house with two little ones (an energetic toddler and a young infant), it's hard to coordinate schedules to hang out with other adults on a regular basis... and when those loooooong work weeks happen for hubby, I may only get an hour or less each day with him.
So, with all of this limited adult conversation time, why do I find myself bringing them complaints, negatives, all the downs? Because it's so easy to focus on negatives! They are so very powerful, difficult to overcome... ever heard that it takes about 10 positive things to counteract 1 negative?? Yeah, it's true!
I'm ecstatic when I get to have adult conversation... time with my hubby, time with friends, time with acquaintances. With the enthusiasm, I ought to share it with them... share my joys, my highs, my praises for all that is wonderful in my life!
Plus, God commands us to be joyful, to keep from complaining... He does this for our own good, really. How easy it is for us, as humans, to be dragged down to the lowest of lows... and to try to take everyone with us (because we don't want to be there alone). How much better it would be to bask in joy, in the highs, and to bring everyone with us! MUCH better to be together and full of joy, than together (possibly) and full of despair.
Philippians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing."
Boy, do I have work to do here! I was inspired in reading of one Wife/Momma's journey to eliminating a complaining spirit in herself (Biblicalhomemaking.com), and would like to take my own personal journey in this area.
How about YOU? Will you join me? My hubby is going on this journey too... we were just speaking about this very thing this evening (we want to be more positive... and have much more enriched relationships and conversations with those in our lives)
I want to be accountable to others in this journey... because this is tough, it's big, and it's life-changing!
My baby girl won't be a baby for long (all I have to do is look at my almost 2 year old!!!!)... so I want to choose to enjoy the sweet snuggles, having her fall asleep on me, instead of complaining about how much my rear end hurts from sitting in the chair with her for an hour or 2 at a time. :) I want to enjoy my son learning how to draw, write, be creative... instead of complaining about the crayon marks on my white-cushioned dining room chairs (I'm the genius who picked those, right? haha!).
Life is too fleeting to be wrapped up in what irks us... too precious to waste on complaints. So, let's do this!! :)
Day-to-day life can be tough... alright, it IS tough. If anyone tries to tell you that they never have bad days, they're lying to your face (seriously). Bad days happen... trials come (Remember that passage in James??). But how do we choose to react to them?
Better yet, how do we choose to reveal them to those around us? (The friend who asks how you are... the family members stepping into conversation space with us... neighbors, coworkers, innocent random bystanders)
I am a stay-at-home wife and mommy. I absolutely LOVE my "job" as such! But, ya know what? It's HARD. "Don't worry... Mommies always scream into their pillows when they're happy" (search for Rob Paravonian on YouTube and look for his video on a children's song... you'll find this quote there). It's hard to even WANT to go outside the house with two little ones (an energetic toddler and a young infant), it's hard to coordinate schedules to hang out with other adults on a regular basis... and when those loooooong work weeks happen for hubby, I may only get an hour or less each day with him.
So, with all of this limited adult conversation time, why do I find myself bringing them complaints, negatives, all the downs? Because it's so easy to focus on negatives! They are so very powerful, difficult to overcome... ever heard that it takes about 10 positive things to counteract 1 negative?? Yeah, it's true!
I'm ecstatic when I get to have adult conversation... time with my hubby, time with friends, time with acquaintances. With the enthusiasm, I ought to share it with them... share my joys, my highs, my praises for all that is wonderful in my life!
Plus, God commands us to be joyful, to keep from complaining... He does this for our own good, really. How easy it is for us, as humans, to be dragged down to the lowest of lows... and to try to take everyone with us (because we don't want to be there alone). How much better it would be to bask in joy, in the highs, and to bring everyone with us! MUCH better to be together and full of joy, than together (possibly) and full of despair.
Philippians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing."
Boy, do I have work to do here! I was inspired in reading of one Wife/Momma's journey to eliminating a complaining spirit in herself (Biblicalhomemaking.com), and would like to take my own personal journey in this area.
How about YOU? Will you join me? My hubby is going on this journey too... we were just speaking about this very thing this evening (we want to be more positive... and have much more enriched relationships and conversations with those in our lives)
I want to be accountable to others in this journey... because this is tough, it's big, and it's life-changing!
My baby girl won't be a baby for long (all I have to do is look at my almost 2 year old!!!!)... so I want to choose to enjoy the sweet snuggles, having her fall asleep on me, instead of complaining about how much my rear end hurts from sitting in the chair with her for an hour or 2 at a time. :) I want to enjoy my son learning how to draw, write, be creative... instead of complaining about the crayon marks on my white-cushioned dining room chairs (I'm the genius who picked those, right? haha!).
Life is too fleeting to be wrapped up in what irks us... too precious to waste on complaints. So, let's do this!! :)
Thursday, June 6, 2013
I don't like bugs. Period.
This is going to be one of those silly posts... nothing serious (unless you SERIOUSLY hate bugs like me ha!).
Remember HUGE spider I told you guys about in my first post... yeah, he was just the beginning of the season's critters making their appearance in hostile territory... ugh.
This morning, wake to find one of those nasty, but smaller, beastly black spiders (has a sort of triangle-shape to it's body... *shudder*)... and it happens to be up on the wall...
...close to the ceiling...
... above the pantry...
... where I cannot reach it...
... and even if I retrieved a chair to stand on...
... would likely not be successful in smashing the thing...
... because he also happens to be close to doorway trim...
... making it highly unlikely that I could get him with a shoe...
... THE only choice for smashing him (cause why in the world would I want to chance missing him in a tissue and having him possibly go crawling onto my hand!!! EEWWW!)
So, I decide he will be left to roam... unless he were to make it into better range (with greater amount of space around him for said "smashing shoe").
A shower later... I come to find that not only is he NOT where he's more reachable... he has made it IMPOSSIBLE to get him now. He went all the way to the back wall that the cabinets/pantry are mounted onto, and up into the little corner between wall and ceiling. BAH! Whatever... as long as he stays there, I'll be great :)
HOWEVER, on my way to blissful ignoring-of-the-spider-ness, I find our two furry kids huddled by a corner... VERY interested in something. Not. Good.
So, I take a peek at what has them sooooooo enthralled, only to find a man-eating black ant. For real... HUGE ant... blocked into a corner by two kitties that refuse to do anything other than keep it cornered. And he knows that he's cornered... so, what does he do? He's in a defensive pose (seriously, ants apparently do this)... he's all kind of reared up to try to make himself look bigger and more threatening. The sad part...
My cats believe him. *hand to forehead*
He was not bigger than my shoe (thank goodness), but did take a few smashings to finally rid our house of him. Sheesh.
I think we need to spray around the house.................... :)
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Miscarriage and Romans 8:28
Does God really use miscarriage as a means to work things out for our good? ABSOLUTELY!
Am I speaking about something of which I do not know? Sadly, I am not.
This day, three years ago (Friday, June 4, 2010), I was forcefully conscripted into the journey of one who has miscarried. My hubby and I had only just found out the joyous news of our first pregnancy 3 days prior... what JOY filled our hearts and tiny apartment! While hubby was at work, the bleeding started... didn't seem like a lot, but I didn't feel easy about it (at all). However, I decided to just wait till he got home to let him know that I believed I was miscarrying our first baby. We went to the ER to get checked (since this was so new, we hadn't had a "formal" test in a lab or anything... and we had much too great an amount of crazy happen that day as well--I wasn't on the correct region of TriCare insurance yet, having just moved here a month prior... and we had NO clue where to go or how to deal with the tragedy facing us)... the doctor was trying to offer hope that my cervix was still closed and the right color... but the lab results said it all (I had next to no Hcg in my blood--the hormone that indicates a pregnancy--mine was much too low, even for really early in the conception period, which I wasn't). It was a devastating blow, and the doctor said all the wrong things, but it wasn't until later that night and the next day that everything she had said finally hit me, and boy did I have opinions about how she handled me. However, much too late for those sentiments, and I had to let them go.
And grieve.
Grieve for this precious baby I wouldn't meet on this earth.
Grieve for the loss of our short-lived joy.
Grieve as a mother... though I hadn't technically become one yet.
Just. Grieve.
"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." Romans 8:28
Was this miscarriage good? Nah, I wouldn't say that at all... but, friends, God was at work in my life! HE worked this tragic and heart-breaking event in our lives into something with GOOD results. In that moment, however, you most likely could never have convinced me of this. I wanted to be lost in despair, but God wanted to pull me out, pick me up, and grow me.
I still cry for this baby... but my baby is not lost to me forever. And you know what? God used this loss as a HUGE bonder and grower for the relationship between my hubby and me. He had JUST arrived back from a 12-month deployment, and this was our first real time together as a married couple (we had been married almost a year and a half, but had only spent less than 7 weeks together in that time). It was an opportunity for us to work together... as a family unit... as husband and wife, and seek God together. We learned so much about each other. I learned that a man doesn't grieve the same as a woman... nor usually as long. He learned that motherly emotions and the grief of a mother (even a soon-to-be mother) are huge, and never dwindle. He remembers that first pregnancy, our first baby, and everything we went through... he still feels sad, but it doesn't have the same intensity as to that exact moment we were actively living it. I, on the other hand, still cannot think about that time without wanting to cry, and cry HARD.
We've learned so much about how to work together through a hugely tough and emotional trial. In James we are told:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (1:2-3).
Notice, he doesn't say "if you face trials of many kinds." He says "whenever," which means there WILL be trials... of MANY kinds. And we are still to consider those trials as joys... why? Because they test our faith. And? That testing brings about perseverance. What marriage DOESN'T need perseverance?
We are also quite certain that God wanted us to have more time together as solely a married couple (little did we know that at the end of October 2010, we would experience the joy of pregnancy news again!). We needed this trial. We needed something to bind us closer to each other and to God... and what a blessing it has been! We now have 2 beautiful children (and possibly more in the future... we shall see what God has in store for us!), and are so very blessed!
If you have miscarried in the past, are currently in the midst of a loss, or even just know of some dear friend who is going through it, know that you are not alone. Another wonderful fact I learned through this trial was that I was not alone... so many women came to me to share their own stories of loss... it helped to know that I wasn't facing something so foreign to everyone around me. I knew their pain... they knew mine... the hugs, the smiles, the touches on the arm, the notes, everything carried much more meaningful weight from those ladies. Listen to her. Hug her. Cry with her. Let her cry. Let her grieve. Remind her of the joy of her Savior. Trust me... it helps more than you can know.
My precious little one, I loved you from the moment that test told me you were there. Your Daddy and I were so overjoyed, we just could not contain it! But God had other plans for you, my little one... He wanted to keep you for Himself... He must like you a lot. So many meaningful dates remind me of you... June 1 (we found out about you!), June 4 (we lost you for now), January 25 (your "guess" date)... and according to the calendar, we conceived you on Mother's Day of 2010... how cool is that?? All that to say, Mommy thinks about you all the time... I've never forgotten about you... and never will (as I type through tears now)... I loved you, and still love you. And I absolutely cannot wait to meet you one day! You have 2 awesome younger siblings... you'd love them! Love, Mommy
Lord, thank you. Thank you for your love, for your grace, for you mercy, for your arms of comfort. Thank you for using this event in my life to draw me closer to you and to my hubby... you blessed me with an amazing man. May I seek you always! Amen.
Am I speaking about something of which I do not know? Sadly, I am not.
This day, three years ago (Friday, June 4, 2010), I was forcefully conscripted into the journey of one who has miscarried. My hubby and I had only just found out the joyous news of our first pregnancy 3 days prior... what JOY filled our hearts and tiny apartment! While hubby was at work, the bleeding started... didn't seem like a lot, but I didn't feel easy about it (at all). However, I decided to just wait till he got home to let him know that I believed I was miscarrying our first baby. We went to the ER to get checked (since this was so new, we hadn't had a "formal" test in a lab or anything... and we had much too great an amount of crazy happen that day as well--I wasn't on the correct region of TriCare insurance yet, having just moved here a month prior... and we had NO clue where to go or how to deal with the tragedy facing us)... the doctor was trying to offer hope that my cervix was still closed and the right color... but the lab results said it all (I had next to no Hcg in my blood--the hormone that indicates a pregnancy--mine was much too low, even for really early in the conception period, which I wasn't). It was a devastating blow, and the doctor said all the wrong things, but it wasn't until later that night and the next day that everything she had said finally hit me, and boy did I have opinions about how she handled me. However, much too late for those sentiments, and I had to let them go.
And grieve.
Grieve for this precious baby I wouldn't meet on this earth.
Grieve for the loss of our short-lived joy.
Grieve as a mother... though I hadn't technically become one yet.
Just. Grieve.
"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." Romans 8:28
Was this miscarriage good? Nah, I wouldn't say that at all... but, friends, God was at work in my life! HE worked this tragic and heart-breaking event in our lives into something with GOOD results. In that moment, however, you most likely could never have convinced me of this. I wanted to be lost in despair, but God wanted to pull me out, pick me up, and grow me.
I still cry for this baby... but my baby is not lost to me forever. And you know what? God used this loss as a HUGE bonder and grower for the relationship between my hubby and me. He had JUST arrived back from a 12-month deployment, and this was our first real time together as a married couple (we had been married almost a year and a half, but had only spent less than 7 weeks together in that time). It was an opportunity for us to work together... as a family unit... as husband and wife, and seek God together. We learned so much about each other. I learned that a man doesn't grieve the same as a woman... nor usually as long. He learned that motherly emotions and the grief of a mother (even a soon-to-be mother) are huge, and never dwindle. He remembers that first pregnancy, our first baby, and everything we went through... he still feels sad, but it doesn't have the same intensity as to that exact moment we were actively living it. I, on the other hand, still cannot think about that time without wanting to cry, and cry HARD.
We've learned so much about how to work together through a hugely tough and emotional trial. In James we are told:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (1:2-3).
Notice, he doesn't say "if you face trials of many kinds." He says "whenever," which means there WILL be trials... of MANY kinds. And we are still to consider those trials as joys... why? Because they test our faith. And? That testing brings about perseverance. What marriage DOESN'T need perseverance?
We are also quite certain that God wanted us to have more time together as solely a married couple (little did we know that at the end of October 2010, we would experience the joy of pregnancy news again!). We needed this trial. We needed something to bind us closer to each other and to God... and what a blessing it has been! We now have 2 beautiful children (and possibly more in the future... we shall see what God has in store for us!), and are so very blessed!
If you have miscarried in the past, are currently in the midst of a loss, or even just know of some dear friend who is going through it, know that you are not alone. Another wonderful fact I learned through this trial was that I was not alone... so many women came to me to share their own stories of loss... it helped to know that I wasn't facing something so foreign to everyone around me. I knew their pain... they knew mine... the hugs, the smiles, the touches on the arm, the notes, everything carried much more meaningful weight from those ladies. Listen to her. Hug her. Cry with her. Let her cry. Let her grieve. Remind her of the joy of her Savior. Trust me... it helps more than you can know.
My precious little one, I loved you from the moment that test told me you were there. Your Daddy and I were so overjoyed, we just could not contain it! But God had other plans for you, my little one... He wanted to keep you for Himself... He must like you a lot. So many meaningful dates remind me of you... June 1 (we found out about you!), June 4 (we lost you for now), January 25 (your "guess" date)... and according to the calendar, we conceived you on Mother's Day of 2010... how cool is that?? All that to say, Mommy thinks about you all the time... I've never forgotten about you... and never will (as I type through tears now)... I loved you, and still love you. And I absolutely cannot wait to meet you one day! You have 2 awesome younger siblings... you'd love them! Love, Mommy
Lord, thank you. Thank you for your love, for your grace, for you mercy, for your arms of comfort. Thank you for using this event in my life to draw me closer to you and to my hubby... you blessed me with an amazing man. May I seek you always! Amen.
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