34 weeks!!

Hello, friends! Today marks a very special day for me. I'm 34 weeks pregnant- yahoo :o) The baby weighs approximately FIVE pounds now, and I've gained approximately a LOT more than that. Ahem. Like Grace and I were talking about, there's something about the third pregnancy...

If I go into labor now at any time, the dr will not try to stop it. Talk about sobering. I think the only thing we need to buy for the baby is a car seat. Other than that, we're pretty much set, except for small things. Oh, this is getting exciting!!!

Last night I slept SO WELL. Usually I have to get up about every hour to use the restroom. not fun. Thankfully though I usually am able to fall right back asleep. I'm experiencing plenty of hand/feet swelling. I've stopped wearing my wedding rings b/c of my swollen fingers. My mom so kindly found me a pair of brown shoes that are nice and BIG for my fat feet to be comfortable in. Go, Mom!! She even volunteered to watch our kiddos for an overnight so we can have an evening alone before the baby comes. Yippee! I think she loves us...

Next week we are planning on putting together about a week's worth of meals in the freezer. That way, there won't be so much to do when the baby does come.

Don't forget about the TIME CHANGE THIS SUNDAY! We gain an hour of sleep; who wouldn't be happy about that?! Don't be too early for church :o)

Enough from me. Good night, friends of mine. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying this cooler weather! Our new memory verse: Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:4

Times like these...

are grand. just grand.

Trust in him at all times

Lord willing, in less than 7 weeks, we'll be able to meet the newest addition to our family. To be truthful I'm a bit scared. nervous. anxious. about the birth of this baby. When I think back to giving birth to Joseph (now 21 months old) it almost seems overwhelming to go through that again. In a span of about 5 hours, I experienced the most excruciating/deep pain and the most joyous/satisfying feeling in my whole life. The pain, obviously, being labor and delivering him(without the trusty epidural- I don't know how/why women do that ON PURPOSE) and the joy being after he "popped out." I really and truly wanted to die or for someone to just kill me and put me out of my misery. I thought I had a fair tolerance for pain, but I found I do not!

I don't want to be anxious. I want to trust in the Lord, really just cling to Him for strength. HOPEFULLY I'll make to the hospital in time to get an epidural. All this makes me consider being induced. I've heard lots of negative/positive things about it. With my daughter and son, I went into labor on my own, and I kinda like it that way. However, being induced would "promise" me an epidural. I've got so many thoughts running through my head right now. This I do know: My God does NOT want me to fret and be anxious.

Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Psalms 62:8 (KJV) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Christy, it's your BIRTHDAY!!

Gleee!

2 months away!

29 weeks pregnant- 29 years old
30 weeks pregnant- 30 years old
31 weeks pregnant- still 30 years old- phew!

I'm glad THAT trend didn't continue ;o) All's well here. The kiddos are growing and so is their mommy's tummy. wow. It's like a perfect basketball. Maybe I'll post some pics soon. GRACE and her children are coming for a few day- yayyyyyyy! I'm really looking forward to spending time with her. I miss seeing her :o(.

I felt kinda bad about something I did this evening. I gave up (children) bathing duties. Thankfully I have a very kind and understanding husband. It's not the easiest thing to lean over that tub and scrub my kiddos. Thanks, Jody!! Only a few more weeks, actually more than that, and I'll resume responsibility.

We're supposedly getting a COLD FRONT this evening. I'm so ready for it! I absolutely LOVE the cooler weather. Most of my pregnancy shirts are geared that way. Yay!

I'm due to have this little one 2 months from today. At my last appt. the dr. said if I were to go into labor at 34+ weeks, they wouldn't do anything to stop it. 34 weeks for me is less than 3 weeks away. yikes! The odds of that happening are highly unlikely, but still...

Yawn. Maybe my next post will be a bit more exciting. Like with pictures or something :o) Good night, dear friends!

Taking inventory

Why is it important to take inventory? I guess in general it's to find out what you have, how much of it, what you have too much of, and what you don't have enough of. That could only be beneficial to a company, right? Or, as I was meditating on, to our own lives. There can be sins/actions/attitudes, etc. that we could tend to be blinded to if we don't continually "take inventory" of our lives.

Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.


What powerful verses. As hard and as ugly as it can be, I want God to search me and know my heart and thoughts. And point out to me the wicked ways in me.


What do I have too much of? I believe first and foremost, it's selfishness. I HATE when I see it in my life. It saddens my heart when I see even a tiny glimpse of it. What an ugly trait to have. I suppose it's something I'll continually battle, but it's a battle I want to be victorious in.


What don't I have enough of (or what do I need to "order" more of)? Wow, could I ever come up with a list here! Patience! Kindness. Selflessness (there it is again). An understanding/hopeful/prayerful/non-condemning attitude toward others. And so much more.

Have you ever witnessed inventory being done? It's a LOT of work. It requires time, diligence, accuracy, and perseverance, to name a few. I want to be that fervent and diligent to be searched by the God who so graciously forgave me, loves me, and keeps me. I want to be "led in the way everlasting."

it finally happened

Joseph (20 months) finally caught up to his sister Mikayla (3 1/2)in the weight department. They are officially tied. Is that CrAZy?? Today I put them both on the scale and they weighed in at a whopping 31.8 pounds. wow. I'm sure Joseph will pass her up in no time. He eats plenty more in a typical day than she does. I love my babies!!

Our new comforter set

Thanks to my mom and dad, we have a new comforter set! After showing it to Jody this evening, he quickly went into our room and got to work putting it on our bed. We REALLY like it :o) !!!

Surprise!!

My mom insisted that I go to Coleman today. Boy, am I ever glad I made it! A dear friend Mary planned/hosted a surprise birthday party for me!!! And I was super surprised :o) We had a lovely lunch together - chicken tortilla soup, spanish rice, and wraps. AND, banana split cake for dessert- SO GOOD!! To top it all off, I got GIFTS. unreal. Lots of things to help our home and me smell better- yay!

Thank you, dear ladies, for all you did to make it such a special time for me.

30's not looking so bad...

Tomorrow I will be...

Isn't this exciting?? Well, it certainly is for me! I know the picture is kind of odd, but I thought it'd be a fun way to document how far along I am. :o) 30 weeks along. sigh. Only 10 more weeks (give or take), Lord willing, 'til we meet our newest addition. Yahoo!!

Folks, we have a prediction

A dear lady at church today asked me what I thought I was having. I told her I thought a girl. She nodded and said she agreed because, " your bobo (sp??) is bigger." So, her guess is a girl. What can we learn?

A bigger "bobo" = a girl
A smaller "bobo" = a boy

There you have it ;o)

2nd best

I'm 29 weeks pregnant today and just felt the baby move ;o) I had a 3-d ultrasound done yesterday, but alas, I have no pics to prove it. Something went amiss :o( But, as Misty requested I took a pic of my belly about an hour ago. So, that's almost as good, right? I know it's not. oh well. Thank the Lord, the baby seems to be growing and doing great! Of course that makes me happy.

Jody broke out his old GI Joes yesterday for Joseph. All we had were a bunch of girls and princesses. I guess the guys in this house had had enough of that!

What a storm last night. The sky was gorgeous!! But, the storm did some damage to our swing set and our fence.

Happy Fall!!! This weather makes me extraordinarily happy. :o)

around the house in 8 minutes

So, here's the challenge for all you who like to take photos- who doesn't? Walk around the outside of your house with a camera and look for beauty in the small/everyday/normal things that you'd find outside. Make a collage or post a series of pictures, and leave me a comment telling me you did that very thing :o) I'd love to see what you come up with. You up for the challenge? Hope so!

If you know the Lord...

"If you know the Lord, you know the greatest thing mortal man can know".

-Bro. Bill Dodd (my pastor)

How true it is!! Today it has been 13 years since the Lord Jesus Christ was merciful in saving my soul. How VERY grateful I am for that. Thirteen years later, I love my Lord and Saviour more and yearn to live a life pleasing to Him. I've seen how the things the world has to offer so pales in comparison to life in Christ. Truly it does!

Thank you, Lord, for my salvation. For reaching down and having compassion on my desperate, sinful life. For being faithful and continuing to provide for me in so many ways. For loving me and forgiving me when I fail so often. For being my rock and strong tower. For eternal life!

Blessed be the Lord,

who daily loadeth us with benefits,

even the God of our salvation. Selah

~Psalm 68:19

Happy Birthday, Jean!

Today is my dear mother-in-law's birthday. She is a most beautiful, godly, kind woman. How I love her! She's so fun :o)

my walking buddies

Camping out is so much fun!

Even if it IS in your own backyard. Last night we attempted to camp with our kiddos. It was great to be so close to home- a few feet, actually. Although the night ended early, we made some good memories. As you can see from the pics, Mikayla was a big help to her daddy setting up the tent. Even Joseph got in on hauling around the sleeping bag. Fun times!

Why I love staying home with my children

10. I rarely have to say good-bye to my children
9. I have the privilege of cooking/baking for my (very appreciative) family
8. I can work/rest (mostly!) at my own pace
7. There is no specific time that we HAVE to wake up by
6. My husband LOVES it and totally supports it
5. I'm able to watch my children grow/mature/learn
4. I know I'll have no regrets (as far as missing anything in my children's lives)
3. I feel totally and 100% fulfilled.
2. I can teach our children the Word of God throughout the day. What an awesome privilege/responsibility!
1. I believe I'm right where God wants me to be

And although I don't receive an actual paycheck, I have every single need met and actually most of my wants. God has ALWAYS provided for us, and we trust that He always will. He is faithful! I'm so thankful to be able to be at home. I love my family!!