Powerful -- Something to think about....

Yesterday at church was such an amazing experience -- several Baptisms, testimony from members that went to Haiti to visit our church's orphanage and this video was shown ---

Something to think about as the holiday season approaches -------very powerful!!!!




Have a Blessed Week!

Whew----it's been over a month since I posted -- we have been busy .. Life has gotten back to normal -- whatever normal is....... :)

Here's a list of things we've been up to since I last posted....
School
Shatto Dairy
Louisburg Cider Mill/Pumpkin Patch
Renissance Festival
Birthday Parties
Mother-Son Hike -- in the spring there will be a Daddy/Daughter Dance....
Deanna Rose Children's Farm
Movies
Church
Family Gathering night
Small Group gathering night
Photo Shoot with the kids
Bonfire with about 20 families from church --- so FUN!!!
Visit from Grandparents
Liberty Festival
Dance class
Gymnastics
Tae Kwan Do
Dad-Son Breakfast at school
Moon Festival
Mom's Night Out with Adoption group from church
Volunteer Receptionist - I do this ever week
Doctor Appointments -- I'm ready for those to end..
Apple Orchard
Volunteering at School

The list goes on and on ------ this weekend our favorite boy turns SIX!! WOW --

Speaking of my children -- we had a photo shoot with a local photographer last week.
WOW -- Kayla is FABULOUS!!!


My kids were their normal SILLY selves --- drove me crazy --LOL
Well --- I haven't seen the proofs yet, but Kayla has FOUR pictures on her website from the shoot.

They made me cry -- My children are so very beautiful and the photos are amazing --- WOW!
I'm so very Blessed to be their Mommy.....
The expressions on their faces is pure JOY!!!! :)
They make my heart sing --

Take a look: HERE
You have to scroll down to the October 20th date ---then they are after cute little Kayln's pictures..

There are FOUR pictures of my kids --
I have a feeling this is going to cost me a small fortune -- I've only seen four of the pictures and I LOVE all four -- how will I ever choose ----??? :)


Someday I'm going to get back to cardmaking/scrapbooking -- someday I'll get back to posting on a regular basis --



A special THANKS to those that made comments on the last post and have sent me private emails -- Your thoughts and prayers during that difficult time were so appreciated by me.

I hope you are having a Blessed Week.....

GOD is in Control...

These last 9 weeks have really taught me that GOD is really in control---
It's been a rollercoaster of emotions ---

This last weekend, I miscarried my precious gift--- It's been a sad week -- but I have been humbled by the love and support from family and friends.... I have been to the ER three times since Saturday --
I knew going into this pregnancy that I faced an uphill battle -- I knew my risk of miscarriage was high --

I have put my Faith in GOD -- he has "HELD" me up during this painful time. I am so thankful for Shelly and Libby who came over and prayed with me -- they too had been through miscarriages themselves... So many other wonderful, caring, compassionate people have visited, called and emailed sending their love and prayers and even food for our family......
GOD is Good --
My husband and family have been amazing -- I am so BLESSED to have such a great family.

We had not told the kids about the pregnancy (was waiting until 2nd trimester) , so with recent events -- they only know that "Mommy has been sick"....
My body is slowly healing and I hope to get our lives back to "normal" in the near future....

I probably won't post much in coming days/weeks ----
Someday I hope to get back to card making & scrapbooking....

Until then - LOVE your family -- and have a BLESSED week....

Busy...

Happy Monday...

I can't believe it's the last day of August --- I hope you have a great week.
I'm doing well -- just VERY tired -- but that's normal...

Here I am in my seventh week - here's my little guy/girl.....



Wow -- pretty amazing -- GOD is amazing --- that at this moment in time -- a little baby is growing in my belly -- what a GIFT!

Our lives have been so very busy --- I try not to think about being so tired --

My big boy is LOVING Kindergarten -- I'm so very proud of him -- He LOVES it so much -- his teacher says he's doing great!!!! He comes home every day and talks and talks and talks about his day.... He gives me every detail--- so fun!!!
He's also doing soccer -- he enjoys it, but has to learn that YES he will get kicked sometimes and YES there are some kids that have more experience and are faster..... He gets upset easily -- we are working on that.....
He LOVES learning his bible verse -- that to me is the most important -- GOD FIRST!!! Always!

My Emily has started dance and this week will begin her gymnastics again. She loves both so much!!! I received a phone call from her last year's preschool teacher --- Miss Cinda -- there has been some changes and she will be having Miss Cinda AGAIN this year for her Pre-K class.
We are sooooo very EXCITED --- we LOVE Miss Cinda -- she is the best!!!
So what a blessing for Emily ---- She's so excited to have her "favorite" teacher again......

On a sad note, I also learned that the manager of the gym--Sharon -- lost her husband unexpectedly--- so very sad--- he was only 52 years old.... My thoughts and prayers have been with their family as they go through this terrible loss...


On other notes -- just so very busy --- my calendar is FULL --
I haven't had time to make any cards or scrapbook -- hopefully soon....

I leave you today with one of my FAVORITE songs ---- by Chris Tomlin ---- Our family listens to this song daily -- such an amazing message -- LOVE --








Have a Blessed Week!

My NEW World.....

This is a picture of my NEW world:



LOL

I went to my first visit at my NEW Doctor's office yesterday -- I received the info above, plus a bunch of other stuff. I took, yet a FIFTH pregnancy test -- (I took 3 home pregnancy, plus my regular doctor's test, and the NEW doctor also wanted one--)

YES -- I am still pregnant!!

I walked into the doctor's office yesterday afternoon and there were no less than EIGHT very pregnant women sitting in the office. I had to LAUGH to myself -- I was by far the OLDEST in the room. I never thought in a million years that I would ever be in a room with that many pregnant women again... LOL

I'm kind of in a "nomads" land now -- there isn't much to do -- no more doctor visits for six weeks. Yesterday, I was asked by someone if I was excited -- the answer is NO-- not yet --
I feel very BLESSED, but the first trimester is pretty nerve-wracking for me. So many unknowns, you don't hear the heartbeat yet, you don't feel any baby movement -- it's just a wait and see what happens time. It's a very anxious time for me -- I know GOD is with me -- that's a huge comfort!

I have been so very BLESSED with an outpouring of LOVE and PRAYERS coming my way -- So many phone calls, emails, visits, etc....I am so humbled by their concern for me....
My family is absolutely THRILLED with the news --

Something that has been so very special for me is that I am now sharing this pregnancy with my younger sister who is also pregnant. She's two months ahead of me -- it was such a JOY to talk with her on the phone the other night, comparing notes, laughing, crying.... enjoying the moment... I never thought I would ever share something like this with a sibling ---
What a Blessing!!

The other day, I was reading Colleen's blog and she had this posted on her blog -- it's from one of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. It was written for a "special needs child", I can relate, because my son has some special challenges. However, I also see this as a metaphor for my life right now.... I cry ever time I read it --- My "old" plans have been put on hold and I guess I'm headed to "Holland" -- I look forward to this new Journey........

WELCOME TO HOLLAND
by
Emily Perl Kingsley.

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.






HAVE a very BLESSED and JOYOUS day!!!

An Unexpected Gift....

Happy Saturday Morning --

I don't know about where you live, but our weather here this morning is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!

Life has a way of taking unexpected turns --- as I mentioned in my last post -- I've been thrown a curveball.....
I am a big time planner and a control freak -- welllllllll........ I have learned these last eight months that I am NOT in control --

GOD is in CONTROL!!!

So here I am at the ripe old age of 42 - I find myself to be PREGNANT!!!

God has Blessed me so much this year and this was sooooo unexpected ----

I won't go into my medical history, but lets just say the odds of this happening were a GAZILLION to ONE..... LOL It's a miracle!!! We did not plan for this baby -- as far as my husband and I were concern, we were quite happy being a family of four...

I am well aware of the high risks involved in my pregnancy ---
But having had my son attend our school district's "special Education" preschool for the last three years -- I met A LOT of Mom's that were much much much younger than me that had children with Down's Syndrome, with Cerebral Palsy, with Autism, and with many other physical and mental challenges.

I believe anybody can have a child with Special Needs.
Most importantly, I believe that ALL CHILDREN are SPECIAL!!!!

This baby that is inside of me (yes -- I believe life begins at conception -- so this is a baby no matter how small) is a GIFT !

NO -- this was not in my plan -- I've been in SHOCK to tell you the truth --
But to know that there is this little bundle inside of me is so amazing ----- WOW --
At this moment in time -- I am a MOTHER again to a third child ----

I don't know what the weeks and months ahead will bring, I can only pray and hope for the best. I am celebrating each day with this life inside of me and whatever happens, will happen. God is in control!
My sweet baby is due in the spring..... the season of New Life!!

God is so Good!!!

So that's my news --- I am a Blessed Woman!!!

1st Day...

My favorite boy had a GREAT first day of Kindergarten. He was so excited and I was so very proud of him..

Here are a few pictures:


This picture below is one of my favorites-- his face tells the story -- so excited, so beautiful!



Sis had to get in the picture -- She was excited for her BIG brother --



Working hard on his first assignment:


I have only heard FABULOUS things about his teacher this year -- EVeryone seems to think she is the BEST and so very kind!! :)


I hope you are having a wonderful and BLESSED week!
:)