Infrequent Blogging and Guilt

Lately I've been feeling really bad for not blogging more often. :-) The thing is that I'm assuming that most of my readers are also busy mothers so I'm sure that you all understand! Even right now I'm blogging in the midst of my children getting ready for bed and the family we had over for dinner tonight just left.

So when I came across this post over at Julie's blog I knew I had to share it with you. :-) Blogging without Obligation

By the way, this post took me 30 minutes to write because of little people putting stickers on me and asking me questions and the phone rang and then I had to correct the toddler for purposely stepping on his sister's head in order to get up on a chair.

Now, daddy has extended bedtime so that he can color with the children on the floor while the older ones are hanging out in the living room reading books. :-)

'night!

Needed: Activity Bag Ideas :-)

Hi ladies!
I've been working on making a new schedule for our week days. I was thinking the other day about some things that I used to do with my little ones when all I had was little ones that I don't do anymore with my new littles. For instance, rotating toys out during the week so that they don't get old. Like, Duplos on Monday, wooden blocks on Tuesday, etc... I also used to think up little crafty projects for them to do and they loved it. I really want to get back to this now.

So, I'm going to add all these things into my schedule or else they won't happen. :-)

One thing I'm working on now is a 30-60 minute period for my 6 year old, 4 year old and 2 year old to do some sort of activity together. I'm thinking activity bags might be the way to go here. A different bag for each of the 4 days per week that we do school. I'm thinking crafty things or something like that. So far, I have playdough with tools, and a bag full of color pencils, paper, stickers, etc.... But now I'm stuck.

I'm hoping that some of you all will have an idea for something that:
will keep them busy for 30-60 min.
they will look forward to doing every week
isn't too hard for a 2 (almost 3 ) year old but isn't boring for a 6 year old

Thanks for your help!

2 Blessings!

Hey y'all! Wow, it's been a long time since I last wrote. I have so much to tell you all but I don't even know where to start.

I guess I'll share 2 blessings with you all.

First of all, I wanted to share with you all that, although my miscarriage was very hard, I came out of it much closer to the Lord. I'm realizing now that this is the reward/blessing of trials. I would never choose to lose a baby (or anyone else for that matter) but I'm so thankful that this trial pulled me even closer to Him. I see Him a little more clearly now. What could be better? He is completely amazing. His beauty is inexhaustible!

Psa 71:19-23 Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? (20) You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. (21) You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. (22) I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. (23) My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.


Also, we are expecting again! Actually, I'm about 3 months pregnant! I'll need an ultrasound to confirm dates because we can only base it on the miscarriage. Also, I'm measuring about 16 weeks, which isn't possible. My midwife thinks I'm about 14 weeks along. Just as I was starting to feel better and lose weight I began feeling tired, emotional and sick. :-) So, this has been the main reason for my lack of blogging lately. I've only recently stopped feeling sick (yay!) and now I'm waiting for a little energy to return.

We listened to the baby's little heart beat on Wednesday. It was such a blessing!

Anyway, I hope to get back to blogging again. I do miss it. I wanted to tell you all more but it will have to wait for another time.

God bless!

Getting Back to "Normal"

Ack! I never got around to putting up pictures of the things I have sewn. Sorry about that. It's easier to edit pictures on my desktop but easier to write blog posts on my laptop. I'll get around to it soon. :-)

I am much better and still so surprised that you sweet people are still writing me to check on me. You all are something else!

I've been exercising like a crazy woman over here. I figure now is a good time to get back into shape. If the Lord chooses to give us another I'd like to be physically stronger to make the pregnancy and delivery easier. I'd pretty much kept about 5 lbs on for every baby. Multiply that times 7 babies. Ouch.

I've lost almost 10 lbs so far. Basically, I'm keeping it simple. I haven't tried any special diets or anything. I've just started to make sure that I'm creating a calorie "deficit" by watching how many calories I consume and exercising to burn more. It's amazing how quickly you can see results. I'm already stronger and I have better endurance and it's been less than a month.

Well dinner is ready so I better get going. We are having fish over brown rice and spinach. Blessings to all of you!

I'm Still Here!

Ladies, you all are amazing. Seriously, I have been so blessed by all of your comments and prayers. I've received private emails also from ladies I don't know to ladies in my church and I love you all! Thank you so much.

I went to a ladies meeting tonight. That was nice. We are meeting every two weeks to discuss Managers of Their Homes. Excellent book! It was nice to hear from the other women about how they have been working at doing a good job managing their homes. Some have already started using the scheduling process from that book and others are just beginning. We met at Wildflower Bread Company and we will be having the meetings regularly until we get through the book.

It's late now and we just got home so I guess I better get to bed. I just wanted to let you all know that I was still here! :-) I've been doing a little sewing and so I'm hoping to take some pictures tomorrow and show them to you. I'd like to get back to blogging regularly now. The break was needed but God has really blessed me and I feel so much better. As much as I'd love to be still expecting that little one, I'm happy that my baby is in the best place of all.

Blessings!

He is Good

I wish I was writing to tell you all that everything is fine but I did have a miscarriage. I really appreciate all of your prayers for me and this little baby. I so wanted to see and to hold this little one. I'm quite disappointed but I am trying to accept what has happened and trust in Him. It's strange to be pregnant one day and not the next but have no baby to show for it. It's a terrible feeling. Writing about it brings tears to my eyes again. I've been crying so easily the past few days that I can't even return phone calls because the tears come too quickly and leave me unable to talk.

Still, He is good and I am hoping that He will bless us again with another child soon.

My husband was able to stay home with me this week so that was nice and such a blessing. Just having him here made me feel better. Whenever I have a baby or am otherwise unable to do my normal chores, I am so thankful that his mom taught him to cook! We have not starved during this time. :-) He doesn't usually consult a recipe either. He just goes in the kitchen and throws this and that together and comes out with something good. Unfortunately, I haven't had much of an appetite though.

The other night I went into the craft room because the cramps were making it impossible to sleep. I decided to make a little quilt in memory of the two babies that we have lost through miscarriage. It's a small quilt measuring only 20"x 20". I finished cutting, piecing, sewing, quilting and binding it that night which surprised me. I guess I was focused because it felt so important to me. I slept with it that night too. :-) Today, I am finishing the embroidery. I stitched both babies names with their meanings and the year the miscarriage occurred on two of the squares. When it's finished I'll show it to you.

This baby's name is Elkanah which means God-created and God-bought. We are so thankful for this child and his/her life (no matter how short) and we are looking forward to being reunited in heaven with the two children that we had for such a brief period. I am praising God for that today.

Keep Praying!

Ladies, thanks so much for your sweet comments and for praying. Today things are pretty much the same. I'm going to continue to just rest today and tomorrow as much as possible. God is fully in control and I'm grateful for that. I've had a miscarriage once before. They are hard and painful (emotionally and physically) for sure but even then, God was with me and blessed me. He is good.

Prayer Request

I have a prayer request for you sisters. I am having some signs of a miscarriage. I would appreciate it if you all would pray for this baby. Thank you!

Right now, I'm supposed to be completely resting so that is what I am doing. I'm lying on the couch as some of the children do their school work. The younger ones are playing church. Jeremiah is the pastor. :-) Have you ever seen a 2 year old try to be a pastor? It's pretty cute. My living room furniture has been rearranged and they're singing songs right now. I can't wait to hear the sermon!

17 Great Years

Yesterday was my oldest sons birthday! He is 17! I can't believe it. He'll be 17 years older than his youngest sibling. :-)

His birthday started out as a normal day with chores and school and the other basics. When dad got home we took him to a local western wear store and bought him the cowboy hat he has wanted for so long. He was surprised and happy about that!

Then, on our way home we stopped for gas and there was a man outside asking people for money. Both boys stopped with their dad to share the gospel with this man and to give him the book of John, a tract and a little money. Turns out he was a Christian man with many regrets. He had gotten involved with drugs and other destructive habits and said that he had made many terrible mistakes and now he was suffering the consequences. He also asked my husband and sons to pray for him. They knelt down right there beside the store and prayed. The man was crying and people were walking by just staring but at the same time, they were being respectful which was a blessing.

The girls and I were in the van praying and watching. Honestly, I couldn't think of a better way for my son to spend his birthday. He was hearing the sad regrets of an old man (which should serve as a warning for our sons) as well as praying for him and helping him. Praise God!

When we got home, we had a special dinner and dessert and prayed for over our son. We also prayed for the man (Jack) that we met that day.

I remember when I gave birth to him, I was so surprised that I could instantly feel that protective of someone and love them so much. I was overwhelmed by new emotions and I just wanted to hold him all of the time.

He has been a sweet blessing in our lives and it's been a joy to see how God is using him and conforming him to His image. He is truly caring and is becoming a fine young man with a heart for those in need of salvation and help. I love that he enjoys sharing Christ with others! I praise God (and Him alone) for that! I know that my children are following in my husband's footsteps with their love for evangelism! He has a heart for hospitality also and loves to have others over. I can't wait to see how God continues to use these gifts in his life.

The night before his birthday he said that he regretted not having read his Bible completely through before his 17th birthday. He has started the read-the-Bible-in-a-year programs before but hasn't finished them. This Jan. he started another one and has been very diligent to keep up with it. I think this will be the year he reads his Bible cover to cover! :-)

I want what I say next to be an encouragement to others, I don't mean it as a judgment or boasting. He and his younger brother have been proof that you can raise "teenagers" that are kind and humble as opposed to haughty and rude. If you are raising children and have yet to reach this stage, be encouraged! It can be a wonderful time! If you have teenagers that do have haughty spirits and you don't have their hearts I want to encourage you that it isn't too late! God can turn them around too! I recommend that you read Keeping Our Children's Hearts.

Son, we love you! Happy Birthday!

Keeping Boys Busy Contest Winner

Hey! Well, I randomly chose a winner for the Keeping Boys Busy Contest and its keke_d_83@hotmail.com (sorry, I don't have a name for you!). I'll email you to get your info. though. It will be coming from lovingmotherhood (at) gmail (dot) com so be aware of that before you send your address. :-)

Thanks all of you for sending in your suggestions! I'll print them out and give them to my friend and I'm sure that they will be a blessing to her.