Ramblings...

Do you ever have a week that you try to process and don't know quite where to begin? We have had some crazy times since the last post. Last week being the peak and this week the week of recovery. Last week we had a septic problem and an overflow in our downstairs bathroom. Yes, quite the fun and quite the pleasant smell. Unfortunately the bathroom floor was completely ruined and had to be replaced which brings us to this week. Greg spent a full day last week working on everything and this week we had the flooring replaced with new tile. The kids actually went crazy about the horrible smell downstairs, especially Micah... which makes me laugh. He hates the smell of a single dirty diaper and will repeatedly ask me to change it as soon as possible. So... you can only imagine what the smell of septic overflow will do for the poor little guy.
To add on top of our normal routine in any way is quite challenging so I am finding myself worn out from exhaustion. I also decided this week that I needed to kick myself into organizational gear and finally pulled out baby girl clothes to be washed and ready for our little one. I had tons of clothes to organize of all sizes and repeatedly told myself I needed to come up with a better system around here. Any pointers out there?
This last month has been quite challenging with the pregnancy as I have been struggling with feeling sick and I think I have come to the conclusion that I just do not well with double the female hormones. We can blame anything and everything on hormones right?

Well, I'll end my ramblings with a few notes on some things that I felt the Lord teaching me this past week. It really started with church over the weekend. Our pastor talked about enjoying life and actually started a series on Ecclesiastes. It was definitely something I needed to hear. I have found myself so wrapped up with the things that NEED to get done (and very little energy to get them done!) that I have neglected finding joy in the simple things of life and really enjoying life all together. Again, can I blame it on the hormones?
I was convicted that I lacked joy lately. Big time. Joy in my Savior, joy in my husband, joy in my kids. Since I have also found myself really fighting sickness with the pregnancy here at the end, I have consumed myself with how crummy I have been feeling that it was hard to make anything else matter.

So...this week I enjoyed my husband and I found joy in doing things for him like actually preparing dinner and doing his laundry...serving him and enjoying my role as his helpmate.

I enjoyed my kids.
I read them books, danced to music with them, (even when I did not have anymore energy!), painted with them, did play-dough, made necklaces with the girls, played outside on the swing set, watched Micah do all of his "cool tricks" on his scooter, and added extra fun activities to Caitlyn's school days. I even did school with Micah and Cassidy.
I also picked up my camera again. I have honestly felt so sick that I hadn't taken pictures in weeks. Well, two weeks since Cassidy's birthday. Shocking I know.
Photography is something that I really enjoy, but I also enjoy making meals (Also something that I have not done well lately due to sickness!). This week I also made an effort to create meals for my family. I enjoyed making them and eating them with my family!

I found strength and joy in my Savior this week and was reminded by a good book, The Dangerous Duty of Delight by John Piper. It is pretty much a shortened version of his book Desiring God, which I had read before. I always enjoy reading but find little times these days to actually read. It also went along with the theme of joy. Specifically, glorifying God BY enjoying HIM.
One quote from the book: "Love pursues its own joy in the joy of the beloved."

Anyways, there is wisdom in Solomon's teaching. Enjoy the simple things in life.

I can't really say that through all of these events I have felt much better as far as feeling sick, but hopefully my attitude has changed which makes LIFE BETTER, even in the midst of challenging times.

Pieces of our (busy!) week...

An evening at Chuck E Cheese with a friend and with siblings to celebrate the special day...

Enjoying some ice cream from Daddy

and playing on the playground!



The Birthday Girl!!!

Making cupcakes for Cassidy's birthday...

A morning at the fire station celebrating a friend's birthday...

Caitlyn learned how to ride "the big motorcycle!"

Little sister looking on wishes she could ride as well...

In Daddy's arms...

Micah was so excited for Cassidy to go to her new ballet class. I would argue that she has one of the best big brothers ever. Often at night, when he says his prayer, he will thank Jesus that Cassidy gets to go to ballet.

Cassidy enjoying her Ballet class!

Dakota enjoying time on the playground while we wait for Caitlyn in Art class(this was actually from last week but I couldn't help but post it!)...this picture makes me smile:

Wrestle time with Daddy! A highlight of the week for these kiddos- I love it how Dakota always enjoys being in the middle of the action just as much as the older ones.

Game night with Mommy!

We have started a tradition around here when Greg is gone for class... We usually play games together- perhaps it is just my way of surviving the evening alone and keeping the kids well occupied. The best game that works for everyone seems to be UNO, simply because Cassidy can play it without help and the older kids love it as well!

I guess I will end this week in pictures with a quote from Micah.

This was priceless:

One night this week Micah asked me, "Why do we always say that God sits on His thumb?"

OK, I try to process it and just can't.

"His thumb?" I ask, "Where did you hear that?"

Micah replied with: "I hear it all the time...in songs, at church, from the Bible."

It still is not processing.

I was tired and just asked him to tell me when he heard it again.

SO, the next day when I had some praise and worship on in the house

I hear him exclaim:

"Mom! The song is saying it again! Why is God sitting on His thumb?"

Oh, His throne.

Yes.

That sparked up a great conversation and definitely one to go down in the books.

Our Three year old!!!

SO how does three years go by so fast? I often think how it seems as if it was just yesterday that this little girl was a baby. She brings more joy to our home than I could have asked for in one little blond hair brown-eyed girl. She has also had a big month! Not only has she turned three but she was just recently potty-trained and has joined a ballet class. She loves her class and especially loves her teacher. In fact, I think she just loves that she has a teacher like her big sister because she will often randomly remind me with her soft but excited voice, "Mom, I have a teacher!"

What a blessing she has been to our family and how tender she is. I pray that the Lord will use this year to continue to soften her heart towards Him

Happy Birthday Little Miss Paige!

I will post more from the events of today but for now I am lacking in sleep so I will hit the bed early tonight!

Guess who's birthday it is today!

The countdown begins...

I am officially counting down the weeks! At my last visit to the midwife's office this week I discovered that they officially wanted change my due date! March 26th is the new date. (Oh yeah, by the way Greg's next big test is scheduled for the 27th of March... Our life is always exciting! He also says that this will most likely be his hardest test yet!)

Two weeks does make a difference though...at least mentally. I have been measuring ahead of schedule for the last few appointments and towards the beginning they changed my due date based on the sonogram instead of my last cycle. Apparently they should not have change my date based on the machine that they used. This last week I was measuring at 31 weeks. I have always measured behind by about a week or two, so this will all be very interesting to me.

Obviously a due date date doesn't matter much. The baby will come when she comes...I always like to keep that in mind so I don't lose my sanity towards the end.

As far as living in the third trimester I must say that I don't miss most of the feelings that go along with it. Sickness has come and most days this past week were just plain hard. I won't go into much detail but lets just say it involves feelings and sickness that I do not wish on anyone else. It has to do with the way the baby is positioned most of the time. Although I am also reminded as I type this and the little girl inside of me is dancing all around that overall the pregnancy has been a tremendous blessing and I am waiting to meet this little girl.

I think we have a name that we both really like but I will wait to say until we are 100% sure!

Micah's Motorcycle Video

We've had a breakthrough!!!

After at least 6 months of potty training on and off and countless days of trying with tears, struggles, and pain we have finally made a breakthrough!!! Today was the day we finally got to celebrate. For months now, I have told Cassidy that she can pick out a surprise when she goes like a big girl on the potty and today was that day.
I am so proud of this little girl!