quiver full

I've thought a bit about your last post and it must be very overwhelming to be thinking of how you are going to look after 4 in a few months, when 3 at the moment feels like a lot. I think you are totally right in saying that some of what you are feeling may be due to being pregnant. Having a constant headache and feeling tired makes the easiest tasks, such as doing the dishes, feel like serious work, much less looking after three little souls. I remember when I was first pregnant with S, that it felt incredibly overwhelming just looking after E. I wondered then too, how would I manage with two, so I can imagine you would be feeling that all the more thinking of four.

With that said, I've thought more too about what you said about resting in God's sovereignty, and I'm so glad that you are finding comfort in that. I wanted to pass on another verse and a quote from a woman that has ten children.

The verse comes from Psalm 127:3-5

3Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
5Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them! ...

I'm hoping that this verse encourages you in that, God knows that you desire to give each of your children the attention that you desire to, and that it is a blessing to you and E that He is filling your quiver with children.

The quote comes from the woodshed website that I've talked to you about before. The quote is responding to a question about how to handle the amount of time spent feeding a newborn, and the person asking the question felt as though they were neglecting their two year old. Here is the response given:

"The way I look at it, a new baby is SUPPOSED to need a lot of extra attention the first few months (it usually gets a lot better after the third month) and mom needs to give it in order for her and baby to bond well. That's the way God designed it. Since God also designed siblings, I can only assume He had a plan for how we moms are to handle them too. I've found that for me, the trick is to include the older children.

Don't try to divide your time, instead, share it. When the baby needs nursing, say to your toddler, "Come on, let's feed the baby". Use the word "let's" a lot instead of "I've". When you nurse the baby have your toddler cuddle up next to you. Make him part of the process by going to get diapers for you and so on. Make it a "we" thing whenever possible.

Don't worry about "alone" time with your toddler. If you emphasize the need to be "alone with mom", your toddler will expect it, and be jealous if he doesn't get it, but if you focus on togetherness (all 3 of you), then your toddler will easily accept and enjoy that instead. I think this is one of the main reasons that we have never had any problems in our family with jealousy or sibling rivalry, even though we've gone through the "new baby" experience so many times. "

Obviously this is this woman's opinion and experience. I believe that we are all different, and God gives us much freedom in how to respond to His word in how we look after our children. I personally found this encouraging mainly because she talks about how God designed siblings and will provide a way for us to look after each of them. For me there is great comfort in this.

Perfect Love Casts out Fear

Today I have been thinking a lot about having a 4th child and I am pretty terrified. How am I going to get everything done? How am I going to give everyone the attention they need? How am I going to have a single moment of silence? It just seems beyond possible. It already feels like I am in survival mode, and to add another one to the mix... I know that it will be hard, and I know I will be driven to God more often than not. And, I'm pretty sure that's what God wants to teach me. I'm sure my feelings are not helped by the fact I still have a splitting headache, and raging hormones. However, all that said, I am thankful, I do rest in the fact that God is sovereign and this baby is meant to be. Thanks for calling last night, it was good medicine.

sovereignty

To begin with, sovereignty is the weirdest word to spell.

After our phone conversation today, T and I talked for a few minutes about the sovereignty of God and how much responsibility that we have in that. He reminded me of a sweet analogy of driving our cars. When we get into a car, most of us put on a seat belt to protect ourselves in case of an accident. Now, regardless of whether we wear that seat belt or not, God can take or save life, it's entirely up to Him. Yet, He's given us a mind and the ability to be reasonable in how we behave with what we know to be true. I think if I started to say, "Well it doesn't matter if I wear the seat belt or not, because God can do anything He wants, He can take life or give it." then I fall into the danger of where does this principle stop. Should I just go lay out in the middle of a busy road "trusting" that God will protect me if He so chooses and will kill me if that is His ordained purpose? Of course not!

Our conclusion was that we are to act responsibly in faith. At the same time remembering that we are not in control, ultimatately it's not the seat belt that saves or takes life, but God.

Snowed in again...

Colorado is having another blizzard. The second in one week. I have to admit I love the snow and being snowed in. It was fun to play with the girls and have no place to go.

5 + 1 = 6

Being sick is terrible. Next to vomitting I think that having a serious headache is the worst. You can't escape it at all, it totally consumes you. Are you feeling better?

Wowzers, pregnant with number four! You all are going to be a family of six. When did you find out? How far along are you? You're my second friend today to tell me that they were pregnant. Third in a week. Crazy.

I'll try and ring you soon, but till then keep me posted, let me know how far along you are, and how you are feeling about being pregnant etc.

It's good to be back.

Well Christmas is over, family has gone home, and I'm left with a rotten cold. Sorry I didn't have time to post, between our stay in the mountains and the blizzard of 2006 (2 feet of snow), things were pretty crazy. I'm glad to say things are getting back to normal. E took last week and this week off of work so I am loving having him home, especially since I've been sick. I have had the worst migrane of my life yesterday and today. The kind of headache where you can't sleep and can't open your eyes. Ughh. Also, I'm pregnant with #4 (huge surprise!!) so I'm feeling the effects of the hormone changes. With all this said, we did have a good visit from E's and my family.
And to respond to your post, yes we do need to talk more, and we should make serious effort to move close to one another! London is definitely still an option, however so is Australia. I think E could make a good case for either place. Although with the news that #4 is on the way we might be more inclined to stay close to my parents for the extra help. We would like to go at some point we are just praying for the right time. I miss you dear friend...

so much...

there is so much going on in my heart. it's crazy and overwhelming and just so big at the moment. i know that emotionally it will just take time for it all to drift out and be right again, but it's these sort of moments that i just want to talk and process and work it out. but i know that even in that there's nothing that i can say or do to change it. i can't just wave a magical wand and make it all more simple or even more meaningful, it is just what it is.

so what am i doing with it? listening to this amazing guy playing a george harrison song on a ukulele and blogging to you. i wish that we were in the habit more of talking on the phone.

hope you are having a good christmas. my parents told me today that the denver airport got snowed in. have you guys been in a blizzard? did that effect ya'll?

latest project

hi friend,

I didn't post tonight because I've been working on this. It's the beginning of a gift registry for my friend's wedding. The one that I'm going to be in in March. Tell me what you think.

Thinking of you and hoping that you are enjoying your company.

One of the best parts of my day today was watching E and S drink water together. S wanted T's drink, and was complaining because T wouldn't share (he was drinking a beer). E noticed this and brought over his own water. He gave S a drink, then sat down with him. Next, S gave E a drink and back and forth they went. It wasn't just the sharing it was the giggles in between. S is still learning to drink water from a sippy cup type thing, and sometimes will spill water out his mouth. But E was lost water too. He was holding a mouthful of water, when S made him laugh. Out it came, all over him and S. They both thought it was hillarious. Sweet memory.

things you don't want your child to say

Today at the grocery store E and I were in one of the aisles where a safeway employee was stalking one of the shelves. While the employee was bent over and we were two inches from her, E points and says to me quite loudly "bum!" So glad that he is so observant.

KJ, I'm thinking of closing melmoworld and just posting here. But I was thinking of leaving a little note on melmo that I had moved here with you. Meaning I would say that I had moved to this blog and am posting to and with a friend from the US. What do you think, would that be cool?

Do you guys have any special Christmas traditions?

I want to start some, but not sure yet what to do, and also need to get organized to do my ideas. Next year I want to do an advent activity calendar or bucket, where you put fun ideas to do for each day leading up to Christmas, I'd start Dec 7th, the day after E's birthday. I'd mix up the ideas to be fun family activities, like make hot chocolate for everyone with all the fixings, and then fun Jesus activities, like make some cookies to give to someone who it might cheer up.

Have you guys built any traditions?

sweet!

I've totally got to head to bed. It's midnight and the boys have been getting up way too early. I've been saying to T all week, I need to go to bed earlier so I'm not so tired. I love playing with web site design, and can totally get sucked in. But it's late and I'm starting to hear in my head, even as I type, all this read out with an Irish accent. Very weird, so I must be tired. This post probably won't even make sense.

I've got so much to tell you, but will have to try again another time.

Count Me In

Thanks for setting up the blog, I would love to contribute to "Up Over the Pond". This next week is going to be a little crazy with E's and my family coming in town for Christmas. However, I am sure it will make for some good stories... Between making the beds, preparing meals, and changing diapers I will try and take a second to post.

Merry Christmas.

do you want to join me?

KJ, I know I mentioned it awhile ago that I was thinking of starting this sort of blog, and so I've added it under my previous account. What do you think? Do you want to try and blog with me, we can blog to one another, and about our lives and thoughts.

What do you think of the name, up over the pond? Do you get it?

I've invited you to be an author, let me know if it works.

I'll email you as well.

Praying and thinking of you daily.

ps: i'm playing around with the template...WIP