outside play

Can you tell that S hasn't been outside for over three weeks? He went crazy with the dirt!

deeply thankful

I have soooo much to be thankful for. It's been amazing these past few days and my heart is just so full of love and thankfulness. I don't even know where to begin. Looking back on the circumstances of N's birth, I see how faithful God was to T and my prayers regarding seeking wisdom. All the details worked out that I went in for a Caesar instead of trialling labor like I had really been wanting to. As it turned out, my uterus had ruptured, and if I had trialled labor, I would have put N and my life at risk. Instead, N was born safely and I have had an excellent recovery due to the surgeons really taking their time to sew me up properly. Again, another prayer answered since I am now feeling so good.

I have renewed energy now that I am not pregnant. Even though I am getting up 1 to 3 times during the night to feed, it is a different sort of tired than what I was feeling at the end of my pregnancy. Plus, I feel much more stable emotionally. I must of gotten use to the crabby state of mind, and now that it's gone I feel like a huge weight has been lifted (and literally it has!)

This morning T was holding N and E in his lap. E was just totally adoring his little sister and so pleased that she was holding his finger. As I watched the three of them sit together, my heart was flooded with joy for the birth of our little girl. I'm excited to watch E, S, and N grow as brothers and sister, and to continue to encourage E to look after and protect N. This morning made me thankful in a new way that we have been blessed with a little girl to share our lives with.

Finally, T got a job. The timing is absolutely perfect. Once again God was faithful in ways that blow me away. We had wanted T to be home for two weeks after N's birth. She's 2 weeks old today and T starts his job tomorrow. Plus, it's worked out that T will start part-time and then go to full-time work over the next few weeks. This is a total grace, it will be perfect for me to be able to transition from having 2 children with 2 of us, to 3 children with just me. So thankful for that!

Oh, and one more note of thankfulness. I'm totally peaceful about N's growth. I've had a lot of trouble with milk supply in the past, and this time I'm not phased. I've been praying lots about it and after seeing God's provision in our lives thus far, am at a place of trust. Whatever will be will be, and all I can do is give her the best chance at getting breast milk, which I feel confident I am doing.

One more thing, our house is for sell. This came as a bit of surprise to us, but again by God's grace I am at a place of trusting. I feel confident that it will all work out and am not worried about it. I'm curious where we will be living and how we will move out, but at this point in time I am peaceful about it.

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Away from home.

The past few days we have been trying to stay away from home. E and his dad are busy working on finishing the basement. The noise along with trying the keep the girls away from all the action have contributed to the exodus. So this week we have visited friends, spent time at my mom's, and taken them shopping (a total disaster). All in all it has been fun, but quite tiring. I will be very thankful to get back into the routine of naps and playtime at home.

I am so glad things are going so well for you guys!! You all look great. N is such a cutie.

Congrats!!!

It looks like you guys are doing great. I'm so happy for all of you! I will be praying the transition from two to three goes smoothly and that you will keep up on sleep.

our little girl

There are so many things that I could write about this little girl in our lives. So many things to share about how I am feeling and just little E, S, and N. But I must be disciplined with sleep, so I have to keep this short. Day one of being home, I was overwhelmed and feeling, am I really up to this. Day two of being home, I was tired and crabby (hence why I must be very disciplined now, so tomorrow I'm less tempted to be crabby!). Day one of being home, E falls in love with N. Always desperate to hold and in E's words "rub tummy?". He even knows now when she cries she needs a drink, and today he even tried to hurry the process along by lifting my shirt to help her get one. S sees N as someone or something to bang his hand on. Maybe that's what E has always done to him. I still can't get my head around the fact that I have a girl, I still call N, S and he or him. T laughs at me, and goes along with it for awhile and then says, do you know what you are saying? I then have to quickly retell my story using her name and saying she. I still can't believe I have a daughter. So weird. Okay gotta go to bed.

KCJ, I liked your story about meeting the Indian family. I'll pray now as I fall asleep that God will open more doors and that they will contact you!

Encounters

We visited Costco last night, I love getting their prepackaged salmon fillets. They are always such a tasty, easy, healthy meal. After getting a few things, we sat down to eat our hot dog and pizza dinner (all for under $8). There was an Indian family sitting a few tables away from us and we struck up a conversation. Actually A struck up the conversation by asking them how to say hello in their language (her best friend in preschool is Indian). After talking for some time, E asked them to come over for dinner sometime. It was kind of a shock, but very exciting. We both have a heart for missions, and what a better way to start then right here at home. We gave them our number and email, so hopefully they call us. We neglected to get any of their information, so it is entirely in their hands. Please pray that God will give us more opportunities like the one last night.

Thankful...

Good Post, it's good to hear things are going well. I cannot believe how fast the time goes and that it's been over a week since I last posted. Things have been going well here, especially today.

1. I finally have energy again! Yea!!! I was able to clean the house. Almost everything got done except for putting the laundry away.
2. It has been beautiful outside, about 50 degrees, and the snow is finally melting. Maybe soon I will be able to walk outdoors.
3. E and I were able to go out on a date. A co-worker gave us Hockey tickets, CO vs. MN. It was very fun, and Minnesota won!! It was a nice break since the kids have been sick.
4. E is switching his job to something a little less stressful, and I know he is very relieved to be moving on.
5. A and E have been playing well together. They have been playing in the basement for over an hour, and I haven't needed to break-up any fights.

All in all I am really thankful today.

encouragement

Another try at a morning photo.

Things that I am thankful for,

• last week the weather man was predicting three successive days of high 90 F degree weather, it turned out to be one. i am thankful that it was only one because our house is unbearable on day two of a hot spell, and i wasn't sure that i could take being hugely pregnant and the heat spell once again.
• today went beautifully with e & s, after a few really hard days with e. i'm thankful that there are times of rest and to be able to see progress in what we are trying to teach both e & s.
• the opportunity to hear a missionary speak about her life and work abroad. her stories were so encouraging and she exhorted us to lay bare our lives before God and ask Him where we are not trusting Him fully. i want to give this more thought. plus, hearing her stories of God's faithfulness increased and encouraged my faith.
• feeling rested even though i'm getting terrible sleep. the reminder that my rest does not come just from physical sleep, but that He is my true strength.

What are you thankful for these days?