Feeling the Love

They could hardly wait,  actually they didn't wait until Valentine's Day to give us their heartfelt creations.  Friday after school I received these treasures.

You read that right.  I make a mean batch of beans and corn.     

proof my kids will fight about ANYTHING !

A little healthy sibling rivalry is normal in every household, right?

The boys wrestle,  the girls fight over the same Barbie and they all fight over who will sit where in the mini-van.

A few weeks ago they reached a new low.   Fighting over prayer.

The disappointing scene took place before supper one evening last month when Dan was working in Maryland.   I was already weary from the days doings and I was looking forward to getting off of my feet for 30 minutes to scarf up whatever  concoction I had prepared.

We sat down and decided that we would do a popcorn prayer to begin the meal time.   This gives each kid the opportunity to offer a praise or request, and even Juliet gets in on it  (thanking God for her milk, or Daddy)   Before even one hand was folded, or one eye closed a fight ensued!

Drew accused Joy of stealing all of the "good prayers"  

Chase didn't have anything he wanted to pray.

Joy screamed back that she had dibs on "the baby in Mommy's tummy"

Drew pouted that she "ALWAYS gets that one, and it WASN'T FAIR"

Juliet wouldn't take the pacifier out of her mouth or put her lovey down.  (what else is new?)

Chase  just wanted to eat supper and whined about that. 

I offered some other options that they might be interested in praying about. 

"No I don't want to say that stuff!"  proclaimed Joy and Drew.

At this point I wasn't feeling particularly reverent, and proceeded to take the lead and offered up a prayer that I hope (and know) God could read between the lines and my wearied tone.


And then there was silence.   We dined,  the kids had a change of heart and we moved on to the next part of the evening--  Homework!

I love these little people,  but my goodness they surprise me all the time with how, what, where, when and why they will bicker.    Perhaps someday they will be best friends ? ? ?

 Juliet at her "desk"

  A picnic gone wrong, you can see by Joy's face.

the final countdown.

Sometime around 30 weeks I began to count down the weeks,  while before that point I was counting up.    A wonderful milestone and I am thankful!    With less than 7 weeks to go before my due date I am trying to get my head around this being my last pregnancy.   I have many fun comparisons going on my my head about the first time I walked this road 11 years ago.   I hope to dig out a few  thoughts and photos from the olden days pretty soon and blog them,  but for today, though writing I hope to kick some fear to the curb.

I have said countless times that my previous pregnancy and this one have kind of melted together to one long hormonal circus.     Hope and loss,  sadness and searching,  anticipation, fear, and joy all weaving their own mark into my time line the last 10 months.

The closer I get to the 40 week mark increased anxious thoughts and memories of April's induced delivery reach the surface of my heart.    The way the last few weeks have lived out resemble the way I spent the first trimester of this pregnancy--living in fear.

Fearful of what exactly?   Frankly,  another pregnancy loss and delivery of a baby already gone.   The thought of living through that again is breath stealing  and joy taking.   I DO NOT want to be filled with this fear,  but here I am again letting it seep back in.    I say  "I"  am letting it seep in because it certainly is not of God.

He has restored me.
He has displayed His power in creating this life that I carry. 
He has promised to be near me every hour.

I don't want the loss of April to be for nothing.  Of the many things I have learned and will continue to learn following that time is that God is God!    His promises are true, and He carries us.   

It was not a one time gig.   

He will do this over and over again in my life as certainly more and greater storms will arise.  

Matthew 8:26 (Contemporary English Version) 

²⁶But Jesus replied, "Why are you so afraid? 

You surely don't have much faith." 

Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to calm down. And everything was calm.

So,  as a kind of declaration of independence from fear I say,  that come what may,

God will restore me.
God will display his power whatever the circumstance!
God will be near me every hour.

Moving forward in faith.   49 some days to go!

Flashback Friday-- fridge fotos edition

I pass by them everyday,  adornments on my refridgerator.   It is a messy collage of magnets, cards, photos, kid artwork and notepads.

Today I took a fresh look at them again,  and scanned in a few of my faves.

As much as I love professional photographs,   there is something great about snapshots.

Here's a few from my frig front...

Juliet, 1 Year Old 

Bethany, Me, and Stacey rockin' it 1980s style in 2007

The Big 3 when they were quite little,  2007

Katie and I,  expecting the gals in 2008

The Fam.  last Fall 2010