Response to our past is key to our future.

A Prodigal, a reformed harlot, and a healed lunatic.

What do they have in common?

Where is the common thread that would seemingly weave these
 three together?

How do their lives compare to each other?

Christmas 2013

It all began with a wake up call to eat from our newest member, Chloe around 5 am.

I began the no bake cookies that I had planned on filling the stockings with.

My two year old came out of her room with the sun wiping her eyes and wanting a cookie. She had been preceded by her daddy about ten min. before with Chloe in tow. They were both now sleeping as the light began to stream in through the window.

 

I could hear the song of the birds outside our window. Such a sweet song they are singing this morning! Like they know today  is special.

I continued to do last minute things to be ready when the troops awoke.

I love this time of day, when all is still and quiet. A time to just ..Be Still and Know That He is God.
We then woke up everyone and Mike made pancakes for everyone.
We read the Christmas Story, and began to sort the gifts out by name.
We opened from youngest to oldest. Then it was time to start on the ham and potatoes.
We sat down to eat around three.
We had an Advent box to open full of crafts and ornaments and devotions.
We sang Christmas songs...mostly of of Amy Grant's Christmas album of yesterday.
We also constructed the manger scene as we acted out the story .

We then made Jesus cupcakes and sang The Birthday song to Him, when my little one exclaimed how much she loved Christmas.
We all smiled at her, as we silently agreed.

I link my posts to these lovely places:
The Better Mom (Mondays)
Growing Home (Tuesdays)
Time-Warp Wife (Tuesdays)
Deep Roots at Home (Wednsdays)
Women Living Well (Wednsdays)
Our Simple Country Life (Thursdays)

38 weeks and A Miracle

BEST QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 

"Is she GREAT WITH CHILD or GREAT with child?"( a man at the scrooge play)....Monday nite
 ...although Sunday; it was two teens at Walmart gasping.." Oh my God is that real?" as I was passing them in an aisle shopping...I was so tempted to say..."See what happens when you have sex!"
 

" I like your belly.."( a young friend around 17)

 

BEST HOLIDAY MOMENTS

Zoe singing Twinkle Twinkle Star at sight of tree with star topper.

and then Mary Did You Know as she passed the nativity.

I can't wait to take her through a drive thru nativity.

The Scrooge play....Zoe begged to give one of the characters a hug after the play..(.my feet were swollen at the end of play.) Third time this has happened to me during this trimester.

 

Zoe doesn't like Santa but will hug the Grim Reaper! The black monster is what she called him.... we finally deciphered out of her garbled toddler language...she also high fived him twice and gave him a hug..... no pictures though....She said she wasn't scared and didn't want to be. Her name does mean LIFE, maybe she thought the Death Angel needed to lighten up a little...or that we have taught her fake and real and the difference...

or that just as a child we do not need to fear the unknown and scary...she has inspired me! I will remember her bravery when labor approaches!

 

 MOST CHALLENGING MOMENT

 

I had to speak to my three oldest about helping out more often. They became over emotional when I told them I am limiting there technology time!

  I am already working on my resolution list for 2013...any one else doing this yet?

 

PROJECTS TO DO YET

Big Sister Kit for Zoe

Belly cast

Mobile made or Tulle Pom Poms

Prints framed and hung

shopping finished

christmas cards sent (delegating)

birth prayers written

bags finished packing

cosleeper set up

freezer food made
purchase build a bear together

 

MY BIRTH PLAN

I want the labor room to be a place where his Spirit is felt....One where the Temple of His presence abides....I want all who step in the room to know that God is with us!

 

MIRACLES THIS WEEK

Wednesday nite I sang a song..."What a Savior" by Laura Story...I know God was with me because I had a lot more lung capacity than I should have had...

 

My sister in laws baby girl who had a hole in her heart...well according to the latest ultrasound there is no sign of a hole anymore! She is healed in Jesus name!

Thursday night...My kids held their annual Christmas play.My Dad was able to make it due to a cancellation appt. 

Please keep the family of the man killed instantly in a motorcycle accident outside of the play in your prayers. My daughter Jordyn and my niece Abby were among many other witnesses who also need a strong dose of His comfort.

It is called the cycle of life for a reason.

 

 The birth of baby girl is imminent. My midwife wants to speed things up for us..Thank God! We had a long pause in low heartbeat on the baby monitor which prompted an emergency ultrasound.... 12 frames of 140 beats a minute when they are looking for 150 beats is enough to warrant this apparently.

 She finally woke up after I leaned on the side she was sleeping on. and her heart went up to normal, but it was scheduled and my midwife kept it so at least we could see her move and get a weight guess. She is anywhere from 8.8 to 9.8 lbs!

 I was shocked! No... I am not gestational. diabetic...no I do not have big babies normally..my two biggest were 8.3lbs.

 

After two miscarriages though I am just amazed at the healthiness! I found the fear faded away quickly to gratitude!

 

If I had not had the play to go to tonite and a couple other loose ends to wrap up...I would have allowed the midwife to strip the cervix today! So official plans are for this Tuesday at 3:30 pm. Dec. 18th..... God willing.   I will be taking a short break from blogging but hopefully resuming in time to post New Years resolutions and new baby pics!

 I have so many plans for this blog, but will be taking those plans to God in prayer and hoping for His still small voice to guide me!

I began this post at the beginning of the week on Monday the 10th.
On Friday night the 14th, my water broke.
On Saturday early morning, 1:19 am, Chloe Grace came 9 days early to be with us for Christmas!

 

8lbs. 12oz.

21 in. long

 

 

 

Linking with....
The Better Mom (Mondays)
Growing Home (Tuesdays)
Time-Warp Wife (Tuesdays)
Deep Roots at Home (Wednesdays)
Women Living Well (Wednesdays)
Our Simple Country Life (Thursdays

37 weeks..

TREE DECORATION

Zoe said she wanted to help. We let her hold the end of the string of lights as Jo put them on. Before she toddled off to bed she took one last look at the tree and exclaimed, " Tree looks scary... too heavy on bottom....  Where is baby going to sleep?" (meaning her doll baby) Our tree is

small fat and pregnant looking(like me)...but petite Jo was able to string lights on it in 20 min without having to walk around it...its short!

 

POTTY TRAINING PROGRESS

 

She knows whats expected...no park or her favorite drink until poop hits the water...not when I plop it out of her panties in the water! NOPE.... it has to touch the water first before panties! My apologies to all those with queasy bellies.

 

SUNDAY VISITOR

Robert, my brother in law, wants to bring a pal who he says no one visits or picks up to go out. I would love to be able to do this, but Mike needs to be here. It would be the appropriate thing to do. I am praying he is able to get a shift off. I am also praying aginst doubts that I have as well. A few red flags that I picked up on two weeks ago from Robert at our picnic visit. He still has an addiction spirit he deals with.

 

MY MEMORY

I forgot about Mike at work. He had to wait an hour...he was a Lil unhappy! Sundays close early, and I forget a lot! But then I reminded him I have waited on him with a toddler in tow, and a full bladder for an hour in the parking lot !

 

ADVENT BOXES

 

 

36 Weeks over ...moving on to 37

 

MIDWIFE VISIT

 

VERY interesting! I actually think I chewed off the tip of my tongue. She said she was not a parent  herself but in her experience (BY OSMOSIS THROUGH HER SISTER)  She gave me some full of doubt advice about letting Zoe go back to diapers once baby is here. She left me on a monitor flat on my back ( have to do this for twenty min each time due to my age) not accommodating at all! The  Holy Spirit whispered in that still voice" you can speak to it"...."What's it?" I said.... out loud. Superiority?...Pride? and He said" Doubts"...

 

 

What Does Giving Feel Like?

TRUE GIVING....

What is it?

is it the meeting of our wants?

or is it the meeting of our needs?

Does God Himself know what giving feels like, smells like, tastes like and looks like?

If I were to put myself in His dusty sandals, these would be my thoughts...

What would He say giving sounds like?

 A JOYFUL NOISE, unsolicited, rising from the hearts of children.

 

Miraculous...By Kevin Belmonte

Miraculous...

Is it about miracles?

Is it about the miraculous?

It is a wonderful book about both. The book is divided into sections..miracles of the Bible...and miracles in modern day.

This non fiction book is very informative with lots of quotes from famous historians. The purpose God has in mind when showering us with miracles comes to life and light, about the 5th chapter, midway into the book.