TWO PINK LINES!
I've been waiting to write this for weeks now, and I still can't even post it yet until some more family hear it from our lips. Yes, we have had the thrill of seeing those 2 fabulous lines on a pregnancy test for the 4th time!
Baby #4 is due to arrive sometime in June, probably around my 30th birthday! We have even had the privaledge of hearing the little heartbeat on the dopplar at 9 weeks, which is very early for that, but God blessed me with that moment early on.
I think telling the kids was the most fun this time round because the older two have experienced this before and know what to expect. Myah wasn't sure we were telling the truth (obviously she couldn't SEE it yet) and Joel right away said he wanted a brother. We had to explain that we don't get to pick what God gives us, and later he took that back and said he wanted another sister. I think he was realizing some of the privaledges of being the ONLY boy! Either way, we are thrilled, and the kids are excited as well.
By the time this is posted, I will be through the first trimester, thank the Lord. I don't remember ever being so tired with the previous ones, but then again, I didn't have as much going on, and had the privaledge of napping daily which doesn't happen as often this time round.
One more funny story is that we were tossing around name ideas already. It literally takes us all 9 months to decide on something, and then, as the case was with Kiana, we changed it the night before she was born! Anyway, Joel wasn't happy with anything we were throwing out there, and he wanted to call the baby "Jeepy"! (Jeeps are his favorite thing ever right now.) :) I'm sure there will be many more thoughts to come on this new little miracle in our lives, but just had to share our news, and now that word is "out", I can actually post this!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
This is my favorite time of the year. The holidays are beginning. The excitement of time with family, cooking large meals and enjoying the love we all share is near at hand. This year we have Evan's parents here and his sister and foster son are joining us on Friday as well. We sort of are planning to have 2 Thanksgiving meals -- a smaller one with just the 7 of us and then one on Saturday once Erika and Derrel have arrived. That will be our main celebration. The thing I'm looking forward to the most, I think, is reading our big, long chain of things we are thankful for. That has been one of the best activities for our family. It has forced us to think about the details of the things that we take for granted on a regular basis. I think even the garbage man made the list!
Our church recently sent out a team to Uganda to do some mission work. What an amazing experience they had over there. Maybe someday Evan & I can do something like that. The people there have nothing according to our standards -- not even clean water. I just cried as I heard the testimonies Sunday. We have no idea HOW MUCH we have to be thankful for living here in America. The team did talk about how Jesus just radiated off the faces of those over there who love him. He is everything they have. We are now trying to raise money as a church to dig a well, in one of the war-torn areas over there, where they don't have clean water. If they just had clean water, so much of their suffering wouldn't exist. Clean water! It's so easy living in America to lose our focus off from Christ because we have so much around us to distract us from Him. But, imagine, if He was literally ALL we had, how different we would view Him. My Savior is the ONE thing I am most thankful for! He is our hope!
We are so blessed as a nation. Enjoy this holiday season with your families and friends, and remember, God is good...all the time!
This is my favorite time of the year. The holidays are beginning. The excitement of time with family, cooking large meals and enjoying the love we all share is near at hand. This year we have Evan's parents here and his sister and foster son are joining us on Friday as well. We sort of are planning to have 2 Thanksgiving meals -- a smaller one with just the 7 of us and then one on Saturday once Erika and Derrel have arrived. That will be our main celebration. The thing I'm looking forward to the most, I think, is reading our big, long chain of things we are thankful for. That has been one of the best activities for our family. It has forced us to think about the details of the things that we take for granted on a regular basis. I think even the garbage man made the list!
Our church recently sent out a team to Uganda to do some mission work. What an amazing experience they had over there. Maybe someday Evan & I can do something like that. The people there have nothing according to our standards -- not even clean water. I just cried as I heard the testimonies Sunday. We have no idea HOW MUCH we have to be thankful for living here in America. The team did talk about how Jesus just radiated off the faces of those over there who love him. He is everything they have. We are now trying to raise money as a church to dig a well, in one of the war-torn areas over there, where they don't have clean water. If they just had clean water, so much of their suffering wouldn't exist. Clean water! It's so easy living in America to lose our focus off from Christ because we have so much around us to distract us from Him. But, imagine, if He was literally ALL we had, how different we would view Him. My Savior is the ONE thing I am most thankful for! He is our hope!
We are so blessed as a nation. Enjoy this holiday season with your families and friends, and remember, God is good...all the time!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
ONE MORE THING ON MY PLATE
I am hesitant to even write a post about this, but I suppose knowing that other people know I'm attempting this task will help to keep me accountable. For MANY years now, I have wanted to learn to play the guitar. Back in highschool (or was it college?) I got a guitar for Christmas, and have slowly picked away at learning a chord or two here and there and then setting it down for a year only to forget everything I had learned, as little as it was. I even attempted to teach myself through some "at home videos", which I also failed miserably at. I remember praying about it and just asking God that if it's His will for me to learn, then I needed Him to help me.
Since we've been hosting a weekly Bible study at our house, and our pastor drives out to lead it every week, he has been giving me 1/2 hour guitar lessons for the past month or so. I still only know a handful of chords, but at least feel like I now have the means to learn more, if I can only absorb everything I can from him during this time. My biggest issue is time to practice, of course, but I just had success with my fingers stretching to one of those more difficult chords, (which I've been trying to get for weeks now, it seems!) and now am encouraged enough to keep going!
I am hesitant to even write a post about this, but I suppose knowing that other people know I'm attempting this task will help to keep me accountable. For MANY years now, I have wanted to learn to play the guitar. Back in highschool (or was it college?) I got a guitar for Christmas, and have slowly picked away at learning a chord or two here and there and then setting it down for a year only to forget everything I had learned, as little as it was. I even attempted to teach myself through some "at home videos", which I also failed miserably at. I remember praying about it and just asking God that if it's His will for me to learn, then I needed Him to help me.
Since we've been hosting a weekly Bible study at our house, and our pastor drives out to lead it every week, he has been giving me 1/2 hour guitar lessons for the past month or so. I still only know a handful of chords, but at least feel like I now have the means to learn more, if I can only absorb everything I can from him during this time. My biggest issue is time to practice, of course, but I just had success with my fingers stretching to one of those more difficult chords, (which I've been trying to get for weeks now, it seems!) and now am encouraged enough to keep going!
A BLURP FROM "THE HOMESCHOOL MINUTE"
FROM THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE MAGAZINE
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, let us not forget to be thankful for the freedom we have to homeschool. Those of us in America are so blessed to live in a nation where homeschooling is legal in EVERY state. Take some time this week to express your thanks to those homeschooling pioneers who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. At the same time, don't forget to lift up our brothers and sisters around the world who are still fighting for homeschooling freedom.
FROM THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE MAGAZINE
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, let us not forget to be thankful for the freedom we have to homeschool. Those of us in America are so blessed to live in a nation where homeschooling is legal in EVERY state. Take some time this week to express your thanks to those homeschooling pioneers who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. At the same time, don't forget to lift up our brothers and sisters around the world who are still fighting for homeschooling freedom.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
SO THAT'S MY PROBLEM!
(Got this in an e-mail and thought it was worth posting here!)
I decide to do the laundry. As I start toward the basement, I notice that
there are cheerios all over the floor and my car keys are in the cereal
bowl.
I decide to pick up the cheerios before I do the
laundry. I lay my car keys down on the counter, put the cheerios in the
trash can under the counter, and notice that the trash can is full. So,
I decide to take out the trash.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the
mailbox when I take out the trash I may as well pay the bills first. I take
my checkbook off the
table, and see that there is only one check left,
my extra checks are in my desk in the office/playroom, so I go to my desk
where I find a sippy cup full of juice. I'm going to look for my checks,
but first I decide I should put the sippy cup in the refrigerator to keep
it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the sippy cup a
vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye - they need to be watered. I
set the sippy cup on
the counter, and I discover baby wipes that I've
been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back in the
bathroom, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the wipes back down and splash some water on the flowers, but most of
it spills on the floor. So, I get some paper towels and wipe up the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day: the laundry isn't washed,
the bills aren't paid, there is a warm cup of juice sitting on the counter,
the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook,
I can't find the wipes, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done
today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm
really tired.
I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it,
but first I'll check my e-mail.
(Got this in an e-mail and thought it was worth posting here!)
I decide to do the laundry. As I start toward the basement, I notice that
there are cheerios all over the floor and my car keys are in the cereal
bowl.
I decide to pick up the cheerios before I do the
laundry. I lay my car keys down on the counter, put the cheerios in the
trash can under the counter, and notice that the trash can is full. So,
I decide to take out the trash.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the
mailbox when I take out the trash I may as well pay the bills first. I take
my checkbook off the
table, and see that there is only one check left,
my extra checks are in my desk in the office/playroom, so I go to my desk
where I find a sippy cup full of juice. I'm going to look for my checks,
but first I decide I should put the sippy cup in the refrigerator to keep
it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the sippy cup a
vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye - they need to be watered. I
set the sippy cup on
the counter, and I discover baby wipes that I've
been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back in the
bathroom, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the wipes back down and splash some water on the flowers, but most of
it spills on the floor. So, I get some paper towels and wipe up the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day: the laundry isn't washed,
the bills aren't paid, there is a warm cup of juice sitting on the counter,
the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook,
I can't find the wipes, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done
today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm
really tired.
I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it,
but first I'll check my e-mail.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
HOMESCHOOL ENCOURAGEMENT...FOR THIS WEEK! :)
Once again I got this from the Homeschool Minute from the "Old Schoolhouse" magazine. I was blessed by it and wanted to pass it on! Can you tell one of my biggest struggles is being overwhelmed???
God Multiplies More Than Just Fish!
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:9
Remember the story of Jesus feeding the 5000? The hungry crowd gathered, but the disciples didn't have any food. They wondered how they would feed all of those people – surely it would take at least 8 months of wages. But then one boy showed up. He didn't have much – just five loaves and two small fish, but he gave what he had. Jesus took the boy's five loaves and two fish and multiplied them to feed a crowd of 5000 with leftovers!
As homeschool moms sometimes we wonder how we can do it all. Others may wonder too. They are thinking about all the logistics – time, money, resources, other responsibilities. They are thinking about how big the task is. But we need to remember how big our God is. If He can multiply the five loaves and two fish for 5000 surely He can bless our humble efforts to meet the needs of our children! If we are willing to give of ourselves, God will make sure that there is enough time, enough energy, enough patience, enough books, enough money, enough wisdom, and even some leftovers!
Written by: Nancy Carter, Senior Editor, HomesteadBlogger.com
Once again I got this from the Homeschool Minute from the "Old Schoolhouse" magazine. I was blessed by it and wanted to pass it on! Can you tell one of my biggest struggles is being overwhelmed???
God Multiplies More Than Just Fish!
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:9
Remember the story of Jesus feeding the 5000? The hungry crowd gathered, but the disciples didn't have any food. They wondered how they would feed all of those people – surely it would take at least 8 months of wages. But then one boy showed up. He didn't have much – just five loaves and two small fish, but he gave what he had. Jesus took the boy's five loaves and two fish and multiplied them to feed a crowd of 5000 with leftovers!
As homeschool moms sometimes we wonder how we can do it all. Others may wonder too. They are thinking about all the logistics – time, money, resources, other responsibilities. They are thinking about how big the task is. But we need to remember how big our God is. If He can multiply the five loaves and two fish for 5000 surely He can bless our humble efforts to meet the needs of our children! If we are willing to give of ourselves, God will make sure that there is enough time, enough energy, enough patience, enough books, enough money, enough wisdom, and even some leftovers!
Written by: Nancy Carter, Senior Editor, HomesteadBlogger.com
Monday, November 06, 2006
A NEAT PARALLEL
Our new "Five In a Row" story for the week is Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say. I loved this book as I read it for the first time today, mostly because I could relate to it in so many ways. The book tells a story of the boy's grandfather, who grew up in Japan, but visited America and fell in love with it, especially California. He later returns to Japan, gets married and moves back to California, but is always somewhat homesick for his homeland. Eventually, he moves back to Japan, and because of WW2, never gets the chance to visit America again, which he always longed for. The boy grows up, and visits America himself, and falls in love with it, just like his grandfather.
I love this quote on the last page because it sums it up so well... "But I also miss the mountains and rivers of my childhood. I miss my old friends. So I return now and then when I cannot still the longing in my heart. The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other."
That last line sums my heart up well. I love Montana. I love the wide open spaces, the majestic mountains and all the creatures that live here. I love the pace of life out here. I love the simplicity of it all. I love being so close to so many amazing features that our country has to offer -- Yellowstone, Glacier, etc. I love all the new friends we've had the opportunity to meet.
The problem is, I miss home, too. I miss Lake Michigan and all the sunsets I've watched go down over that lake. I miss white sand beaches (and believe me, compared to what we have out here, they are WHITE sand beaches!) Of course I miss our family and all the traditions I had growing up. I miss my old friends...
The funny thing is, when I travel home, even for a visit, I am homesick for Montana. But when I'm in Montana, I am always somewhat homesick for Michigan. Oh, could I ever relate to this story!
Our new "Five In a Row" story for the week is Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say. I loved this book as I read it for the first time today, mostly because I could relate to it in so many ways. The book tells a story of the boy's grandfather, who grew up in Japan, but visited America and fell in love with it, especially California. He later returns to Japan, gets married and moves back to California, but is always somewhat homesick for his homeland. Eventually, he moves back to Japan, and because of WW2, never gets the chance to visit America again, which he always longed for. The boy grows up, and visits America himself, and falls in love with it, just like his grandfather.
I love this quote on the last page because it sums it up so well... "But I also miss the mountains and rivers of my childhood. I miss my old friends. So I return now and then when I cannot still the longing in my heart. The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other."
That last line sums my heart up well. I love Montana. I love the wide open spaces, the majestic mountains and all the creatures that live here. I love the pace of life out here. I love the simplicity of it all. I love being so close to so many amazing features that our country has to offer -- Yellowstone, Glacier, etc. I love all the new friends we've had the opportunity to meet.
The problem is, I miss home, too. I miss Lake Michigan and all the sunsets I've watched go down over that lake. I miss white sand beaches (and believe me, compared to what we have out here, they are WHITE sand beaches!) Of course I miss our family and all the traditions I had growing up. I miss my old friends...
The funny thing is, when I travel home, even for a visit, I am homesick for Montana. But when I'm in Montana, I am always somewhat homesick for Michigan. Oh, could I ever relate to this story!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
APRAXIA
Joel's new speech therapist has recently diagnosed him with something called apraxia. This article explains what apraxia is very well and another can be read here.
Developmental apraxia of speech (DAS), is when a person has trouble saying what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently. They have a hard time positioning the face, tongue, lips, or jaw for the production of speech sounds and for sequencing those sounds into words. So, even though the child knows what he wants to say, he has difficulty saying it correctly when he wants to.
One of my frustrations with Joel is that he can say something perfectly clear one day, and the next day really struggle to get it out correctly. This is very typical of DAS and is only "fixed" after he has had so much practice saying those sounds correctly that it just comes as second nature to say it the correct way. Patience! I'm learning patience!
A child does not "grow out of" DAS. Speech therapy is needed to correct this. Because Joel's case is very mild, his therapist thinks that with about 2 years of intesive therapy, he will be talking pretty well. Joel has been working very hard for her, and I'm so proud of him. He's come so far in the past year alone. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for him in the past. I finally feel like we're getting to the bottom of his situation. Sometimes God brings new people in our lives to help with the next step of things, and I believe that is just what He's done through Joel's new therapist. When I thought having to find a new therapist would only set Joel back, I couldn't have been more wrong. It actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise!
Joel's new speech therapist has recently diagnosed him with something called apraxia. This article explains what apraxia is very well and another can be read here.
Developmental apraxia of speech (DAS), is when a person has trouble saying what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently. They have a hard time positioning the face, tongue, lips, or jaw for the production of speech sounds and for sequencing those sounds into words. So, even though the child knows what he wants to say, he has difficulty saying it correctly when he wants to.
One of my frustrations with Joel is that he can say something perfectly clear one day, and the next day really struggle to get it out correctly. This is very typical of DAS and is only "fixed" after he has had so much practice saying those sounds correctly that it just comes as second nature to say it the correct way. Patience! I'm learning patience!
A child does not "grow out of" DAS. Speech therapy is needed to correct this. Because Joel's case is very mild, his therapist thinks that with about 2 years of intesive therapy, he will be talking pretty well. Joel has been working very hard for her, and I'm so proud of him. He's come so far in the past year alone. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for him in the past. I finally feel like we're getting to the bottom of his situation. Sometimes God brings new people in our lives to help with the next step of things, and I believe that is just what He's done through Joel's new therapist. When I thought having to find a new therapist would only set Joel back, I couldn't have been more wrong. It actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise!
Thursday, November 02, 2006
HOMESCHOOL ENCOURAGEMENT
Boy, did I need to hear this this week. I just read this short little article from "Old Schoolhouse Magazine". I wanted to post it hoping that you might be blessed by it as well.
_________________
Faith Walk
Do you ever struggle with wondering how you are going to get it all done? How you can teach your child everything that you want him to know, especially when you're also busy trying to be a wife, take care of your house, and all of the other responsibilities that you have? It's an overwhelming thought!
But if you'll go back to God's word, He can ease those anxious feelings. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." If you'll just start by focusing on what God wants you to get done each day, then He will add all the other things.
Homeschooling is a faith walk. It takes faith and commitment to stay the course when those around you are full of criticism or discouragement. Just take one step at a time. God will take care of the rest. Just stay the course.
Nancy Carter, Senior Editor
Boy, did I need to hear this this week. I just read this short little article from "Old Schoolhouse Magazine". I wanted to post it hoping that you might be blessed by it as well.
_________________
Faith Walk
Do you ever struggle with wondering how you are going to get it all done? How you can teach your child everything that you want him to know, especially when you're also busy trying to be a wife, take care of your house, and all of the other responsibilities that you have? It's an overwhelming thought!
But if you'll go back to God's word, He can ease those anxious feelings. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." If you'll just start by focusing on what God wants you to get done each day, then He will add all the other things.
Homeschooling is a faith walk. It takes faith and commitment to stay the course when those around you are full of criticism or discouragement. Just take one step at a time. God will take care of the rest. Just stay the course.
Nancy Carter, Senior Editor
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