39

 

I turned 39 earlier this month.  We had just had our D&C the day before, so Kris and the kids really went overboard to make my day special. Katie painted me a beautiful canvas, with a Bible verse from Proverbs 31:25.  Kris heard me mention that I wanted to read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom a few weeks ago, and bought it for me.  He also bought a frame for our family picture, and a coffee mug from Krispy Kreme!  They really spoiled me!  Katie created a giant "39" out of photos, and I just loved it...it meant so much to me.  Even though this is my last year of being a "thirty-something", I am looking forward to everything this year holds for our family.  I know my forties will be amazing too!

 

 

Our 4th of July, 2013

We stayed home and had a relaxed day together.  Kris and I tried to just stay focused on the kiddos and having fun, rather than on the loss of the baby.  We wanted the kids to have good memories, even though we were struggling to keep it together on the inside.  We had lots of good food...

Red, Hot and Blues Potato Salad  from Caramel Potatoes (so yummy!)

Delicious sweet corn (from Dillon's) because we couldn't find any local here yet!

The kids had so much fun shucking the corn, they were in a race to see who could shuck the fastest!

We also had red, white, and blue cake!

The weather was absolutely perfect, so we spent lots of time sitting out on the patio, just enjoying a few snakes, smoke balls, and crackling balls.  It was even cool enough for a little lap sitting and snuggling.

I hung an old barn star I had out on the fence, and moved the outside furniture over there for a little cute spot...it was even cuter with the kids sitting there! (even though I couldn't get a picture of them all looking at me to save my life!)

We had a really nice 4th of July, just being together and enjoying each other!  I am so very, very, thankful for these three kiddos...they are the best blessings in the world.  I would have loved to have had just one more, but I feel so incredibly blessed to have these beautiful three.

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:18

 

Wednesday I visited the doctor and we found out that our sweet baby we were expecting in February had passed away.  I hadn't posted about this pregnancy, and only a few close friends and family knew about it.  My hcg had not been increasing the way it should for several weeks, so we went through several weeks of blood tests and sonograms to confirm that we had lost the pregnancy.  Yesterday I had a D&C.  I feel pretty lost about how to feel.  This pregnancy was a complete and total surprise but Kris and I had started choosing names and dreaming of what the baby would look like, how much it would weigh-would it outweigh his/her big sisters and brother? Would this baby have my skin tone or Kris's, would he/she have red hair or blonde hair?  I know our sweet baby is being snuggled in heaven right now, probably by my Grandma Rench, or maybe by Jesus himself...it just hurts to not have him/her with us.  I know we will be ok.  I have felt the presence of the holy spirit through the entire experience, I know he has been holding my heart.

A few recent garage sale finds...just in time for Independence Day!

We have gotten to do a lot of garage sale shopping this summer, and it has been so much fun!  It seems like each one I go to has a few little treasures or things on my "wish list"!  I have been searching for 1/2 pint glass milk containers, and recently found these two cuties for $2.00 each!  One of them is from 1949, and the other is from 1946!  I have seen them at flea markets for $5-8, and just couldn't pass up the bargain!

At the same garage sale, I was able to buy two Ball Mason jars, with the zinc lids with the porcelain in tact, also for $2.00 each.  One of them has already made it's home in a red wire basket (that I bought at a GS a couple of years ago) on my kitchen table, love them!

 

And last, but probably the most festive...a set of four flag glasses for $1.00!  They aren't old, but they were way too cute to pass up! 

 

 

We are planning a relaxing day of the five of us just being together on the 4th.  Our neighbor told us that we pretty much have a front row seat from our front yard to the city fireworks display that is held at a park nearby!  Looking forward to Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Ribs,  "Red, Hot, and Blues" potato salad, some fresh corn on the cob, and just hanging out with Kris and the kids! 

 

Have a great 4th of July!