11 weeks and rolling right along!

We are 11 weeks pregnant today! Yay! We've made it two weeks further than in our last pregnancy. We saw the doctor last week, and I'm seeing her again this Thursday. She wants to really monitor my blood sugar closely. She said she would do a sonogram this week, just to make sure baby's ok, and my due date is accurate. My due date, by the way, is March 25th! Katie really wanted it to be born in April like her, and chances are, she may get her wish. Katie was born 9 days after she was due, and that was because we MADE her come out by induction! She weighed 9#2oz...big, big, baby girl...I can only imagine what a boy would weigh!

This morning I was feeling a little stressed, about finances, our disorganized home, about our baby being ok. Thankfully, Kris reminded me to pray and read the Bible. These are the verses that the Lord led me to today, and I wanted to share them here.

1 Peter 5:7-9ish
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. RESIST HIM, standing firm in the FAITH...

How appropriate and comforting is that? I was so anxious--about everything, but I had not prayed or read the Bible. God is good, all the time, and ALL the time, God is good.

We're still praying for Tim Holsinger. He continues to make progress from his head injuries sustained while in a motorcycle accident.

21 years!

We've been friends for 21 years-Anita and I! Look at these two pretty mama's! I'm just amazed at how fast time has gone by since we met in the 6th grade! This weekend was Nita's baby shower in Lenexa. We had a really nice time visiting and catching up. She has about a month to go before she has little Aiden! Can't wait for her to experience the amazing joy that a newborn baby brings!

I have a little something to share...

We're expecting! According to my calculations, we are due sometime around the end of March! We are so excited! We feel so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to add a little one to our family! I see the doctor next week. I actually had a doctor visit scheduled for yesterday, but had to cancel because I was in the hospital with a little case of dehydration from a virus. I'm MUCH better now though! We are just so amazed and feel truely, truely blessed beyond measure! God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good!

It's been almost a month...

...since I posted last! Yikes! I can't believe I've let this much time go by! Things have been busy. We went camping a couple of weeks ago at Roaring River State Park. It was brave of us to go in August, because it's so stinkin' hot, but it wasn't too bad down there. The mornings and evenings were cooler, and the afternoons weren't terrible. We did a lot of swimming, cooking and eating. Our second night of camping brought a great surprize. Our "neighbors" in the camper next door were bluegrass artists, and had about a dozen other bluegrass artists over for some music! It was great. We really enjoyed it. Afterward, Katie was so impressed that she asked them if they had a cd to buy!
Katie is still enjoying karate, and can't wait for school to start, which is, by the way-tomorrow! She is so ready, and is just so excited to go.

Busy, busy, so shockingly busy!

Wow! This has been a couple of crazy weeks! Katie has had swimming lessons every morning, and karate on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, so we have been running around everywhere. Katie graduated from Level II, and will be in Level III next year for swimming lessons!

I have to confess that I have developed a new obsession--coupon clipping. I know that it sounds weird, but I love saving money. It gives me such a feeling of accomplishment to save so much! There were some really great coupons and savings these last couple of weeks. I stocked up on body wash and shampoo and conditioner. After coupons the Johnsons Melt Away Stress body wash was $.54 each, and the Loreal Vive Pro shampoo and conditioner that were regularly $4+ each, were $.75 each! I also bought Colgate toothpaste for $.50 each after coupons and the rollback price at Wal-Mart. Yay!

We have kind of a fun weekend planned with good friends. Tonight we're heading to Pittsburg to possibly meet up with Fred and Michelle to have dinner at either Jim's Steak House or Mall Deli. Tomorrow night our friends Mike and Melissa are coming over to our house for dinner. I'm not sure what I'm cooking yet---need to get that planned. Katie is spending tonight with Grandma and Grandpa who also have Rylee visiting, so they will have a great time!

I think that's all I have for today. I may add more later!

I am one HAPPY taxi driving mom!

Katie had a yucky allergy day today, but she could not wait to go to her first karate class tonight. We got there and got her uniform, and the owners/instructors were so incredibly nice. They were so child friendly and just so positive! I loved it. As we watched Katie, I couldn't stop smiling! She listened and practiced, and did really well for her first time. I was so impressed!

I'm a taxi driving mama!

Swimming lessons, karate, and a trip to Grandma and Grandpa's...I'm Katie's official limo driver this week! She has so much going on, and it just happens to be the week that I have so much going on too-yikes! We've been busy, and it's only Tuesday! Kate will be going to Grandma and Grandpa's on Wednesday, to spend three WHOLE days. She is beyond excited! She loves going there! She swims, swings, watches unlimited cartoons, and gets a sno-cone whenever she wants! Fun!

Fun stuff!

Ok--there has been entirely too much serious stuff in my blog lately-time for some fluffies!

Yesterday we went to Target, and I bought myself a little treat from http://www.migo.com/

I got the little mug over there---->, but in PINK! Too cute!

Also...in the mail from 2 peas was another treat-my scrapbooking bag from K&Company http://www.kandcompany.com/--again--in PINK! I love it-it's HUGE, has tons of pockets, and is just adorable!

33 years

When I think about all that Christ accomplished in his 33 years of His life here on earth, I am in awe. He healed so many, He taught so much, He was flawless, and when He died on the cross, He died for me. His 33 years of life's work was done because he loved us. Even if I were the only other person on earth, He would have still died on the cross...for me. It's humbling.
33 years.
396 months.
12, 045 days.
of living and dieing so I could live my own 33 years.
Humbling.

Independence Day...

Today is Independence Day. It's kind of strange that the name of our town is Independence, and there are no 4th of July celebrations happening, no fireworks, no sparklers...nothing except rebel firework setters in the distance. It's strange to think that 3 days ago, our town was 1/3 covered in flood water. The water has receded, but the devastation remains. People are homeless, they have lost everything. There is no clean water. Part of a bridge and highway are gone. Some things do remain, however:

freedom to reclaim what has been lost

hope that things will eventually return to normal

and a stronger, closer community, from having gone through so much together.

Two months ago...

Two months ago, all of our lives were changed. Two months ago, I was taking my mom to the doctor to have a lump in her breast checked out...I was scared to death I would lose her. Two months ago, my sister and her husband, along with their three precious children were in a terrible car accident. Two months ago, my dear sweet Grandma went to meet Jesus, and hold hands with Grandpa again. April was such an incredibly difficult month, but it made me realize some things. You know, I'm so very thankful that my mom's lump turned out to be nothing, my sister and her family walked away from a crumpled car with no injuries, and the best part of my Grandma passing is that I know she is in Heaven...where she has deserved to be...for her whole life. I was thinking about these things last night, and how they impacted my life, and how it seems like it was so long ago, but in reality only 8 short weeks ago. I am so incredibly thankful that I have this picture of Katie and Grandma together. You can see the love that my Grandma had for all of her children and grandchildren...right here in the photo. Love you Grandma...so much...I miss you.

Ahhh...VACATION!

We visited South Dakota for our summer vacation this past week...and let me tell ya...I want to go back...right now! We had such a great time. Great weather, great travel/traffic, great scenery, great fun! We visited Mt. Rushmore, the Black Hills, the Badlands, and Custer State Park. Everything was so amazing! We were in complete awe of God's creation and his creativity!

Vacation Bible School

VBS started tonight. Katie really had a great time. I am teaching the 1st and 2nd graders, and we have 15 kids in our class! SS is usually 5 kids, and Caravan's 5 kids, but 15 at VBS--oh my! This week is going to be an adventure! Katie was really well behaved tonight. I was proud of her. She gave a little boy with no offering some offering to put in the bucket. Our theme this year is Tumbleweed Gulch-Where God's Love Changes Everything! It has some really wonderful lessons. Tonight's Bible verse was:
How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God. 1John 3:1a

We had a good weekend. After we took Megan back to Jill and Jay on Sunday, Katie had a little rough patch. I think she was just so tired, but she became really cranky. She finally settled down, and we decided to go to evening service. I am so glad that we went. After church we had dinner and went to the park to wait for the fountain to come on. At the city park/zoo, there is an old fountain. It comes on at 9pm, and is lighted and alternates colors and fountain heights, etc. It is so pretty. It has been there for as long as I can remember. Our park also has a miniature train, a Merry-Go-Round, and miniature golf. There is also a tiny zoo. It's really wonderful. There is also a new aquatic center--our town has so many things to do for families.

When Katie prayed tonight, she specifically asked me to not forget to pray for our baby. I am sweetheart, I am. I am still praying that God would bless us with a baby.


Please, Lord...please give us a baby.

Little Girls' Prayers

We have company tonight! We ran into Jill and Jay today, and invited Megan to come and stay over for the night. She and Katie have been having a great time! They played on the slip and slide, played Barbies, Babies, and even gave me a concert! They're both very talented little singers! At bedtime, Katie asked me to pray with her like usual, and Megan prayed too. Their little prayers are so wonderful and sweet. It is so great to hear them talk to Jesus...they love him so much!

Locks of Love!

Katie donated her hair to locks of love today!

The last day of 1st grade!

Today is Katie's last day of school. I just can't believe it. This year has gone by so fast, and our little girl is growing up TOO quickly! Today we are going to do something exciting after school...but I will post about that later...it's going to be a really memorable day!

Ok---a little about our goal of having another child. Usually I would be kind of sad in talking about it, but I think my prayers of coming to some acceptance have been answered. I am trying not to worry about it. Worrying does not add an hour to one's life (it's in the Bible somewhere--so I know it's true!). We are going to be content with having our beautiful daughter, and our little dog.

Some updates on other's babies though:
The Hamilton family from Katie's school had their twins, Lexi and Logan, 11 weeks early, but they are doing well!
Bart and Cara had their 3rd baby on Tuesday-a baby girl-Congrats!
Anita and Damian are expecting their first, a little boy, at the beginning of October!
Lori and Steve are expecting their 4th child in August!
Bobby and Mary Ann are expecting their first baby at the end of October! We might be able to know if it's a boy or girl at the end of this week! Yay!!
Jenny from the scrapbook store is also expecting, and two girls from our office in Chanute are also due any time!
There are babies everywhere!
:o)

In my garden...

Just sharing some photo's of this year's flowers...

Learning to Ride!

Katie is learning to ride her bike without training wheels, and she's doing great! Just wanted to add some pictures and brag a little!!

We're moving---again!

We are moving...again! We are moving home! I am so happy. I think we will be in this home for a while...and I am ready to settle in and settle down for a while. This house is going to be very comfortable for us! The things that I will really enjoy are so simple...and I will never take them for granted again---things like a dishwasher, an ice-maker, and two bathrooms! Yay! I am really looking forward to sitting on the front porch, visiting with Kris and Katie. I can't wait!

Scrapbooking...

You know what? I love scrapbooking. I love photos, I love paper, I love ribbon. I love being creative, and colorful, and expressive. I love leaving something lasting for Katie, that she can show her children, and her grandchildren. I just love it.

That's all. I just wanted to say that I love scrapbooking!