Saturday, April 24, 2010
Fantastic Friends
We had our first (of hopefully many) play dates with the Boothe's at Chick-Fil-A on Friday. Clay & Drew enjoyed the playground while Avery & Bella Grace snoozed away. I wasn't sure how well we would manage 4 children with only 2 adults, but it went really well! Clay and Drew were very proud big brothers, protecting their sisters from some of the other curious kids on the playground. Thanks Ashley, Avery, & Clay for braving the "outside world" with us. We had fun!(And thanks Ashley for remembering your camera -- hope you don't mind that I "borrowed" your pictures!)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Happy Halloween!
Halloween was so much fun this year. Drew is really into trains (saying "choo-choo" any time he sees one). So, naturally, he was a train conductor this year! He thought it was tons of fun to go to the door and say "peees" (which means "please" -- and is the closest thing to "Trick-or-Treat" that we could get him to say). His favorite candy seemed to be suckers, although he really liked Skittles, M&M's, Starburst, and pretty much anything else chocolate.
He wore his costume a total of 4 times in the week surrounding Halloween! He had a class party at his gymnastics school, Fall Festival at FBC Dallas with cousins Avery & Julia, actual Halloween night with Buddy Clay and lots of other friends, and finally playgroup the Monday after Halloween. (We got our money's worth this year...and he loved being a "Choo-Choo Man" every time.)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Building our Family...on Earth and in Heaven
John 1:16 - From the fullness of His grace, we have all received one blessing after another.
The last month has really been an amazing one in our lives. One that will forever stand out as we reflect on the fondest memories in life. We're expecting again! On August 17th, I had a sonogram. Andrew and I went into the sonogram hopeful to see the life that the home pregnancy test indicated was present. However, my heart had been burdened to pray not for a little life inside, but for the acceptance of whatever news I was to receive that day. I prayed for contentment with God's will...and for the mercy to be able to accept whatever that was. In my head, I thought that meant that if I were to see no life at all, that I would have the grace to accept it.
The sonogram started and instantly I saw on screen not one black sack that my eye was trained to search for...but TWO! Yes, TWO BABIES! Twins. Two heartbeats. Two little miracles God had given us. Whoa - did I need grace, but just not in the way my short-sighted brain thought I'd need. Laughter shook me so much that the sonogram blurred. Tears of joy streamed down my face. What a blessing I had just been given. Andrew, meanwhile, almost passed out!
My brain was spinning with all of the changes in my mental perspective that needed to be made. But, my overwhelming emotion was joy. In the weeks to follow, the joy remained, but I found myself praying away more fears about a twin pregnancy and caring for 3 children 2 years old and under than I ever anticipated I'd have. Through it all, I knew that God was sovereign and this is what He chose for me. I would trust Him and just convert my worries to prayer.
This past Wednesday, September 23rd, I had another sonogram. When it started, I immediately saw on screen what my eyes were searching for...life. However, this time, there was only one heartbeat. One beautiful life growing inside.
The books call it a "vanishing twin," however I just think that seems like such an injustice to the little life that was not to be. Our baby didn't "vanish." I know exactly where he is. On this side of Heaven, I will never get to meet that little soul, hold him, or rock him to sleep. However, I know that our baby is sitting at the foot of Jesus Christ praising him in Heaven...where we will get to meet him one day. He escaped the Earthly struggles and imperfections of human life, and is in our Father's arms now.
Life truly is a miracle, and I still feel overwhelmingly blessed. Seeing a 12 week old fetus bouncing around on the sonogram screen, waving its arms and legs, rolling, and even doing a back-bend of sorts. That is God's creation...a miracle that absolutely can not happen without divine intelligence and design that only the Father could create.
I've had so many friends go through the loss of a pregnancy. Recently, one friend said that she was "building her family in Heaven" with each miscarriage that she grieved. What a wonderful attitude that is...and one that first came to mind when faced with my own miscarriage.
My little one who I'll never know on this side of Heaven now joins a cousin up in Heaven, as well as many other children whose parents wish they would have had the chance to know them here on Earth. What a beautiful day it will be when we get to meet those wonderful lives we never got to know.
For now, we praise God for the little life still growing inside of me. God's plan for our family is perfect. It was not a mistake that one little life stopped growing. The things that we can not understand are ordained by Him to accomplish His purposes. Those purposes we may never know or understand, but my goal is to use what He chooses for my life to bring glory and honor to my Lord and Savior.
So, please join with me in rejoicing for the one little life that continues to grow in me. My heart's desire is that God brings this baby to term and we get to welcome it to the world late March. My official due date is April 5th, however I will most likely have a c-section around March 29th. I started on this journey with the goal of trusting in the sovereignty of the Lord, and I will continue to do that, wherever it may lead.
The last month has really been an amazing one in our lives. One that will forever stand out as we reflect on the fondest memories in life. We're expecting again! On August 17th, I had a sonogram. Andrew and I went into the sonogram hopeful to see the life that the home pregnancy test indicated was present. However, my heart had been burdened to pray not for a little life inside, but for the acceptance of whatever news I was to receive that day. I prayed for contentment with God's will...and for the mercy to be able to accept whatever that was. In my head, I thought that meant that if I were to see no life at all, that I would have the grace to accept it.
The sonogram started and instantly I saw on screen not one black sack that my eye was trained to search for...but TWO! Yes, TWO BABIES! Twins. Two heartbeats. Two little miracles God had given us. Whoa - did I need grace, but just not in the way my short-sighted brain thought I'd need. Laughter shook me so much that the sonogram blurred. Tears of joy streamed down my face. What a blessing I had just been given. Andrew, meanwhile, almost passed out!
My brain was spinning with all of the changes in my mental perspective that needed to be made. But, my overwhelming emotion was joy. In the weeks to follow, the joy remained, but I found myself praying away more fears about a twin pregnancy and caring for 3 children 2 years old and under than I ever anticipated I'd have. Through it all, I knew that God was sovereign and this is what He chose for me. I would trust Him and just convert my worries to prayer.
This past Wednesday, September 23rd, I had another sonogram. When it started, I immediately saw on screen what my eyes were searching for...life. However, this time, there was only one heartbeat. One beautiful life growing inside.
The books call it a "vanishing twin," however I just think that seems like such an injustice to the little life that was not to be. Our baby didn't "vanish." I know exactly where he is. On this side of Heaven, I will never get to meet that little soul, hold him, or rock him to sleep. However, I know that our baby is sitting at the foot of Jesus Christ praising him in Heaven...where we will get to meet him one day. He escaped the Earthly struggles and imperfections of human life, and is in our Father's arms now.
Life truly is a miracle, and I still feel overwhelmingly blessed. Seeing a 12 week old fetus bouncing around on the sonogram screen, waving its arms and legs, rolling, and even doing a back-bend of sorts. That is God's creation...a miracle that absolutely can not happen without divine intelligence and design that only the Father could create.
I've had so many friends go through the loss of a pregnancy. Recently, one friend said that she was "building her family in Heaven" with each miscarriage that she grieved. What a wonderful attitude that is...and one that first came to mind when faced with my own miscarriage.
My little one who I'll never know on this side of Heaven now joins a cousin up in Heaven, as well as many other children whose parents wish they would have had the chance to know them here on Earth. What a beautiful day it will be when we get to meet those wonderful lives we never got to know.
For now, we praise God for the little life still growing inside of me. God's plan for our family is perfect. It was not a mistake that one little life stopped growing. The things that we can not understand are ordained by Him to accomplish His purposes. Those purposes we may never know or understand, but my goal is to use what He chooses for my life to bring glory and honor to my Lord and Savior.
So, please join with me in rejoicing for the one little life that continues to grow in me. My heart's desire is that God brings this baby to term and we get to welcome it to the world late March. My official due date is April 5th, however I will most likely have a c-section around March 29th. I started on this journey with the goal of trusting in the sovereignty of the Lord, and I will continue to do that, wherever it may lead.
Flu Season Fun
Drew "decorated" a box of Kleenex at Mother's Day Out as part of their manners lesson. This morning, he decided it looked like a fun toy to play with, and we ended up with a white Kleenex wonderland in the kitchen. He had tons of fun pulling out the tissues one by one and rolling around on the floor in them. The giggles made it all worth it!
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
First Day of School
It's that time of year...new lunch boxes (or first ever lunch boxes for Drew), new clothes, new teachers, and the same wonderful friends! Mother's Day Out is back in session. Drew's first day of school is off to a great start, minus the mini-meltdown while getting dressed that I'm pretty sure was spurred on by my refusal to cave into his COOKIE COOKIE demands this morning. He wasn't going down without a good fight.
Eventually, he did get dressed and we made it to First Baptist in time to see a few friends on the walk in. We did our first day of school pictures at school instead of home (so we could have time for the tears from the getting dressed meltdown to dry). He ended up a happy camper (until I walked away, at least)! He's still not in the mood to pose for the camera, however!
Happy first day of school, big boy!
Eventually, he did get dressed and we made it to First Baptist in time to see a few friends on the walk in. We did our first day of school pictures at school instead of home (so we could have time for the tears from the getting dressed meltdown to dry). He ended up a happy camper (until I walked away, at least)! He's still not in the mood to pose for the camera, however!
Happy first day of school, big boy!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Let's Go To The Movies!
Family time is SO much fun. Andrew & I took Drew to see a "real" movie -- you know, not the Veggie Tales DVD for the millionth time on the kitchen TV -- a real movie with cushy reclining seats, a huge screen, and loud stereo speakers!
Ice Age II was playing at our dollar theater (which now costs $1.25, but still a great deal!), so we decided that would be the perfect way to test the waters and see what Drew thought about a real movie. He LOVED it!! He didn't squirm a bit in the first 45 minutes and he actually laughed and talked to the screen a little bit. He'd dance during the songs in the movie, which was really precious. He nibbled on some popcorn and took several sips of our coke! The last 45 minutes of the movie, he did get a little fidgety. But hey, sitting for an hour and a half in mom & dad's lap is a lot to ask of a 19 month old, no matter if there is a movie playing or not! Thank goodness I snuck in some M&M's in my purse. That kept him happy for the last part of the movie. (True spoiling, right?)
It was a fantastic evening and so much fun to see the big eyes and wide smile on Drew's face when the movie came on. Seeing joy through the eyes of your child is just the greatest feeling in the world!
Ice Age II was playing at our dollar theater (which now costs $1.25, but still a great deal!), so we decided that would be the perfect way to test the waters and see what Drew thought about a real movie. He LOVED it!! He didn't squirm a bit in the first 45 minutes and he actually laughed and talked to the screen a little bit. He'd dance during the songs in the movie, which was really precious. He nibbled on some popcorn and took several sips of our coke! The last 45 minutes of the movie, he did get a little fidgety. But hey, sitting for an hour and a half in mom & dad's lap is a lot to ask of a 19 month old, no matter if there is a movie playing or not! Thank goodness I snuck in some M&M's in my purse. That kept him happy for the last part of the movie. (True spoiling, right?)
It was a fantastic evening and so much fun to see the big eyes and wide smile on Drew's face when the movie came on. Seeing joy through the eyes of your child is just the greatest feeling in the world!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
We're way behind on our summer blogging! We went to a Frisco Rough Riders baseball game with the Boothe's back in July. What a fun evening it was!! We managed to get a few cute pictures of Clay & Drew before my camera battery died.
The ballpark in Frisco was so much fun. It's just the right size for a fun family outing. There's a wonderful playground (yes playground) inside so when the boys got tired of sitting, we could let them run around. They slid down the slide and jumped in the big bounce house. Clay didn't like the bounce house so much, but Drew loved it.
We ate at Rudy's BBQ before the game and the boys had fun playing a hunting video game. Then we headed to the ballpark. I'm not sure how much game watching we really did, but it was a fabulous evening. The icing on the cake was a spectacular fireworks show after the game was over. Yes...that was 10pm, but Drew stayed awake to see it all. He crashed in the car before we made it out of the parking lot.
At the playground
First sports outing together! I have a feeling there are many more in their future.
The ballpark in Frisco was so much fun. It's just the right size for a fun family outing. There's a wonderful playground (yes playground) inside so when the boys got tired of sitting, we could let them run around. They slid down the slide and jumped in the big bounce house. Clay didn't like the bounce house so much, but Drew loved it.
We ate at Rudy's BBQ before the game and the boys had fun playing a hunting video game. Then we headed to the ballpark. I'm not sure how much game watching we really did, but it was a fabulous evening. The icing on the cake was a spectacular fireworks show after the game was over. Yes...that was 10pm, but Drew stayed awake to see it all. He crashed in the car before we made it out of the parking lot.
"hunting"
At the playground
First sports outing together! I have a feeling there are many more in their future.
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