Summer's Getting Close and Abigail's Baby Shower

I feel as though summer is teasing us.  It feels like it is almost here one day and then this week has been the chilliest we have had in awhile.  I bought a fairly large blow up pool on Monday at the grocery store.  Came home to three little people ready with their swimsuits on, only to deliver the disappointing news that it was entirely too cold to swim.  We had on jackets at Luke's game later that night and were still shivering.  I really am not complaining, because this large pregnant girl will take all the cool days I can get.  However, I am very excited about summer fruits and vegetables.  We went strawberry picking a couple of Saturdays ago with my friend, Jennifer, and her two children, Conner and Elizabeth.  She had made strawberry freezer jam before.  I never had, but she convinced me to try it.  So glad I did.  My back was hurting towards the end, but that stuff is so, so good. I could eat it with a spoon!  Andrew particularly enjoyed the strawberries fresh...

One day last week when it was very warm outside, the kids played in the sprinklers.  They have been asking to do that since about March.  Then we ate our lunch outside on the front porch.  I love how in the summer I feel more "allowed" to be lazy.  It's also just so good to be outside. 

Luke has been wanting to catch up with Ellie in reading.  So awhile back we started on the same curriculum that Ellie has used.  Here is Luke to show you what he has learned so far of "The Consonant Rhyme".  Andrew is joining in as well.  This is the day we were eating lunch on the front porch after playing in the water, thus our wet and not-really-dressed appearance.

My belly is getting bigger and bigger and my energy level is getting smaller and smaller.  It's so frustrating to be so tired yet want and need to get so much more done.   I've also had to apologize to my family on several occasions because I have been less than a joy to be around.  I have six weeks to go.  In terms of being pregnant, I'm ready for it to be over tomorrow.  In terms of what needs to be done before Abigail arrives, I still feel like I could use some more time.  I was very blessed on Sunday by my church family who gave me a beautiful shower and showered me with lots of beautiful and helpful things.  Steven and I are continually blessed by the body of believers at Riverside and how they serve us, love, and take care of our family.

 

 

Kind of had dejavu (sp?) when I was opening baby girl gifts.  Wasn't I just doing that when I was pregnant with Ellie?  Yet, here she is, a 6 year old, helping me open up gifts for her little sister.    Have to remember that when these last weeks of pregnancy seem long.

Mother's Day

Amazed that mothers have been raising children for generations and generations.  They all felt about their children the way I do about mine.  Mom said in her post, "What I didn't know then, now I see more clearly."  It's so very true, and I know I will only continue to feel that way as I grow and experience more of what being a mother means.

So now I will share pictures of the generations of mothers that have come before me.  Taken from my mother's blog.  Because I know she won't care.  Because that's what mother's do.  They give and give without being asked or thanked and would do it over and over again.  But...I will say "Thanks, mom, for the pictures, and for lots more that is way too much to try and put into words." 

Going back to my great-grandmother, Ella.  Mother to four girls...

One of her four girls, Edith, my grandmother.  Here with her two daughters, my mother on left, and my aunt Mary Ann on the right.

How I remember her best...

My grandmother holding Laura Beth as an infant-with me on the left.

My mother holding her grandchildren....

And now here I am.  Thank you to all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and great-grandmothers, who have influenced and shaped lives in the generations before me.  

 

Safe and Thankful!

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."  Proverbs  27:1

That is the verse I used to have in the heading of my blog.  We experienced the truth of it last week as deadly tornadoes hit our area and all over the state of Alabama.  We spent most of the day and Wednesday night at our very gracious neighbor's house.  They have a very safe basement and had a generator to provide electricity after the power went out late in the afternoon.  Once we realized it would more than likely be days before we had power again, mom traveled with me and the kids to my aunt's in south Alabama.  Steven stayed to take care of things around here and to help where he could.  I felt a little guilty about escaping, but I was also thinking that if we stayed, I would be of no help to anyone-pregnant with three small children.  I also thought Steven might be able to do more if he wasn't having to tend to us.  We were well taken care of.  Mary Ann-thanks again for taking in my entire crew  for a few days!  Our refrigerator is pretty bare and we are slowly re-stocking it, but my goodness, that is nothing to complain about.  So grateful just to have a refrigerator to re-fill.  This tragedy changed our lives for a week or two, but for so many their lives will never be the same again. 

Can't help but be in awe over the power of God when I see the pictures and videos of the storms and the devastation that they brought.  So thankful that the One who is that powerful is also merciful, gracious, compassionate, and good.

This is a video of the tornado that came through Rainsville, AL.  About 15-20 miles from us.

I've been especially weepy/hormonal over the past few days.  I had THE "slightest" little accident yesterday in Huntsville as I was on my way to the doctor's office.  I was driving in the left lane and another car was in the right lane and I felt a slight bump.  That was it.  But of course, we had to pull over, I had to call the doctor and re-schedule and then I spent the next 20 minutes getting in and out of the car, in the rain, on the phone with insurance.  I was trying so hard not to cry, but couldn't stop the tears.  I know the lady I bumped into thought I was crazy.  Then when I finally got Steven on the phone, I couldn't stop crying as I tried to explain what had happened.  I'm guessing the craziness of the last week plus some pregnancy hormones are making the tears flow a lot more than normal. 

Like I said, it has been such a crazy week, however I am counting my blessings...

The Looong Picture Post

Off we go...

 

 Nothing But Noodles-Ellie's choice

Picking an outfit

 

Stuffing

 

 Naming

 Dressing

 All done!

Play area in the mall kept these two busy while Ellie picked out an outfit at Gymboree.

One of the favorites of the day and it was free!

Later, back at home before Luke's game. 

The other cousins received little magnifying glasses from my mom.

 

 Andrew and John helped dad in the yard while we cheered on Luke.

 

 Cake and presents after the game.

 

 

 

 Fast forward almost a week to Easter Sunday...

 Ellie's dress was one of the projects I have been working on. 

I did not monogram it, though.  Had that done.  Would love to have a monogramming machine one day!

 

 

 

 

 

 One last "Happy Birthday" before next year.

 

 

 

Whew!  Fun and exhausting. 

By the way-I went to the doctor before on Monday morning before the all the birthday hoopla.  I received a shot and oral antibiotics for my sinus infection and was already feeling much improvement by the end of the day.  So thankful for doctors and medicine!!

A Reason to Sing

Happy Easter!!!  Christ is Risen!  We have every reason to rejoice.  Steven preached a powerful message this morning out of 1 Cor. 15.  It says in verse 54-55, "...O Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?"  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

I love how Matthew puts it in chapter 28, verse 5--"But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said."  Just as He said!  He is faithful to keep His promises.  And He gives us victory.  What a Savior!  The grace and mercy extended to me is beyond my realm of comprehension.  All day I have been fighting back tears when I think upon the magnitude of Christ's death and resurrection.  What love!  

My plan is to keep this post short--because my aunt is coming to stay with us for two nights and I would love for her not to trip and fall over toys when she enters our house.  I have lots and lots of fun pictures to post from Easter and Ellie's birthday celebration, and I will do that when I get those from mom.  Today is Ellie's official birthday.  I blinked and six years went by.  I know that I will blink and another six will go by.  

We were listening to Keith and Kristyn Getty this morning in the car.  Ellie (and Luke) were singing at the top of their lungs, "King of Heaven, we will answer the call.  We will follow, bringing hope to the world.  Filled with passion, filled with power to proclaim.  Salvation in Jesus' name."  I was fighting tears, trying to wipe my eyes so they wouldn't see me cry--(because that would've started a thousand questions).  Thinking of how I had yelled at her just 30 minutes before because she was lying around on the couch in her already-ironed Easter dress.  Her little voice singing those big words.  It is my one and only hope and prayer for her.  May it be true of her life-that she would answer the call of Her Savior.  That her life would be a vessel in which He can use to bring salvation to others.  She is becoming very aware that there are some that don't know Christ as Lord.  And often has questions about who does and doesn't.  Often about complete strangers.  

Funny story:  She is always asking "Do you think so-and-so loves Jesus?"  One day she asks, "Do you think the person who is in charge of Dora loves Jesus?"  I said, "Do you mean, like the producer?"  She says, "Yes, do you think the producer loves Jesus?"  We're often talking about very random people and complete strangers and wondering if they are Christians.  

So, Happy, Happy, Birthday to my first-born little girl who made me a mother.  I love who God is making you to be.  May you continue to grow in Him and may you not lose the heart you have for others to know Jesus as well.

I will be back with a LONG picture post. 

Botanical Gardens and Other Fun Stuff

I'm struggling with a cold that started almost two weeks ago.  Sorry for those of you who have heard about it 1000 times each day.  It's just not getting any better.  Very frustrating!  However, it has not stopped me from having an activity-filled week.  Or maybe I just don't really have a choice. :)  I would like for it to go away because tomorrow we have an Easter egg hunt after church.  The following day we will celebrate Ellie's birthday (a trip to Build-a-Bear), and I'm pretty sure she won't be okay with putting that on hold.  And Laura Beth and her crew are in town for the week to help celebrate it all.  They will be here until Easter, so we will be doing lots of fun cousin stuff, I'm sure.  Plus Luke has two t-ball games this week.  

Steven took Ellie and Luke with him on Wednesday to visit his parents in Chattanooga.  Andrew and I hung out with mom and spent most of the day in Huntsville running errands.  I think it is such a treat to have just one of my children with me at a time.  It doesn't happen very often, so it is fun to see their personality when they are not competing with siblings.  Andrew talked non-stop.  Which he pretty much does anyway, but when it is only him, it is minus all the screaming at Ellie and Luke.  "Wus dat, mommy?"   He asks about door knobs, lamp posts, street signs, you name it. 

On Thursday, we took a trip to the Botanical Gardens with mom, and our good friends, Mary, Esther, and Esther's sweet little Charlotte.  The gardens were breathtaking.  The weather was perfect and the little ones seemed to enjoy it.  Only one meltdown from Andrew when I wouldn't let him walk in a fountain. 

 

 

  

Pretty wiped out towards the end, as the temperature was starting to climb.

I would have loved for Ellie and Luke to have been there, but they had their fair share of fun as well.  Steven took Ellie and Luke to the children's museum in Chattanooga.  I think it is the best one we have been too.  I've been to several, including the one in Atlanta, and I think this one is the best.  We have a pass and have definitely gotten our money out of it.  One of the favorite things to do is dig for dinosaur bones.  You can check it out in the video.

I'm pretty proud of myself for posting twice in one week.  Hope to be back again soon with a report on Ellie's birthday celebration, Easter festivities, and a report that I enjoyed it all feeling much better.