Baby Boom!

Six of my friends welcomed new babies into the world this month!!! Here are a few of them, before they made their debuts! What a glorious time of new birth, new life, new beginnings....a sure sign of Spring!

LEAH JOY KURTZ

NOAH ROBERT KENDRICK
MAJA CHAYEEM SCHOLTEN
COOPER ELI HALVORSEN

BRIDGET PEARL MILLER

ASHER ROBERT BRUCKHART My dear friends, may you have a peaceful, grace-filled time of adjusting to your "new normal."
May you have some time for just the two of you, time to drink in the newness of heaven so close. The Lord is near to you each, LEAN HARD on the Strong Arm.....and remember, you WILL again sleep consecutively for five hours, I promise!

"Babies are such a nice way to start people."
~Don Herrold~

words i've never said before...

so, i'm making lunch the other day and Luke is just around my legs, waiting for his feeding!! he's sort of into this silly biting thing, like when he wrestles with his Daddy and they pretend to bite/attack each other. suddenly i'm feeling what could possibly be a huge bite, taken out of my rear! "Don't bite my butt please." i had to laugh outloud because those are some words i've never said before! oh, the joys of Mothering that make us laugh!

Budding Baby & Bathtime Buddies

Well, I'm in the "home stretch" as they call it....I'm almost 30 weeks preggo, only 10 weeks to go! At times that sounds like it's just around the corner and at other times, (like when I'm really tired or my body is aching) it feels veeeery far away. Baby is very active, especially around 10 pm, seems to have her own little pattern down already. We don't know what we're having, but I'll just keep saying "she" or "her" for now. She's about 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision!! ~ which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) This is probably a good thing since the boys will most likely make their home right in her face!

Thanks to hormonal changes, my ligaments are more lax, so my joints are looser and therefore getting more sore. It's such a odd feeling to watch/feel your body morph before you. And cause for amazement at the same time. Also, this relaxation of my ligaments, (otherwise known as big hips)!! can actually cause my feet to spread permanently! This happened with Luke, I'm a 1/2 size bigger and can't begin to fit in my old shoes! So far, so good this time around! Here's my baby belly, (to the right that is), butt it does look like I'm growing one out both sides!! HA!! The boys have been "at each other" lately and I'm trying to keep on top of that. Trying to instill first time obedience and quick listening, kindness/preference to one another ! I KNOW it's worth all the effort, consistency, frustration, and at times moments of sheer madness! Like my Mom often says, "line upon line, precept upon precept!" Jake and I were talking about it last night, about the reward of friendship and brotherly love that will eventually trump the screaming, fighting and hording that takes place now! It doesn't help when they are both not feeling good, but it's still no excuse to be mean! I'm daydreaming about the fresh Spring air, sending them out in old clothing to play the day away while the screen door hangs wide open! Yum! I'm getting into my organizing kick that comes with each baby! My list hangs on my refrigerator waiting to be checked off with my red sharpie! I organized/cleaned the attic yesterday and will work my way down. A few weeks ago I found an adorable little vintage armorie on the side of the road marked for free! It needs some love, but I can give that away. I think I'll use it in the boys' room once I switch all Luke's things over there. It's such a sweet time, preparing room for Baby. I found some precious little girl things that I've been collecting over time. I had forgotten about them being stored in the attic. Although, truly, I will be okay if I break out my faithful boy clothing as well. I will honestly say that I am eternally and deeply grateful for what God has placed within me, whatever He chooses I will receive....a priceless gift from heaven to me...to us!!!

Bathtime is fun time around here! The boys love to brush their teeth, play trains, sing and play with their toys until their little bodies turn to prunes. Tyler is sure to show me his hands after each bath! I've been seeing their personalities really blossom lately. Tyler isn't quite as laid back as I thought he was, he's much more like me.
Luke is quite the jokester, (see picture below)! He loves to tease Tyler, but is generally laid back and shy with others. He is much more like Jake and I think prefers his company over mine, (unless he needs something, then it's only Mama to the rescue)!!

It will be an interesting journey, welcoming this new little one into our hearts and home. I am getting excited to meet him/her. Tyler says I'm going "to push and pop the baby out and then I'm going to hold it and it's going to be a sister and it's going to look at me and laugh and it will like me." Yes, I believe that will be so, although I can't guarantee the sister part!!!"All for one and one for all
My brother and my friend
What fun we have
The time we share
Brothers 'til the end."
~Author Unknown

A few lyrics from the song that plays: "two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream, too much it might seem when it’s two AM. When I am weak, unable to speak, still I will call You by name. “Oh Shepherd, Savior, Pasture-maker, hold on to my hand,” and You say “I am.”

*Nichole Nordeman "I Am"

Happy Valentine's Day Friends!

Oh, I just enjoy Valentine's Day so much....not just for the love that is expressed here in our home, but for the general feeling of "sharing the love" that surrounds me. What a great idea to have a day set aside to SHOW the ones around us how much we love them. Sometimes it's so easy to take the ones we love the most for granted. Although we may not be rolling in the dough, (as they say) it's the thought that counts, truly, it is. A homemade card, baking their favorite cookies, store bought cupcakes w/ heart shaped lollipops stuck in the middle! Whatever it may be, show the one you love the most that today you have THOUGHT about them and how much them mean to you!


I hope you find yourself being loved today! Happy Valentine's Day to all my friends out there!


XOXO


X's symbolize kisses because in ancient days, when few people knew how to write, they would simply sign an X to show their agreement, then kiss the mark to emphasize their sincerity. Who knew??


I'm to "be ready to leave at 5:30!" Oh, what fun! I can honestly tell you that I would be fine just going to McDonald's with this man! Just some one-on-one time together, alone does wonders! It's been one of those weeks, between all four of us those little sick bugs had quite the feast! We're all feeling better and so grateful for that. I'm ready to catch up on my sleep again. An entire week with nights full of interrupted sleep wears me out. I think it's different when there's a newborn involved because you're somewhat prepared for/expect it and there's grace and strength for that season. I experienced lots of grace this week too, despite my weary self, I enjoyed just staying inside with my boys and helping them feel better. A few days of lounging around in pj's will do the trick!

I LOVE MY MAN!!

ipod update and the grammy's

okay, so i've been watching the grammy's the past hour or so and i'm realizing that my ipod is in need of a major update. i'm contacting my "blog world" for some advice, what to download? who to add? i'm in serious need as there are still Christmas songs stuck in my shuffle mode! a few notes about the grammy's thus far: way to go coldplay! LOVED their jackets! All that color on stage just lit up my night! for those who didn't see it, the colors were fuchsia, turquoise, apple green and plum~only really cool men can wear color like that and pull it off so effortlessly. i wasn't really into the beginning of the act though, with chris martin on the piano playing so nicely and then some r&b was added....can we just stick with chris and his gang and stop all the rap stuff please? so happy for adele, but please, loose the gum girl. i was thinking as she walked to stage to accept her grammy, "swallow your gum, swallow your gum!" she didn't.

i have a cold and my head is stuffed up so i'm off to bed to find a comfortable position to sleep in, take some meds and sleep for at least 4 hours without interruption, (it's getting to the place where one must get up every few hours to, um, relieve ones bladder because of growing baby lying directly on top)!!

if you have the time, please send me some ideas for downloads, i'm looking forward to some new songs gettin' me through the day! all genres considered! what's on YOUR ipod?

here's to a new week and all my laundry is already done! whoo-hoo!!!!!
good night all.

p.s. my computer speakers aren't working so i'm just hoping this isn't some lousy remix of coldplay's song. is all well?

new cleaner and pile disease

OK, so everyone needs to buy this new all purpose cleaner that my friend Chrisy introduced me to! THANK YOU!!! I am HOOKED! I got mine at Target, (3 for $8 right now for those in the Lancaster area). Lots of yummy fragrances, but this is my favorite: french lavender. I'm telling you, it's the BEST and I would know. I've been cleaning since age 10, professionally since age 13, (my parents have had a cleaning business for 20 + years). It goes from mirrors to floors with ease, no streaks and cleans beautifully, smelling great along the way! As of today, my kitchen has been cleaned from top to bottom, every knob I could get my hands on! Our bathroom shines and smells delightful, (for now)! Seriously, go buy some and let me know what you think!
Onto what I affectionately like to call "pile disease." This is where you have various corners of your home that seem to inevitably collect piles of papers and such on a weekly, if not daily, basis. No matter how often you clean these piles, they reappear with a gleam in their eye and stare you down until you attack them! It's so annoying and I just need to know that I'm not the only one trying to keep up after them! Sometimes I just want to toss them all away, just grab the huge blue "waste management" trash bin, roll it into my kitchen and carelessly toss, BUT, there are important things in there, maybe just one piece of paper, but it's there. Sure enough, not twelve hours post-tossing, I would NEEEEED to have one of those papers that I did without for the past three weeks! So, my friends, am I alone? If I am, please, all you organized people out there, send me your tips!!!

Off to watch Oprah and eat a few snacks without beggars!! Jake took the boys to his shop with him this afternoon to run wild and play with tools! Gotta love it!!

"Housework is something you do
that nobody notices until you don't do it."
~Author Unknown

Remembering warmth

... just thinking about being outside with the sun on my face! It's going to be warm this weekend, so I've heard, 56*!!! I'LL TAKE IT!!!! I'm getting excited to open the windows and get the house cleaned from top to bottom and have this new little baby join our family. Spring time brings with it such beauty and newness! I'll enjoy this wintery day though....it's cozy and warm in our home and I am again so grateful for all we have. I received this email from my dear friend Lindy, living and working in India:

Monday, Feb.2nd, 2009.

Well, I don’t know if I have words to write but I will try to process my day with you the best I can.
Last week I wrote to you all and asked you to pray concerning my search for a young unwed pregnant girl. We didn’t go that next day due to the nurse’s cancellation. So, today we went.
I had no idea what to expect but left the house this morning in perfect peace knowing that it’s in God’s hands. And I’m not just saying that. I truly am experiencing the peace that comes as we do our part and leave the rest to God.
Wow- I can’t describe the walk and view walking down to the village. Before we had even started walking down the path, 2 boys with milk cans and straw baskets were headed that way. My nurse friend asked them a few questions and they were walking down to the same village and they also knew the girl! Talk about “favor” from the beginning. We followed them the whole way down and walked straight to the girl’s house.
I just can not imagine living a sheltered life like that. Wow. That’s all I know what to say right now. I have much processing to do. And my prayer today was…”Lord, you already know the plans you have for this child and woman… please speak Your plans and secrets to us.”
I believe the young girl looked lots older than reality…. I’m guessing she was in her late twenties or thirties. I don’t know. It’s so hard to tell. To me, she looked over 50. She obviously has a speech difficulty and doesn’t speak. But she was smiling the whole time. I believe she is also mentally challenged. She is staying with her sister and family. She was gathering wood in the jungle nearby and was raped by a village man. She doesn’t know who it was.
My heart was touched as my nurse friend took her inside the small wooden hut and the girl immediately lifted her shirt to show us her stomach. The nurse took a few empty rice bags from the room for her to lay on and the dirtiest pillow you can imagine for her head. I am blessed to have a new friend. Sangita is the nurse’s name. She has God’s heart and is willing to continue to help me and them. She said ..”yes, there is a child within and I can hear the fluid moving.” “next time we come, we will bring a stethoscope and do a thorough checkup and hear the baby’s heartbeat.”
The sister told us that she had been taking tree bark medicine in hopes to miscarry the baby. She thought she already had. But no, there is life within the womb.
She is approximately 5 months pregnant. We plan to go every month and do a checkup. If we would bring her here, she would only return to her village. I see this is the best for now. I also believe there are opportunites in this village for us. As we were with the young woman, there were children underneath the wooden floor outside trying to peer through the cracks in the floor. The hut is not flat on the ground. I don’t know what it is held up with.
Even though they couldn’t speak or understand English, I spoke to them as if they could. The nurse even affirmed me in doing this and we agreed that God’s word does not return void. It goes forth… no matter the understanding.
Speaking God’s word- brings forth “life”!
I prayed for them and Wow… yes, another Wow. Still processing.
Sangita told me that by helping them with as simple as giving a piece of clothing, etc… that is hope to them. They live contented lives. With nothing. Nothing. And they told us that 2 years ago, the whole family gave their lives to Jesus! From worshipping dead gods to the ONLY GOD!

Thank you for praying and for being involved in our lives! May God give you more of His heart each day!

Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears WILL hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it.”

Thank you LORD for guiding us. We went with knowing little, but with His promise, we had everything!!!!!

So blessed today, lindy.
-freedom house/INDIA