Who doesn't like free stuff?
I am a huge fan of Sally Clarkson. She wrote The Mission of Motherhood, which I read when LB was just a baby and it changed my entire perspective on being a mother. I wish I had discovered it sooner.
Just recently I started following Sally's blog, I Take Joy. And this morning I found out they are giving away three copies of their latest edition of Educating the WholeHearted Child. While the book is written primarily for homeschooling parents it is also great for those that are not homeschooling to help the parent think about God's design for you, your family and your home.
If you want to try to win a copy of their book check it out here.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Proud of my Cousin
Yesterday's Dothan Eagle sports headlines read Future Masters Dothan's Ponder in Contention for 10 & under. And guess what! Thomas won! Thomas shot a 71 to win the 10 & under division and this beautiful trophy. Congrats!
Go Go Go
I could never sit still for very long when I was little, so it should come as no surprise that Miss Laura is the same way. We don't stay idle for very long. Here are a few pictures from the park and gymnastics yesterday.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
First Date Anniversary
When Grant and I were dating we celebrated anniversaries on a monthly basis. The 25th of every month we celebrated the anniversary of our first date. And today we celebrate that first date, which happened six years ago. Wow - has it really been six years? Has it only been six years? Either way you look at it my cup is full of joy and love.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Celebration
Dear Grant,
Today we sent in the last payment on our debt. Hooray! Yippee! High Five! So where do you want to go to celebrate? Finally the day has come for our debt-free reward we dreamed about. We randomly talked about TX last night. Hmmm a very fun possibility.
Well, we have a busy few months coming up, so that gives us some time to plan and save. In the meantime, we can feel freedom since we are no longer slave to the lender.
Maybe we should get out some toilet paper and roll some trees and celebrate Auburn-style.
Toomers after the National Championship Game
Love you more and more,
elizabeth
Today we sent in the last payment on our debt. Hooray! Yippee! High Five! So where do you want to go to celebrate? Finally the day has come for our debt-free reward we dreamed about. We randomly talked about TX last night. Hmmm a very fun possibility.
Well, we have a busy few months coming up, so that gives us some time to plan and save. In the meantime, we can feel freedom since we are no longer slave to the lender.
Maybe we should get out some toilet paper and roll some trees and celebrate Auburn-style.
Toomers after the National Championship Game
Love you more and more,
elizabeth
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Back at it & New Book Club Read
There is nothing like a routine to get things back moving again. Praise the Lord that Mothers Morning Out started back this week. How did I manage without it!?! Grant and I agreed last night that this has been the best week after a long couple of weeks. We are both thriving at work and that so easily is seen at home also. Throw in a little rain in the forecast and you have a couple of happy landscapers.
Book Club has started a new book and I was completed reeled in yesterday.
It's called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. The first chapter is a little hard to read, not because it's difficult but the story just weighs down on your heart. But there is a bright light shining in the chapters to follow, so if you pick it up be sure to push through because it is well worth it. A friend in book club had already read it and said it changed her life. Well, if that doesn't make you want to pick it up, then I don't know what will. And I have to admit, after just a few chapters I believe I will completely agree with her in the end. I look forward to implementing my own "One Thousand Gifts" each and every day. Can you name one thousand things that you are thankful for?
Book Club has started a new book and I was completed reeled in yesterday.
It's called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. The first chapter is a little hard to read, not because it's difficult but the story just weighs down on your heart. But there is a bright light shining in the chapters to follow, so if you pick it up be sure to push through because it is well worth it. A friend in book club had already read it and said it changed her life. Well, if that doesn't make you want to pick it up, then I don't know what will. And I have to admit, after just a few chapters I believe I will completely agree with her in the end. I look forward to implementing my own "One Thousand Gifts" each and every day. Can you name one thousand things that you are thankful for?- hugs and kisses in the morning
- dinner with my daughter
- the smell of coffee brewing when I step out of the shower
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Great Peace in the Storm
On May 18th Grant and I celebrated the wonderful news that our family would be expanding. And then less than one month later, on June 6th we found out we had lost the baby.
One in five pregnancies end in a miscarriage - one in five! When we were pregnant with Laura we thought - oh, I'm so glad that's a low number; we really won't have to even think about those things. But now that we are on the other end of that statistic we realize just how big of a number that truly is.
In just a few short weeks we had already started discussing plans. What would my work look like? Where will the nursery go this time? We need to potty train LB, get her in a big bed and lose the paci all before the new baby arrives. I'm a planner at heart, so in no time my mind was off to the races. And going from "Cloud Nine" to the loss and grieving of a baby and what could have been does a complete 180 on your emotions and everything you are moving towards.
But I am writing today to say that God is still good.
One week ago today I woke up on Saturday morning with a vivid dream. In my dream I look down to find in my hand two drops of blood. I know that it's my own. And that the blood is from the baby. Even today I can still see this image crystal clear. I had never put much thought into dreams, but this one I could not shake. God was beginning to prepare me for what was to come.
I cramped all day Saturday and woke up with even worse cramps Sunday morning. And as soon as I got up the bleeding began. It was difficult to not let my mind "go there". My body was telling me one thing and my heart and soul were begging for the opposite. Overcome with emotion, I sat in a chair in our den and wept. My wonderful husband came over and immediately started to pray. Through all the tears and sobs, I suddenly felt someone climbing up into the chair with me. My sweet baby girl knew something was wrong. Coming to comfort me, she crawled into my lap and gave me a kiss on the lips. So innocent and sweet is the love of a child; I was now crying with a smile on my face.
As the day progressed my prayers changed from God, please save and protect this baby to God, I want your will for this baby, your will is my will Lord.
"Perfect love cast out all fear" - text from a friend.
We did talk with the doctor on call Sunday morning, who at the time didn't see any big reason for concern. There had been no big clots. I wasn't bleeding very heavily. So, I was supposed to just keep a watch on it all and if the bleeding continued to go in for an ultrasound on Monday. The bleeding did continue and the cramps intensified.
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens" Psalm 68:19 - text from a friend.
Monday morning I knew that something wasn't right. We got in mid-morning for an ultrasound. The nurse could see immediately that there was no baby. As a follow up, they sent me to have lab work done. The next step was to test my hormone levels. Your hormones are constantly doubling when you are pregnant and if I were pregnant and at 7 weeks I should register over 6,000. After a long wait we found out that my hormones were only at 300. Finally all the pieces were coming together for us to get some definite answers. There was a baby at some point, but a miscarriage was definitely happening and still happening.
"this too shall pass" - text from a friend.
The doctor gave us some comfort when he told us that this is why there are so many healthy, normal babies born. That 1 in 5 statistic is real.
I'm not mad. I'm not devastated. I am sad, only because we do want more children and that time isn't right now. I do not understand it fully. And I'm not trying to. I trust that God knows and understands the situation fully and that is good enough for me.
Immediately we were surrounded with love from family and friends. Caring for LB at a moment's notice; cooking us meals; diet cokes and chocolate; prayers, texts and phone calls and people to simply listen when I just needed to say it out loud. Grant and I have been overwhelmed completely. And I know that each prayer was heard, because through such a terrible storm there was a calm in our house and in our hearts. The rallying of support was so powerful that it touched me in my soul and I hope I never forget it.
God has given me several lessons through this experience. First, life is a miracle. A pregnancy, a newborn, my toddler, my husband, my friends and family, myself - we are all miracles. And life should be approached with respect, awe and wonder. A life is precious and fragile all at the same time. And that applies to all people we are in contact with.
My second lesson learned is that my ultimate trust must be in God at all times. I trust Him now and I trust Him with my future and with that comes great peace.
One in five pregnancies end in a miscarriage - one in five! When we were pregnant with Laura we thought - oh, I'm so glad that's a low number; we really won't have to even think about those things. But now that we are on the other end of that statistic we realize just how big of a number that truly is.
In just a few short weeks we had already started discussing plans. What would my work look like? Where will the nursery go this time? We need to potty train LB, get her in a big bed and lose the paci all before the new baby arrives. I'm a planner at heart, so in no time my mind was off to the races. And going from "Cloud Nine" to the loss and grieving of a baby and what could have been does a complete 180 on your emotions and everything you are moving towards.
But I am writing today to say that God is still good.
One week ago today I woke up on Saturday morning with a vivid dream. In my dream I look down to find in my hand two drops of blood. I know that it's my own. And that the blood is from the baby. Even today I can still see this image crystal clear. I had never put much thought into dreams, but this one I could not shake. God was beginning to prepare me for what was to come.
I cramped all day Saturday and woke up with even worse cramps Sunday morning. And as soon as I got up the bleeding began. It was difficult to not let my mind "go there". My body was telling me one thing and my heart and soul were begging for the opposite. Overcome with emotion, I sat in a chair in our den and wept. My wonderful husband came over and immediately started to pray. Through all the tears and sobs, I suddenly felt someone climbing up into the chair with me. My sweet baby girl knew something was wrong. Coming to comfort me, she crawled into my lap and gave me a kiss on the lips. So innocent and sweet is the love of a child; I was now crying with a smile on my face.
As the day progressed my prayers changed from God, please save and protect this baby to God, I want your will for this baby, your will is my will Lord.
"Perfect love cast out all fear" - text from a friend.
We did talk with the doctor on call Sunday morning, who at the time didn't see any big reason for concern. There had been no big clots. I wasn't bleeding very heavily. So, I was supposed to just keep a watch on it all and if the bleeding continued to go in for an ultrasound on Monday. The bleeding did continue and the cramps intensified.
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens" Psalm 68:19 - text from a friend.
Monday morning I knew that something wasn't right. We got in mid-morning for an ultrasound. The nurse could see immediately that there was no baby. As a follow up, they sent me to have lab work done. The next step was to test my hormone levels. Your hormones are constantly doubling when you are pregnant and if I were pregnant and at 7 weeks I should register over 6,000. After a long wait we found out that my hormones were only at 300. Finally all the pieces were coming together for us to get some definite answers. There was a baby at some point, but a miscarriage was definitely happening and still happening.
"this too shall pass" - text from a friend.
The doctor gave us some comfort when he told us that this is why there are so many healthy, normal babies born. That 1 in 5 statistic is real.
I'm not mad. I'm not devastated. I am sad, only because we do want more children and that time isn't right now. I do not understand it fully. And I'm not trying to. I trust that God knows and understands the situation fully and that is good enough for me.
Immediately we were surrounded with love from family and friends. Caring for LB at a moment's notice; cooking us meals; diet cokes and chocolate; prayers, texts and phone calls and people to simply listen when I just needed to say it out loud. Grant and I have been overwhelmed completely. And I know that each prayer was heard, because through such a terrible storm there was a calm in our house and in our hearts. The rallying of support was so powerful that it touched me in my soul and I hope I never forget it.
God has given me several lessons through this experience. First, life is a miracle. A pregnancy, a newborn, my toddler, my husband, my friends and family, myself - we are all miracles. And life should be approached with respect, awe and wonder. A life is precious and fragile all at the same time. And that applies to all people we are in contact with.
My second lesson learned is that my ultimate trust must be in God at all times. I trust Him now and I trust Him with my future and with that comes great peace.
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