Preschool finale!

Selah participated in an informal preschool this year with some other little ones. A very ambitious friend, Debbie Partlow (known to the kids as Ms. Debbie!) took on the role to teach all of them two times a week. Selah really came along in many areas.

Recently we celebrated the end of the year by making the trek down to Wheaton Regional for a picnic. However, none of us knew the park was under construction so all, but two swings were closed down. But we did make use of the carousel and the train, which the kids loved.

I can't believe this school year is over. A number of days ago I cleaned out our school cabinet, put away last year's books and curriculum and started organizing for this upcoming year, which we have already started. I remember thinking last August, that I never thought I would make it through some of those books...and here we are done. Hard to believe I now have a 2nd grader and Kindergartener! I'm hoping to make some good progress over the next few months before the baby comes. So, yes that means schooling over the summer. But the girls know they will have a nice LONG break once baby arrives. Here are some photos from the picnic.

Loaded up for the train ride

I sat next to Mckenna and here's a close up

Selah's preschool class...trying to keep their eyes open from the sun.

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Happy Birthday, Selah Grace!

Today is Selah's 5th Birthday...and we're packing up to go on a little trip for her. Selah absolutely loves hotels with pools and that is where we are off to. All of Dave's travel is paying off this weekend as we are able to use his hotel points for a one night stay at the beach. She is excited and I hope it will be a lasting memory for her! This will be short cause I've got a ton to do to leave in an hour, but just wanted to say,

"Happy Birthday, little one! I'm so grateful for the past 5 years of your life. You have brought your family so much joy and laughter. We love you a tons and bunches!"

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Favorite things

Two of Addie's favorite things these days...the cell phone and being rocked by Selah. Love it!

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Baby #5 update

After a few have asked, I thought I would update on how baby #5 is coming along. I've only had a few doctor appointments during this pregnancy. Life has been full and I probably have not made as many as I should have so far. But I did have a sonogram last week and am coming up on 23 weeks in a few days. I was told baby looks great, but I was NOT told what we are having!! We've decided to be surprised this time. Dave's opinion is that you are always surprised...you just decide if it's at 20 weeks or 40. Very true, but since I've always wanted to wait to the end and have that moment of excitement after all the work, he's gladly decided to wait it out with me. However, September is approaching very fast around here...hard to believe I've only got about 17 or less weeks to go.

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End of year Farm Class picnic

Finally some pictures to share. We have been working hard the past few months to finish up 1st grade for Mckenna so we could jump right into 2nd and K for Selah. My goal is to get half way through this next year BEFORE baby #5 comes (sometime the end of September)...we'll see if I make it. But we've started at a slow pace and Mckenna is now telling everyone she's in 2nd grade!

Anyway, one of the highlights of her 1st grade year was the farm class she participated in. It's hard to believe its over already. The last day was this past Tuesday and was celebrated by a picnic and little ceremony honoring each student. Siblings and parents were included, so Kelly and I showed up with all ours in tow...minus Addie. I got to leave her home. The day was concluded by playtime in the creek and all the kids came out soaked! But they had a blast.

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Why grammar scares me

In my planning for next year's homeschool year (which we are supposed to have already started because of baby #5 coming in September) I came across this funny video. It hit home with me because the one thing that scares me the most about homeschooling is GRAMMAR! Actually, anything related to Language Arts scares me and if there is one area of schooling that I'm afraid I will mess up my girls, it's this one.

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Update {and a good read}

I only have a few moments before I need to hit the sack. I've had to be very disciplined lately to get to bed fairly soon after I get the girls tucked in. That's mainly so that I have the energy to go strong and hard the next day especially since I'm starting to feel big and pregnant and very tired. I just asked my sister the other day, "where's that high energy 2nd trimester rush I'm supposed to get???" And that's why it's, once again, been quiet on the blog.

Dave has been gone at least part of the last 7 out of 8 weeks on business trips. Work continues to be tough and demanding for him and requires a lot of his time and energy. Which obviously means more is required of me around here, and I have less time to do some of the things I used to in the evenings. But those things can wait and I'm grateful for the things the Lord is showing me in this season.

On top of that, my mom just had major surgery last Wed. She had a total knee replacement and apparently its one of the most painful surgeries you can have. It's been very tough on her and it's hard to see her in so much pain. But she's home now and is very grateful for that! But it's been extra busy around here.

I was motivated to put a quick post up because of an article a friend sent me today that made me both laugh and cry. Along with that and a quote that I received last week, I know the Lord is encouraging and teaching me in the area of parenting. One of my struggles lately (err...the past 2 1/2 years) is in this arena of mothering. Going from one trial to the next and now with Dave gone so much and needing to work a lot of weekends, it can be a temptation to think that we are not doing as much of this or that with the girls that I think we should. I can look at other families and compare their efforts with my exhausted ones lately. I can't seem to fit into one day what I want to with them and sometimes wonder if they even know any more stories in the Bible besides, Jesus died on the Cross! Anyway, with that constantly in the back of my mind, I found myself reading this article, by Kevin DeYoung, that greatly encouraged me. I laughed through most of it and cried at the end. For those of you who are also walking through a tough season and feeling inadequate lately in this area, I hope this encourages you as well. And here is the great quote I also referred to as well:

"As my children see me in the deep waters of life, being tested to my core and still holding on to my Lord and choosing to believe the best, this observation will prepare them for their own trials, which will surely come. They will know that He will guide and forgive them as they lead an imperfect but devoted life before a loving Father who has always met their mother's needs!"

(Sally Clarkson, The Mission of Motherhood.)

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Easter reminder

I came downstairs early this morning to a card and my favorite candy sitting on the counter, left by my wonderful husband. The past few weeks and months have had their challenges for us and I have felt weary often. This card spoke such wonderful reminders to me, and along with the rich worship at church this morning, I felt refreshed by the gospel truths today. Here are a few lines which Dave wrote:

"He is risen! Such good news for all of us. We truly need a risen, triumphant and grace dispensing Savior King.

Grateful today that He is risen because we are no longer dead in our sins but have been made alive together with Him, and hope is not going to disappoint us. Hope for sins power to be powerless, hope for Christ's righteousness to clothe us, hope for His living and active Word which we believe to penetrate and make our daughters new creations, hope that one day anxious toil will cease, there will be no more sin, pain, or suffering; all wrongs will be made right, all things will be made new 'and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.' "

When I have been at my lowest points over the last few years, facing the storms of life, it is ALWAYS and only the gospel and rich truths of the Word which restore and strengthen my weak heart. How often I turn to and look to other things to bring rest to my soul, but it's always futile. I'm grateful for Easter today, which has reminded me of our Risen Savior and the hope that He has secured for us, even amidst the fierce storms in life.

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A sweet and bitter providence

"Life is a winding and troubled road, switchback after switchback, and the point of biblical stories is to help us feel in our bones, not just know in our heads that God is for us in all these strange turns. The life of the godly is not a straight line to glory, it's more like a dark and seemingly unknown trail through the mountains. There are rock slides and slippery curves and hairpin turns that make you go backward in order to go forward. But along this hazardous, twisted road that doesn't let you see very far ahead, and may even make you feel like you've been lead to the edge of a cliff, God gives us encouragement and hope that all the perplexing turns in our lives are going somewhere good. Often when we think God is farthest from us or has even turned against us, the truth is that he is laying the foundation for greater happiness in our lives. God is plotting for our joy, he is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ. That is a sweet and bitter providence." - John Piper

....I'm looking forward to reading this book.

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A big move

One of the most monumental events of the past few months was my mom selling her home and moving in with us. She had lived in her home for almost 33 years! It's the only home I remember growing up as I was barely 2 when we moved there. So, it was bittersweet to say good bye to it. But it's been our desire since we moved to one day have mom live with us so it's exciting to see this become a reality. God was kind in that she put her house on the market in February and 3 weeks later had it completely sold and settled.

A number of weeks ago we all went over there for one last dinner and to say good bye to the house. It felt strange, but yet the same to be there. I was not feeling well that night and brought my camera. I remember sitting on the couch after dinner and the last thing I wanted to do was get up and walk around and take pictures. But I made myself do it! I didn't take many, just a few to remember the old place by.

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A reason for the silence

This...



little bitty baby has caused his or her mamma to be very very sick for the past few months.

I gave up blogging and much of my life on the computer (actually much of anything but the very slim basics of life) for a few months until I started to turn a corner. And we are starting to turn...but slowly. However, I can now actually manage to do some things in the evening, where before all I could do was lay on the couch with my eyes closed, hoping to keep down my dinner, until it was time to crawl upstairs and into bed.

I feel very behind in a lot of things now and trying to strategize how to catch up a bit. BUT, we are incredibly excited for this little surprise that the Lord has brought into our lives.

I'm almost 15 weeks and due on September 28...just 2 days after Alivia's birthday.

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sick sick SICK

We've just come off of a 4 week marathon of sicknesses in our house, ending with me. I made it through 3 weeks of caring for sick little ones and a sick husband and thought I was safe and clear...until last Saturday. I came down with a killer flu and was in bed with a fever and host of other symptoms for 4 days straight. I'm just now starting to get some energy back, but am still very weak.

So many people came to my rescue to help with the girls and bring meals and Dave was heroic when he was home.

All this to say, we are eager for spring around here!

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Valentine's Day

About a month ago, I put up a few little decorations for Valentine's day around the house (thank you, Target, for your $1 aisle!). It was fun and the girls always love the excuse to celebrate anything. Mckenna could not wait for her heart pancakes and was counting down the days until Valentine's day.

Well, all seemed well yesterday morning. Most sickness seemed to be at bay. I have not been feeling that great, but was able to make the promised heart-shaped blueberry pancakes. Well, shortly after breakfast Mckenna announced that she was not feeling well and quickly came down with a high fever, which Selah now has today. Mckenna was so disappointed that she was sick on Valentine's Day, the day she had been looking forward to for so long.

Last night Dave took me out for dinner and that was a sweet time. He took me to an Italian restaurant in Bethesda, Positano's. And we reminisced of our honeymoon in Italy, where we visited the little town Positanos.

Here are some pictures, which you'll notice Selah is the star in. Mckenna was laid out on the couch.








My best attempt at heart pancakes...use a little imagination!




Blueberry pancake face

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The perfect storm

I disappeared from the blogging world and the whole internet, really, for the past few weeks. We had a lot of unusual circumstances collide all at once around here and I have been unable to spend time blogging or taking pictures or doing much besides the absolute basics. As Dave and I talked a couple of nights ago about the last few weeks, he hit the nail on the head when he said to me, "it was kinda like the perfect storm for you." To many details and events to go into, but I'm hoping in the next few weeks to catch up a bit.

For now, thank you all for praying for Addie's surgery. It went very well. We had her post-op appointment this week and her doctor wants to keep her tube in for 3-6 months to make sure the tear duct completely opens up and stays open. She doesn't seem to mind it at all.

We lost a night or two of sleep after the surgery. She didn't respond as well as most kids do to the anesthesia. Apparently most sleep a lot, but she did just the opposite. Then she got really sick a few days after this and we lost another 3 nights of sleep. I personally think this little girls has absolutely no pain tolerance, poor thing! That combined with Dave being out of town for 2 weeks straight and good number of other circumstances, I went into survival mode around here!

I'll have to blow the dust off my camera and take some more shots in the coming days to share. Addie, as well as the other girls, seem like they've grown a ton!

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Addie

On a lighter note than my previous post, please pray for Addie today. We go in this morning for a minor eye surgery to unclog one of her tear ducts. It's a very uncomplicated and quick surgery, but nonetheless they do need to put her out and her momma is looking forward to it being over. We have help from my dad and step mom, who are caring for the big girls today and tomorrow so I can focus on being with Addie and caring for her. I"m sure she'll do great...she's such a happy baby!

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Thinking on heaven

Our past week has been full of heavy hearted moments. Our church family lost 2 very dear members. One was a father, husband, and friend named John Spiro who was in his 50's, he died of ALS. The other was a young daughter, sister and friend, named Amy Calderone just 19 years old. She passed away from a brain hemorrhage.

All week I thought about posting, but didn't really know what to say. We didn't know them well, but the past week I spend many a moment praying, some crying. One person asked me if it was hard hearing about Amy, if it brought everything back that we've been through. Yes it does, but for me I think the hardest part was just contemplating another family having to walk this road of such deep pain.

However, being at the memorial services this weekend for these dear saints, was refreshing and provoking. Dave and I left, freshly aware of the brevity of life and encouraged by the way the Lord is meeting these families and, in ways, prepared them for these trials. Both John and Amy were both so hungry for heaven. Then yesterday, Josh Harris gave a phenomenal message on death and heaven in response to this past week. I left with so many mixed emotions and also encouraged as I thought on heaven.

Please pray for these two families as, in many ways, their grief has just begun and they have long roads to walk. Pray for sustaining grace and help from the Lord and that they would physically feel His presence carrying them.

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Christmas at Nani's

A combo of not taking enough pictures and too few coming out well, left me with just these. But I'm grateful for them. It was a bittersweet day for me at my moms for many reasons. She is going to be selling her house very soon, the home that I spent my last 32 Christmas' at. All of my childhood memories revolve around that home and it will be hard to say good-bye to it. But, on the flip side, my mom is going to be living with us, and we are all so excited for that day to come!

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Christmas morning

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