sweeter than sugar

wow, how did i miss a whole week and a thankful Thursday? oh yeah, last week was rough. i was in the process of battling a cold that was doing its best to settle in my lungs. then i got the call that i had failed my glucose test, ugh. on Thursday i went in and did the 3 hour fasting test and it was not a fun thing.
i am thankful that i passed the 3 hour test, no diabetes for me. woohoo.


i thought everyone could use an Oreo smile from my little man. isn't he cute. we don't get oreos very often, so he was very excited to get some as a snack.

we are God's hands

i am so thankful for the ability to craft. i know that all my gifts and abilities come from God, so i give him thanks for them. i was so thrilled when i was asked to make a hat for the picture taking of sweet scout. scout is my friend vanillafrog's son and he is so much more than precious. his sweet grams requested a specific type of hat, and i set out to find a pattern and the appropriate colors.

i have to admit it was tougher than i thought it would be. the pompom was the first I'd ever made. well, i made 2 practice ones "just in case". i was so honored to be asked to make something for lil scout. his mom and grams are such amazing christian women and i think the world of them, so it was a true blessing to be asked to make a part of his early adornments.

we're going to the chapel and we're gonna get married

i am so thankful for my hubby. without him i wouldn't have any of my darling kiddos. he is so supportive of me in everything that i endeavor to do. i am truly blessed to call him mine.

this is a picture from our renewal ceremony that we did for our 6th anniversary. i made mine and monkey's dresses. finch and i eloped to vegas, so this was our "ceremony" for the family.

you are so beautiful

i am thankful for my sweet lil princess. she is truly a light in my life. she is a blessing to me. she is always ready with a laugh or smile whenever i need one. she started to kindergarten this year and is loving school more everyday.

she was so excited to loose this tooth. she lost it at school and they gave her a little treasure chest to store it in until she got home. i am thankful for the joy she sees in everything.

i absolutely love her, when she smiles

i am so thankful for my eldest child. my sweet monkey. 12 years ago i was anxiously awaiting her arrival, not knowing how much my world and outlook were about to change.

this is a picture of her laughing at the q man as we were making a moving trip from our old house to the apartment. she has one of the most beautiful smiles i have ever seen. she reminds me of how far life has come in her short life. she reminds me of how much love a person is capable of. i know that without her i wouldn't be who i am today. she's taught me that it is wise to choose my battles. she has also taught me that sometimes a hug can make it all better. she gives the best hugs and they can bring a smile to my face even in my darkest moods.

to know, know, know him is to love, love, love him, and i do, yes i do

day three. i am thankful for my lil man. i had no idea how truly different boys are from girls. from birth he has been such a blessing and joy. he was rough and tumble in my belly and is still rough and tumble.

this picture is from before we cut his lovely golden locks. i cried when we cut them because all the baby was gone. he has taught me so much in his short time here. like how to rejoice in the little accomplishments of the day. he's shown me how to live less fearfully. i love this boy and all the different dynamics that he adds to my family

what if Your blessings come through raindrops

two days in a row, don't believe it myself. my picture thank you is for wee lil sprout. she's quite the active baby so far. below is my favorite picture from her sono. she looked like she was waving hi to us, she did this right after the kids were talking to her. they thought it was super cool.

since it is Thursday i need to do my full thankful post.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. laundry- being able to do this "chore" means that i am capable of being upright, walking and carrying things. that alone should make me grateful, but wait there's more..... it also means that i have clothes that need to be washed, how wonderful is that. I'm trying to look at housework through different eyes and seeing laundry as a blessing was step one

2. hot tea- i try to have a cup every morning to start me off on a calmer note

3. honey crisp apples- LOVE these apples. they are only available for a short time, so i try to eat all that i can when i can get them

4. my minivan- it seats all of us and is super comfy, love it

5. friends- what a blessing they are to me. words of encouragement and prayers when i need them. even better being able to do sweet things for them

6. yarn- my yarn stash has gone crazy, but I'm slowly using it up making things

7. learning new things- my sil sent me a spindle for my birthday and I'm so excited to try it out, now i just need some extra time in my day

8. kool-aid- not only do my kids drink it by the gallon, you can dye yarn with it. yep, that's also on my list of to do things

9. good food- we are cooking more and more at home. i forget how much better a good home cooked meal tastes than what you can get out.

10. good water- our water here leaves quite a bit to be desired, so we have been buying water. you know it's rough when you think someone has been cleaning with bleach because the chlorine smell is so strong from the water.

i hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend

i will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart

i already posted these pics on my crafty blog, totally on accident. i blame pregnancy brain, so if you want to read what i am thankful for go check it out. i will try to remember to post them here tomorrow.

i will sing a song of hope, sing along

howdy to those who still check in from time to time to see if I'm still alive. i am and i am one year older than last time i wrote. the last two months have been a..... time for prayer and for... holding close and tight to those i love. i have decided to list, in honor of my bday, a list of 32 things i am thankful for.





I AM THANKFUL FOR:





1. prayers- i have been blessed with many answered prayers this past few months. the fires didn't make it to our property, the issues at hand were solved, and the family is adjusting to where we are.





2. friends- this past year has been worse than rough and my friends have been there to pray for me and to cheer me on, even when i wasn't sure i would make it.





3. the baby- she's not here yet, but she will be before i know it. have i mentioned her due date is the day the ectopic pregnancy was removed? yeah, God works in mysterious ways





4. crafts- i have a couple of things planned for some special ladies in my life. those ladies that have prayed for me and cheered me on. yeah I've got a lil something planned for each of you





5. the cool weather- it was so cool this morning and it felt so wonderful. it's been too hot for too long here





6. tums- got to love heartburn





7. the ability to help others





8. the ability to let go and let God- this year has been full of these moments and i am slowly learning that it's ok to let go





9. kind words- there have been several times recently that it would have felt so good to lash out and be cruel, but instead i offered a few kind thoughts. not sure it changed the other person, but man did it make me feel better





10. silence- the self imposed kind. sometimes the silence between two people is needed to heal the wounds.





11. yarn- I've been crocheting and knitting nearly nonstop the past few months. i really should post some pics





12. laughter- it really is the best medicine





13. well behaved kids- it isn't until I'm surrounded by other kids that i realize "hey mine are actually pretty good"





14. feeding the ducks- the kids have enjoyed this tremendously. we have taken them several times





15. finding peace- I'm still trying to make sense of some of this past year. why people i thought were friends turned out to be... less that friendly, but I'm slowly making peace





16. sleep- i miss a good night's sleep





17. standing up for what i believe- not always the popular choice, but always the right choice





18. manners- how easy they are, but what a foreign concept they seem to be





19. good talks- i don't talk on the phone much, texting is so much easier, i mean who wants to hear my kids fighting while we attempt to discuss anything?





20. dvr- i get to actually watch the shows i want to watch.





21. rain- it has rained a few times, but we are in serious need of more





22. a church home- i miss ours and we are still looking for one here.





23. facebook- i don't play the games anymore, but it is nice to see/keep up with people that i have wondered about over the years.





24. good music- it helps to lift the mood and elevate the spirit

25. clean clothes- which means i do lots of laundry

26. my washer and dryer- after 7 years I'm still loving them

27. privacy- did you know that you can hear almost everything that your neighbors do and say in this apartment. yeah, fun

28. hot tea- it seems to calm my nerves and that has been something to be thankful for lately

29. baby wiggles- this sweet girl is very active. the kids think it is cool that you can see her move

30. soft toilet paper- seriously I'm all about good paper products. they are worth every penny

31. getting wiser

32. the life i live

there are so many things i thank God for daily and it has been nice to list some extra to share with you guys. hope this weekend is a blessing for all of you

hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me

this last week has been one of the worst i have ever endured. thank you for the friends that have prayed for us during this time. today it rained, it poured almost all day. it hasn't rained here in what feels like forever, and today it poured. the beauty is in the song lyric i used as my title. today all was made clear to us, and grace fell down like the rain.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. prayer- the amazing power of this has been so evident this week.

2. rain- so cleansing and beautiful

3. my family- what a great lil group we are

4. friends- you ladies are amazing. to those who have shared this week with me, i can never thank you enough. seriously, i don't know if i would have made it without your kind words.

5. laughter- i have cherished each laugh i have had and heard this past week

6. praise music- it has been so uplifting to hear it this week

7. sleep- I've missed having a good rest

8. iced tea- mmmm, so good when it's so hot out

9. joy- it has helped sustain me this week

10. peace- that deep peace that keeps me sane

hope everyone has a great weekend.

and i will praise you in this storm

CASTING CROWNS - PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM LYRICS: Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

say a prayer for me

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

PRAYER- and i ask for my family to be kept in your prayers. thank you

can you teach me how to dance real slow

so we are on to the letter C. to begin i updated my cooking blog, i know shocker. it was at the request of a friend for a recipe, this does tie into the letter c i promise. well, it's late and i am tired.

THINGS I LIKE THAT START WITH C

chuy's mexican restaurant- below is a pic of monkey at chuy's on Friday. coffee- the chuy's we went to was in college station, which is home to my favorite coffee house sweet eugene's. we skipped it this trip because it was too hot for my favorite drink, bummer.

cooking- told you it would all tie in together. below is the cooking of the caramelized apple topping we had on our pancakes this morning. want to know more....check out the other blog

cold- even when we aren't having the hottest and driest summer on record, i prefer the cold. funny because i now live somewhere that gets 2 weeks of cold they call winter.

caramel- love it in almost all of its forms. below is monkey's plate before she devoured the goodness and licked the plate.

candles- i love to make them at to burn them



cuddles- there is nothing in the world like a good cuddle with someone you love
cell phones- i love the fact that we can now instantly communicate when we need something. i am aware that some people let the phone rule their life, but just today i got a prayer request on my phone. i stopped what i was doing and said a prayer. that my friends is good stuff

chillin out- we do some serious chillin out in our house when it is time to relax. yeah that's a picture of the two men in my life, handsome devils.

this has been fun, but it's past my bedtime.

perfection is my enemy

another great day in the finch house. we went school shopping for the girls, my sweet princess will be in kindergarten and monkey will be in middle school. everything is labeled, sorted, and put in its proper backpack. I've gotten my craft goods unpacked and placed in the proper places. wow, i have a lot of yarn. i also found tons of wip, works in progress. I've put them all in a bag and will be trying to finish at least one a week. I've also decided not to start any new projects, excluding swaps, until the bag is empty. maybe this will give me something to put on the craft blog. I've discovered so much this week that i am soooo thankful for.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. sun tea- i made sure to pack the sun tea jar this last round of move, only to discover that my mint has bugs and the jar spigot is broken. after a trip to the local heb i have a new jar and some delicious non-mint sun tea.

2. a/c- in case you didn't know 108+ add some humidity is not a good thing for this bird. the kids asked if they could play outside and i had to explain that we are not equipped to prevent boiling in this heat.

3. pictures- I've been going through all of the old pictures and they just make me smile. i need to get the scanner hooked up so i can get some of my middle school and high school pictures up.

4. the bird clock- i should have put this on my B list, but didn't. it was my grandpa's clock and it chimes/sings/calls a different bird song on each hour. it hangs in our living room and makes us all smile when it sings.

5. my recliner- yes again i find myself in it's loving arms daily.

6. garden ridge- we had some extra time before my doctor appointment, so finch surprised me with a quick trip

7. taking a break- we will be taking a small family trip to the beach next week and we are all very excited.

8. mail- i do love to get things in the mail.

9. good food- we had hummus and tabbouleh today for lunch and it was so good. not as good as the foccacia from yesterday, but close

10. bedtime- love the time of day when i get to sit and relax for a just a lil bit.

i hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

back in black

it's been quite a busy week already. Monday had an appointment and doctor says all is well, but maybe i should take it easy for a bit. apparently my "abdominal discomfort" sounds a bit too much like preterm labor for her. Tuesday we rode with daddy to San Antonio, and monkey was introduced to 1/2 priced books. she just stood in the entry way for several minutes just staring at all the books. the look on her face when i told her that was a small store was truly priceless. today was spent shopping, doing laundry and cleaning. now I'm reclining and taking it easy. i had a blast doing the A list, so i figured i would do the B list today. most of these pics are old ones, but they are great pics

THINGS I LIKE THAT START WITH "B"

baptism- every time i see one i cry. finch thinks it's cute. below is monkey's baptism.

being an adult- man i love this.

bread- I've been making lots of bread since we got here, and it goes quick.

better than ezra- if you aren't familiar with them, look em up

books- i love books, love to read and love to learn. q likes a good book before bed too.

babies- love the tiny toes, the giggles, and the love that they so freely give

bubbles- my kids love to blow bubbles and it warms my heart to see it

Bible- some may figure it goes under books, but to me it is so much more than just a book

bags- love me some bags. i did a cal, crochet a long, earlier this year and we made the green grocer bag.

that's all for now, i have some dishcloths to finish before bed tonight. hope everyone is having a great week so far, and I'm hoping to get a thankful list up tomorrow. maybe the kids will let me take pics.

you labeled me, i label you, so i dub thee unforgiven

ever get to the end of a week and wonder why it seemed to last a month? that's how last week was for me. we made 2 whirlwind trips to and from to get more stuff. i have a question for the few of you that read. how do you handle when your religion is attacked or better yet when it is questioned/thrown in your face. this has happened to me a few times and it usually involves somebody thinking they are somehow owed something because i am a christian. hmmm, not sure when in the bible it says "thou shalt be a doormat", but i could be wrong. anywho, i had this long tirade of a blog typed out about forgiveness, but decided to take the high road instead. trust me it was a very.... biting blog. instead i think that i would like to play the alphabet game. I've seen it in various forms here and here. i hope to upload pics tomorrow for the letter b, but we'll see what tomorrow brings.

some things that i like that start with A

amigurumis- they are cute, and i love to make them. couldn't find a pic of the ones I've made, so i will have to make more and take pics.

antics- you know the kinds kiddos have when they are having fun.

apples- i ordered a fruit and walnut salad at mc d's and the kids ate it all. princess and q ate the grapes then the apples, monkey devoured the walnuts and finch ate the yogurt. q kept asking for more apples please. the princess always asks for apples with her happy meals, i blame the caramel dip.

angels- my kiddos are truly the angels i see on earth every day. not that they always behave like angels mind you.

answers- i like to know why things are the way they are and why people do what they do. i don't always like the answers, but I'm always glad to know.

for those who know me in real life my oldest, known here as monkey, her name starts with A

agua- is it cheating to use a different language? oh well, loving me some ice cold agua during this unbearably hot summer.

my darling second daughter, known here as the princess, also sports a name that starts with A

this was fun, and so much happier than the other post that i had typed. thanks for the support.

broke into the old apartment

we are apartment dwellers again. we know that once again it is for the short term and that God provided what we needed when we needed it. the great news is that it is in the school district we wanted the girls to attend, so no transfer fees this year. I'm hoping that living in this environment will cut down on some of the screaming that has become second nature to the family. it feels great to have a kitchen again. we've been eating some seriously yummy food this past week. felt sprout wiggle for the first time on Tuesday. finch was put his hand on the ever expanding bump, and there was a lil flutter. monkey is getting ready to head to camp with her bff next week, and can hardly contain her excitement. I've been trying to catch up on all my friends' blogs lately and i have to say I'm loving the alphabet game. in fact when we get back from this trip i may start it here.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. a place of our own- how we have missed this the last 6 months

2. being together- q is so excited to have daddy every day again

3. good water- i have been so thirsty and the water here is way gross, so we've been buying water. we have a Brita pitcher and it doesn't help at all.

4. my bed- man i have missed it this summer while packing in happy

5. good laughs- how great it is to joke and laugh

6. picnics- we went on a picnic today with finch's mom. we had chicken and played at the park. the kids were so happy to see nana and play with her.

7. good friends- i have some amazing friends who have been wonderful to me during the transitional period. I'm sad to leave some behind, but excited to be near others.

8. swaps- i had planned on sitting out of any more than the dishcloth ones I'm in, but there is a recipe swap. you guys know how i feel about recipes. woohoo

9. maternity clothes- yeah, now i just have to find them all

10. quiet time- the kids are getting use to being here, so bedtime is still a war zone. they are usually asleep by 9, and then i get a lil bit of time to crochet.

i hope that this weekend is wonderful for everyone. i will be making a pack and move run this weekend. it should be fast and furious. don't forget to take a minute to count your blessings.

someday i'll be saturday night

i love me some bon jovi, and i can relate to this song more than i should probably admit to. the chorus says "I'm feeling like a Monday, but someday I'll be Saturday night." too often I've felt like Monday, and it wasn't until last week i began to understand Saturday night. the kids and i were jamming out to bon jovi while packing and this song came on. the kids were dancing around and laughing. i couldn't help but grin ear to ear and laugh as they spun around giggling. i realized that i have Saturday night everyday of the week, but too often i get caught up with the crap of life to realize it. there in front of me was happiness and contentment. man am i blessed.

i missed my thankfuls last week, not because i wasn't thankful, but mainly due to the fact that my computer was in a different part of Texas than me. i went to the doctor last week for a routine checkup, and sprout is getting bigger and the heart rate sounds great. after the appointment my dear hubby and i drove back to the town without a frown.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. my Saturday night- glad God reminds me to take a minute and enjoy what really matters in life.

2. my husband- he works so hard so that we can have such a great life. he stands by his beliefs and loves the Lord. who could ask for more?

3. my wonderful summer help- I'm learning to relax and let the kids help more. we got most of the kitchen packed up and all the books.

4. my washer and dryer- man how i have missed them, seriously i missed them.

5. good sleep- it feel good to be rested because packing is hard work
6. milk- i have really gotten to love a cold glass of milk before bed. it really helps me sleep

7. peace and harmony- with 3 kids peace and harmony are sometimes hard to come by, but when they happen.... ah they are wonderful


8. family- i have an amazing family. 3 great kids with another on the way and an amazing hubby. who needs more? i am so blessed.

9. a job well done- i started packing by packing all the books. this might not make sense, but it feels good to walk in the den and all the shelves are empty. it's rewarding to see how much has been accomplished.

10. friends- i have some amazing friends and i am very thankful for each and every one of them. i don't know what i would do without the support and love they shower me with.

i can't believe how much of my life has changed in the path of less than a year. i can hardly believe how much is still to come. i wonder at what God's plan is, and i am very excited to see what he has in store for us. this year is half over, and i can't say I'll be sad to see it go. hope everyone has a great weekend, i have more packing to do, so i better get some sleep.

i'm going off the rails on a crazy train

we've been watching megamind again. q absolutely loves it and anything with that great of a soundtrack has my vote. June is over halfway gone and I'm not halfway finished with all the packing. turns out packing makes me tired, and being over tired makes me cramp. i feel so blah lately, i know mostly because I'm missing my sweet hubby worse everyday. i sat down with my aunt on father's day and we were discussing weight loss, good conversation for a pregnant chick right. i told her that i had dropped a lil over 8 pounds since we got back to happy, and it wasn't until i was talking to her about calories that it occurred to me that perhaps i wasn't getting what i should be. yeah, most days I'm getting less than 1000. oops, i have the tendency when busy to forget to eat and drink, yep that's why the kidneys hurt today. I'm doing my best to remedy the situation, but old habits die hard. I'm tired and tomorrow will come early, and I'm finishing my cookbook packing tomorrow. already packed 6 boxes of them today. on the the thankfuls

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. text messages- it's about the only form of communication i have anymore.

2. central air- with highs over 100 this girl is way to hot just walking to the car.

3. ravelry- there is a group that i belong to and they are just so amazing. they cheer when you are up, they rally around when you are down. love this group

4. my hubby- the nightmares are getting worse and he sends me sweet emails and calls to reassure me that all is well.

5. prayer- the power of prayer is more amazing than i can ever explain.

6. friends- i have a great group that supports me and lifts me up in prayer whenever i need it, thanks guys

7. the ability to say no- my family situation is tense at best, both related and married to, and it has been such a relief to step away and say nothing. no i won't be your friend on fb, no i won't tell you what is eating me alive so you can pawn it to the highest bidder, no i won't let you bring me down anymore.

8. standing firm- the hubby and i have some very strict rules and guidelines as far as our kids go, and some of these, most of these, have been tested the past 6 months. it feels good to not back down from what we know is right and what we know God has set forth. yep, even when everybody else is doing it.

9. friends from the past- there were some wonderful christian people put in my path during a very difficult time in my life, and they were always such a bright beacon of hope for me. i only wish that i had known to run to these people when my world collapsed. i wonder if i had run to them instead of seeking solace in a bottle how much smoother high school would have been. how was i to know that some people offer love unconditionally. thank you ladies, you may never know how much you and your daughters meant to me.

10. good teachers- i had some great teachers and i have friends who are now great teachers. keep up the good fight, you never know how much you you do for those kids.

i hope that this first weekend of summer is cooler for you than it will be here. smile you never know whose day you will brighten

baby can i hold you tonight?

so our first week back in happy packing has gone surprisingly well. I've stirred up tons of dust, so my sinuses are on full back up. while we've been enjoying 100+ temps here, my sweet hubby has been in San Diego at a conference. he got back a day earlier than we had thought, so we actually got to see him for his birthday. the kids have been really great about letting me rest in the afternoons, turns out preggie at 32 isn't as easy as preggie at 20-who knew. I've gotten most of the books in the den packed, those who know how many books we have know this isn't too shabby a job for one person in a few days. I'm feeling gross, so this is going to be short. my thankful list

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. being held to go to sleep- i don't sleep well as a general rule, nightmares are tough. it was wonderful to have my sweet finch home to hold me to sleep.

2. naps- I've taken 2 today and will probably call it an early night.

3. my nook- yep, last night when we all loaded in the van to come home from the airport, my sweet hubby took a detour via barnes and noble to get me a nook. he knows how much i love to read, and how i refuse to buy anymore books this summer to pack.

4. my hubby- he is so good to me and the kids, and he is capable of keeping the house in running order. i made the joke on facebook that other than a busted water pipe and looking like boo radley had been renting our house looked great. finch got the water fixed the next day and still made it to the girls birthday party.

5. cute maternity clothes- i put on some of my capris, that fit fine last week, and lo and behold they were tough to zip. i figured it was due to my constant hunger that i had been gaining weight, so i hopped on the scale to find I'd actually lost 4 lbs. hmmmm, may have to bust out the maternity shorts and capris sooner than i thought.

6. yogurt- mmmmmmm, the one snack everyone in the house can agree on.

7. micro food- i love to cook, but as time and kitchen resources are limited, well, we have been living on some tasty micro meals. the kids think it is such a treat. they were actually upset that they didn't get ramen for breakfast. i guess anything that you get rarely is a treat when you're a kid.

8. central air- please see above about 100+ degree weather

9. friends- monkey has spent the day with her bff and will be staying the night as well. the kids are so excited to get to see friends while we are here.

10. God- sometimes it is difficult for me to fathom a creator that would care for his broken creations so much. then i see how much i love my sweet kids, even when they are being monsters, and i wonder how much more God loves us. without Him i wouldn't be where i am, so a huge thank you to Him.

i hope this weekend brings us some rain and a cool down. i also hope to feel well enough tomorrow to actually be able to function like a normal human.

hold my heart

what a week this has been. school has finished and the girls are so excited to spend the summer in happy. I'm thrilled to get to spend time with my friends that i have missed, but the thought of single parenting, packing, and morning sickness all together makes me want to cry. yes you read that correctly, we are expecting. we waited to make the news public until after the sono, the ectopic in January really took the wind out of my sails. the title of today's blog is the title of another one of my favorite songs. every time it comes on the radio i choke up. it's late and we are spending tomorrow traveling, so i should get some rest.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. good news from doctor visits- a friend from ravelry got great news today that her grandpa's cancer was indeed gone.

2. the wonder of a child- we took the kids with us, and the looks on their sweet faces when they saw the baby was amazing. q started dancing when he heard the heartbeat, it was too cute.

3. dum dums and ginger ale- yeah the nausea has been rough so far.

4. good talks- we had one of those tough, but needed talks with monkey this week. you know the one that goes "people who really love you will never ask you to go against your morals and beliefs". it is wonderful to be able to talk to her and to listen to her in return

5. prayer- the power of prayer never ceases to amaze me. the ability to commune with my Maker, that's the good stuff.

6. friends- i have been so blessed with a great group of friends. i think it is very needed to tell them and the world how wonderful they are. YOU GUYS ROCK

7. a great hubby- God really knew what he was doing when He put us in each other's path. what a great man I'm married to.

8. tums- yeah heartburn has started early this round.

9. new beginnings- the girls will start school in a new district this fall. it was a long discussion, but ultimately we want what is best for them.

10. friend dates- pattylicious and i have a long overdue date planned for Saturday night.

thanks for the comments they are good to read. i do hope to be able to post some on my other two blogs in the near future, but don't hold your breath. I'm going to be a very busy girl for the next.... several months. i will try to put some more pictures up soon. take care and have a great weekend.

how far the east is from the west

I've been listening to our contemporary christian station A LOT since we moved. below are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. songs like this are my number one on my thankful list this week. they are a daily reminder that I'm never too far from my Father and His love.



CASTING CROWNS LYRICS - East To West: "Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me
You're holding on to me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other"


2. friends- I'm so thankful for my friends who offer me encouragement and guidance when i feel lost and confused

3. my hubby- he has been so understanding and caring. he knows me and still loves me, may not sound like much, but he has seen the demons that haunt me and he holds me and loves me anyway.

4. my past-yep it made me who i am, like me or not. I'm happy with who i have become and each test has brought me to where God has put me. for the first time in a long time i don't feel crazy and that is a good thing.

5. my present- i am happy with my life and who i am. it has taken me most of my life to reach this point, and here i am content with who i am

6. my future- sometimes it scares the heebus jeebus out of me. then i take a deep breath and say a long prayer and i discover that I'm not afraid at all

7. my faith- it has cost me friends and family, but i wasn't promised an easy walk. i was promised joy, peace, and salvation.

8. dates- i had a date with my hubby and a date with some friends this past weekend. both were very needed in there own ways.

9. cleaning house- both the literal cleaning of the home and the kind where people who are toxic are removed. both are needed sometimes more often than we like.

10. crafting- I've been working hard on several projects lately, and it feels good to be busy.

i hope this memorial weekend is wonderful for you. take a moment to say thanks to those who are away from home fighting for us, and for those they left at home.

the honest cries of breaking hearts are better than a halleluia

things are very busy here in the kingdom. we have been busy clearning brush, so that we can get electric out to the property. after that we can get the house. it's getting very hot here, we've already had a few near 100 days. it's been forever since i've done a thankful list, but lately i have been so thankful for all i do have.
I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. hard work- it feels good to be able to use my hands to get things done.

2. the results of the hard work- above is the property where the house will sit. it has taken a lot of work on our parts. we've been using a lawnmower, chain saw, machete, and tree loppers.

3. family time- we've been clinging together as a tight group lately to get the work done, and when we get to let off some steam and play it really helps.

4. long walks on the beach- above is a picture of us walking on the pier at port lavaca

5. flowers- we planted some pots of flowers this year because we weren't sure where we ulitmately would be.

6. friends- it is so amazing how we draw together when one of us has a problem. my friends are amazing

7. crafting- i have been crazy busy working on projects for friends, family, and swaps.

8. new experiences- above is the kids in corpus. q was a bit confused by the waves at first.

9. being loved- there is no better feeling that to love a be loved in return. there is a lot of love in my life.

10. family- i have a great family. just look at that smile, that makes all better.

i hope that things are going great for everyone who reads this. we have big plans this weekend. the princess has a skate birthday party to attend and i'm meeting friends at knitting nest for a book signing. things are looking up and looking great.

tell the world i'm coming home

sorry for the lack of blog. things have been.... well things are finally starting to look up. we have relocated to where my hubby grew up, where he has always called home. in fact the day after my last blog he got the call that the territory near his old stomping grounds was open and was his if he wanted it. well, here we are.

the internet here is slow at best, so mostly i don't use it. i keep up via my phone for most things facebook and blog. however, i can't seem to do a decent blog from it. this is going to be quick, mostly i was curious to see how long this would take, so that i could plan accordingly.

this is a picture from the renfest that is just down the road from us. the kids had a super time.

yeah, i can't believe how big she's getting either. she gets prettier by the day

they are all getting bigger by the day. this was at a park in college station.

i hope to be able to update more often, but life is busy and time is short. hope to start back to my thursday posts this week. thanks for reading

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades

this is from one of my favorite songs we sing during worship at church. i had every intention of blogging sooner, but we were without Internet for two weeks and then..... well suffice it to say life happens. yesterday i went into surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy, so now I'm trying to recover. while in surgery the doctor realized that the fallopian tube had already ruptured, two weeks ago is her guess of when it happened. so in the face of losing a life that i was carrying in my body, i could have lost mine. that was not God's plan yet, for He spared my life. the doctor assured finch, i was still in recovery, that we should have no problem having another lil finch if we still chose to. i have been so blessed with prayers and well wishes from my dear and wonderful friends. during my short stay at the hospital peaches came to see me and brought me chocolate, a beautiful magazine, and an apron book. how awesome is that. pattylicious came to the hospital to see me too, and she brought me the prettiest sparkly daisies. i am truly blessed with a wonderful group of friends. i am so thankful for all the love and prayers that have been showered on me and my family as we waited to see what would be.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. prayers- the ability to communicate with the Lord, this has been my saving grace the past two weeks.

2. God- without him i wouldn't be here.

3. life- i know that medically speaking i shouldn't have made it, but i am here by God's will and i am soooo thankful for that

4. good doctors- my ob/gyn twice has given advice that has let me live a full life.

5. friends- my sweet friend kayla kept the kids for me during the days that i spent at the dr trying to figure out what was wrong with me. my dear friend firecracker came and stayed the night with the kids, so that finch could be with me in the hospital. all my other friends that offered up prayers and gave kind words when things seemed so dark, they reminded me of the Light.

6. my hubby- he is taking excellent care of me.

7. my sweet kids- monkey has been cooking dinner for us, so that i can be off my feet. the princess has been fetching me cups of water. the poor lil q just wants to be held and loved.

8. pain meds- i usually don't use the pain meds that I'm given, but oh my am i glad i got the prescription filled this time. wow i hurt.

9. compassion- the nursing staff decided to prep me in my room for surgery because there were lots of babies in pre-op and they didn't want me to be sad. they gave hugs and prayers to help comfort me. what a great group of ladies.

10. my recliner- i can relax in the living room with the fam instead of being in bed by myself.

I've seen so much cruelty in my life and it is too easy to get caught up in the cruelty that the world dishes out. it is easy to forget how many truly kind people there are in this world. thank you to each and everyone of you.