How do you celebrate?

I have officially begun Planning a Posh Soiree! Evy's birthday is always big ta-doings here at the homestead. You know...she is kind of spoiled...and such a miracle, we figure we should celebrate it right.

The first year we had a tie dye party. Evy was really too young to know that was going on, so we did something fun for the adults. But she sure enjoyed the cake.





For her second birthday, she ASKED to have a pony. Now that Daddy of hers, is wrapped so tightly around her finger that her circulation is becoming a problem. We not only had a pony, but a goat and a chicken too! We had a tent put up and hay bales brought in. It was a nice reminder of why you don't plan an outdoor party at the end of July. But all in all was pretty fun!

*sorry can't find the pictures** will add later**

For her 3rd birthday, I decided to plan at Leonardo's. We had a princess party. With a fabulous cake by Mary. It was a fun day of playing and exploring indoors and then cooling off outside at the castle's water area.




For her fourth birthday, the planning has begun early since we will be out of town and busy with VBS during the month. She wanted a pirate party, a Hannah party and to go to Hawaii for her birthday. She has been SO into lipstick, make-up and beauty that I figured a Fancy Nancy party would be the perfect fit. We can do it up a a local salon or do it ourselves. The cost would be about the same, but of course doing it ourselves we can invite more people AND add some extra items. So...do you have any ideas for our Fancy party?

If you have some cool ideas...add them in the comments. OTHERWISE.........

I want to see how you celebrate birthdays! Add you party page links here using the *New* MckLinky.

Rough Week

I have been in a funk all week. I wasn't sure why. I just haven't felt normal-really I was feeling about half crazy. Most things annoyed me and I felt like I could cry at the drop of a hat. Still could, really, but that is a whole other post. Usually shopping makes me feel better. Last night, Michael and I went and looked at bedding (for the new bed that hasn't been ordered yet). We spent a small fortune on sheets, blankets, shams, etc. The lady kept trying to get us to buy decorative pills and I kept saying no, because I don't even make my bed. Then we made another family purchase. The bleh feeling didn't subside. When we got home family came and that was a little better- I felt myself smile for the first time today. Later as Michael and I were talking about our new bedding, I realized it is much like our old bedding- so it is likely going back!

There are many reasons to be have experienced a bleh week.

We are half way through summer- so the boredom blues may be starting to hit.

Michael's dad was put in the hospital again-admitted through ER due to a drastic bleed, which turned out to stop itself...and he was released Friday- Praise God!

The plans for ordering new office equipment had to be put on hold due to the "holds" on the insurance money. So, I will be leaving before that happens.

Our vacation plans may be changing due to Mike's recent hospitalization.

Really? I asked myself this morning...truthfully, those kinds of reasons happen every week around here. Plans change and few things go my way. But I never feel like this. It could be the new birth control that I started, but...ah maybe a little.

Truthfully, I think it is a deep in my soul revealing of what this week is. I hadn't really thought about it...But Monday-the 22st would have been the 1 year birthday of our lost baby. If she had been born on schedule. Now I can't even remember really- the 15th, the 22nd- it doesn't really matter. All I know is that the dates passed with no connection. Hidden below is a counter it has been since we lost her. I usually ignore it, but I glanced at it the other day. 1 year and 7 months. A lifetime ago really. That dream is gone. Now we face the reality of another possiblity in a couple weeks. I am hopeful but not too confident. I guess I am trying not to be too confident because I don't want to experience the heartbreak again. If I think it won't work and it doens't-it hurts less.

I don't want to live with that attitude. I want to be confident in my God that he will bestoy a blessing. We have a plan. He has a blessing. That should be enough. I pray that it will be for today. And we can start again tomorrow.

Please join me in praying for this new plan. Currently, we are scheduled to start shots on July 27 making the corresponding due date in May- that is perfect! I am praying this is God's plan.

My Psalm 126

God, I remember a time before-

you brought drought and then

great joy

when the blessing rained.


I am looking for that same

hope

the blessed assurance and

confidence that You will

rain with blessing.


For now- I live-a little

concerned about the timing-

unsure of what will come-

learning to be patient (again!)

Confident in You- sure and secure!

I have sown plenty of tears

and stand in wait

waiting to reap with joy!

LOVE that Surrounds

Today has been a rough day. It was one of those days I was in a funk. Things didn't go as I had planned. I was cleaning and re-organizing the spare bedroom. This meant going through older toys (baby items), out of season clothes, outgrown clothes and a few "found" new baby items. I have been struggling a little with the timing of the fertility treatment...plus adding extra hormones, makes this process difficult. God has been good to me, but there is still some struggle in the mix. Yesterday, I was excited to know the time table set up with the RE, today I am not enjoying it so much. I digress. So, I was doing okay. The plan for Michael to come home early was busted, the purchases we had planned to make were put on hold until the check could clear the bank-so I was somewhat frustrated, but okay. Then I found "the shirt." Sometimes, especially after experiencing loss, there are things that sock-you-in-the-face and take your breath away-reminding you of the pain. Well, the shirt is that in the face reminder of our miscarriage. I had purchased a t-shirt that said "World's greatest Sister!" for Evy to wear as we prepared for the baby. I had purchased it just a few days prior to the death of our baby. I have tucked this shirt away several times. I can't bring myself to give it away (yet!) and she won't be able to ever wear it (too small now). So, the physical pain arose making the day almost unbearable. Plus, frustration mounting from the uncompromising day, I was in the climb back into bed moods.

I was also frustrated because Bible Study this morning had been so good, so I knew that I was under some kind of attack, but felt like I was drowning, much like Jonah-seaweed entangling my head, the deep surrounding me...I was sinking and sinking fast. I needed a good cry, but couldn't bring myself to experience the defeat, so I kept up the strong face. A great friend called to give me an update...and she didn't buy the strong face. She could tell something was wrong. Her encouraging words were exactly what I needed. I spent the evening recovering. I happy to say the physical pain has lifted and I will continue to walk in victory.

I came home after some much needed family time and worked some more on my Stepping Up Study. Learning that God encamps around us. He surrounds us like a wall of fire. He is surrounding me like a ring of fire.

I have asked myself a thousand times:If God surrounds us (and is for us)like a mighty mountain, then why have I suffered so much harm? Psalm 34:17-19 tells me that God hears and delivers, He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those with a crushed spirit. God never promised to remove me from the human experience. Even when I encounter the tough stuff, I know that God never gives more than we can handle and great blessing usually follow. If he delivers me from every trial- I will never experience the beauty from ashes, strength from fear, gladness from mourning or peace from despair.

Right now, it feels a lot like "living between the times" Psalm 126 describes a time of joy-laughing, singing, blessings and good fortune-God was wonderful and they were a happy people. Then they say- And now, God, do it again- v. 4. These people were remembering a good time-living in the now-and another good time hoped for! I am there in the now...remember the miracle of our first child, hoping for another...but in the mean time-scared out of mind that it isn't going to work, that I will need to deplete the hormones from the body, that we expedience sadness again and that the timing won't be in place soon! But, Jeremiah 29:11 says "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future!

So until the future arrives, I will live in the ring of love that surrounds me. The fire protects me from the roaring lion that seeks to steal, kill and destroy!

I have spent the majority of the day cleaning out the spare bedroom, preparing for our new bedroom suite to arrive. There is a lot of prepartion in remodeling/re-doing a room in your home. I guess that is why I put it off so. We have had these ideas to paint/re-paint several of our rooms, but it has gotten laid to the waste side, covered up with easier tasks to complete. I am not one for finishing projects...if you don't believe me, check out my wallpapered-or should I say unwallpapered- hall. It is going on 3 years of looking like that-maybe 4. I can't remember if I started that project before evy was born or the summer after...all I know is that it didn't go off without a hitch and it got put to the back burner.

But these projects will* get completed this summer-
Master bath redone
New paint in most rooms
Order new furniture for bedroom
New bunk bed for Evy
Create a working guest bedroom
New paint on garage/over-hangs and windows(?)
Something with the hall and my yellow bathroom...
And classroom painted!

It sure seems like a lot to take on in less than 6 weeks-really only 4 because I will be gone for 2 of them. But, I would like to stop being the one who puts things off...in the meantime, I best get back to my project...it still isn't complete.

What a difference a day makes...

That has probably been a title of a post already, but it is oh so true. I dealt with Evy's illness all day Tuesday, until I resorted to putting her in pull-ups~ since I had already washed 10 pairs of underwear-and my pants...and then she stopped! The whole thing took about 12 hours to get through her little system. Now I am much more concerned that it was a pool water upsetting her tummy, but alas it is finished. This was the morning before the sickness began


She was feel so much better by Tuesday evening that she wanted to go to the park...I said "no!" making me the bad guy, but decided we would go Wednesday morning. She wanted to go to the "red" park-which is actually a school- we walked almost to the park and I remembered that they were having summer school, so we turned around and went to the park down the street. We hadn't had any breakfast, so we packed a lunch and had a picnic lunch.


Then we played at the park. I worked on my Bible study while she laid across me. It was priceless...a day never to trade.

Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe

I am a fan of dirty jobs. Discovery Channel exposes some of America's grosses jobs~those in which I never thought existed- and most of them I wish I didn't.

At the end of each show, Mike pleads with America to send them dirty jobs for them to participate in...well, I have a job!
Mom of a sick child!

The job of a mom is tough! I didn't really know how tough until I had applied for and got the job. Being a mom to a baby is a tough job-and sometimes- well most times...dirty. You have all the diaper changing, spit up, and all the gross bodily fluids that come from babies. I never really thought it was too gross...I mean a baby doesn't really know any better and they are so small and cute, it makes up for it, right?

Then real life hits...you have all the "grown-up" duties: cleaning the kitchen/cooking the lunch and dinner/mowing the yard/emptying the garbage/doing grocery shopping/teaching school/paying bills/pumping gas/reading my Bible/blogging! As a mom, I have added: wiping up spills/putting on band aids/doing the hair/finding a dress to wear everyday/cleaning up her room/making macaroni and cheese/swimming/going to the park...and then she gets sick!

Personally, I think taking care of a sick (almost) 4 year old- is a little dirtier/grosser than a sweet little infant. Any sick child is a dirty job. PERIOD! The throwing up/changing sheets/diarrhea in the panties/lots of laundry/added to what I already do makes for a tired mama (and papa!).

Last night, out sweet one came into our room-probably about 2-3a.m. She eventually said her tummy hurt and threw up and messed in her pants. She was devastated, crying and very upset. We washed her precious sleeping dress and panties and she fell asleep with daddy. He eventually maneuvered back to bed, but just a few minutes later, we changed panties again...this happened several more times throughout the night. I thought she would sleep all morning, but she was up at 8:15! That didn't last too long...she is now asleep again. I am not sure what is wrong...sick kiddos worry me. It is a dirty job that I will do-until done- and then pray fervently that it doesn't happen again for a while.

But...next time, I might invite Mike Rowe to come experience the dirty job of a MOM!