My Ebenezer

Every September I am bit by an urgent Decorating Bug, which compels me to get out and display all of my Autumn decorations and candles.  There's no chill in the air, but I know somewhere in this country there has to be.  If I don't decorate now and get into the fall spirit, Christmas will be pounding on my door before I can say "pumpkin." Only, sometime in the last year of sitting stagnant in our storage room--which happens to have a leaky roof and no heating or air conditioning--many of my fall pretties fell victim to mold, mildew, and voracious bug appetites (who knew there was a bug who likes to eat the enamel off of styrofoam pumpkins? Desperate much?). And immediately the scripture came to mind, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys..."  Matt 6:19-20 I'm so thankful that these...

31 weeks.  That's me!  I had another OB appointment today, with less than good news.  In addition to the fact that I gained 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks (she said, as she stuffed another fun-sized Kit Kat bar into her mouth.  Really, I just did.), I was informed that I failed my one-hour glucose test by 7 points.  Do you know what that means?  Yup, three hour test, coming right up.  Unless, that is, I can come up with a way to get out of it.  The doctor also told me that I'm anemic, which comes as no surprise due to how tired I've been feeling, and how I can't get enough ice (craving ice is a sign of anemia).  Other than those things, I've been doing pretty well.  

The other day I had someone ask me if I was sure I wasn't having twins because I am so big.  Followed a few days later by my dental hygienist telling me I was "so tiny" and she couldn't believe I was almost seven months pregnant.  Hmmm...  Whom do I believe?  Well, regardless, I have about 2 and a half months left of this pregnancy (is that all?) and I'm enjoying it.  Here are a few of the recent developments: The baby is starting to really pack a punch when he moves. Ouch! I am getting more and more breathless.  The pregnancy exercise videos that I used to yawn at are now giving me a run for my money and making me sweat.  Singing is becoming a challenge, as is walking anywhere fast or getting up off the floor. I crave ice.  I've seriously thought about going to Sonic or Chick-Fil-A (they have the nicest ice for chewing) and just ordering a large cup of ice.  I wonder how much they would charge? Also among the cravings are ice crea...

I have come to a very important decision:  I will not be blogging about the many events of August individually.  If I did (at the rate I blog), it would take me until NEXT August to finish, and then I'd be a whole year behind.  And that would overwhelm me enough to just quit blogging, which I don't intend to do.  So.  I bring you a few pictures and a little blurb about each event all in one post.  Never underestimate the power of summary. VBS Week:  What a joy to have teens and adults come from CT to run VBS again!  As always, they did a stellar job, and we have seen a little bit of fruit from that effort. The start of soccer season!  There is only one other boy on Noah's team, which should make for interesting games. :)   A Surprise baby shower for me put on by the ladies of Truth Baptist Church.  I've never been the recipient of a surprise party, so this was a first, and such a blessing. Our family trip to The ...

About six weeks ago, Daisy had six kittens.  One was stillborn, so we were left with five.  A couple weeks ago, one got out during the night and somehow died outside.  (That's still a mystery, as it didn't look like an animal got her; we just found her dead out in the yard. ?)  So then there were four.  And what a cute and cuddly bunch they were!  There is something embedded deep in me that LOVES kittens.  As a child I had kitten calendars on my wall (followed in my teen years by ballet calendars) if that tells you anything. Those adorable photos you see of kittens in teacups just do it for me. :) Here are Daisy's kittens: And, a video for those of you like me who can't get enough of kittens: A couple days ago, after the kittens displayed ability to eat kitten food (those things could EAT!) and use a litter box, we put an ad on Craigslist and gave away all four in one day.  In hindsight, I probably should have given them ...

There's something about Kindergarten that makes a mom feel as though she's at a jumping-off point.  Preschool didn't feel this way.  Having my child turn five and go off to Kindergarten does.  Not that he's independent now--far from it--but there's something so Big Kid-ish about packing a lunch and kissing him goodbye for the whole day .  August 20 was Noah's first day at school, so he's completed one full week. Here are the milestones of the week: Noah learned to tie his shoes this week.  The motivation?  I bought him a pair of sneakers with laces and told him he couldn't wear them to school until he learned to tie them.  15 minutes later, he had mastered that skill.  No more velcro shoes for this boy!  He got sick at school on the second day. :(  Almost our whole family came down with some sort of nasty bug promptly upon returning from The Wilds last week.  Josh and Noah had shared a water bottle on Saturday, just a coup...

As of Tuesday this week, I am 27 weeks pregnant.  Two-thirds of the way there already!  I continue to feel great, praise the Lord, and I continue to crave peaches. :)  Sleeping has become more of a challenge, as is finding space for all my pillows in our bed.  I'm trying to savor every moment and document as much as I can.

My sister-in-law Andrea offered to highlight my hair for my birthday.  For a long time Josh has been wanting me to get highlights done to "keep me young" as he puts it.  I guess I should face it: as it was, my grays were beginning to look like some kind of silver highlight job.  So I said "yes" to Andrea, and then worried for days beforehand about what the "new me" would look like.  I've always been brave, you know.  *rolls eyes* So anyway, here it is: It is a subtle difference, it covers my grays, and I love it!!  For the record, Josh does too.

I realize I have probably lost all but 2 of my blog followers, and that it is my own fault.  You can't neglect a blog for a month (!) and not expect to alienate some folks.  We have had an absolutely jam-packed four weeks, and if you'll bear with me, I'd like to try to make heads or tails of recent events and then move on.  Here are a few of the highlights of the last month which I hope to expand upon in the coming days: Vacation Bible School at our church, four weeks' worth of company at our house, Daisy's five kittens (which were born the day after my last post), my baby shower, a week spent at The Wilds camp in North Carolina, my 32nd birthday, Noah starting soccer, how the pregnancy is progressing, Noah starting Kindergarten (!), and a partridge in a pear tree. Minus the partridge, these events were just a few of the things that are on my mind to blog about.  I better get cracking!      

Well, it would seem that Daisy and I have a lot in common these days--can you guess what it is? I'll give you a hint: I looked it up online, and "they" say cat gestation is about 9 weeks.  According to my estimation, we should have kitties any day now!  Exciting times. Noah can't wait! :)

A few weeks back, Jen sang a song in church called, God of Heaven, by Heather Sorenson.  It has had such an impact on me, that I just had to post it here along with a link to the music.  You should listen to this song! I had been struggling with my complete and utter failure as a mom over the recent days (don't take this opportunity to tell me I do a great job; I live with myself and see it firsthand! I know all the ugly truth).  What struck me in the song was the placing side-by-side of the truths of who God is:  one verse talks about how He's the author of history, next verse pictures Him as the majestic powerful One who fights our battles and to  whom all the nations bow.  And Then!  In the very next verse, He is the "God who listens, carries all our fragile dreams and heartaches, wins and failures... New beginnings freely offered" What an encouragement!  The God of the universe knows me and loves me.  He sees me with all my flaws and ...

Today, Noah turns 5 years old.  Today is Friday, and he was actually born on a Friday, so I think that's pretty cool.  I remember that particular Friday well--the hours of labor followed by a c-section, and then the complete and utter awe that this little (*cough* BIG) baby was ours, given to us by a God who hears.   Five years later, we are so thankful for the joy in this gift of a child that we didn't think we would ever have. Happy Birthday to my full-of-energy, very-smart, mosquito-bitten, bike-jumping, imaginary-gun-wielding, watch-me, blond-haired little boy!  Praise the Lord for 5 years of life!

Isn't he cute?  I love the little nose! Biased, I guess. :)   We went for our 21 week ultrasound on Wednesday. After waiting what seemed an eternity (made longer by the fact that they make you drink 24oz of water 2 hours before the exam and then hold it AND THEN they were an hour late getting me into the room), I was at long last examined.  There was a bit of suspense at first, as the technician told me the baby's foot was in the way, but finally she said, "It's a boy!"  Praise the Lord, he looks healthy and normal.  He weighs approximately 1.2 lbs now, which is normal for this point.  That was a relief, that at least he's not huge right now.  For those that don't remember, Noah weighed 10lbs 4oz at birth, and I'm trying to avoid a repeat of that experience. :) So that's a look at Baby Boy.  Now, here's me at 21 weeks: Amazingly enough, though I've been pigging out on ice cream and peaches (I cannot get enough peaches!), I have ...

This past week, Tropical Storm Debby moved through our area, pouring what seemed like feet of rain on us.  Finally the sun re-emerged, but we still have standing water in our yard, and our dock is completely under water for the first time in its life.  Praise the Lord, a soggy dock was the worst of the damage!  Blessings.

Before the accident: And about a month after: While we were away on vacation last month, Noah bumped the same tooth twice within about a day's time.  Well, that tooth must have given up the ghost, because it is now a dark gray color.  I have known other children who have had a gray tooth, and it's not the end of the world, especially since this is a baby tooth and  should fall out in the next couple of years anyway.  But still, this is now what Noah looks like.  He's still my handsome little man, gray tooth and all!

At the moment, Noah is infatuated with cowboy boots.  We found an old pair at an abandoned house recently, and though they're several sizes too big, that doesn't seem to matter to Noah.  We let him wear them to a restaurant a few weeks ago, but he wiped out three times, so now he only wears them at home, though he asks to wear them just about every time we leave the house.

My gift is not hospitality.  It does not come naturally to me to invite people into my home and share what I have with them, especially on short notice. I realize this acutely on a Sunday morning during church when my husband whispers to me after the first song, "What are you planning for lunch?" "Nothing," I say, which isn't entirely true.  For a scavenger we have plenty!  In the fridge, we have half my leftover dinner from going to Ruby Tuesday's last night, some ham and cheese, even peanut butter and jelly for those of us who want to go all out.  Right. So in other words, "nothing."   "Because I want to invite so-and-so over for lunch today," Josh continues. Immediately vivid-colored snapshots of our house in its current condition begin flashing through my mind.  Our bed, unmade with pillows everywhere (thanks to my growing belly and my increasing need for pillows).  Clothes strewn around the floor as the result of wardrobe ...

I hit 17 weeks this past Tuesday.  I cannot tell you how happy I have been to be in the second trimester these last few weeks.   This is pregnancy like I remember it to be!  Stuff to report: 1. Last Friday two people who don't know me asked if I was pregnant.  This is a big step, because it tells me that I no longer look chunky, and am starting to look pregnant.  Always a relief!  Who wants to look chunky? 2.  I have been feeling the baby move off and on for a couple of weeks.  More off than on, really, but still; it's special when it happens! 3.  I am now HUNGRY pretty much all the time.  Melon or peaches always sound good, as does just about any food group.  I'm not picky these days. 4.  I have started exercising again, which is good, except it makes me HUNGRY.  See # 3. :) 5.  Almost everyone is asking if we plan to find out if we are having a boy or a girl.  YES.  Our ultrasound appointment...

These are some of the photos of our time in Connecticut.  I was heavier on the photos at the beginning of the week, and then missed some events entirely.  Fun defined:

This morning I made a tent for the kids to play in while Brianne and Titus were over.  On the way back to Noah's room to play in the tent, I heard a perfect illustration of the differences between boys and girls. Brianne:  "I'll be the mommy in the tent." Noah:  "I have a better idea: why don't we get the army guys and shoot them in there?" Brianne:  "That doesn't sound very fun." Ah, girls and boys.  I have to tell you, not much changes in adulthood, either. :)