Just checking in...

Just thought I would check in to say we are well. I've been battling an unusual set of allergy symptoms for me, but am about over the hump, I hope. Now if I could just get rid of the annoying lingering cough!

Today marks 18 weeks of pregnancy and I have a routine appointment tomorrow. Then, next week I go in for my first ultrasound. I am very excited about that, but really dreading the full bladder I will need to have. I am officially over the morning sickness and need for constant eating. My weight gain has slowed tremendously, which is great! I am now at a somewhat decent total weight gain for where I am.

The boys are still looking forward to the baby and they talk about it often, although, maybe not quite as much. They do get frustrated when they can't fit next to me when I am laying on the couch anymore. :)

We are about to wind up our first year of homeschooling and I'd have to say, it didn't go too bad for the first go round. It wasn't always everything I hope for it to be, but I'm still satisfied and have just sent off for our second grade material.

Craig is doing okay too...he's been putting in a lot of hours at work. Thankfully, it appears to be slowing some...I hope. Please keep us in your prayers regarding his work. We are trying to discern what God wants.

As for this summer...I have plans of spending plenty of time cooling off my round body in a pool of water (aka: going swimming with the boys), taking them to the summer library program, and maybe catching a few of the free kid's movies they play at the mall. Other than that, I have plenty of decluttering and cleaning to do!

So, speaking of which.....I need to go get some of the basics of household work done and still try to get out and enjoy this gorgeous day!

Warmer Days Are Here

This weekend has been just beautiful and I knew it would be prime opportunity for catching some good pictures of the boys in the sunshine. Yesterday afternoon I told them I had a special surprise for them. They were so anxious to know what it was and tried guessing, but they NEVER would have guessed what I had planned. I never did tell them in fact, I just led them right down to the stream and told them to start playing. Needless to say...they LOVED it! Here is a small sample of the many pictures I took.


MUD...A BOY'S FAVORITE THING TO FIND IN THE SPRINGTIME OR ANYTIME




TELLING SILLY JOKES



AHHH...BAREFEET AND SUNSHINE

JUMP FOR JOY!

WALKING THE SANDY SHORES OF A COUNTRY STREAM

In My Dreams

I know...this is crazy amazing that I'm blogging two times in one day, but a great topic just came to me...

As you will read (or have read) in my post below, we've lost a family friend to an unexpected early death. She was actually in the hospital for a couple of weeks before she died, but it was only a few days before when I found out about it. I recall that sometime before I found out about what was going on with her, I had a dream. No, it was not prophetic in nature at all. In fact, I do not even remember what the dream was about. The only thing I do remember is that our friend's husband was there, like as a bystander in my dream. I remember thinking that was odd because he isn't someone I see or think of that often. But, I distinctly know he was there. This got me thinking. Maybe God puts people in our dreams like that just to prompt us to pray for them. I know of a lady who will call whoever shows up in her dreams to check on them and see if she can pray for them. Maybe that's what I should start doing. How amazing if we all started doing that! What an awesome way for God to work and to intertwine our lives. So, I think I'll head to bed soon and try to pay closer attention (if that's even possible when sleeping/dreaming), so that I don't miss the opportunity God might have for me to minister to someone.

I Love You More Than You Know

All of a sudden I'm feeling inspired to take some pictures. Unfortunately, I share a camera with my Mom (well, it's hers), and I don't have it right now. My camera doesn't work too well. So.....you'll have to keep waiting. But I know now is the prefect time to get out and get some good outdoor shots in this beautiful spring weather.

I just want to say....I LOVE each and every one of you. I don't know who all reads this blog for sure. I know there are a few of you out there who just don't leave comments, and I guess that's okay. :) Though if you want to start at any time, feel free.........
I have been reminded this week in a startling way just how fragile life is. I just returned from the funeral of a family friend who died unexpectedly following what should have been a minor surgery. Her children are my age and I have memories of her from my childhood, as well as having had the opportunity to work with her at the bank. I don't want to take any day, or any person for granted. I've been reminded how so many of us have no clue how many people really care about us, until something tragic happens. Let this be the day that you know....I care about you and I love you. Make sure you thank God today for the blessings in your life and don't forget to take the time to linger a little longer on the faces you love. Make that phone call you've been meaning to make, or write that card or email. Smile that smile or give that hug. All you have is today....don't wait!

Praise God you are in my life today! ((((((HUGS))))))))

Holdin' Steady in the 160s

I just thought I would give a quick baby update to say that I went to the doctor this morning for my 14 week checkup and heard a heartbeat for the first time. The heartrate was running in the 160s. Other than that, it was an uneventful visit, which is always a good thing. I will have another in 4 weeks and the week following that, an ultrasound. Hopefully we will be able to determine the gender, but if you know anything about my first pregnancy, you know we can't always depend on that. However, the lady who will be doing it has been doing baby ultrasounds everyday for years. She's even retiring in September, so she knows what she's doing. She's NOT the one who said Josh was a girl! In fact, I had an ultrasound with her 2 days before he was born and I asked if it was still a girl. She asked who told me that and then said she couldn't tell either way. I KNOW she knew he was a boy and didn't tell me!!!