Beach fun.

While visiting Aunt Erin last month we got to visit Lake Charles, LA and play in the sand. It was a super windy day so we didn't stay as long as we had hoped, but I got a few good pictures.

Baby Kate's sandy toes

(I have one of Josiah's in the sand in Hawaii like this. Love these pics!)

While this is not the ocean and just a lake it was the first time my children (except Josiah's trip to Hawaii at 15 months) had ever seen anything like this. It was so much fun to watch them in the waves and sand. Katherine LOVED the sand and couldn't get enough of it.

Birthday Season.

Samanth is six now. Can't believe that! It was a My Little Pony dream come true! On her birthday she had friends over for a playdate. We painted, played musical chairs, ate cupcakes, and chicken nuggets. She had a blast. After Daddy got home he took her out to Pizza Hut, for a salad of all things (hey, its what she wanted) and then to Dairy Queen for ice cream. A couple days later I made her actual birthday cake and we celebrated with grandparents, Aunt Meagan and Aunt Gerry and Uncle Lloyd. It was truly the sweetest birthday a girl could ask for!

As I watch you grow Samantha I am amazed at how unique you are and how you view the world with such curiosity that I have never seen in a child so young. Your questions are amazingly deep and when you speak at times I wonder how you come to the understanding of certain topics and ideas. You are sweet and sensitive and always willing to lend a hand to me or a friend. You are easily offended when wrong is done and you cry at the drop of a hat. You are growing and maturing and turning into a beautiful young lady. You show great interest in all things physical, from playing outside riding your bike to doing flips and jumps in the playroom. I know that God has a special plan for your life and that with the tender heart that you have you will do great things for Him. I love you Sammy Jo and I am so blessed to be your mommy.

Training.

Where does time go? Why does it not stop? When will life slow down?

My oldest will be 8 soon!

I am almost into the fifth month of this pregnancy!

It is already the end of May!!

My baby boy will be 4 in about two weeks!

My heart is heavy and my guilt is burdensome. During our worship on Sunday the pastor (my husband) made a statement that has made me think. Long and hard. It has weighed on me for days now. I keep hearing it. I keep dwelling on it and praying over it. Conviction is hard, but when God uses your husband to deliver the message sometimes the pill is even harder to swallow. He asked this question - "Are you giving your all to God?" Of course I told myself yes. But then he went farther, he asked this next, "Are you being obedient in every area He has called you to no matter how much it hurts or is inconvenient to you?" WOW!!

Most of us would say that we are giving God our all. But, in my own life I thought I was but when I really thought about it this is what I saw. I saw a calling on my life to read the Word to my children daily that wasn't happening. It was being crowded out by computer time, laundry, and sleeping in. I was reminded of a calling to be more cheerful in my daily duties, while most of the time I trudge through my work out of obligation and not filled with joy over God's calling on my life. I found a calling to bring children into this world to train and raise them to further God's kindgom that was being done with complaining and weariness. And I know there is more to come.

I was serving God but NOT with my all. I was serving Him in ways that I could and yet still be comfortable or self-focused. I have seen that I must put God's things first. Reading the Bible to my children. Embracing each pregnancy with joy and blessing even it means more resting and sitting and a less than perfect home. Working within this calling of wife and mother no matter how bad the day with a peace that passes understanding and the joy of Christ in my heart. I will put off these things no longer to give into the comfort and desire of my flesh. I will train myself to serve Christ with all I have and all I am.

I will serve Christ. I will serve Him with my ALL. ALL the time. ALL the way. In ALL I do.

at lease I will try with continued strength and forgiveness from my Savior!

Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Joshua 22:5

Week 16

I can't believe how fast it is going! I say that everytime and everytime I am amzed at how quickly the weeks fly by. I am so anxious to hold this new little one that sometimes it just makes my arms ache! And for those of you that may wonder, even after four the anticipation and excitment and joy at just a intense as with my first. I love, love, love the newborn stage and can't wait to have another baby to hold and snuggle and nurse.

The past few weeks I have been struggling with how I am feeling. I am still VERY tired. That first trimester sickness has passed but the fatigue is lingering and with four children, a home, and a garden to keep me busy I am finding that things like playdates, my blog, and such are really taking a back seat. I am, most days, barely keeping my head above water with all of my priorities. But I have been overcome with an emmense peace from my Savior that has brought me such joy. I am called to do this. I love what I do and I want to do it well. So, for now I am training children, caring for my home and husband, and growing a baby. Everything else is extra and will get done when it gets done or not at all.

I have had my first ultrasound and all looks healthy which is a huge blessing that I have learned not to take for granted. Baby measured just right then and all indications are it continues that way now. At fifteen weeks baby probably looks something like this....

It is amazing how fast they grow to look just like tiny babies. I have read that the baby is now the size of a softball or an apple. I have felt the baby a couple of times now but nothing consistant yet. I know it will come with time and I can't wait. That is one of my favorite things, feeling that new life grow and wiggle inside of me. At the doctor the heartrate was 148 and strong! I can't wait until next month to find out what this new littl one will be! I have my motherly "feeling" now but I can't wait to see it officially soon.

Baby Kate is crying and ready to get up from nap so I better go!

Until next time,

A tired, pregnant momma who

is in love with her life.

Army Life cont.

Well another day dawned, or actually we left the playground and started the "real" army life. Josiah couldn't have asked for a better day. He was in heaven!! It was a beautiful day which made our time even more enjoyable. Here's lots of pictures to prove it!

This vehicle is ready to go out for a practice manuever as this unit gets ready to deploy in a few months. It was loaded down with guns and wires and helmets and all kinds of cool gear.

(This is a water tank that they use during deployment to store drinking water.)

The funniest part of the whole day was when we first arrived at the motor pool and we were approching all the vehicles lined up. We rounded a corner and saw a group of soldiers, probably around 30 or so, gathered for a debriefing (getting their assignments). Josiah saw that and yelled, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Woah, BABY!!!" The whole group turned, I turned red and looked for a hole to crawl into, and Aunt Erin died laughing and blew it off as no big deal.

It was a great day and even the girls seemed to enjoy themselves during some of it. We did have to promise them a more "girly" activity to follow so that they would endulge us a little and follow along through all of the army "stuff".

That will be a fun post with more great pictures to follow.

Karaoke.

Army Life.

Even kids growing up on an army base need a park to play on. This was an amazing park that we visited several times during our visit. It had something for all ages and had pieces that I have never seen at a park before.

The kids had a blast but they sure wore Aunt Erin out. We were blest with great weather everyday!!

Up next, the beach photos!!

Army.

Long Drive.

Tiring.

Educational.

Once in a lifetime.

Life changing.

Unforgetable.

Fort Polk.

Aunt Erin.

The army.

We came.

We saw.

We crashed (just from exhaustion, not literally!).

Many, many more pictures coming tomorrow!

From my Kitchen Window

People are always talking about their view from their kitchen window. It is something most women think about when looking for a new house. A great view is highly desired among the women crowd. And as I washed dishes yesterday and looked out at where my kitchen window used to be I saw this.....

You see, last fall we turned my beautiful screened in porch into a playroom. So, my view of my grassy and woody backyard was lost to a view of the playroom. But I have decided that this view is priceless and I wouldn't change it for 100 grassy, woody, beautiful rolling hill views. This view is much more beautiful.