The Move and More

We still don't have a "date" for moving, however, we do know that the mine intends to keep William back for the reclamation process. He said four weeks, then July, and then June. That--much like our Marine Corps days--translates into not knowing when we are moving. For this Planner Person, it isn't easy to not have a plan. So...

We have started the packing process with WONDERFUL BOXES from a dear friend! I intend to get everything but the bathrooms and kitchen packed so whenever it ends up being time to go, we will be ready. I had hoped to move before the baby is born to be able to get "settled" the best I could before the birth, but so far, God indicates that isn't His plan for us. I will need to call on my dear friends and family to come help once we actually move. (Practice of humility! Not easy for this do-it-all Gal!)

In the meantime, I bought our first package of newborn disposable diapers. CUTE!! I have a rain check for the sale price for the rest of the sizes 1 and 2 that we will purchase with coupons!! The girls are getting so excited and it is so fun to watch my belly and see the baby move about and talk about the upcoming events with them. We still need to go through the boxes of what baby things we have kept to see what we will need but the whole move thing threw me for a loop! : ) Recovery in process!

Additionally, my faith continues to be challenged. I struggle (battle!) with fear as our pregnancy nears the end of the third trimester...and have our "abilities" tested to be parents of adult children...and then amongst the list of other things I didn't mention, WJ fell with a solid wooden chair landing on two of his four-year-old toes and did a wammy-ka-jammy on them. I melted. I was at the end of myself but stood amazed yet again of the Mighty, Amazing, Wonderful, Loving God that I serve. He showed Himself Incredible yet again in the maze of life He has prepared for me to journey.

“As for His failing you, never dream of it—hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.” -Charles Spurgeon

Please battle with me in prayer as I seek to trust in the One alone Who is Trustworthy!

Legacy Five

Saturday evening we attended a great gospel music concert here in town. Homeward Bound is a local singing group that brings in Legacy Five to perform along with them annually. We went last year for the first time and have asked to be included in purchasing tickets each year! We even bought CDs last year for us and DVDs for my dad.

This year we invited my parents to come along with us. They enjoy the Gaither's so we knew they'd like to see Legacy Five in person. It was fabulous music with incredible harmony that always makes me tingle inside! Love that harmony!! We had a great night even with all the rain and cold weather that is back.

It was wonderful to be in an assembly particularly made up of Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as we listened to God-honoring music and worshipped Him in our hearts! The auditorium was packed...I can't help but long for Heaven and the music with which we will worship the King of Kings!

Games For When We Are Older

1. Sag, you're It.
2. 20 questions shouted into your good ear.
3. Kick the bucket
4. Musical recliners.
5. Simon says something incoherent.
6. Pin the Toupee on the bald guy

FIFTY

IF I deliver on Saturday the 16th, we have 50 more days until Baby is born! I am so excited!!

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Thought For The Weekend

If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!

Ponderisms

• I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.
• Garden Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
• The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
• Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
• Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?
• In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
• How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
• If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
• Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if he's going to look there anyway?

Adventure Begins...

With the closing of the coal mine and the offer of the company to relocate families to other mines, I guess as official as it can be so far, we are transferring to Vincennes, Indiana. We don't know his report date as of yet but the flurry of boxes has begun. We are anticipating what God has for us ahead! Life is indeed an adventure!

Two Families

This is a picture of us with friends that are visiting from Pennsylvania. We ate at the Covered Bridge Restaurant on Sunday after church and asked a passerby to take our picture. How fun to be together again after eight years.

P. S. At the Creation Museum, we got a DISCOUNT because we numbered enough to get a group rate for the cost of the pictures they took of us!!

Preemie

This is Baby#12 of twelve children born at 32 weeks on 3/12 and he weighed 3' 12" and his name is Samuel Thomas...twelve letters. His parents are missionaries to Mexico...you can check out their blog. There are pictures at the bottom of the post that show about the size our baby might be now at 33 weeks. So far we have basically bald babies but their little guy has hair! It was fun to see an idea of the size of our baby now so I wanted to share the link.

Camels in Kentucky!

Family Fun!

Feeding the camel yesterday at the "petting zoo" portion of the Creation Museum.

Creation Museum

Today we are heading out for Kentucky! We are going to the Creation Museum for the day with some friends that are visiting us from Pennsylvania. Pictures to follow!

Bear

These are a couple pictures of the cake that E has been working on for a good friend! Ain't it the cutest? It is for a baby shower tomorrow! CUTE!! CUTE!! CUTE!! Diaper pins and all!

Victory in Christ

1 Samuel 12: 20b-21 ESV Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.

Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place
where I find peace, again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light, to my soul.
You are my purpose, you're everything.

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You still my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you're all I want, you're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want, you're all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want, you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want, you're all I need.
You're everything, everything.

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better, any better than this.

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Red Hot Monogamy

What does it take to have Red Hot Monogamy?

Procreation. Genesis 1:22 This one is a bit obvious. Sex creates babies. For the human race to go forward, sex has to take place. Social studies show it is preferable for the children if they are born into a loving family with both a mom and a dad united in marriage.

Proclamation. Ephesians 5:31-32 When a couple marries, their act of consummation is a symbolic picture of the wedding of Christ and His church. In a real sense, each time a couple enjoys each other sexually, it is a proclamation to Satan that God’s plan of love will win out over Satan’s misguided attempt to dethrone the Lord in the Garden of Eden. A happily married couple, one united emotionally, spiritually, and sexually, is one of the best antidotes to the evil in the world because love is proclaimed.

Reconnection. I Cor 7:5 Life is busy, and that is no surprise to God, so He planned a yearning to be together into the human soul. The deep intellectual, emotional, and spiritual connection that happens during sex is progressive. Good sex makes us yearn for more good sex, so a wonderful cycle of marital union can develop that will keep a couple coming back together over and over again.

Recreation. Genesis 26:8 God actually thinks sex should be fun. In the Old Testament, when a king spotted Isaac and Rebekah caressing in a private moment, the word he used to describe their activity is “sporting with” (Genesis 26:8). In addition, if you do a quick read through the Song of Songs, you see that the king and his newlywed wife are enjoying their relationship immensely. They even have code words for sex and sexual acts. They play games to build their anticipation of being together, and later in the book, we see just how much this couple enjoyed their sexual relationship. Song of Songs is all about a couple who enjoys a healthy sexual life, and God included it in the canon of Holy Scripture to remind us that that sex is supposed to be enjoyable.

Rejuvenation. Song of Songs 2:5 Sex within the context of marriage is good for your emotional and physical well-being. Sex raises your endorphin level, so it makes you happier. Sex even burns calories. WOW Another great reason to have Red Hot Monogamy!

T ten to twenty minutes to chat each day
I invest in a weekly date
M monthly get away (8-10 hours at one time)
E escape one time each year (24-48 hours)

Bill and Pam Ferrell advised to choose one of these and begin there!

Home

These are some notes that I wrote from a workshop at the conference this weekend from Jill Savage called My Hearts At Home.

Home As A Safe House-emotionally as well as physically safe place to be.
-require respect among all family members
-practice grace and forgiveness
-safe place to fail as failure creates character

Home As A Rest Area-a place to retreat to from the world
-let kids be kids: play, be children, not loaded with "classes" or "sports" at too young of an age
-family meal time for relational value
-family night--play together

Home As A Trauma Unit-hospital where our wounds are bandaged

Home As A Church-learn about God, faith, the Bible--including reading it and prayer.

Home As A Pep Rally-cheered on and celebrated

Home As A Research Lab-where we try things out to see if we like them; explore

Home As A School-learn skills to carry into adulthood

Home As A Museum-heritage both spiritually and biologically

Home As A Playground-have a good time together

Home As A Business Office-learn to organize, fill out forms, obtain skills

Home As A Hospitality House-the world feels welcome there and we give to others

Home As A Cultural Center-learn about others around us and not just our own sphere of life

M-O-M

Ch- Ch- Ch- Changes

The best plans...

Proverbs 16: 9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

The coal mine closed this week. My husband will have a job for possibly a few more weeks to maybe two more months.

Please pray for us and with us for wisdom and guidance as we seek to relocate!

Thank you!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

32 and counting...

Can you say "feeling pregnant"??? We are EIGHT MONTHS now and have two more to go! For me that typically calculates to nine more weeks. My biggest project is to take out the boxes of baby things and see what we have and what we may still need. I plan to make a "girl" list and a "boy" list and send my mom with my daughters to shop for us after the baby is born. What a great plan!! : )

The girls and I DID buy some things, though. CUTE! CUTE! CUTE! (My mom said she'd take them back if we don't have a _____ because we bought for both a girl and a boy.)

Workshops

I am leaving for the weekend...Hearts At Home conference in Bloomington-Normal! I am hungry!! Please feed me, Lord. Some of the workshops that I will attend are titled Raising Financially Savvy Kids, My Heart's at Home, Setting A Paradigm For Purity, Finding the Hero in Your Husband (that will be an easy one!!) and Red Hot Monogamy. (I read the book!) I have ten workshops total chosen besides the main sessions. I won't get to attend that many but those were my top choices. Can't wait! Please pray for my physical well-being since I will be EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT roaming the college campus hunting for my classroom. lol I am really anticipating what the Lord will do in my heart and life. I don't want the easy way out. I want to take the high road. Please pray with me, for me.

Purpose

Live Intentionally!

Summit

The two Munro Men came back from their vision-packed weekend on fire and spunky. (Very lively, determined, and courageous if I don't say so myself!) I feel their eagerness and anticipate what God is going to do in their hearts and lives as they seek to apply what they heard! How exciting!! The sessions will be available and you can find them at this site.

Awards Night

The first night of Upward Awards was last night! J was among the youngest group and they had their awards presented last evening while the older ages will receive their awards tonight and Wednesday night. Great idea but I feel sorry for families with children in each age bracket having to attend each night this week. If this baby is a boy, we may find ourselves in that situation some day.

The evening was attended by our family and William's parents. How fun to have extended family participate in something the children are doing.

Baby

• My iron is low which is pretty typical at this gestation but I am working to get it raised before delivery.
• Baby is head down.
• Still no names.
• My back is adjusted from the fall so I don't waddle like I had been.
• Ten more weeks!

Speech

Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it necessary?