My Sweet Girl

I was busy in the kitchen and Anna Kate was sitting in the floor watching me. She said "Mommy, everytime I see you, all I want to do is rock". At almost five, she still loves to rock with me in the big rocking chair and I love to oblige.

Compliment?

Just now Ben was talking about the baby and how big Little Squirt would be at this point. I was explaining it to him and Anna Kate wants my belly to be bigger. I explained to her to just have patience and it would be big soon enough. Ben then said "Yeah, mom this is a God thing. Cause you were really too old to have a baby!" I said "Excuse me, but I'm not too old!" He said "Oh well, I don't know about all this pregnant stuff!"

This is going to be an interesting nine months!

What?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

We just found out this week that we are expecting Baby #3 sometime in January. I couldn't sleep the night we found out. I tossed and turned and finally fell into a fitful sleep at around 1:00 AM. Not because I was upset, but because there were lots of emotions heaping up around me. I had some anxiety, some excitement and some shock. I just really wasn't sure I was going to have more. Anna Kate will be 5 in August. We had kind of started wanting a third one around the time Anna Kate was almost 2 but I had been on this nasty medication for my RA and I had to wait two whole years after going off of it to try again. (Keep in mind the rheumatologist didn't give me this little warning when he put me on it--I found it out for myself.) I could have also taken meds to get me off the meds (sounds ludicrous, I know!) and when I prayed about doing so, it just seemed as if the Holy Spirit was telling me wait! So, we waited.


I really figured by the time that the two years had passed that I would either feel too old to have another or that my insides would be so messed up again that I couldn't conceive. The two years were up January of 2008. Do you remember what we were doing at that time? MOVING!!!!!! I really wasn't up for more change at that point. I was in transition, money was extremely tight, Scott had started a new job, the kids were a little unsettled and I was babysitting. It just didn't seem like it was time.


Finally, I started feeling like I might want to try at least for one more. I vacillated back and forth constantly. Scott had wanted another one for awhile and my endo has been flaring up and I figured I had better try. I used my trusty little monitor once. However, it made my mind focus on what might not happen rather than what God has already blessed me with. I made the decision to not rely on the monitor this time and that if God wanted to bless again, then so be it.


I took the test one night before bedtime and laid it on the shelf in the bathroom. I came out and started getting things ready for bed and thought "I better go check that test even though it's probably not positive". My jaw dropped when I picked it up. I walked out in the hallway and said "Scott, you won't believe..." Anna Kate and Ben were saying, "What, what?" (We didn't tell them right then--I needed it to sink in) We walked into the bedroom in disbelief and then stopped ourselves...why in the world were we surprised? God gave us Ben and Anna Kate, why couldn't He give us another? I don't know about everyone else, but when God does something amazing for us, I turn around in disbelief sometimes and I don't know why!


So, was it planned? Sort of...but we both figured my plumbing was all broken again. I have been having a horrible time with the endo lately. However, God blessed again in His time and for that I am thankful. Surprised that my insides worked but thankful.

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your Name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your Name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the Name of the Lord
Blessed be Your Name
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious Name

Blessed be Your Name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be
'Blessed be Your Name

Blessed be Your Name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
But my heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your Name

Reception

Here are some pics from the reception that our church threw for Scott Sunday evening. Honestly, being the center of attention is not my forte, but it was soooo nice! The ladies worked so hard and there was such a good turn out. So supportive and generous! We had a really good time and was actually a whole lot better than the graduation itself! Thanks to Larry and Mary especially...they have been so great to us, well, the whole church has. But it means so much to work for and with Larry and Mary. I think all four of us are quickly becoming good friends. It's so nice! So, enjoy the pics. I think my dad took around 600 pictures over the weekend, but these are the highlights from the reception, I guess. At the end, I put one from graduation that I absolutely LOVE. You'll see why once you get to the end.

Cheesecake! They had regular cake too that had the crest of the school on it. Even though Scott and I are different in many ways, dessert and homes are two ways we are very similar! We've always had the same taste in homes and how to decorate and also dessert! Two staples of life!!!!!

Ben's little buddy Christian...the thing about these two is that they both LOVE to talk. They both try to outdo one another and can be pretty comical!

Mark and Debbie Bandy...a sweet couple. He sings in the choir with me and does a great job!

Jim Rowe, one of the deacons. He has had so many health problems but he remains so faithful.

This is Daniel and Gina Booth, Christian's dad and mom. Let me tell you, Gina is so helpful to me. Sometimes she comes and picks up Ben and she take Ben and Christian EVERYWHERE or they just stay at home and play. It kind of helps me in my day. It gives me a little conversation, but also, gives me one less kid to care for, even though he's mine.

Well, I was hoping you would be able to see the pics in the collage they made, but they are kind of hard to see. There were actually two. It was quite nostalgic looking through all those old pics. There were pics of my papaws who are with Jesus now and pics of Tay and Erin when they were little. Then there were pics of my babies...sniff, sniff.

This is Rachel Greene. She is one of Larry and Mary's daughters. Anna Kate and Ben LOVE this girl! She spoils them a bit, I think! I think this girl has run more laps around the church for them than any one person has walked around the loop of the church. Anna Kate's eyes literally light up when she sees Rachel.

Dave Calvert and Tim Stover. Dave is the husband of our Life Skills Director and is over our most of our prayer ministries, if not all. Tim is married to Kristen and they are expecting their first little one soon! They are such a sweet couple!

This is Art and Carolyn Dean. Such a sweet couple. I think my dad had her in school while he was teaching at Mid-Americal. That was the school that was at River Cities a very long time ago.

Scott and his dad. We love our Pop!!!!!

The girl in the middle is Michelle Protzman, our youth leader. She's great at it! The man is Bill Black and he's the one that heads up the missions trip to Mexico every year. His daughter and son-in-law has a little girl around the age of one and she's now pregnant with twins!!!!! The whole family is so excited and I have to say, Bill is one wrapped Papaw!

This is our Pastor, Larry, serving the cake. I was going to serve it but he insisted that I go and enjoy! He and Mary are so not about themselves. I think I have said this before, but Scott and Larry are so much alike.

The girl standing there in the black is Kristen Stover, her husband's pic is above. The other is Emily Reynolds. Emily comes to see me every now and then and her company is so welcome and FUN! She can sing too...we love having her back!

Here is just a random shot of Anna Kate that I thought was funny. She makes this face sometimes when her picture is being taken. I can't quite figure out what it means...

Here we are talking to Lisa Rhoades. Her husband coached Ben's Upward basketball team and did a great job. Ben keeps telling me that Coach Randy is going to coach him next year. Although I don't know if that will be the case, it still shows how much Ben liked him.

Going through the line for food. They had us go first...I was a little embarrassed but the food was great!!!!!!!

Patsy Escue, my granny and Shawna Rocknich. Patsy Escue and her husband, Charlie have been around from the beginning, even before the church was RCCC. Shawna is a very sweet girl. She was in my Bible study this past year and I enjoyed getting to know her.

Beth Calvert...our Life Skills Coordinator. She and Scott work pretty closely together planning the curriculum for the small groups. She also came and helped me to paint Ben and Anna Kate's room. Sweet lady!

Scott's mom and dad. I was so glad they were able to come to the reception. I think Anna Kate and Mimi are getting after Pop for something. I can tell by the pointed finger and the look on Mimi's face. Anna Kate and Ben LOVE their Pop and Mimi! They especially love when they have all their grandparents together in one place...spoiling, spoiling, spoiling!!!!!

Here we are holding the cake...they really did think of EVERYTHING!

What a spread!

I love the pink punch and boy was it YUMMY!!!!!

This is Bobby and Wanda Hall. They are a homeschool family and hae three kids. Sweet as they can be!!!!!!! The whole family! Bobby and Wanda are "mentoring" us unoffically in child discipline. Thanks Bobby and Wanda...you guys have been such an encouragement!

Here's the pic I love. Grandad and Scott. I love this generational thing. Grandad has been right there on so many of our big days and has been actively involved. We love you Grandad!

Well, that was just some of the highlights. I could have taken hours to post pics, but don't have that kind of time. Thanks to everyone who was involved this past weekend!

Graduation Day

Here is Scott and the kids with the sign we made for Scott. It has been up for several days...I do believe the rain is taking it's toll. We are just so proud of him we wanted everyone to know.

Here is Scott and his dad at dinner. There is a little Mexican restaraunt about a minute from our house and we LOVE it. Of course, keep in mind how much Scott LOVES chips and salsa. We had a good time with our families that evening.

Here he is walking in. I just can't believe we, er, I mean he is done! Granted, he'll be going on to Liberty, but this is just such a milestone. Fourteen years ago, I never would have dreamed that he would turn out the man he is. Not that he wasn't a good man then, but my how he has changed....for the better!

Here is just a few of the men from his graduating class. There were only 11 graduates. God blessed us so with having a Bible college so close to us. Especially a Bible college with good teachers. Scott has grown so much in the last fourteen years. We are also extremely thankful that he was able to go to school while applying it in ministry instead of going to school for four years and graduating with a degree that gave him knowledge that he didn't know how to use. Not that we considered any of the ministries he has been involved in a trial and error ministry, rather, as he learned he was able to apply it to ministry, especially in the later years. I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised how many times God orchestrated things to Scott's advantage in that. He would tell me over and over how things were connecting to classes he was taking. That was a God thing!!!!!

Our God is amazing and I'm so thankful He has seen fit to use us. Even though we may feel inadequate or as if we can't be used, God proves faithful always. We have gained so many friends through ministry...and to think my stubborness could have ruined all of that! Thanks to God that He changed my heart regarding full-time ministry! The blessings we could have missed!

I'll post other pictures later from the reception at our church last night and talk about that then. Dad has those and I'm waiting to get them from him.

Easter

The kids picked their Easter outfits this year. Ben had to have a shirt and tie like dad. I tried and tried to talk him out of it and told him the only reason dad still wears a shirt and tie is because that's what he has. Nothin' doin'! Although, by Easter morning, he had decided he didn't want to wear his tie. Um...WRONG! Since I bought it and I let him pick it out, I made him wear it. I must admit, he did look cute! Anna Kate on the other hand LOVES wearing pretty dresses. She was all disturbed and worried because I didn't buy myself an easter dress. I had to reassure her over and over that mommy didn't want an easter dress! Not against them, I just don't like to wear them!

All in all, the kids looked adorable and I have a pretty good lookin' husband too! Church was great that morning! The church was packed and Ben still had on his tie when I picked him up from class! I can almost guarantee he won't have that on again this year and I'll NEVER buy another one for him. Anna Kate, on the other hand, has already asked to wear her dress again! I'm sure we'll get plenty of use out of her easter attire!

We had Easter dinner and an egg hunt at mom and dad's after church. The kids were so excited! Mom went all out on the eggs. I think there were around 80 eggs hidden! That's just like my mom too! We were only supposed to have sandwiches for lunch too, but we had the works! I know some people might think we're crazy but I love living this close to mom and dad! My dad and mom always think about others first...which is why mom went all out and filled 80 eggs with candy! She wanted her grandkids to have fun at her house! Dad and mom live their lives for others. My dad helps us constantly with fixing the house...he teaches Scott as he goes. My mom is constantly on the go taking care of others in the family, using her vacation time for dr. appointments and such, and then always seems to have energy for the grandkids!

Anna Kate putting her eggs in her basket...

Ben and Anna Kate comparing how many eggs they had in their baskets! Candy in every one of them!

Thanks mom for helping make Easter so fun for them! They loved it!