Oh baby...baby...baby!!!

I received a call from my cousin, Tami today. She is pregnant...due December 18th...had an ultrasound yesterday...found out they are being blessed with twins!!!!! This doesn't seem like anything too note-worthy to those of you who do not know my cousin...but...this will be child #5 and 6 for her and her husband!!! Now that's a bit of a sock in the gut. Not only that but...this is their second set of twins!!! And...the first set of twins were also due on...you guessed it December 18th!!! This is her fourth pregnancy, and when all is said and done...she'll have 6 children.

• Maddie...6 yrs. old...born November, 2000
• Caleb...6 yrs. old...born November, 2000
• Andrew...3 yrs old...born October, 2003
• Tessa...2 yrs. old...born February, 2005
• and the twins....currently 20 weeks along in mommas tummy!!

She has had a couple hard pregnancies resulting in many weeks in the hospital (pre birth) and 3 preemies!!! They are hoping to get her to 35 weeks. The first twins and Tessa were born at 34 weeks. So please send up a little prayer that all will go well...and the babies stay put for 15 weeks or so!! As you might guess...they are feeling a little overwhelmed...Tami said they just look at each other and laugh!! The siblings-to-be, of course, are thrilled!!



Also...my cousin Kristen and her husband became the parents of a little boy today. Their second son...Owen Daniel arrived today shortly after 4pm. Weighing in at 6lbs. 11oz. and measuring 19 ins. long. He has made Micah, who turned 1 in January, a big brother!!

Picture this...

If I had a digital camera, I would have captured this moment "on film". But...I do not, so you will have to use your imagination. (it's OK...I heard it is good for us (adults), it stimulates the brain.)

Alright....if you know our Haidyn you know that she doesn't go one day without putting on a dress. Well... yesterday I returned home from work and she was outside playing in this pink sundress.I had picked up hot n' ready pizza for dinner so everyone came in to eat. Haidyn had taken the top down on the dress so she was topless (also not unusual because when in our house she frequently goes in just undies). She must have sensed the confusion coming from the rest of us cause she said "see, I can make my dress into a skirt, I just have to take the top down."

So, of course we deducted that her sundress must be a convertible!

We informed her that when wearing her dress in this way she needs to find a lovely top to go with it.

Oh the things this child comes up with. Isn't it great that God gives strong willed children such a great sense of humor...whether they know it or not!!

If it were up to women...

Public restrooms would look more like this...(but...BETTER!!)

and...

Admit it ladies...we've all done it...and quite honestly...it works!!!

Acts of Random Kindness...

I took the girls to see the movie Evan Almighty this morning.

It is great!!!

It has a couple wonderful messages...

1st: we can change the world one
Act

of

Random

Kindness

at a time!!

2nd: When we pray for something...i.e. patients, or a closer family
God is not going to say...OK here you go!!
No...He give us the opportunity to be patient...the opportunity to have a closer family.
God never said anything was going to be easy. Do you think that it was easy for Noah to trust God and build that ark?? Heck no!!! I'm sure everyone thought he had gone absolutly looney!! I'm sure he felt he had gone absolutely looney at times. But...even though he may have fought God every step of the way...Noah built that boat anyway!!

God gives us the opportunity to do, and be everything we ask of him...we just have to trust in Him no matter the road he takes us down.

God, trumpets and heaven...

Haidyn- "what if you don't like the trumpets?"

Me- "what if you don't like the trumpets when?"

H- "when you see God in heaven."

M- "will there be trumpets when we see God in heaven?"

H- "yes...loud ones, and what if you don't like them?"

M- "well...I don't think there will be loud trumpets all the time. I think heaven will be wonderful, and no matter what you will love it there."

H- "can you go check it out?"

M- "honey if I go to heaven...I will not get to come back. If you die and go to heaven you have to stay."

H- "aw...that makes me want to cry!"

Just a little conversation I had in the van with Haidyn tonight. Followed by a discussion about how we will get to see all the people we love when we get to heaven. If they believed in Jesus, and we believe in Jesus...we will all get to go to heaven.

I think that there will be many more questions about death to come...I just found the question about trumpets priceless...and the fact that she wanted me to go "check it out for her"! Oh to have the chance to go "check it out"...I think that if we were given that chance...now that...that would be truly priceless!!

What a beautiful story...

WARNING!!! YOU WILL NEED A TISSUE...OR TWO!!



Lord, let me not take for granted what a wonderful gift my three, beautiful, healthy girls are! Thank you for sharing with me, everyday you have given them!!!

"think of Me"

I found this over at the Haiti missionaries blog and wanted to share.

I find that most days I think about me (Shannon)! I find it oh so easy to pick up those things that I NEED!!! And I don't think twice about what God WANTS of me. But looking back at the previous statement...it should say...those things I WANT...and...what God NEEDS of me!! I often get my wants and needs all mixed up.

So...what is the difference between need, and want?

need vb 1: to be in want 2: to have cause or occasion for
3: to be under obligation or necessity

want vb 1: to desire earnestly

I should desire to do what God NEEDS me too...because every time I do I am blessed beyond measure!!

If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:
Deuteronomy 28:1-2

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!

Here is the finished project...

I had to include the curtains...I made them my very own self...and I bought the fabric for $1.50!!! I kid you not. I even had enough left over to re-cover the vanity stool!!

(Martha Stewart look out!!)

This is the sign that Aunt Marissa made for Tate for her birthday.

Here is the bedspread that Tate purchased with her birthday money, it was the "inspiration" for the chosen color scheme...and it really is so "Tatelynn", not girly-girl...but...just right!

(and there's the re-covered vanity stool as well)

The walls are still rather bear...we will be working on some more decoration.

If anyone is wondering...the wall color is MARSH. So, of course, my duck hunting husband approved!!

Great book of the month...

...because this didn't show up very good to the right, I decided to say a little about it here!

"Between a Rock and a Hard Place" by Aron Ralston.

I read this book last summer, and it is a great book. It is a true story, and it is just awesome. It's well worth the read if you get the chance!!

Here is a link to Aron's site!!

Home-Sweet-Home

We've had a busy weekend. I picked up Haidyn at camp on Friday afternoon. We got home and packed up the van and when Cam got home from work we headed up to the cottage. On Sat. morning we headed over to Cran-Hill Ranch to pick up the other girls, then back to the cottage for the rest of the weekend.

The weather was great...it was very peaceful...we swam...we had a fire...we watched some movies...and, we all managed to take wonderful naps...it was great to have some family time...and now we are home!!!

The girls have been sharing all the wonderful camp stories and songs with us. All three of them had an amazing week, and they are all looking forward to summer camp in '08!!!

Also...the painting project was a success!! Way more work then I ever imagined it would be...but Tatelynn loves it. I will try to get some pictures on her tomorrow!!

Up next??? Painting project #2. I of course can't get away with painting only one bedroom. So I've got grandma "hired", and as soon as we can agree upon a color scheme...let the fun begin!!!