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Monday's week in review...

Published on 11.28.2011 in

This week included letters to Santa...
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...a trip north to go hunting with Grandpa...
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...a trip east to deep fry a turkey...
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...horsey rides...
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...for everyone!...
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...giggling with Oma...
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...a trip through the clouds...
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...up in the mountains...
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...ugh, gorgeous!...
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...to the top of the Ouachita Mountains...
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...and then when we got home; we put a 10 foot Christmas tree on the top of our car!...
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Hope everyone had a great holiday!

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Friday's Favorites...Heaven is for Real...

Published on 11.25.2011 in ,

In light of this week's post...I thought this was very fitting Friday's Favorites.

I had been told for months to read Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo.

I never got around to it, until Engineering Man gave me a Kindle for my birthday.

I downloaded the book, and read it in just a few hours; not just because of the length, but also because it's impossible to put down.

It's an amazing look into a little boys story of his very own trip to heaven, including who he met (his Grandpa and his miscarried sister) and what he saw (God, Christ, the final fight).  It will make you laugh, it will make you cry and most importantly it will make you believe.

If you have not read the book, please do.  It will reinforce your faith, and make you believe once again in the power of prayer, and the power of a child's faith. 

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Happy Thanksgiving...

Published on 11.24.2011 in ,

This year I'm thankful for every blessing and everything in my life.  God is so good.

Hope you all can enjoy your holiday and feel the love of God in your own life!

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My faith...and a miscarriage...

Published on 11.23.2011 in ,

The day we moved into our new home was a little bit...busy scary long crazier...than I thought it would originally be.

No one really knew, but I was actually 7 weeks pregnant.

I woke up that morning at 4 a.m., spotting.

And it just got worse...and worse...and worse...

By noon I was done.  Emotionally drained, physically exhausted, and relieved that the movers were FINALLY done putting our stuff in the house. I was in a lot of pain.  For anyone who's had a baby, it felt like contractions.  I knew then that something was wrong.

The twins' daddy was at the house helping.  Later he told me he knew something was wrong when I wasn't my usual happy-go-lucky self.  He generously offered to take the boys home to his house where his parents were watching his son.  (Please note that at this time my girlfriend was still on bedrest in the hospital with the twins.)

Engineering Man then drove me the 30 minutes to the emergency room.  Looking back now...I know that as we drove into the parking lot, we lost the baby.

All the contractions stopped...and I just kept praying.

Maybe, just maybe...we were still pregnant. 

Three hours later, we had just gotten back from the sonogram...where there was no heartbeat.  The sonogram tech went to the door, turned and said, "it will be at least another hour before your results are read..." and walked out the door.

I turned to Engineering Man and burst into tears because at that point after an emotionally exhausting day, all I wanted was, "just to see my boys."

And God stepped in.

Mom and dad knocked on the door at just that moment with both boys in tow. I have never been so thankful for God's amazing timing as right then, when I could hug my children and know that everything was right with the world.

Timing...I need to point out some amazing things about this...

Mom and dad drove into town that day.  Literally, they were in Oklahoma when we called  on the way to the ER...

(Great conversation by the way..."Hey mom & dad...didn't want to tell you this way, but I'm pregnant; and am probably having a miscarriage as we speak.")

They not only drove the rest of the way, but went to our friends' house, picked up the boys, and drove through 5 o'clock Dallas traffic to arrive at the hospital door just as the sonogram tech left.

God is so good.

I realize now it was probably the perfect day for it to happen.  After almost exactly nine months of being nomads, moving from the normalcy of work/Wichita/friends, to being a stay-at-home mom, living in corporate housing, to living with family in Texas, to separating our family and moving back in with the parents as EM did military training, to a nightmare of a home closing (three hours...yes, THREE), to finally having our own home with our family back together...

It seemed, if it was going to happen, God was waiting until I could lie in my own bed to have it happen...

God gives us only what we can handle...

Shortly afterward, I went back to my hometown for my 10 year class reunion.  And discovered an old friend who'd also had a miscarriage that summer.
She was having a hard time...no one she knew had ever been through what we had.  And, as she said, "No one talks about it."

It's not exactly something you randomly bring up in conversation...

"Oh, yea...we'll try to have more kids.  I just have to wait until my body heals. I just had a miscarriage."

"Yes, thank you.  I did lose some weight lately.  About 10 pounds of weight...from a miscarriage."

"Yes, Mini #1 & Mini #2 would like to have a baby brother/sister.  I'm just scared to death I'll have another miscarriage."

It's something now that I do talk about...openly...hoping that if someone else has to deal with it, they know that there's someone they can talk to.

Although, from the perspective of what happened, I was very lucky.

I didn't have to wait days.

Everything passed on its own the same day I started spotting.

We never heard a heartbeat.

We hadn't been trying for months to get pregnant.

I didn't have to have a D&C.

I didn't have to tell people I'd lost the baby.

And I didn't have to talk about how much it made me feel like a failure as a mother.  Yes, that's right.  A failure. I'm not looking for sympathy...I just want someone else who's been through this know that they're not alone with those feelings. 

Miscarriages are normal...15% to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage. 

But they don't feel normal.  And when there's no way to know why it happened, you question everything.

I did.

And then God stepped in.

Daily I'm reminded of all the things I do have to be thankful for.  I have faith and trust in a God that will be there...always.  I know deep within myself that there is a reason things happen.  I may not know why now, but someday, I will. 

I have a wonderful husband that was and is there for me every step of the way.  I have amazing friends and family that were and are there for support whenever I may need it.  And most importantly, no matter what happens in the future with our family...I have two healthy, and very happy little boys.

And someday...well, someday I'll be able to meet my very own very special son or daughter in heaven.

...what more is there to ask for?

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Straw poll...

Published on 11.22.2011 in

Decorating for Christmas...

Before or after Thanksgiving?

Your decision will determine when I put my tree up this week!

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Monday's Week in Review...

Published on 11.21.2011 in , , ,

This week included a visit from two of my favorite people...
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...this cutie and her mommy...
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...oh, and I made her a hat!...
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...Mini #1 had his very first Thanksgiving feast...
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...everyone in his class was asked what they were thankful for...
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...I was sad I didn't make the cut...
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...He loved playing with Little Miss P...
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...and even showed her the best breakfast...cereal and cartoons!...
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...after they left, we celebrated an early Thanksgiving...
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...with some super snuggly people...
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...that give awesome hugs...
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...and great kisses...
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This morning Mini #1 took off for Kansas with my in-laws.  He'll be spending the next week up north, and then will head to my brother's later in the week.  I'm trying to decide if having him gone will mean a lot accomplished at my house, or if Mini #2 and I will just snuggle on the couch...

So far...snuggling has totally won out!

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Thursday Things That Make a Mommy Cry...

Published on 11.17.2011 in , ,

I was driving Mini #1 to school when the following happened...

"Mommy...do you know who Santa brings presents to?"

"Who?"

"Good little kids and little girls." 
(Yes, exact words.  Apparently girls are set apart from "kids" or who he thinks are just boys.)

"You're right buddy.  Do you know why we celebrate Christmas?"

"Because of Jesus?"

"Yep, because it's Jesus' birthday."

"I'm going to try to be really good."

"That's good."

"Mommy.  I'm going to TRY."

*giggling from me*

 "Mini, did you know that Jesus can help you be good?  You can pray to Him to help you be a good kid."

"Really?"

"Yep."

.....pause....

"Momma.  Can I pray right now?"

*choke*  "Yea, buddy, you can."

"Dear Jesus...please help me to be a good little kid so that I can get presents for Christmas.  I really like presents.  Amen."

....pause....

"Momma.  He said yes."

Oh, the faith of a child...please God help me to remember how amazing that faith can be.

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What it means to be a parent...

Published on 11.16.2011 in

Sherry over at Young House Love wrote an article on Baby Center about the 10 Reasons She's Thankful for Clara (her daughter).  It's a great list and one I've told Engineering Man to on more than one occasion. 

What would you add to the list?

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Check it out!

Published on 11.15.2011 in

See my new link...yes, that one.  The one that says "The Shop".  

Click on it and be amazed!!  Kidding...sort of...

So excited how all the wonderful things are turning out.  Let me know if you'd like some stuff for Christmas!

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Monday's week in review...

Published on 11.14.2011 in ,

This week I put my camera down...again.  I'm thinking I'm finally at a point in being settled that this Monday post might flip back to a highlight reel instead of a play by play.  

So...this week included a trip to the park...
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...where someone got super adventurous...
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...someone made sure he could still do it...
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...and the slides...
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...were super fun...
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...this little mini decided he could do it too...
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...and this little mini got pissy...
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...the boys raced...
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...Mini #1 got an awesome dinosaur at a birthday party...
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...and these two wasted no time licking the beaters after making some homemade twinkies...
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Alright...now it's your turn.  If you could make a hghlight reel of your weekend...what would it be???

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Friday's Favorites...my favorite veteran...

Published on 11.11.2011 in

In honor of Veteran's Day...and because he's currently fulfilling his drill duty...


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Thursday Things I Never Thought I'd Hear...

Published on 11.10.2011 in ,

Dad got pulled over for speeding on the way to see us.

Niece #2 looked at mom super seriously and asked...

"Grandma...is Papa going to jail?"

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A new definition of "helping"...

Published on 11.09.2011 in , ,

The mini's helped me make some homemade twinkies this past week.  They greased the pan...

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...and themselves...

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...awesome...

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Pinterest DIY of the week...Wine cork monogram

Published on 11.08.2011 in ,

I had a ton of corks in my cabinets and when I saw some Pinterest wine cork monogram action I couldn't resist making my own.

I started by laying out the corks on a leftover piece of plywood.
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And then traced around the corks to make a pattern for Engineering Man to cut out.
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Don't ask why, but he used a Sawz-all...it was a blast.

After it was cut, I used some antiquing glaze to
darken the piece.

Then, I put the corks back on to make sure they still matched up with the cuts.
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I finished it off by gluing the corks back into place.
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And voila...instant addition to the cupboards.  Total cost...FREE!  Everything was on hand. 
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Alright...your turn.  What have you made from Pinterest lately?

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Monday's Week in Review...

Published on 11.07.2011 in

This past week included a great time out trick-or-treating...
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...with a mad scientist...
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...and a bat...
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...finishing a Pinterest project...
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...some new additions to the shop...
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...saving some money...
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...and a visit from one of our favorite people, that ended in a haircut for the littlest mini!... 
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