bring it on

I am scheduled for an induction in 2 days. Let me repeat that. 2 days. On the one hand, I can't believe it's that close, and on the other, I feel like it's been the longest of all my pregnancies. It has felt like an eternity. I am sure it has something to do with the fact that I have 3 other children under the age of 6, but I could be wrong. 
I can't wait for things to go back to normal for my body. I was pregnant with my first at this same time 6 years ago and I can totally feel the difference. I am getting old people. I can't wait to bend over, oh what a joy that will be. My hands and feet not swelling, I can't even remember what that's like. Sleeping on my back or tummy, what's that? Not having acid rush up my throat at 2am, causing me to vomit - that will actually stop?
I have never met a woman, who was in her last weeks of pregnancy, who didn't want for it to end. We all want to have our bodies back and get to meet the baby that has taken up residence in our uterus for 9 months. I believe it's God's way of getting you ready to move on to the next stage - what I like to call the "newborn fog." This isn't my first rodeo and I know what's coming - sleepless nights, crying spells, figuring out the feeding thing - and so I say, "Bring it on." I am ready to get on with it, get this show on the road, so that we can find our new normal as a family of six. I am ready to meet this little girl, the one who will forever change our lives, just like her three siblings before her.
 

38 weeks

 

miscellany monday {april matters}

1. Idleness, gossips and busybodies

Nancy Ann Wilson, wrote an article that really challenged me titled, "Daughters and Boredom."  

 "And we need to see the value of keeping our little girls busy too. Boredom and idleness lead to grumpiness and annoyance, and make fertile ground for fault-finding and tattling. Little girls who indulge in the sins of tattling and tale-bearing can grow up to become gossips and busybodies." Read the rest here.

First it challenged me as a woman to not be idle and to not be a busybody. My natural tendency is to be lazy, so this was a great reminder of what we are called to do - namely, being faithful with our time. I am also thankful to be reading it while my daughters are still young, so that I can set a good example for them and encourage them to be hard workers. But even if your daughters are grown up, or you don't have any, Wilson also encourages grandmothers in this as well.

2. Motherhood in the little things  

My friends and I have been talking a lot about this article that Rachel Jankovic (Nancy Ann Wilson's daughter) recently posted. She hits it on the nail again when it comes to being a mother in the little things. I encourage you to read it! 

"Organization and dishwasher running are not the only things that are little about motherhood. Your days are full of little questions, little answers, little puzzles, little problems, little concerns. Little disobedience. Big disobedience over little things. This can be very discouraging to any mother. What have I ever done that was important? What, in the course of my regular day, matters? Is this hot new system for containing playmobil really as big of an accomplishment as I think it is? What happened to me that I think this is important?"

Read the entire article here.

 3. Speaking of not being idle  

I am totally nesting. And I love it. I bought a bunch of fabric and have caught the sewing bug. I made these for a friend who is having a baby boy soon. My only regret was that she was the guinea pig and they came out okay, but definitely could have been done better. I didn't take a picture of them, but I did take a picture of the ones I started my baby girl. Below is the source and then next is part of what I have done so far.

  

via pinterest

 

4. Cutting for Stone

I am currently reading Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese and am nearly finished. I have enjoyed it for the most part. It has been a little slow, but it's held my attention, which is saying a lot in this phase of my life. And I don't know if it's because my life is going to radically change in July, but I have been wanting to read more than I have in a long time. So I am really excited to pick up a copy of The House at Riverton that my sister-in-law, Laura, recommended. Another friend recommended, The Kitchen House, but I haven't been able to locate a copy of that one yet. If you have one, could I borrow it? Also, if you've read Cutting for Stone, I would love to hear your thoughts!

5. Traditional Easter pics

 

Happy Monday, y'all!

 

   

miscellany monday

1. This was our first Spring Break as a public school family and it was pretty difficult waking up this morning. With the time change, all of my kids have been sleeping in till about 8am. Well, the kids stayed with Mimi and Popo on Saturday night and they went to church with them on Sunday morning. She snapped this awesome picture of my trio.

2. A good friend of mine is 27 weeks pregnant and is on full bed rest, so our church has been bringing them meals. And this weekend, I volunteered to bring a dessert (because it was her husband's birthday) and another friend brought dinner. I am not exactly sure why I do this, but whenever I volunteer to make something for someone else, I almost always pick a new recipe. And this time was no different. I was given a bunch of lemons from a friend and I am always trying to find a use for them. So I scoured the Internet and found this recipe for Sour Cream Lemon Cake. According to Sarah, it was good, but part of me was annoyed at myself for bringing them a cake that had never been taste-tested. I mean, who does that?!

source

3. We are getting ready for baby girl and have been making some changes in the house to make room. After a long heated debate, Patrick and I decided to move my craft room into the master bedroom. And although I was a bit skeptical, it has turned out to be fantastic. Since it's in my bedroom, I have more of a vested interest in keeping it clean and organized. And since there is no "out of sight, out of mind," I am actually getting some projects done. And I am very happy with how it turned out!

Happy Monday! What did you do this weekend?

friday favorites {random}

1. The Hunger Games meets So You Think You Can Dance

Saige wanted to have a dance contest, with Meadow being the judge. Well Reed, of course, wanted to play too. He decided his role would be the executioner, with Meadow telling him if Saige passed or not. According to Reed, Saige never passed and was unfortunately shot many times.

2. Of course, getting to see Baby Girl was a favorite this week

3.Great article over at The Rabbit Room about Steven Curtis Chapman

  "I’ve been in Nashville for 15 years now, and, well, you tend to hear less-than-flattering stories about folks from time to time (I’m sure there are a few about me floating around out there), but I have yet to hear one of those about Steven. What that might lead a rascal like me to conclude is that either a) Steven is so squeaky-clean he must be hard to like or b) he’s a complete wreck and he’s hiding it. I didn’t realize until this tour was underway that there’s a third option. Here it is: Steven is a wreck, he’s not hiding it, and because of the mighty presence of Jesus in his life, grace abounds to those around him." Read more here.

4. Brothers and Sisters

 

 In light of the news this week, I thought this article by Doug Wilson was so timely. 

"Boys should be taught that they are to protect their sisters "from the dragon," and the very first thing this means is that they must refrain from turning into the dragon themselves. When the protector turns into the very thing that protection is needed from, the result for the girl involved is nightmarish." Read more here.

Drum Roll please . . .

The verdict is in

And it's another GIRL!

A Big sister three times over and she is absolutely tickled pink!

A son that will grow to be, Lord willing, a sweet, caring and sensitive young man with the help of all THREE sisters.

And a girl who gets the joy of being a big sister again, but this time to a baby girl.

And Mom and Dad are overjoyed! Praise God for another healthy baby!

The Big Reveal

The girls are helping me get ready for the big reveal today (we find out at 4pm)...

So, what's your guess? 

Boy or Girl??!!

friday favorites {linky love}

1. Mommy guilt, anyone?

My hand is raised and I found this to be VERY encouraging.

"Most mothers labor under the weight of guilt—of frustrated ideals, imperfect performance, and deficient production. The laundry remains undone; story books unread, and tempers flare. . . ." Read more here.

2. A funny take on that mommy guilt

3. Bless the LORD, O my soul

"In a culture haunted by fragmentation, hi-tech distractedness, and the loneliness of individualism, where hearts---even Christian hearts---feel like empty theaters of longing, God's life-giving power is needed more than ever. Along with food and clothing, divine blessing is a necessary commodity.

The blessing of redemptive grace, proceeding from the finished work of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, is new every morning, fortifying our souls with the requisite faith to stand and declare to angels and men, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!" Read more here.

 4. Teach children the Bible is NOT about them.

 This is a wonderful article and reminder of how we should teach the Bible to not just children, but to anyone (including ourselves).
"As a child, even though I was a Christian, I grew up thinking the Bible was filled with rules you had to keep (or God wouldn't love you) and with heroes setting examples you had to follow (or God wouldn't love you)." Read more from Sally Lloyd-Jones here.

Happy Friday, y'all!

 

Sin is Never the Only Option

Ever since I wrote this post, I have been chewing on the meaning of this verse from 1 Corinthians:

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

I think this is the verse that people take and misuse the phrase: "God will never give you more than you can handle." But as I stated in the previous post, this verse says nothing about circumstances, it clearly states that you will not be tempted beyond what you can handle. So what does that look like in real life. What are the sort of temptations Paul is talking about? In context, he is reminding the Corinthians of how the Israelites had been an idolatrous, grumbling nation and a lot of the letter was written to rebuke the Corinthians for their selfishness and unwillingness to put others first. He is encouraging them to remember that in their temptation, God, who is faithful, will provide the strength to escape it. Sin will never be the only option for those who are in Christ. When I used to read this verse, I would read temptation and think "big sins," like stealing or lying. But it wasn't until recently, the Lord showed me that it's also talking about our temptation to subtler sins, such as, selfishness, pride and envy. The Corinthians were tempted to only think of themselves and I can surely relate to that.
I can easily fall into the day to day grumbling and complaining. "My life is so hard," "I never get any sleep," "I just want to have an adult conversation," "Can I just pee by myself for once in 5 years?!" But I am rebuked and encouraged again and again by this verse. The temptation to get frustrated with my kids for not obeying, for talking back, for just being kids and asking 1,000 questions a day is not beyond what I can endure with the help of the Holy Spirit. The temptation to cling to "my rights" and to what "I deserve," passes when I stop and ask Jesus for help. And I remember Jesus' words, that those who lose their life for His sake will find it (Mat. 10:39). So this has been my prayer as of late:

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead..." Ephesians 1:18-20

In Christ, I am not tempted beyond what I can bear. Praise Jesus.

 





  

a giveaway of sorts

All right, y'all, I have some exciting news. Remember this giveaway? Well, my friend, Courtney from Noonday Collection, thought she would spread the love again to my readers. But I have to say, this one is even cooler. And I'm a little jealous of the winners already. So here's the rundown.
Courtney is offering one of these necklaces (pictured below, a $72 value) to the FIRST THREE people that offer to host a trunk show in the month of March. So, obviously, the catch is that you would need to be in the Houston area, and if you don't live in Houston, then I am sorrier for you than you'll ever know. But if you do live in the area, then you have an AMAZING chance to win this GORGEOUS necklace. 

inca steps (in 3 colors to choose from)

Seriously, isn't it a beautiful statement piece? My sister-in-law owns one and she said that every time she wears it someone asks her about it. And isn't that a great opportunity to share about the vision of Noonday with complete strangers?! So, if you want to commit to host a trunk show in the month of MARCH, then you need to contact me immediately via email. cheryl dot wimberly at me dot com. Oh and ONE MORE thing, not only do you win the $72 necklace, but if your show does $500 or more, you receive the 10% hostess reward to go towards Noonday purchases OR an adoption.
So, what are you waiting for? Pick some dates that work for you and email me right now!

 

Little Cyclones

Almost every night, when I shut the door to Reed's room (after shutting the girls' door with Saige still talking), I walk into the living room and sigh as loud as I possibly can and flop down on the couch. And it is one of the best feelings after a very long day. All I want to do at that point is absolutely nothing. I get to sit there and not feel guilty about it. For me this is somewhat of a Sabbath rest. I have a difficult time resting without feeling like I need to be doing something else (the laundry, the dishes, etc). But every night, I completely enjoy my guilt-free rest. I sit with Patrick and we talk about the day and then usually watch one of the shows we've DVR'd or if I am by myself, I catch up on Downton Abbey.
Recently, I have been reminded graciously, by people that have children out of the house, that our kids are so busy and that they can hardly remember what that was like to have little ones. And in those moments, I feet justified by my weariness and am also humbled by the very fact that it goes by so fast. Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that the constant chaos and busyness that children bring is not going to be my forever normal. And more importantly, I don't need to feel guilty for being so exhausted and spent at the end of the day. Check out this quote from C.S. Lewis in a letter he once wrote:

"My brother and I have just had the experience of an American lady to stay with us accompanied by her two sons, aged 9 1/2 and 8. Whew! Lovely creatures — couldn’t meet nicer children — but the pace! I realize I have never respected young married people enough and never dreamed of the Sabbath calm which descends on the house when the little cyclones have gone to bed and all the grown-ups fling themselves into chairs and the silence of exhaustion." Read others ones here.

At the same time, it's nice to be reminded that these days will come to an end, and I need to remember to cherish them now.  These pictures remind me of just how much I need to relish these moments. Because I can remember them like it was yesterday...

 

One Tough Mudder

This is a really late post, but I had trouble getting the video to work.  And trust me, it's worth watching.

A few months ago, Patrick looked into trying a different type of race. So he thought that running through mud, throwing himself in ice water and getting electrocuted would be perfect. 

I married one crazy dude.

He and 4 other friends signed up for the Tough Mudder race last month. And it was so much fun to watch! They did some crazy things, many of which were too far away to see (it was a 12 mi course), but it was fun to watch the challenges we could get to. 

Enjoy the pictures!

Liz, Kevin, Patrick, Matt and Jeremy

Patrick and Jeremy before the race. Jeremy looks likes he's thinking, "What did you get me into, brother?"

The best family shot we could get. The kids were so excited to watch their Daddy.

Cousin Kevin

Crazy Cousin Kevin looking fierce

Patrick coming out of the water

The team running to the final 4 challenges. The best was yet to come... electrocution.

Waiting to crawl through an ice bath under electrical wires. They're nuts.

Liz was amazing. This is her getting up the half-pipe. Seriously, she was so amazing!

My stud of a husband at the top of the half-pipe.

The kids with their war paint.

This is a video of Patrick going back to get his shoe that got stuck in the mud (thus getting muddier than everyone else). Mind you, he is running back into the wires that shocked him already once before. He thought at the time it would be a good idea since they were an expensive pair of shoes. I think his brain was fried already. You decide. ENJOY!

Patrick and cousin Kevin (are you so proud, MaMa?)

They did it! I'll let you decide which ones said they would do it again. :)