My dear friend and college roommate came to visit with her family. We had a great time letting the kids get to know eachother. I can't believe how big they are now!!!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Our dog, Annie
I didn't have my camera up and running when we got our sweet, Annie. We have just fallen in love with her and we are so glad to have her in our family! (She is apparently afraid of cameras, and therefore hard to catch a great shot.)
Friday, September 12, 2008
Kaiden gets a little boy haircut!
Our sweet baby boy with the white blond ringlets is a thing of the past now. He progressed to wavy, and then it just needed cut. Now, all of a sudden he looks so much older. :( He will still be my baby boy, even if he doesn't look like one anymore! Here is the progression of Kaiden's hair...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
BUTTERFLIES ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!
Being new to the area, my children and I have been amazed and thrilled at all the butterflies!!! It is awesome to watch the migration of these wonderful and amazing creatures. Unfortunately, we have to drive from time to time and the results are disturbing. Other than that, it is one more reason to love this beautiful area of our country!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
"You are sheltering your children." (said negatively)
(my answer) "Are you kidding me? Of course I am sheltering my children!" It seems the world is very against the idea of sheltering children. I whole-heartedly disagree for anyone out there who cares. I do guard their eyes, minds, and hearts. I screen what TV shows, commercials, radio, movies, books, and friends they encounter in their daily lives. Yes, I am a protective parent. AS I SHOULD BE!!! Today's shows are flooded with pre-teen and teen dating scenarios, immorality, with divorce as an accepted way of life, with rebellion and attitudes as something every kid must go through. They are wrong. I choose to raise and train my children with a God-world view. I believe that, in the end, they will be stronger for it. Being totally in the world as they are growing desensitizes and confuses. Entering the world slowly and controlled, in a safe family environment where challenges and issues can be discussed strengthens them. Then, when they are on their own, things that are not of God stand out clearly to them. Then, they have learned steps in which to process the challenge and come up with their own confident stand. Then, they are confident in the unconditional support they have from their family. The self-centered, "Me" culture we live in today does not point to God in any way. Immediate gratification, the "its okay if I'm not caught" mentality, and wanting rewards without putting in the required work are not attitudes I want for my children. The fact that what you chose to do didn't hurt anyone, does not make it okay. I want my children to know right from wrong. I want them to grow up with honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic. I want them to love others as they do themselves and to live sacrificially. I want them to trust in God's perfect and wonderful plan for love and marriage. These are very different ideas than the world teaches. I want God's Word, the Bible, to teach them how to live in and interact with the world, not a room full of children just as immature as they are (or more so). So, when you accuse me of sheltering my children I proudly answer, "Yes, I am!"
May God teach me how to shelter them even more. I know the world has desensitized me and I let more in than I should. Father give me wisdom and discernment in choosing what is beneficial for these precious children. I pray God continues to mature me in this area. I commend all you other sheltering moms. May God bless you!
May God teach me how to shelter them even more. I know the world has desensitized me and I let more in than I should. Father give me wisdom and discernment in choosing what is beneficial for these precious children. I pray God continues to mature me in this area. I commend all you other sheltering moms. May God bless you!
McCain/Palin
My mom just emailed me this link to a commercial that a soldier made. It is addressed to Obama supporting McCain. Take a look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8
This post is being revised and thought about........to be continued
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8
This post is being revised and thought about........to be continued
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Birth
Those of you who have known me for many years, know that I love birth. I was beginning a loose apprenticeship with a dear friend in Katy to become a doula. I have considered going to nursing school and then apprentice to become a midwife. If you have been there, you have traveled with me through 4 cesareans and a miscarriage. My personal birth journey has had much disappointment and sadness associated with it. Believe me, it breaks your heart to have another cesarean when you have this doula/midwife/homebirth mindset. I have tried to council people against them. Saying that they are wonderful when really needed to save lives, but so overused. I have advocated for VBAC and homebirth.
Well, my baby is two and a half now and I am not pregnant. Nor is the plan for me to be. This is where my deep struggle and grief begins. With my beliefs and love of birth and children, I would want to just have babies as God gave them to us. We would also have more freedom in our marriage relationship, no worries because more babies are more blessings. With four c-sections, we are struggling with the safety issue. I am struggling with how big do I think my God is? Am I demonstrating a lack of faith by even having this struggle? OR, has God called me to take care of myself and having more pregnancies would not be doing that? Right now, I do not know. I have not heard from God clearly on this.
Just in case you have read other postings, this is completely separate from our adoption journey. I still feel that whether God blesses us with more biological children or not, we have been called to be open to other children as well. I know there are some out there who are gasping, saying how on earth would you provide for all of those kids? How could you afford them and where would you get the strength? Well, that is where I do not struggle. I KNOW my God is big enough for that task. He will provide all that is needed. The energy, strength, organization, space, and money would come from somewhere if it is needed. God promises His provision. I trust that those that have a quiver full are truly blessed!
I was just talking with a friend the other night and we were discussing how times were changing. God was changing generations. Most families are still having one or two children. There is a population of God following, mostly homeschooling, believer families who are having more. This will eventually produce a growth in the Christian population. I totally agree with taking care of our earth. We are to be good stewards of all that God has given us. I do not, however, fear resources running out or overpopulation. God has promised His provision. God has promised His return. This earth is not meant to house us forever. I believe God is blessed by many children being raised and trained to love and follow Him.
So, somewhere in my ramblings, you probably picked up that I would love to be having another baby. I am coveting the freedom to just have another without worries. I realize I should not covet, nor worry. So, there I am. Realizing my need to grow in my faith right now. I am trying to learn to fear God. I don't know if I truly appreciate that His plans are not my plans always and that His ways are not my ways. I don't fully accept that His will may not make sense to me in any way and that its okay, even better! I realize my need to develop a discipline of truly sitting at His feet. I need to learn to hear His voice more. I can't seem to hear him regarding these issues. Maybe He is just being silent now. Maybe I just need to wait on Him.
Well, my baby is two and a half now and I am not pregnant. Nor is the plan for me to be. This is where my deep struggle and grief begins. With my beliefs and love of birth and children, I would want to just have babies as God gave them to us. We would also have more freedom in our marriage relationship, no worries because more babies are more blessings. With four c-sections, we are struggling with the safety issue. I am struggling with how big do I think my God is? Am I demonstrating a lack of faith by even having this struggle? OR, has God called me to take care of myself and having more pregnancies would not be doing that? Right now, I do not know. I have not heard from God clearly on this.
Just in case you have read other postings, this is completely separate from our adoption journey. I still feel that whether God blesses us with more biological children or not, we have been called to be open to other children as well. I know there are some out there who are gasping, saying how on earth would you provide for all of those kids? How could you afford them and where would you get the strength? Well, that is where I do not struggle. I KNOW my God is big enough for that task. He will provide all that is needed. The energy, strength, organization, space, and money would come from somewhere if it is needed. God promises His provision. I trust that those that have a quiver full are truly blessed!
I was just talking with a friend the other night and we were discussing how times were changing. God was changing generations. Most families are still having one or two children. There is a population of God following, mostly homeschooling, believer families who are having more. This will eventually produce a growth in the Christian population. I totally agree with taking care of our earth. We are to be good stewards of all that God has given us. I do not, however, fear resources running out or overpopulation. God has promised His provision. God has promised His return. This earth is not meant to house us forever. I believe God is blessed by many children being raised and trained to love and follow Him.
So, somewhere in my ramblings, you probably picked up that I would love to be having another baby. I am coveting the freedom to just have another without worries. I realize I should not covet, nor worry. So, there I am. Realizing my need to grow in my faith right now. I am trying to learn to fear God. I don't know if I truly appreciate that His plans are not my plans always and that His ways are not my ways. I don't fully accept that His will may not make sense to me in any way and that its okay, even better! I realize my need to develop a discipline of truly sitting at His feet. I need to learn to hear His voice more. I can't seem to hear him regarding these issues. Maybe He is just being silent now. Maybe I just need to wait on Him.
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