Philippians 4:8

At my mom's group at church we have a time of scripture meditation. This week's verse was Psalm 139:23-24---Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Rather than meditate on that (rebellious) I saw Philippian 4:8 on the bag of the girl sitting in front of me. Usually when dealing with anxieties you can stop at "If anything is true..." So that is what I did and this is what I wrote. (FYI: my anxiety is in light of not having maternity insurance. This is not something we talk about but it is real and it is where we are.)

Phil 4:8
I have many anxieties on me. There is no room for anxiety if I am trusting whole heartedly in Jesus. For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans for a hope and a future. I don't know how we are going to pay for this baby. What is true? 1) I can pay what I can pay. The rest will be on a credit card. 2) It costs a significant amount. 3) We are getting a significant discount by paying cash. 4) We are having another baby. 5) I allow the strain of how to pay for it overshadow the joy she will bring. 6) I rob God the joy of this blessing. 7) I give Satan the pleasure of victory. 8) I stop this now!
Thank you Lord for the truth.

a big day

Streed is 2 weeks from being 7 years old and he lost his first tooth. He has been talking about it being loose for a few weeks now. Chip was home this morning. He and Streed decided it was time for it to come out now. It was quick and painless because it was super loose. I think it feels better now that it is out than it has felt the past few days.

Happy Monday

Ella took this picture last month. She occasionally hijacks my camera and ends up with some good shots. The pic is representative of what I am about to do. Nate is at preschool and the other two are at their co-op. This is my first Monday ever to have a day to myself at home. I am about to eat breakfast in silence. Then I will begin cleaning and straightening to music. I am looking fwd to this day. From what I figure, I will only have this luxury until mid-December when they are all out of school. By the time they all go back will be be in major baby prep-mode. So, here's to three months of Mondays where Mama can relax and regroup for the start of another busy week!

States and Capitals

For the past five weeks of school we have been "learning" and memorizing the states and capitals. So far we have learned the New England states, the Mid-Atlantic states, and the Southern states. In college, Chip and I (and Uncle Nick) had Economics together. Our teacher always gave extra credit on tests. It was always 5 questions. It was always the US states and capitals. I never really learned that in school apparently. And, during that whole semester, it never occured to me to study them and earn easy points on each test. Maybe knowledge of the the above scenario should have prepared me for the below conversation I had with Streed just this week, 5 weeks into school.

Me watching news.
Me: Streed come here and see this.
Me: Look, Harrisburg, PA is flooding.
Streed: Is that in America?
PAUSE
Me: (handled well) WHAT? WHAT HAVE WE BEEN STUDYING? THE US CAPITALS. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. YES, ITS IN AMERICA.

Baby girl is 5!

Ella turned 5 this week. Jill said it seems like she has been 5 for a while. That is probably true. She is rather grown up in some ways for her age. We celebrated for a few days. Some friends came over for dinner and presents a week early becaue they would be out of town the next week. They brought kitchen items to go with the kitchen we bought her. She was sad at first when she opened their present because we had not given her our gift yet. But Chip quickly brought it in from the garage and ALL THE KIDS were thrilled!


We had her real party the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Poor planning on my party but I was planning around big brother's baseball schedule and wanted the party close to her actual bday. It was a sweet small party but with big fun! The big hit was Chip making shaved ice for everyone. (He helps out a friend at a shave ice stand ocassionally and brought some of the equipment home).
Originally the party was going to be at a pool. The weather was questionable so we changed it to our house. After shave ice, slip-n-slide, playing in the hose, eating and gifts, we all headed to the pool anyway and finished up there with cupcakes. She had a blast which is really the point!


And because we have out of town friends and family, she also has enjoyed receiving mailed presents and cards for a week. In the mail she got a Cinderella barbie, a necklace, a Crayola set, fun kitchen accesories and some money.

another girl

So we found out we are having another girl! This brought mixed reviews from all those attending the ultrasound. Nate quickly said, "I wanted a boy! We already have a girl!" Ella was thrilled! Streed had said all along that he wanted it to be a girl but once he found out it was he was a little disappointed. They are all on board now I think. Not that it matters what they think or what they wanted. I really could have gone either way. I wanted Ella to have a sister but would have enjoyed her being my little friend too. The baby looks healthy. She does not move a lot. In the ultrasound she had one hand behind her head and one leg tucked under her body. We almost did not find out the sex because of how she was laying. I hope she stays laid back after she exits the womb. Mama is tired!

truth

I know I should update. And I will. The truth is, I prefer the comfy chair in Chip's office, which means his computer, which means no pictures. So, when I post, which may be tonight, just know that I am sacrificing by sitting in a hard kitchen chair at my 5 year old laptop that I cannot move because there is no battery life and it must stay plugged in at all costs!