An Update...

  Well, Lee is back at work today. He is doing much better, though still pretty stiff, sore, and desperately wanting some "real" food, poor guy. He spent nearly all of his time off working on the car. Really, it isn't that old! everything just decided to go out at once!. It drove home from the mechanics great and then the very next day the radiator sprung a leak and the fans went out! So, when I said in a former post that we should have just bought a new car, we're just pretending we did ;). I see it as a blessing that we were able to take care of everything now (though maybe the timing could have been a little better?!) instead of everything going out on us during the trip we are planning up north in the late spring next year. What a vacation that could have been!

   So, life should be settling back to a sort of normal again for a few weeks, but only a few :)! That predictable nesting instinct should be coming over me any day now, I think I'm too exhausted at this moment for it to kick in ;)! Only seven weeks tomorrow to go before baby's due date, and if these contractions are anything to go by I'm not expecting to actually make it that long...ouch!!!

A Child to Love

A toddling little girl is a center of common feeling

which makes the most dissimilar people understand each other.

-George Eliot

Bethani -June 2006

A Child To Love

You can have your wealth and riches,

All the things so many seek,

Position, power, and success,

The fame you long to keep.

You can earn as much as you wish,

Reach a status high above,

But none of these can equal

Having one sweet child to love.

'Tis the greatest gift from heaven,

Little arms that hold you tight,

And a kiss so soft and gentle

When you tuck them in at night.

A million precious questions

And each story often read,

Two eyes so bright and smiling,

And a darling tousled head.

God has never matched the goodness

Of a trusting little face,

Or a heart so full of laughter

Spreading sunshine every place.

A child to hold and cuddle,

'Tis a gift from God above,

And the world is so much brighter

When you have a child to love.

-Author Unknown

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

-The Book of James

1:17

Blessings!

Our van is safely home and working great :). AND it was even a couple of hundred less than the estimate! Of course, when you're going on three grand... Well, a couple of hundred is something anyway :). On top of that good news, we learned that our insurance IS going to cover some of hubby's surgery after all, his last minute visit from his boss went great, and I think Bethi's over her teething phase (she popped three teeth in no time flat!).

   Prayers for hubby would be greatly appreciated! He's going in in the morning for oral surgery, getting some impacted wisdom teeth taken out. He had quite the fight with the insurance company. Dental said it was covered by medical, medical said it was covered by dental. As a last ditch effort the other day he called the lady in charge of insurance at the home office and she got something done! Lee isn't the type that flops on the couch in a fetal position when he gets a splinter, he's even worked through the flu before and he's scheduled himself back to work by Tuesday. He's a tough guy. But, I'm sure this isn't going to be a picnic either and I really don't want to see him suffer. He's only getting a local anesthetic instead of letting them knock him out. I told him today maybe he ought to go for the general anesthesia and he said if I can go through labor and delivery drug-free then he can get his wisdom teeth out on a local, haha :).

   I got quite the compliment tonight while we perused the aisles at Wal-Mart looking for mushy foods for Lee to eat over the next few days :). A pastor that comes into Lee's store a lot saw him and came over to say hello. He told Lee, "I didn't see you back there, I didn't know they were yours, but I saw your girls a couple of aisles over and thought, 'that must be a christian lady'. You don't see girls dressed so pretty and modest anymore.". I thought it was encouraging  not because we're being complimented on our appearances but because it makes me realize anew that just as a mom walking down the aisles at Wal-Mart with my little ones I am being an effective ambassador of the kingdom of Christ. Hair combing and bow tying is part of my mission field, when done for the glory of God :).

"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." ~

1 Corinthians 10:31

Abigail Adams on Keeping Good Company

This is a quote from a letter written by Abigail Adams to her husband dated September 16, 1774.

 "It is at last determined that Mr. Rice keep the School here. Indeed he has kept ever since he has been here, but not with any expectation that He should be continued, but the people finding no small difference between him and his predecessor chose he should be continued. I have not sent Johnny. He goes very steadily to *Mr. Thaxter who I believe takes very good care of him, and as they seem to have a likeing to each other believe it will be best to continue him with him. However when you return we can then consult what will be best. I am certain that if he does not get so much good, he gets less harm, and I have always thought it  [illegible]  of very great importance that children should in the early part of life be unaccustomed to such examples as would tend to corrupt the purity of their words and actions that they may chill with horrour at the sound of an oath, and blush with indignation at an expression. These first principal[s] which grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength neither time nor custom can totally eradicate."

My thoughts exactly here in 2006!!!

*Mr. Thaxton was a personal tutor and a relative of the family

"Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals"

~1 Corinthians 15:33

We do not remember days; we remember moments. ~Cesare Pavese

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 

~Psalm 133:1

The happiness of the domestic fireside is the first boon of Heaven; and it is well it is so, since it is that which is the lot of the mass of mankind.  ~Thomas Jefferson, 1813

Children of the same family, the sameblood , with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply...  ~Jane Austen

No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books.  ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,
And all the sweet serenity of books.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

That's My Clever Lass :)!

    Last night I asked Bri (8) to help Bethi (1) into her pj's while I started a new load of laundry. Bri says, "Come on Bethi! I'll have you changed in 20 shakes of a lamb's tail!". I had heard her from the hall and called out, "That's one busy lamb!", to which she replied, "Ya, but most people say in two shakes of a lamb's tail and even Aunt Tessa can't make cookies in two shakes of a lamb's tail (family joke, my sister is a whiz in the kitchen :)). If you're going to use the shakes of a lamb's tail you should at least use enough you can get it done in!". What a nut :).

    Earlier that night I had heard Tori (4) calling out, "Oh government! Oh, government!". Totally baffled, I asked her why she was calling for the government and her reply was, "That's who you need when you need help with your children". Turns out she meant "governess", she and Bri had been playing at "Little Women" all day :). I was trying so hard not to laugh that I thought I would cry, and Lee looked as pained as I felt :).

That Sweet Thrill

Poor Bethani has not felt well the last couple of days now. She's getting in her first molar and apparently it's not going very smoothly :(. Yesterday after her nap I got her up and she was in one of those snuggle moods and didn't want to be put down, so I took advantage of the situation and rocked her for awhile. After about five minutes she leaned back, looked at me, and smiled so big :), like "my world is right now mom!"  and ran off :). As I sat there looking into her clear blue eyes for those brief moments it swept over me again, as it has a thousand times, but I still get a sweet thrill every time it happens :)...These are THE children I dreamed of while I was a little girl growing up! The children I prayed for. The children I was sure I would name after my dolls ;). The children I wondered about when I was babysitting other people's children. The children I made The List for...I will do this, won't do that, you know :). And now, praise the Lord, these are the "Children whom the Lord has given me"  Isaiah 8:18.

    Here's a touch of irony for you...a few posts ago I mentioned that I had just picked up a package of diapers for the new baby (still two months to go before the due date). Note to self- next time you pick up diapers for the child who doesn't even need them yet, pick up a package for the one who does! Luckily, Lee should be back home today before I make it through the diaper bag stash ;). Just in case, anyone have any ideas on how to get newborn sized diapers to fit a 14 month old? Haha :).