Do you know what you were doing at this time exactly 16 years ago?  I do!  I was giving birth to my firstborn!

Sunday of that week had been Father’s Day.  After church and dinner out my hubby wanted to go to a drive-in movie…  I think it was Batman!  I remember waddling to the bathroom one too many times and falling asleep long before the movie was over!

Early the next morning, labor began!  My husband called into work to start his “baby leave” and we headed to the hospital expecting to have a baby that day.  Um.  Nope.  They sent us home. 

The rest of the day just crept by uncomfortably.  By late afternoon I was significantly more uncomfortable so we heading back to the hospital again.  And again they sent us home.

That was disappointing. 

Even though I could not really sleep that night…  every time I dozed off I was awakened by a contraction… I was determined that the next time we went to the hospital that they would have no reason to send us back home until baby was born!

Early the next morning I woke hubby and asked to go to the hospital again.  This time I knew it was for good.  It was a 40 minute drive and I remember holding my belly in agony when we drove over speed bumps! 

This time they DID admit me, but it was still a long, long day.  Finally, around 3PM out came a screaming baby girl!  But she quieted as soon as she was placed in her Daddy’s arms!  It was love at first sight!

She was a colicky infant, a rambunctious toddler and a strong-willed child, but as a young lady she is a dream come true!  She is creative, insightful, loving, and most importantly strongly desires to please God!  She is not only my daughter, but my dear friend!  I am so blessed by her!

 

 

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A friend I know from MOMYS.COM has experienced a terrible tradgedy in her family.  Her 12 year old daughter, Rachael was hit by a car while riding her bike Wednesday. 

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rachaelkligmann  Here is where you can view the journal for updates.  I am afraid things have not been very hopeful for them today.  Please pray for Pete and Corrine (the parents) and the siblings and let other prayer warriors know to please, please pray!

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Having miscarried last week, this week was long and ardous.  There has not been a single day without extra people in the house since that day until today and I am growing weary. 

Last Monday (June 2nd) the miscarriage finally happened (although the process began the previous Thursday).  Russ did come home from work early that day to help me and stayed home all day Tuesday.  He even went in to work a little late on Wednesday and would not leave until I assured him that I would be okay. 

I did babysit Monday-Thursday too.  The little girls are very well-behaved, but I did not allow myself to cry or rest much because I felt I needed to be there for them.

Friday my father-in-law arrived for a visit.  I did  not acutally know he was coming to visit until a couple days before the fact.  Since our guest room is downstairs and it is best that he not use the stairs much I needed to move hubby and myself downstairs in preparation for his visit so that he could have the master bedroom. 

It was a nice visit, but again, I was on my guard emotionally and certainly did not rest at all.  My father-in-law was here until Wed.  I did have my two little girls to babysit Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of this week, as well.  On Wed. my father-in-law left around 5:30 PM.  At 6PM more houseguests arrived from Minnesota! 

Our company was a family with two teens, a pre-schooler and a newborn!  It was a fun time, but again...  not a second for a lucid thought!

AND...  can you believe it?  My washing machine broke down on Tuesday!  (and is still broken... we are waiting for parts ordered from Sears)

Now that I have whined for however many paragraphs (LOL) I wanted to share a song that has been a blessing to me during this time and has been the meditation of my heart:

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This was in my email this morning from my friend, DJ.  I checked it on snopes and found nothing about it.  I realize that it is "just clouds", but somehow I needed that today. May it bless you also.

Photo taken in Kentucky-God parting the Heavens

Would you look at this picture.  It reminds me of that song

"He's got the whole world in his hands."  He is definitely in

Control.   I needed this today more than ever.  Enjoy and pass

it along.

Photo taken in Kentucky .

Cara Winship sent this out - it is called: God's hands.

(Her account of the incident below)

I took this picture on Hwy 30, traveling to London , KY.  It has given me
strength in times of trouble.   I feel I should share it with the rest of?
the world.  I hope it is an inspiration to you.   It just goes to show what
We already know... We have a God and he's watching over us.

I e-mailed this picture to News Chanel 36.   I was contacted by
Meteorologist John James.  He said that this picture of the sky is
showing up, in all states, around the world.   He wanted to know where
I was from and where I took it.   He saw a similar picture taken in Texas.
He said this is amazing to him!

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Yes!  I WAS pregnant.  Unfortuneately, the announcement loses something with that one little word: WAS.  Almost as soon as we knew I was pregnant I began to realize something was not right.  Thursday evening the end began and now I am fully in the process of miscarrying. 

MARA SERENE

The name means bitter peace. It is amazing how I feel both.

I am sorry to see this little one go so soon, but I am joyful that we can, in fact, conceive. That is really good news.

God will take this pain and bring beauty from the ashes.

Just as when he takes a grain of pain and irritation in a clam shell and coats it with layers of tears to form a lovely pearl... So will the brief life and death of our little Mara Serene touch us with the kind of suffering that leads to hope in Christ.

Thank-you for rejoicing with me and thank-you for grieving with me. You are all such a blessing to me. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself early this morning and I thought how sweet it is that I am NOT alone. Thank-you friends.

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Yes, I do have more than just one child, but Hannah is the one most willing to pose for pictures!  In fact, when she draws a picture with sidewalk chalk or on the white board it just "HAS" to be photographed before it gets destroyed.

So here is her latest masterpiece, in detail!!!

 

I think this is "Scrib Land".  Scrib's are a cartoon character that Kaitlyn usually draws.  Kaitlyn and Hannah have this whole language that they speak to each other and they make up all kinds of stories and adventures.

 

I think these say, "Scribie man can".  I think she likes the candyman song from "Willy Wonka"!

 

The flag says, "YUM!" 

 

The other flag says "treats"!

 

 

Ta-Da!

Pretty creative, huh?

I am not ready to get into all of the details just yet, but please pray for me.  I have had a hard week physically and emotionally.  I will share more in a few days.  In the meantime, just pray for complete healing and peace.  I would really appreciate that.

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We go camping every August and the big deal there is getting to spend nearly the whole week on a bicycle.  For the kids anyway.  Not me.  I don't even own a bike!  LOL!  My favorite part of camp is visiting with my friends and spending a lot of time making memories with my family!  But that is not what this entry is about! 

One day Hannah suddenly decided that she would like to learn to ride her bike without the training wheels at Family Camp this year.  Ian immediately decided that their is no time like the present.  So he took her outside and took the training wheels off her bike and asked Kaitlyn to document it all with  my camera.  All of this was going on while I was inside (doing laundry, cooking or blogging! ) So I was glad Kait had documented the event!

  

And before you send the safety police to get me...  YES, I know her helmet is too loose.  She was actually wearing the wrong one and that problem has since been remedied!

Actually, she idd not know the training wheels were off!  Ian kind of tricked her!  She was pretty excited when she saw the video of it herself.  I did not post the video b/c for some reason it takes like an hour to upload a 2 minute video. I must be doing something wrong.

It was funny though, that without coaching, at the end of the ride Ian said, "So Hannah, now you can ride a two-wheeler.  What are you going to do next?"  She answered, "Go to Disneyland?"

She must have seen the post game interview after the SuperBowl or something! 

And yes, she did say it like it was a question!  The question mark is not a typo!  LOL!

I am sorry my blog entries have been so few and far between.  I'll try to do a bit better!  :)

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Even when the world is full of tragedy and sorrow weighs heavily on my heart...  God gives me reasons to see the joy and beauty in this world. This sweet little girl, and her sister have been coming to house four days a week for the past three weeks and will continue until the end of the local school year. 

Oh what JOY they have brought to me!  Just look at that smile!  Even when my throat is choked with tears this little one just makes me smile all the way down to my toes!  Such trust! Such wonderment!  Let us trust in the Lord with the innocence of this sweet, darling of a little girl! 

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Ian is really into skateboarding.  He got a board from one of his sets of grandparents in December and has been amazing us with new skills ever since...  including building a ramp for himself.  (We'll forgive him that he accidentally used some GOOD wood, because his design is so ingenius!)

  

 

  

I am glad to know that I am loved and thought of when my blog goes AWOL!  I have received comments, emails and even a card in the mail!  All is well, I am just crazy busy!  I have been writing, reading, homeschooling, babysitting, sewing, crocheting, etc., etc., etc.!)  I'll try to get caught up here and keep you all posted! 

I'll be posting pictures of some recent projects on my AFGHAN blog!  Be sure to check it out!

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