Round Two

Wow! I can't believe that our little family of three will be growing next September, Lord willing. I am very excited, and although you would think that excitement should be an obvious reaction to such news - for me, it was a bit of a surprise. Tears are what I expected.

I was certain that Brodey would be my one and only for the longest time. I didn't enjoy being pregnant with him and I didn't enjoy the labor. Not one part of any of it. For the first few months of his life I was completely lost, and I questioned my abilities as a parent every second of every day. I didn't know who I was or which way was up or down. That was not the feeling that I had envisioned growing up either. For starters, I planned to be married when that happened and I certainly didn't foresee myself gaining 100lbs! I won't go into detail, but the events leading up to and following his birth left me in a total identity crisis.

I don't think I should have to mention this, but I will to be on the safe side. There is not one ounce of my being that regrets having Brodey. And God took a situation that could been very ugly, and for most women turns out that way, and He has created a beautiful family. Aside from God Himself, Gabe and Brodey are my rocks.

Up until a few months ago, my prayers were "Lord, please don't give me another child", but slowly they started to sound more like "Ok, God, if you think I can handle another one, then maybe when you think I'm ready, you can make that happen"....


So when I got that big fat positive on my home pregnancy test, I shocked myself when I screamed in excitement and cried tears of joy, instead sorrow.


I'm 7 weeks today, and as the nausea and pure exhaustion are making themselves at home, I'm remembering why I didn't love being pregnant the first time. But physically, emotionally, and spiritually I am so much more prepared for this pregnancy. I am surrounded by a wonderful support system, and I am so thankful to God that He always knows what we need and what we can, or can't handle.

A Very Merry Christmas

It's almost hard to believe that after all the planning, decorating, baking, and preparing - Christmas has come and gone. I had many intentions of writing a post during the holidays, I even came up with titles like "Deck the halls", and I was going to take pictures of all my favorite decorations and share my holiday cheer with you all. Really, I was. But Christmas snuck (is that a word?) up on me, and I find myself sitting here with my head spinning - literally because, Merry Christmas to me!, I got the flu on Christmas Day and I am still recovering - but I'm also thinking "Um, seriously? It's over?". I love Christmas. I love everything about it. And this year was no exception.

One of those shadowy figures is my bro

Well maybe there was one exception. This year was a little more merry than the previous few years. My brother Dave has spent the last 4 Christmas's in Afghanistan. This year he was home. Need I say more? 

Okay, I will - God is soooo good! After four tours in Afghanistan as a special forces soldier, Dave made it home without even a scratch - and I know he was in harms way many times. Actually, I know way more than I would like to know, but what I learned is enough to convince me that he made it home safely because of one reason - God. As Proverbs 21:31 tells us "The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but safety is of the LORD". I hold onto this promise daily. We are always in need of Gods protection, but this verse came to mind so many times each day that Dave was overseas. There were times that I woke in the middle of night and just prayed for him (not because I'm all spiritual, because I'm a worry wort). It is such a blessing that God has answered those prayers.

The picture above reminds me of the one I use when I teach my Sunday school lesson about the birth of Christ. Remember Luke 2:8-9? "And there were in same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them..."

I believe in God and I believe in His angels. I thank God for keeping watch over my brother and all our soldiers who are out there keeping watch over us.