Turkey day

We had a great Thanksgiving, and hope you did too! Most of you check facebook too, so this blog doesn't highlight with pictures of people (because you can see them on FB). The day was quiet, as quiet as it can be with 4 kids 6 adults and 3 dogs! We tried something new this year with the turkey by deep frying it. The guys were really excited to try out the new toy. Our 20lb. turkey only took 70 minutes to cook, and it was perfect.

Look at all those cute turkey's, don't you want to gobble them up!?!

The finished product. Sorry these are in the wrong order, oh well.

The guys anxiously waiting for the turkey to be done.

Submerging the turkey.

The uncooked turkey ready for the fryer.

Happy Birthday!

Ok, So I'm a little late on the birthday wishes for my youngest son. But what would he have to complain about when he's older if he always got everything on time?

Sorry bud, it's part of being the youngest child. I'd like to let you know, that there are many perks to being the youngest child, and here are some of them. You've got a really big audience. When you talk, clap, laugh, and walk we are focused all on you! Everyone wants to hold you, help you, and talk to you. You are every ones favorite buddy! You still get carried everywhere and get the most attention when we are out, from everyone. You get way more sweet snacks than the other kids did at this age. It isn't uncommon to see you crawling around with a sucker in your mouth, none of the other kids got to do that!

You are loved. . .a lot! You bring smiles and laughter to our house. Happy birthday Gideon!

Doing well

I have learned a lot of things in the last couple of days. Sitting around with nothing to do but observe and think leads to confusion and clarity. Here are some of my clearer moments.

I have learned that losing a baby and having a miscarriage are two different things. Two years ago when I "had a miscarriage", I really only lost the babies and had a DNC. This year I lost the baby and than had the miscarriage. Which, was one of the hardest things I've ever done, physically and emotionally. Would I opt for that over the DNC again, absolutely. Thank you for all your prayers concerning that specifically. It was all over in an hour and it looks like I won't have to have the DNC. Thanks be to God!

I have held firmly to the promise that God doesn't give us more than we can handle, and when life is in perspective, it is what makes you smile in the chaos. I've learned that sometimes parenting is inconvenient. When mom and dad are physically sick, emotionally drained, and stressed to the max parenting is harder. But I have also learned that when they can't have quantity time with us, the quality they do get matters a lot. They've gotten more hugs, kisses, and conversation in this season than they had in a long time. I plan on keeping that up.

I have learned that Garrett is gifted with the ability to sense emotion. He knows how someone is feeling just by the energy they are giving off, and this week he used it for good. Here's his story. On Wednesday I called for hug time. It was out of no where, for no reason. Each kid came over to give me a hug. With his arms tightly around my neck, he said, "Mom, I'm sorry the baby died." The kid hit it right on the head - he feels the emotion - he's amazing.

I have been reminded that I'm the type of person who needs to talk about things to help me cope and get over them. The more I talk, the better I feel, because the truth that I know in my head makes it way to my heart, and starts healing.

I have been reminded that I need my husband in my cord of three. We are stronger together. He was there to hold me, cry with me, sit with me, tell me to sit down, and listen to me ramble (Bless him!). He dropped everything to be the mom, dad, husband, driver, cook, housekeeper, butler, etc. Thanks babe. I will always love you.

Here's my amazing kid looking for the bowling ball to come out, don't worry it didn't hit him in the head!

My beautiful girls. The other day Olivia said to Esther, "Esther, would you please take this to the kitchen for me honey?" To which Esther said, "Sure." I turned to Josh and said, "Olivia is turning Esther into what I turned Olivia into, the little helper." I hope she keeps it up - two little helpers are better than one!

That would be lasagna all over that cute face. He loves to eat, but only by himself. Forget the fork and spoon, he shovels it in with his hands!

peace

"Our Father is heaven,

hallowed be Your name,

Your Kingdom come,

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one."

I have said this prayer every day for the past month, making it the focus of my day and prayer for our life. I repeat some part of the prayer throughout the day, depending on the type of day we are having or what we are going through. Lately, the line has been, "Your will be done, (in me) on this earth, as it is in heaven. I pray that with thought of our future in mind. Where will we be in a year? Is God moving our ministry? Guide our family where you want us. But the thought always comes to me that his will is being done here, now, always. And when I look at it that way, my whole day changes perspective. Knowing regardless of how I feel, what decisions need to be made, and what changes are inevitably going to happen I am in God's will it gives me peace.

That last part, the part about changes inevitably happening, happened. And I was ready. Last night I spent three hours in the ER confirming what I had been feeling for a couple of weeks. That I had lost the baby. When I left the house, I looked at Josh and said, "I'm at peace with what the outcome will be." As at peace with being pregnant with what was going to be our 5th living child, I am just as at peace with not having that child. I believe in the giver and taker of life. I believe that His ways are not my ways, or His time, my time. I cannot understand all His ways, but I do know that He is fulfilling in me His will on earth, just as it is in heaven. God does answer prayers. Sometimes the answers are just what we were looking for. Sometimes they don't look like what we thought they would. Sometimes they hurt. But that's ok. I serve a God who cares about my hurt. Cries with me, mourns with me, and loves me through it.

Thank you in advance for all your prayers. Right now we are praying that my body will do what in natural so I won't have to have surgical intervention, like last time. I have until Tuesday for this to happen, so prayer for that would be coveted!

WHAT A DAY: V.I.P. day

This is the day I've been waiting for all year. The day where this nosey mom, who is sad to be missing everything her daughter is doing at school, got to go to school! Very Important Person day started our amazing day. I got to sit in class with Olivia for one hour of pure enjoyment. We colored, cut, glued, stapled and talked. I got to see where she sits, who she sits with, put faces to names, and see the infamous shoe bin, where her "outdoor" shoes go when she enters the classroom and puts on her "indoor" shoes. All very weird to me, but whatever! It was great to spend an hour with my wonderful Olivia. She is an amazing little girl, who never passed on a chance to help, spoke kindly to her classmates, and is just too smart for her own good! Forgive me if my chest is puffed up a bit, I can't help myself.

Lined up for Info-Tech, what we all called, Library.

Reading me her story.

Her BFF Rebecca.

Another good friend, Zoey. They passed out the kids books for them to read. They were so intent on reading all the names and worked together wonderfully.

So happy to be in school!

WHAT A DAY: In the leaves

October 26th - snow, freezing rain, and howling winds. October 31st - sunny, breezy, and 64 degrees! What a day! We had fun this afternoon playing in the perfect weather. I raked up a pile of leaves for the girls while Gideon crawled around in the dirt. I love fresh air, leaves and dirt on kids, it's a great combination!Olivia throwing Gid in the leaf pile. . .

. . .and he liked it.

Es takes her jump.

The girls liked to go together.

WHAT A DAY: Halloween

To end the wonderful day, of course there was trick or treating to be done. Garrett woke up this morning with a fever, so he was out for the night. He took it well and enjoyed handing out candy (and maybe a fever) at our house with Josh and Gideon. We live in a rural community, but our little town of Burnips is quite the stop for trick or treating. We've never ventured too far from the house in the two years that we've lived here because it is a lot of walking. This year our friends from church offered to let us use one of their golf carts to get around in. It was a BLAST! I thought that Josh would really want to take the girls out, mostly because of the cart, but I got to go! It was a first, driving from house to house, but soo worth it! The girls had a great time riding and getting LOTS of candy. And I had a great time driving and talking with the other adults. We ended our night at the fire house in town, where they had pop-corn, cookies, donuts, cider, bug juice and coffee. Something for everyone! Hope you all had a safe and fun night too.

Hannah Montana, Ninja, Monkey, and Abby Cadabby.

Hannah's ready for her solo!

The ninjas ready for a fight.

Oh, my! Abby's going to take flight!

My little monkey.

The caravan of golf carts. LOVE IT!

Chad sporting his daughter's Hannah Montana wig.

Olivia ran the whole time! She wasn't a great help with Esther tonight. Oh well, every one's got their vice! Candy seems to be hers.

Mommy and the girls.

Hannah's still posing after 3 hours of running.

Esther liked the talking fire truck at the station. All the kids seemed really excited about it.

I think that face says it all.

THE END!

Here's to Hoping!!!

GO Phils GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WIN IT TONIGHT!!
The Colts win is a long shot - but we will cheer all the louder!!!
GO COLTS GO!!!!

Weekend in Indiana

I am so far behind on blogging! Every time I've sat down to do it, something stops me. Does this mean I'm not suppose to blog anymore? NO WAY! These pictures are from our visit to Indiana last weekend. We had lots of fun spending time with cousins, Nana, Pa-pa, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts and Uncles. It's amazing how much the kids change in such short times between seeing each other. It's always a great time for the kids and adults!

Garrett and Isaiah jammin' with Pa-pa. For a live feed of that jam session, check out the video at the end of this blog!

Olivia and Elijah add to the music.

Esther sat by and clapped along. She does it so beautifully, doesn't she?

We visited Grandma and Grandpa Ledbetter on Friday afternoon. Gideon loved having Nana help him drink lemonade!

Grandma had cupcakes for the kids to decorate, they were a huge success! This is Maggie (I think) showing off her cupcake.

There were 1o kids 6 and under playing at Grandma's this day. When they were all on the play set, it looked like a swarm of bees at the hive!

The kids love to play with Nana's computer. Olivia was showing the boys the Mr. Men games on the Internet. The boys are all modeling their new winter coats, complimented nicely by their pajamas.

Attractive, I know!

Nana helped Isaiah and Esther put puzzles together all weekend, what a patient woman!

#1's

#1 SMELL OF THE DAY: 2 LOADS OF THE BOYS CLEAN LAUNDRY,THAT IS YET TO BE FOLDED. . .

#1 taste of the day: homemade cookies made by my oldest daughter

#1 sight of the day: looking out my bay window to find that fall has showed up all around me while I wasn't looking

#1 touch of the day: a hug that speaks volumes

#1 sound of the day: laughter filling our home

Here we Grow!

There's nothing special going on in chilly Michigan. Just the same routine of, Olivia to school, Garrett's school at home, chores, errands, church, and family time. We've been playing Sequence for Kids and loving it. It's so easy Esther understands most of it. She enjoys finding the square that matches the card she picked. The kids have even played by themselves, without fighting! Gideon is all over the place and really likes music. I've been trying to catch him dancing with his zebra toy, with no luck. I did catch him singing along with Josh tonight, so that video is here for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy the goofy pictures!

Me and Esther trying to take a good picture. I cut myself out and she thought it would be funny to make the 'pout face'.

My little man!

Garrett taking a picture of himself - hilarious! Check out Josh in the background - he's watching the Colts lose. Good thing they pulled it out in the end.

Olivia enjoyed the extra cupcakes from a baby shower I hosted last night. That's icing, not a mustache!

She's such a goofy girl!

Just a couple of notes about this video: The extra clicking you here is Garrett playing his guitar with Josh. I was annoyed with Esther for distracting Gideon from the guitar, until she started her silly dance. And Olivia is asking me to take her picture, which I had, except it wasn't her alone, so she was mad.