Friday, September 20, 2013

For this we have prayed...


"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him." 1 Samuel 1:27


We are overjoyed to be able to share with our family and friends that Margo is a big sister! I am due April 11th and we are beyond thrilled!  If you aren't aware, we have been struggling with secondary infertility since having Margo.  (I wrote a little of this in a previous post here.) I had gone to a few doctors and they weren't sure exactly what was the matter as tests came back normal and I just didn't have peace about the care that I was getting.  So, I went to my most recent fertility specialist and he took one look at my records and diagnosed the problem (luteal phase defect).  I took one month of medication to help and the Lord allowed us to get pregnant that month!  I share all of this because the four years feeling unsure and hesitant to walk down the path of infertility has made us more sensitive to the struggles that couples can go through.  I believe that God gives us children not to make us happy, but to make us holy - Gary Thomas talks about this in Sacred Parenting.  And the path that families walk through God bringing their "quiver full" can be a path of sanctification and pursuing God's will for each family.  We didn't know how far we would have to walk on this road and feel strong convictions about what we would do medically to conceive again, so we feel a little relieved and blessed as we look back to the relatively short time that we had to face this challenge.  I am grateful that the Lord allowed me to see a peek into the other side of "hopeful" parents and the grief and silent pain that can happen - especially in this stage of life that I am in where "everyone" is starting to have little ones.  There were days where it was hard to be around those juggling multiple children, participating in MOPS, and even reading posts on Facebook!  I want to share our small story so that couples know that God meets you in your pain, no matter what it is, and as you keep releasing it back to Him, He gives the grace to continue.  We pray, grieve and remember with many of our friends who have had more difficult roads to walk down.  Thank you all for rejoicing with us as we celebrate the new life that God has entrusted to us!



Autumn Outfits


Margo was so excited that I brought out our fall/winter clothing and she got to dress up to match her doll! We are ready for fall around here! :)

The Pottery Room

Margo and I joined some of the kids from our home school group for a lesson at a local pottery studio.  She had fun making a jack-o-lantern and we will go back next week to paint it!

My cutie patient

Margo was all smiles and giggles during a recent trip to her clinic for what turned out to be a small infection.  It was a long day of dealing with military healthcare, but traveling around with my little cutie made it a fun time anyway!


Puppy on the stairs...



Tap Class!


Sunday, September 15, 2013

Sunday - Funday!

Ready for church in the morning...

and AWANA in the evening!

Pickin' on the Porch

We were invited to a local event called Pickin on the Porch at a local small brewery in Kentucky.  They had icees, BBQ sandwiches, and stuff to purchase - you bring your blankets, chairs, and dogs and they have a local band each week who comes to play on the distillery's back porch.  We had a great time with our friends Lynse and Jon and their kiddos!





Birthday Party Fun!

One of Margo's besties had a birthday party on Saturday afternoon!  We had fun celebrating Irina's 6th birthday!
Scavenger Hunt!

Margo swinging Ezra!

Ezra the big helper bringing in gifts!

Singing happy birthday!

Margo and the birthday girl - with their ice creams!

Strong Bonds Marriage Retreat

Jim was able to lead a Strong Bonds marriage retreat for some of his soldiers and their spouses this past Friday.  We had to stay around the Fort Campbell area and it was only a day seminar, but we had a great time getting to know these couples and being able to minister to them!


My little cutie!


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Bedtime Stories with Daddy!


Pizza Making!

Letting the dough rise...

Daddy doing some tricks!

Margo thought it was hilarious - so did Mommy! ;)

Pizza making assembly line - Margo loved helping with the sauce, cheese, and toppings!

Ballet/Tap with Daddy!




Styling for Bike Ridin'!


Sunday, September 8, 2013

Birthday Party Fun!

We went to our next door neighbor's boys' birthday party where they started with lots of pool time!  They got to jump and slide into the pool and they had a blast!!!












Jim playing around with the boys - making them into gifts! :)

Singing happy birthday to Kayden and Jake! :)


Margo watching Jake blow out his candles!!!