Another prayer request

A fellow sister in Christ was diagnosed with cancer. She's young (35 or so). She had bad news this week. The cancer has spread. She only has a few more months to live on this earth. Please pray for her and her family, her husband and 2 sons (11 yrs and 9 yrs). Her name is Rachel. Her family has been family friends since before any of us (cousins) were born. I think I have met her once or twice but I don't know her personally. Please be in prayer for them. Here is the link to her sisters blog she started to give updates on Rachel.

www.rachelsharvestofhope.blogspot.com

Your prayers would be appreciated.

My aunt was taken to the hospital this past Monday morning at 5:30am. She was up during the night w/ nausea & pain. In the hospital, the surgeon they were going to consult with this coming Thursday met them & admitted her. Please pray for wisdom for my aunt and uncle as they make treatment decisions. She seems to have a mass in her colon she was put on IV fluids and has been restricted from eating or drinking from the mouth. This is very difficult for her since she has always complained about a dry mouth (that's what I heard from my cousin, her daughter). Please pray for my family. We're not sure what's going on but this is very scary for us all. Your prayers are coveted.

Cloth Diapering.

Titus

Titus and Valentine

Titus the gbaby.

Cloth diapers. Here are pros and cons for me on this certain brand of cloth diapers. I've only used 3 different kinds but this is the kind I've used the most.

I generally like the gdiapers. I went with them because my son was having allergic reactions to disposable diapers at the time. He has since grown out of it.

Pros~

You can purchase them at yourlocal Babies r us (we needed different diapers asap and these were the only ones we could buy in a store).

You can choose to do true cloth diapering or if you're travelling you can opt for the disposable insert.

They have a plastic liner so if the baby leaks off the cloth you can just replace the liner and use the same cover. I have used the same cover for a week and it doesn't have an odor at all.

They have really cute patterns (this isn't THAT huge of deal for me but it is a pro. :)

They're generally priced reasonably.

Cons~

The liners are biodegradable so they start breaking down once you start washing them. I would only put them in the wash if they had been soiled. If they had urine on them I would just rinse them and use soap and my hand.

The gcloth doesn't seem to be quite big enough to fill the liner. They may have fixed this problem since I bought my stash but it was annoying and deff helped add to my soiled liner bucket. Their disposable insert fits like a glove never an issue.

Since the gcloth isn't secured by anything when my son would move around (which is all the time being an active toddler) the gcloth would scrunch up and I would have more soiled liners. I "solved" this problem by adding a cheap gerber (or you can use any kind) diaper and stack them in his diaper. It would make his rear a lot thicker but the gcloth wouldn't move. I would triple stuff at bed time.

I never had this problem but a friend of mine did, she had the velcro closures come off, but she called gdiapers and they sent her new velcro closures for free, she didn't even have to pay shipping. So that's a positive on that side of it.

So I went with gdiapers because I could purchase them at a store nearby and I needed them right away. I liked that if I needed something for them I could just run to the store and not have to wait to have it shipped to me. But with number 4 on the way I think (at least for the first few months) I will try something different. Unless a kind family member wants to bless us with the newborn kit. :)

I would love to hear your thoughts about cloth diapering. Have you tried it? Pros and cons? What brands do you like? What brands don't you like?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Memory Lane: Valley Forge

Valley Forge. Hearing that brings back so many memories.

When my parents told me that we were moving from Arizona, where I was born and had grown up, I was very upset (to say it nicely). My mom said "don't you trust the God has a perfect plan for you? Just think of what wonderful things He has in store for your life!" I wasn't convinced yet. But once we moved to Pennsylvania and attended a new church with new youth I was feeling better about the decision. The first Sunday we attended Immanuel PCA the pastor came up to introduce himself to my parents and stopped one of the young men to escort us (my brother and I) to the Sunday school class. That young man was Jake. I was hooked on the church from then on. Jake sat with us and I drooled over him the entire class. He was the nicest boy I had ever met and he was SO CUTE! I could go on listing things that struck me about him but I wouldn't want to make anyone uncomfortable. ;)

We never really dated. I would call what we did courting. We were always with a group of friends. I loved that because we never felt any pressure to do anything we shouldn't. It helped us stay pure. We are so blessed in this day and age.

Anyway, back to Valley Forge. For our first "date" Jake built a few bikes for me, the 2 foreign exchange students we had living with us at the time and one for himself. He came to my parents house and picked us up. He took us to Valley Forge to ride bikes together. He spent the entire time stopping and helping the girls learn to ride their bikes. They had never learned before. Which was sweet of him but it annoyed me at the time. I wanted him to spend all his time with me. I didn't even think he liked me but that night the one exchange student said "Oh he loves you! You will end up together for sure!" I said, "haha sure lady whatever you say! He's WAY out of my league!" I guess she read the signs right! :)

From then on we frequented Valley Forge. We even had our engagement pictures taken there. It has a special place in our hearts.

Well last weekend we took the kids there for the first time. We got to look at the sights and tell the kids about the historic places and show them where we had our pictures taken so long ago (10 years almost!! We had pictures taken about 2 years before we were married).

I'm looking forward to many more fond memories in Valley Forge with my precious family. And many more pictures! :)

(I'll add some engagement pictures when I get them downloaded onto the computer. :)

"Welcome to the Second Trimester"

I received an email welcoming me into the second trimester.

Its so funny when you're pregnant (for the 6th time) and you have kids at home you are constantly chasing around how you lose track of things. I noticed that its getting uncomfortable to sleep, I noticed that I'm looking pretty huge at this point but I had totally lost track of how far along I am. Someone asked me this past weekend when I was due and I didn't really have an answer. But it doesn't help that the tech at my ultrasound told me one due date and the midwife (after looking at said u/s) gave me a different date. So I just give everyone the old "Oh, I'm due around Christmas". Who knows.

But in the email it told me the baby is about the size of a peach (from head to rump). Holy cow this pregnancy is flying by!! Before I know it I'll be preparing to have our fourth! Please Lord bless us with a house before then!! Or give me the contentment to be happy and satisfied where we are if that's not Your will.

I'm thankful that things seem to be going well (for the most part). We are so blessed!

I'm Glad!

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

I will enter His gates with thanks giving in my heart

I will enter His courts with praise

I will say this is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice for He has made me glad

He has made me glad Oh He has made me glad

I will rejoice for He has made me glad

He has made me glad Oh He has made me glad

I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

I will enter His gates with thanks giving in my heart

I will enter His courts with praise

I will say this is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice for He has made me glad

He has made me glad Oh He has made me glad

I will rejoice for He has made me glad

He has made me glad Oh He has made me glad

I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

Precious Time

How do you spend your spare time? Titus hasn't been napping well lately. So when he sleeps at all (usually for an hour, sometimes less) its is precious time. I try to rush around to get everything that's on my endless list done. It is an impossible task. I end up getting some of the tasks done and feeling like I failed the rest. And since I'm pregnant I'm super tired so all I really want to do is take a nap myself. He pops out of his room (not very) well rested and I'm back to chasing him around the house cleaning up everything that crosses his path. My mom calls him "Titus the tornado". Not sure if I like that nickname but he's got it now.

Recently I had a melt down. I spoke to a great friend of mine and she suggested writing a list of everything that was bothering me or stressing me out at the time. Then pray about each and every one. Take the time to talk to God. So I did. And I really did feel better about everything that's going on in my life. I'm still anxiously waiting the Lord to finalize the sale of our house and praying that we will be able to buy a house very soon after but for right now, I've given it to the Lord.

My friend also suggested finding a good book to read. I enjoy reading if it's the right kind of book. The kind that keeps me invested. Once Jake got home that night I discussed it all with him. After explaining my whole list of stresses and ending our time together by blubbering on his shoulder he took me out to get a book (and ice cream, he's a wonderful man who loves me so much!). We needed some private time together anyway. After driving to 3 stores we ended up at Barnes and Nobles. We bought The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. I don't know why I never read the series as a young adult. I know we had the books in the house (we had every book it seemed). But this is the first time that I have truly sat down to read through the whole series. Of course my husband is a purist and hates that they renumbered the books. I think I've read 4 of the books over the past few years so the renumbering has never bothered me. But to please him I am reading them in Lewis' original order. Well, I'm not sure the book thing was such a good idea. I'm the type that once I start reading and I'm involved, I can't pull myself away. I can't I mean, I can not stop reading in the middle of a chapter. I feel like the world in the book would be holding its breath waiting for my return. But thankfully this series has pretty short chapters so I can read a few and stop at the end of one. Unless there's a great cliff hanger. Why do you do for "me time"?

Well, the kids have been up for hours. I should get something done today. I have so much to do, like always. My goal today, home school Lucinda and laundry. I think I can, I think I can. Ugh, I loathe laundry....

Philippians 4:4-23

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶ for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. ¹⁷Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. ²² All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Gone but not forgotten

I may have been gone for 4 months but I haven't forgotten you bloggy friends. A lot has happened since February. Man, where do I begin?

I guess shortly after the miscarriage Jake lost his job. But God is faithful! He provided, like He always does! Jake was blessed with a job. The catch- we had to sell our house and move to Pennsylvania. But that too is a blessing! Our family and friends are here. Although, we were sad to leave behind our family, friends and church family in Virginia. We are thankful for the job. We are staying with my parents until our house closes (we had 3 offers the first week it was put on the market!). Lord willing everything will be done by the end of June or July 1st at the latest.

Someone very dear to me lost her precious baby. It's been really hard for everyone that loves her. We continue to pray for them and trust the God's plan is perfect. HE will carry them through!

Last week I lost a dear friend in a tragic car accident. We met through my aunt, they were high school friends. Nancy and I never met. But she ministered to me in some of my darkest hours. I knew when I asked her to pray for me or for something in particular she would do it. She would approach the Lord on my behalf. She was so dear to everyone she met. She touched so may lives. By just being herself. I pray that I may be a witness like that someday. There were more than 500 people at her funeral. It was a beautiful service. What an encouragement. The message was wonderful. I pray that many were saved, by God's mercy, through hearing it.

A few months ago I found out I am expecting again! We are so thankful for this blessing! Might not be our perfect timing but it sure is God's perfect timing! We praise Him for that. Isn't it great to know that God is in control of all that happens in the universe. I sure am glad I don't have that job!

On Monday, memorial day, I started bleeding and cramping, just like before. The bleeding has slowed a lot but the cramps come and go. I am praying for God's peace and comfort. I am praying that He will preserve this life and bless us with many years with him or her. But if that is not His plan for our child I pray that we continue to praise Him through our tears and loss.

This song has been running on my computer all day. I love it and it is such a great reminder. I wish I could find a video that plays the song but alas.

Point of Grace

For all you've done

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made
Upon the hill our places trade
Stretched on a cross Your body crushed
By human hands You formed from dust

Chorus
How wonderful Your mercy is
How awesome are Your ways
I come, I come
To worship You
For all You've done

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made
Your boundless love for me portrayed
With patience for my learning curve
By holding back what I deserve

Chorus

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made
With everything at Your feet laid
I watch as all my cares erode
And from my soul these words explode

Chorus