Sunshine fun

Finally the weather here in Ohio is warming up!! Woo hoo! Its been a chilly Spring for the most part but lately it has been heating up. Which the kids are loving! 

I have been in major Spring cleaning mode around  here. It doesn't help that it seems every pregnancy I experience a strong adoration to the smell of many household cleaners. I have my favorites that have been permeating through our house a lot lately. I absolutely LOVE the smell of Gain laundry detergent and softener! I can not even fully put into words what the smell does to me. Its just simply amazing. I actually get excited to do laundry so much that I walk around our house seeking out something to wash for the purpose of smelling it. My favorite moment is right when the item is being dried and is at its dries but still hot from the dryer. I could bury my nose in that forever. Yes,  my hubby thinks I am crazy as I try pushing the clean hot laundry  into his face and asking him to smell the freshness too. :) My laundry room is the best smelling room in the house to me but every room smells quite amazing and clean. Just ask my hubby. :) 

My other scent obsession is the smell of Glade Clean Linen. I have just about everything Glade has made in the Clean Linen scent. All the rooms get an occasional spray down of the air freshener, the carpet gets the powder scent treatment, I have the solid air fresheners in just about every room, and even my van has the Clean Linen aroma. I have a can of spray and several of the car fresheners in the scent in the van at all times. 

Just when you thought I couldn't be any nuttier, I actually love cleaning in general right now. Using bleach to clean the bathrooms and windows etc is fun to me. I like the smell but not as much as my Gain and Clean Linen. I just plain love the smell of clean. At least my house is clean and smelling quite lovely. I know its probably a nesting thing but oh well. I enjoy it right now, though my body doesn't. Ugh, so much aches and pains but its all worth it. 

We're loving that after about 3 years of Scott's treatment our lawn is looking pretty great this year. Minimal weeds, pretty green and really thick and full feeling on your toes. Almost therapeutic walking on it. At least I think so. Arleigh seems to enjoy walking on the grass barefoot too.

Hubby's Graduation!

Very proud of my hubby for graduating and getting his bachelor's in Organizational Management!! He worked so hard for this day! Just so excited to see where the Lord leads him and our family in the future with this new degree added to his list of knowledge and qualities. 

I am 32 weeks almost 33 weeks in this this picture taken after his ceremony. My mom was gracious enough to watch our wild kiddos while we were at his ceremony. Feeling quite miserable with back pain and aches of all sorts but thankful. Not much longer now. In fact, only 4 weeks to be exact. I have my csection on June 4th!! Can't wait to meet and welcome this new little lady into our family! :)

Sad times

This week has brought about so much sadness throughout the country and parts of the world with the bombing at the Boston Marathon. Such devastation has been weighing on my mind. Hearing of a little boy who lost his life far too soon, from a mother's perspective at least. Seeing pictures of the debris, blood and wounded lives has been the thing of nightmares.
Along with this terror, sadness and suffering has been circulating my church body. So many dealing with sickness, death, and spiritual obstacles. Its enough to cause one to go down the path of depression. A time to be thankful for the blessings we have in this life no matter how small and a time to bear the burdens of our brethren and scoop them up in loving arms.
Encouragement is essential.
In the midst of so much suffering I wrote a little poem. Nothing too profound or great. I like to try my hand at poetry on the side and God usually sees fit to bring me inspiration through difficult times.

Here goes....

Sorrows come and sorrows go but the love of the Lord can never be stole.
Waters may rise and the clouds may roll. Surely these trials will take their toll.

It is folly to think to steal heaven without a bruise or scar. Take comfort among this pain as the Lord promises He's never far.

The heaviness of this time shall soon pass. 
Trust only in the Lord, burdens on Him alone we cast.

At times it feels as though this dark shall never lift. 
Walking alone feeling like God had just set us a drift.

Crying out to Him with a thousand tears, wondering if He sees or hears.

Right when the blackness threatens to engulf us and steal all hope away. God will restore what was broken, sealing His love was never at bay.

Like withered roots His comfort and mercies will rain down. In Him once again perfect peace will be found. 

Just a short little poem.

Praying for those affected in Boston and for my dear church family. Grace, mercy and peace be unto you.

Happy Spring! Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!! :)

It's been a while since I last posted but I wanted to share some spring pictures I took of the kids this year.......

She is getting to be a "big" little girl 

Walking all over the place now

Love this picture of him

He is a wild boy

So handsome!

Sure do love my kiddos! Hope you like the pics! Not too bad for an amateur with a regular camera....gotta love Photoshop! :)

Still thinking of names for this new baby girl but I will post as soon as we decide! Only 10 more weeks! Yikes, its coming up quick! :)

In The Flood

I wanted to make a post today about a dear friend of mine from church and her family.

Whoever God see fit to stumble across my blog at whatever point in time no matter what the circumstance this is really pressed upon my heart right now and I wanted to share it with you.

Some of the people that see my blog have lost loved ones and some of those loved ones were very young, very tiny, babies. Some of you may be grieved mothers, fathers or just family members. Some of you may be struggling, some may have been walking roads far more difficult then mine has been thus far. I have witnessed first hand how God uses so much to touch the lives of others and how our struggles and sufferings is how God brings about much change. Change in ourselves and change in other people. These changes are incredible transformations that bring about sensitivity and compassion. It is a beautiful thing to see or feel God working in your heart even at times when He feels it necessary to break it for a while.

Right now, my friend Cat's heart is broken.

You see my friend's heart has been broken in the same way once before and never fully healed before it was broken again. My friend has endured the loss every mother fears and she has felt that pain twice. Her last loss was just yesterday as she delivered a beautiful baby boy that had Trisomy 18, a  deadly chromosomal defect. I have another friend who has lost a baby to this devastating diagnosis. Her name is Kim and you can visit her blog here. Cat's son, baby Josiah, lived for about an hour. Just long enough to visit with him for precious moments before he passed away from his mother's arms and into Jesus's hands. Cat and her family are heart broken yet again as God has taken another baby away from them. Through their pain, though, I must make mention of how incredibly strong and encouraging they have been. They have given such great testimony and witnessing and I thank God for that! They rest in God knowing that this is His will but they are in much need of prayers, thoughts and support.

No matter when you are reading this post, whether its weeks, months, or even years from this day I just ask for you to say a prayer for this sweet family.

There is far too much to type to explain my friend's whole story but I implore you to visit her blog: http://owenpaulmarx.blogspot.com/

Also her story can be seen again here at: http://alittlebirdie.org/marx

Below is a video put together of the loss of Owen......(please mute the blog music at the bottom of the blog to hear the video best)



Please be in fervent prayer for my dear friends. They are in great need of it right now.

Thank you!

A Valentine's Surprise!

        Yes that's right! We are indeed pregnant again with #3!!! Due June 25th but will arrive in early June. This little girly was a big surprise! We were not planning on having another baby just yet but God had other plans. We are very thankful!
          I was wanting to do a family picture with the banner but alas it wasn't mean to be, but I am wanting to do a professional nice family picture. We haven't had one done since Arleigh came along. So I hope to be posting one up here soon!

Please keep us in prayer for a happy & healthy pregnancy & baby! Thank you!

Bless the Lord

      I had to share with anyone reading this blog this song that I have found so beautiful and encouraging. The artist, Laura Story, has such a sweet voice that is just so gentle to the ear. I love her music. Her song, Perfect Peace, has helped me through a very tough trial in my life.

      It was so good to listen to her sing about how even though God may not calm the storms around me that I can rest in Him and He will give me perfect peace a midst the war around me. It was a huge encouragement and so helpful to turn that song on and let it just minister to me. I love songs like that. They are full of God's truth and go deep. Any way, if you've not heard of Laura Story or her song, Perfect Peace, then I encourage you to give her a listen. I don't think you will be disappointed.

     My reason for this post was to share a new song of hers that I heard the other day. It is such a beautiful song and just felt like sharing. Hope you like it. :)

Bless the Lord by Laura Story

You give and take away for my good
For who am I to say what I need?
For You alone see the hidden parts of me
That need to be stripped away.

And as You begin to refine
I'm learning to let go and rely
On One who walks with me
As hard as it may be,
You're teaching me all the while to say:

Bless the Lord, oh my soul
All that's in me bless Your name
Forget not Your power untold
Not Your glory or Your fame
For You came to heal the broken
To redeem and make me whole
Bless the Lord, oh my soul

Lord, You give and take away for my good
For who am I to say what I need?
For You alone see the hidden parts of me
That need to be stripped away.

And as You begin to refine
I'm learning to let go and rely
On One who walks with me
As hard as it may be,
You're teaching me all the while to say:

Bless the Lord, oh my soul
All that's in me bless Your name
Forget not Your power untold
Not Your glory or Your fame
For You came to heal the broken
To redeem and make me whole
Bless the Lord, oh my soul

Though my faith may falter, my strength may fail
I pray for eyes to see the richness of Your mercy shown to me!

Bless the Lord, bless the Lord...

Bless the Lord, oh my soul
All that's in me bless Your name
Forget not Your power untold
Not Your glory or Your fame
For You came to heal the broken
To redeem and make me whole
Bless the Lord, bless the Lord
Oh my soul, oh my soul

Bless the Lord, bless the Lord

~ Scroll to the bottom of the blog to turn off the rolling blog music. Sorry :)