Summer Reading...

So I just got home from Baker Books and picked up a few things that I think I could read this summer... on is this

Book Description
....I fear this might cause you considerable grief...But Julius was right, you deserve to know the truth. A fictional narrative written in a memoir format and highlighted by unique chronological symbols, Witness is Mary Magdalene¿s story of how she came to know Jesus and became one of His closest friends. A great tool for witnessing.

I read a few pages and am hooked already!

Another one I got (was on sale for CHEAP) was this one...

Book Description
Now available in hardcover, 90 Minutes in Heaven is the runaway bestseller about one man’s experience with death and life. As Baptist minister Don Piper drove home from a conference, his car collided with a semi-truck that had crossed into his lane. Piper was pronounced dead at the scene. For the next 90 minutes, he experienced the glories of heaven, where he was greeted by those who had influenced him spiritually, and he experienced true peace. Back on earth, a passing minister who had also been at the conference felt led to pray for the accident victim even though he was told Piper was dead. Miraculously, Piper came back to life, and the pleasure of heaven was replaced by a long and painful recovery. For years Don Piper kept his heavenly experience to himself. Finally, friends and family convinced him to share his remarkable story. An inspiring and encouraging account, 90 Minutes in Heaven continues to touch and comfort millions of people around the world as it offers a glimpse of inexpressible heavenly bliss.

And the other one I got which I'm excited to start on is a study by Beth Moore called "A Woman's Heart: God's dwelling place". Ever since BSF has gotten done I haven't made nearly enough time to study my bible and I've heard amazing things about Beth Moore, so thought I would give it a try! Get my head back where it should be hopefully! I totally know that God was leading me to this book too, I was looking at all my options of hers and kept going back and forth and finally just grabbed this one and left... it wasn't until I got home and started looking through it more did I realize that it's on the old testament... not my favorite testament by far! I dread reading from the old testament, but this will be good for me, maybe it will make it easier, it will stretch me I'm sure!

So has anyone read any of these? Any reviews/thoughts?

Hopefully everyone had a great fourth... I will try to share some pics and stories of our day later, now I'm off to the grocery store and pick up the kids from church, goodness how I love this 2 1/2 hour break! (Don't get me wrong I love my kids, but my house is so so so quiet right now)!

Some layouts I've finished...

wooo hoooo! I finished something, I've kinda felt in a slump lately, but today it cracked and I can scrap again! I finished two of these tonight during my "Fishing" time (my equivilant of all of Matt's time away, holed up in my bedroom with the door closed), don't worry I didn't leave him with to much, the older kids were watching a movie and Elliot was close to bed, and I finished one this weekend after much scrapping time with it, I tried scrapping the "Dreams" one at least four times and didn't like any of them, still not sure about this one, but it will have to do until I get the urge to try again!

Journaling reads: Despite this face that sometimes feels so permenant, you truly do smile a lot. Your smile in turn always gives me a smile! Even when I'm crabby, you manage to make me smile! No matter how hard things get with you sometimes I love you so much and appreciate the smiles you give! I am so sad that this stage will someday pass and you won’t be as quick to just love me, I cherish the moments when you need me, as overwhelming as it is sometimes!

All credits for these layouts can be found at my gallery here: click

Forgive me if I take a little break from blogging soon, I feel like this blog is getting mundane and am not really sure where I want to go with it... maybe I will just stick with it the way it is for now and not take a break at all and one day you will just notice a "change", who knows! So indecisive, aren't I?

Have a great Tuesday! We are headed to the bakery in the morning, then Elliot and I get a little break from the kids while they attend Red Rover at our church (kinda an extension of VBS, twice a week for 2 1/2 hours), maybe we will go for a good walk if the weather holds out! As hungry as I've been I need to find some kind of excercise I can do (and running is out due to ankle pains)... biking might be good too!

All right, off now... got. to. sleep!

All about our trip...

So, I got there wednesday night around 8:00, Elliot was still up, but Matt said he had been doing great all day! And all in all he was wonderful during the day all long weekend. It was the nights that were terrible (oh, and naptime). Thursday was pretty cold so we decided to go into Traverse City to go shopping. We went downtown, to the mall and drove through the outlet mall. We got some popcorn at popkins, Landon and Bailey got Michigan colors and Matt and I got some yummy cheddar stuff! In the evening we went out for dinner at Boone's Long Lake Inn for some yummy (and expensive) steaks. Friday we decided to go swimming at the lake in the state park (Duck Lake), the kids had a great time, I ended up leaving early to go give Elliot a nap while it was quiet. Everyone came back from the lake that day with swimmers itch though, terribl swimmers itch. There is a picture below, but I don't think you can see the spots all that well, I would have thought they had chicken pox if Matt didn't have them too. Both kids were covered in spots from neck down! We tried calamine lotion and caladryl (calamine lotion with Benedryl in it). Not sure either one gave that much relief though. On Friday afternoon Mark and Meghan arrived with thier kids so my kids were very excited. Even Elliot was excited to see Parker! Saturday was Landon's birthday, after presents (he got a digital camera, xbox game, basketball cards, and a DDR dance pad) we decided to go swimming in the Traverse City Bay at the state park there, absolutely beautiful and clean. The water was kinda chilly, but the kids didn't care, they played mostly in the sand anyway. They were trying to fill up a hole with water and they found a "balloon" on the beach and were filling that up and carrying it to the hole... let's just say the balloon they found wasn't round, it was long, we had quite a laugh out of that one! When we got back the kids had a water fight with water balloons, we made pizza hobo pies and some fruit ones and then I headed home (see previous post). Now Elliot is happily sleeping in his own bed, I have to say that he grinned so large when we walked in the door, he was trhilled to be home and in his own bed! Matt adn the kids will be home soon, so I'm trying to get a little downtime as I know I will be busy unpacking and cleaning when they get home!

As far as how I've been feeling, I've been GREAT! Still just to good, I have to wonder if everything is ok, but I have to trust that it is. I go to the doctor again next week, so hopefully we can hear a heartbeat then and I will be reassured! Hope you all had a great weekend, enjoying this wonderful, not to hot weather!

Home SWEET home!

So we ended up leaving early due to changes in times of visitation for my uncle. Long story... so anyway, I left Wednesday afternoon (not to much time alone at all) and I came home early too... our precious little boy didn't sleep last night. Sleeping in general for him has been difficult, naps are far and few between and short when they did happen and bedtime was a nightmare... specifically last night. He was up from 3am until 5am... did you catch that 3-5! In a camper...meaning we were ALL up! I finally put him in the car at 4 and drove around, then I didn't dare take him out of the car so I tried sleeping in the van with him... didn't work... finally got him inside and asleep, but at the loss of lots of sleep for myslef. Didn't want to do that twice in a row, so we headed home! It's kinda nice to be home early, I can start laundry and cleaning the house up more tomorow in the morning instead of the afternoon! Unfortunately the boy is upstairs driving me NUTS! He's screaming... I know it's just cuz he's tired, but there is NOTHING I can do anymore... he will have to sleep eventually, RIGHT???????? I will post more pics and fun from our trip tomorow!
Just wanted to add one FUNNY pic of the crabby little boy upstairs... he didn't look so crabby here, he looked pretty hilarious actually! He kept going after the camera!

Change of plans...

No, my change of plans doesn't include anything about baby... but thank you all for
the encouragement, both here and via e-mail! I appreciate all of you and your positive thoughts. Again today I feel really well, so of course I'm getting concerned again!

Today, my uncle (dad's brother) passed away. It was definately not unexpected, but it did happen fast. He abused his body for the past many many years with alcohol and it took it's toll. He has been in the hospital off and on (mostly on) for the past year and few months up in Lansing. I feel guilty because I haven't seen him in all that time, I thought about going up to the hospital today to see him one last time, but I wouldn't have made it in time anyway. He had just had enough pain and asked the doctors to let him go. I can't imagine what a decision that would have been, he has a 3(?) year old little boy that he hasn't seen but a few times in the past year or so and will never know his dad, that is probably the saddest part for me.

So... because of visitation and funeral events, my family will be heading to the campground tomorow and I will be staying home... ALONE! Not sure how that will all work out, a few months ago I would have loved some time alone, now I dread it! I seriously don't know what I will do for 24 hours by myself. I will leave for visitation on Thursday at noon probably (not exactly sure on times yet), stay for half an hour or so and then head 4+ hours north to the campground. But it was either this or come home from up north and go back all in one day... that's about 9 hours of driving in one day... way to much for me!

I know I need to go to Target and Gap, and I could have done that tonight, but I will wait until I'm bored tomorow instead. I am so not good by myself, never have been and probably never will be. I used to be so bad I didn't like to to go stores by myself even. I've improved and can at least do that now, but still like to have company. The night is going to be the worst and longest for me, but I may just rent a few movies and go to bed early! I will definately miss my kiddies though! Sooooo much! (Oh, and Matt too!) I'm so happy that he's a great dad though and more than willing to take on this task of camping (setting up camp no less) with three kids all by himself. Should be interesting! I'll update upon our return!

So... now a few pics...
First of all a pic for a challenge from Nancy Comelab's blog... to post a pic of a special pic we took just to remind us... well this is where I'm at in my life right now! A reminder of how special this baby #4 is... and I really truly do feel that way. I am getting better and better by the day. I think each day that I feel good I get more and more scared that something is wrong which in turn just makes me appreciate this child that much more! Maybe that is God's plan!

And, pics from Landon's party yesterday...

Celebrating Landon's ninth birthday with family! I can't believe I have a nine year old! CRAZY!


The Heelies he got from Grandma and Grandpa and D and Ange! He loves them! His birthday was filled with all things feet... tennis shoes, rollerblades and Heelies! and lots of other gift cards and money and stuff...
Elliot LOVED the cake! LOVED LOVED LOVED it! He was quite the ham when he saw everyone watching him!
Landon was feeding him, Elliot thought it was quite funny!



And, some pics from the post the other day that I couldn't access at the time...

The fish that Matt caught...
Landon loved tubing!
Well all, I'll probably be back tomorow night when I get bored enough, or maybe I won't... we'll see! Enjoy your weekends and if I'm not back tomorow, I'll be back Sunday or Monday!

Hindsight is 20/20

So looking back the signs were all there...and I even blogged about some of them...
"I slept for almost 2 hours, dreams and everything and here I am still tired!" From Fathers Day


Ha...and this one...
"Today I finally decided to get a bathing suit from Land's End, something that would hide my not so prego, but looks prego belly"


This one cracks me up...
"While at the picnic I had brought sunscreen and was putting it on anyone that asked, but in the chaos I forgot to put it on one important person...me! Keep in mind that I never used to burn, I could be white as winter, go to Florida, spend a day on the beach and get nicely brown... sometime during my pregnancy with number three the hormones changed and it only took about 5 minutes outside (sunny or cloudy, maybe even rainy) and I was lobster red, well I was hoping that would go away when Elliot was born, but no such luck!" From Thursday May 24


Oh, and this one...
"...the surgury was cancelled because my insurance wouldn't cover it. So, less than 12 hours before I had to be at the hospital, I found out that I didn' thave to go. Now, I had prayed about whether or not to have this surgury for quite a while, we are sure we are done having kids, but this would make it SO final!...God has a purpose and I may find out what it is... I HOPE that he will make his will clear to me, show me what the purpose of all of this is, but that isn't in my control!" From May 22

Definately never wanted this... way to close for me! Not sure how I will handle it, only with lots of prayers I'm sure! We were totally done, we were complete! This wasn't supposed to happen! I've been feeling nauseous, need to always have something in my stomach (which means lots of weight gain), brushing my teeth makes me gag (but no fear, I will continue despite the feeling), smells are definately stronger, I have been scatterbrained, and oh, so, tired!

So, if you haven't figured it out yet, I am prego AGAIN! Right now I'm not all that excited, but I'm sure once I've adjusted to the idea I will be ok. We just figure we've created two generations within our family (Landon and Bailey generation 1, and Elliot and baby, generation 2). I seriously am so worried about how I will cope, sometimes I can't even handle my one baby, much less two babies! So, yeah, lot's of tears and fears and prayers the last few days here at our home! Please keep us in your prayers!

I have a sign hanging on my wall that says "God doesn't give us what we can handle; God helps us handle what we are given." Oh how I pray that he helps me! HELP HELP HELP!

This little t-shirt is how we told our family...
(Oh, yeah, due date... Feb 14, so I'm only 6 1/2 weeks along, early to tell - YES, but I've never been good at keeping secrets!, although I can say I was more nervous to share this time!)

So... I"ve been preparing this post for about three days now, I will be uploading it tonight... and I've gotten a bit better, still not what I had planned, I'm scared out of my mind about how I will handle two kids under 16 months, will Elliot get enough attention, lots of different things, but I know I would be devestated if I lost this baby too. This morning I woke up feeling really great! Not nauseous, not tired (helps that it was 8:30), just great! But, that worried me... was everything ok? Prayed about it and guess what, God answered that prayer... I then was nauseous, and tired! And I had to get groceries (never been good at that while pregnant), but just the reasurrance was good, I would be sooooo incredibly sad if something happened!

Weekend Re-Cap

Friday:
Bailey ended up going camping with Maddie on Friday, she had a great time and was soooo proud that they made new friends (something Bailey isn't so great at)! Dimitri and Angela came over to our house while Mary and my dad went out for dinner. We had fresh salmon for dinner (caught that morning)! I just love a salmon dinner! Then we just hung out outside (such a gorgeous night), we played bean bag toss and just sat and enjoyed the kids. Ange and I did her nails and make-up too!

Saturday:
Matt slept in a little bit and then we just had a really really slow morning! Matt took the boys to the batting cage in the afternoon so I could rest a bit, then I went to pick up Bailey at the campground. After packing up the kids we dropped them off at my parents then we went out to friends to go for an early dinner. We ate at Pigion Lake lodge, the food wasn't bad, not sure I would recommend it though. It was nice that we were able to sit outside though! Then we launched the boat and went to the beach, played football, ate snack and just hung out. Then it was off to fish! We ended up catching two fish and got to hang out some more while we were out there. It was a fun night, enjoying a beautiful evening!

Sunday:
Church this morning, finale to vbs, all the kids (and some leaders) got up front to sing the songs that we learned at vbs that week. So cute. After church we laid Elliot down for a quick nap while we got the boat ready and packed up for a day at the beach! We launched the boat and met my parents at thier friends cottage on the lake so the kids could all hang out on the beach. We took the tube too for the first time. Landon got to go and i went too! I told Matt that he had to be extra gentle with me though, I'm petrified of any "big" water (bigger than a pool, especially big with fish inside). I didn't fall off, didn't even come close! It was just a relaxing ride! Elliot had a blast at the beach, playing in and eating the sand, he loved the water (until a wave got to big for him and scared him) and fell asleep in the boat on the way back into the channel! Getting the boat out of the water was a joke, it took forever, the launch was so busy and people didn't seem to notice that there was a place for those launching and place for those retrieving! It was craziness, no one had patience (including myself after a little while) and everyone wanted out! (I think we were all hungry, it was dinnertime after all)

Tomorow I have to get ready for Landon's birthday party at our house, we are doing hamburgers on the grill, so I need to make a trip to the store! His birthday isn't until Saturday but we won't be here for it so we are celebrating with family tomorow!

*****and your only getting one pic because I've been trying to open up my pics for about an hour now and having no luck, I'm exhausted and going to bed... NOW! I promise to be back tomorow with new pics... you definately won't want to miss these, I promise! :)

More Pictures...

Baseball pics

Lot's going on here...

So with VBS in full swing things are busy busy busy here! Dinner (and lunch for that matter) have been on the go all this week, doesn't help that we didn't have groceries of course. We have to be at church every evening by 5:45, and were there until 9:00, now that the week is winding down I'm getting exhausted! It has been fun though! The kids are great, the music is fun, the weather hasn't been that bad... I think I will bring my camera tonight to get some fun pics!

We had a call on our house the other day... nothing happened, but at least it was a call! I was excited! We really really need to sell this house, we NEED more space! I'm so sick of it! (Oh, and I want a house with a pool)

No huge plans this weekend, the kids are sleeping at my parents house Saturday night (or at least staying there for a bit), Matt and I are going out with some friends, we may go out on the boat, or go to the beach or fishing or something then out for dinner, maybe in saugatuck! Should be a good time!

Short post...back with pics later... enjoy!

Ahhhhhh, relief!

From the heat that is! The windows are open, humidity is gone, breeze is blowing, it's just wonderful! This is the BEST kind of weather!

VBS
Vacation Bible School started this week, fun stuff! Matt and I are crew leaders for fourth graders this year (Landon's grade). Definately much easier than the kindergarteners that we did last year! Last night was so hot though, games are outside and it was awful muggy and hot! Tonight Landon has his last baseball game so Matt will be crew leader by himself for a bit, we'll see how that goes! Landon and I will be there, just a bit late!

Fathers Day
Matt received his canvas yesterday that I ordered him, he said it looked really nice, it's hanging in his office, I have yet to see it, but will maybe post a pic once I do!

Running
I haven't mentioned anything about running lately, because I haven't been running. For some reason about two weeks ago my ankles started getting really weak. Steps are painful, running is unbearable and walking is starting to hurt even. It's getting worse so I finally made a doctors appt to get them checked, guessing it's nothing, but hopeing they can do something about my "nothing" pain! I tried running last night for a game at VBS and almost fell flat on my face!

Camping
So we leave in a week and a day to go camping (Heather are you reading this... can you believe it?). That came up really quickly. We are going up to Interlochen this year (did I mention all this already a while back?), Matt can't wait to go here. Should be a good time, we are going with one other couple on Wednesday and then two other couples will come up on Saturday, at least one with kids that my kids can play with! I need to start thinking about packing (just thinking though)

Layouts


And I will end this post with... "Way down upon the Swanee River" which my neighbor is playing on the keyboard... again! Don't you wish you could enjoy the sweet sound of a keyboard playing?????? I DON"T!

Happy Fathers Day

So, contrary to popular belief having 17 kids at one's house really is pretty easy. Especially when they are 5 and older! Really no entertaining to do, just had to regulate a few arguments here and there, play a few games when someone was left out for a minute, we kinda just visited with another couple that stayed! Give me 17 two year olds and I may have to run far far away! FAR AWAY!

And I said the other day that I had another thought to share... recently we found Bailey in the backyard by the train tracks (which is forbidden) eating black berries with the neighbors. Really the berries weren't harmful, but how did she know that (oh yeah, and the neighbor girl "told" her to eat them), so we told her not to eat berries again and that she absolutely could not go back by the tracks! End of story, right? No, not with my almost 6 year old, independent little girly! So after the party I was taking one friend of Bailey's home and she said, "Bailey was eating berries tonight"... the same ones I specifically told her not to eat! I was quite quiet for a while and let her friend get out of the car before talking to her about it. I'm seriously scared by this. This is quite a regular occurance for her, doing excatly what I tell her not to do! My mind flashed forward quite a bit to her being a teenager, and me telling her that drinking and driving or drugs aren't safe and her making sure to go do exactly what I tell her not to do, S-C-A-R-Y stuff! I'm petrified of the day she rebels and gets hurt, I love her just the way she is right now, what will I possibly do when she doens't listen to me and it's truly dangerous? How can I drill this into her head that she needs to listen to me? I talked to her about how when I tell her something it's because I want to keep her safe and she seemed to understand, but did she really?

Yesterday Matt was fishing and came home with five salmon! Yay! We went for dinner at some friends house last night, the kids played in the pool, we had a campfire, s'mores, fun times!

So, did you have a good fathers day? We did. Church this morning. I actually put Elliot in the nursery for the first time, which went really well suprisingly. May have to try it again next week. After church we went for lunch (desperately need groceries, been doing way to much eating out lately) at Ruby Tuesdays, then home to nap! I slept for almost 2 hours, dreams and everything and here I am still tired! Tonight we went for dinner at my parents house, while we were there Landon got to fish in the "pond", we had steaks on the grill and ice cream sundae's for dessert, yummy!

Isn't Bailey's skirt the cutest? Found it at Old Navy yesterday, Love It!

OK, off for now! Have a great week! (Oh, yeah, and picture count so far (almost two weeks with camera) 2859, Matt is getting soooooooo annoyed)

Part B (Full of pics)

Bailey and her rockin' gymnastics skills...


Bailey & Kennedi with thier certificates from gymnastics...


Matt's salmon...


The kids at the pool...


Landon jumping...


Bailey jumping in the pool on Thursday...


Landon is happiest anytime there is a basketball nearby...


Just a cute pic of Bailey...


All the kids at the party...

Sorry about the sideways pics... can't fix that mostly b/c I'm just to lazy!

Part A

I feel like I've been gone for so long and so much has happened... so this could get long... sorry if I loose you! (Totally understand though)

So for my birthday we met Mary at DeBoer Bakery (that's not how they spell it, but I'm not sure of the dutch spelling) (not "& Cafe") for some yummy cinnamon rolls and muffins! THen the kids and I went to Target to look for a beach umbrella, no luck, but still spent money, then to Bed Bath & Beyond to get one (knew they would have one), unfortunately I didn't have my coupon and didn't have time to run and get it so full price it was, not that it was that much! THen off to gymnastics for Baileys last day (pics will follow in part B later), Matt suprised me and showed up to pick up Elliot and Landon which won him some BIG points! When I got home Matt was still cleaning fish but when he got done we went to the pool which the kids absolutely LOVED! Elliot had a ball even though his naps were cut so short (instead of the normal 2 naps totaling 5 hours he had one nap totaling 1.5 hours), we were still paying for it on Friday though. At night my parents took the kids and Matt and I went for dinner to Mongolian Barbecue, good but not near as good as last time I was there, while we were there I dropped a raw egg on the ground... little embarresing, but not nearly as bad as it could have been if they found out it was my birthday, when they would have sang to me around the grill! No thanks! After dinner we went to Meijers (on 28th street, set up was totally backwards and turned around, took for-ever) to get stuff for the party, then hope to pick up kiddies and put them to bed after they all did some cleaning (I was exempt b/c of my birthday, love those days). So all in all it was a good day, I got money from pretty much everyone and Matt's mom got me one of those bean bag yard games that I've been wanting Matt to make me for years, so I was excited about that! Matt got me an ipod a few weeks ago! I still ahve some money left (even after buying my bathing suit), so I will be going shopping hopefully soon!

Friday we were cleaning much of the day and preparing! I got my bathing suit on Friday which I'm still not sure about, I think I was expecting a miracle suit, I wanted to be supermodel skinny and for some reason it doesn't work that way... so I need to decide if I'm going to keep it yet! 6:00 was party time, we ended up with 17 kids here, less than I though, but still enough! It went pretty well, we kept it so low key, didn't plan any games or anything, just food and fun. They played the bean bag game, basketball, bocce ball, football, trampoline and just hanged out (pretty sure that's not a word, but I'm at a loss for an alternative right now). We did s'mores over the fire and then everyone left! The kids had a ball and really I think I could do it again every week (if food weren't so expensive) it was so easy! (see part B for pics later)

This morning Matt is out fishing, I just got off the phone with him and they already have 4 fish in the cooler and have lost three, so they are doing great, two more and they are at thier limit! I got a great suprise, Elliot got up for his bottle around 7:10 (which is about 40 minutes later than normal), then suprisingly went back to bed until... get this... 9:00! What a great kid!

Some more serious stuff...
I had to bring one girl home last night and was on my way home from her house, driving down 96th around 10:00, watching and waiting for deer (I hit one last year so I'm petrified now) when there was all of a sudden a blob in the other lane, I slammed on my brakes, my heart was beating out of my chest (like in cartoons), when I was slowed down a bit I realized that it was a kid riding his bike... wearing dark clothing no less! I was scared out of my mind! Why are some people so dumb?????????????

And you know what, I had one other thought, but I'm rambled enough, I may have even lost myself at this point I will save it for another day! Enjoy your weekend, I will be back with pics later today or tomorow!

Just wanted to share...

a few layouts while I take a break from getting ready for the party tonight!

Have a good weekend!