Ties That Bind

There's nothing stronger than family in my book. But sometimes there's that special family member that you just connect with. That one person that even though many miles or years may separate you, you just "click" and have a closeness that no one can explain.

For me, that person is my Grandma Lil.

I had the priveledge of "surprising" her last month for her 90th birthday. Doesn't she look amazing for 90??

The thing I love about her is that even though I'm in Texas now and she's in California, it never has mattered. We talk every Monday on the phone. In high school, I'd go over every week to her house and she'd listen to me practice my French, and my grandpa would help me with my Calculus homework.

And she reads my blogs.....everyone.... (thanks grandpa, for printing them out for her!)

As I was driving home last night from my dad's house, I was overwhelmed with thanksgiving for her and the legacy she has given our family. She's definately taught me so much - TRUE lovingkindness, self sacrifuce, gentleness, and above all, she embraces anyone that walks through her door.

I just wanted to say "Thank you, Grandma" - for always being that special person in my life. I love you so much more than I could ever say.

New hobby....

I know, I know.... as if I didn't have enough to do right now with the start of school just a few weeks away....

Well, I have been running my math blog (www.mathnspire.net) for quite sometime and I've stumbled upon using Photoshop CS5 to make some pretty neat little custom clipart for my classroom next year....

And so now I am making little toy bin labels for my playroom for the kids:

What do YOU think about it?? There's going to be some that say "cars", "dolls", "blocks", etc... I think it's pretty cute!

16 Weeks - Update

The last three weeks, I've felt great! Aside from my recent dental procedure, which gave me "dry socket", I really have nothing to complain about because I don't have to deal with morning sickness anymore!

I am currently 16 weeks along, which means that at our next appt. in August we will find out the gender of baby #5 (at 20 weeks - which is also the half-way point). Baby is doing great and I've recently felt it doing somersaults inside at night, which as annoying as it can be at times, is a blessing because I know that the little bean is healthy and active.

Here's a side-profile view of the growing little one - I tend to not "pop" until 18 weeks or later, so sometimes I still forget I am pg!

One of the amazing things with this pregnancy is the fact that we have to step into such a blind, God-trusting faith for our needs. It's funny to me to see the reactions of people around me when I tell them that we are having our 5th baby and we have no baby stuff or a car for transport when the baby is born. I get reactions from excitement to see what God's going to do to ones of sadness and regret for us.

I'm sorry, but God says that EVERY CHILD is a blessing (and an inheretance) from the Lord. And the neat thing is that with every child, He has stretched our income, grown our hearts, and grown our faith in Him.

In church yesterday, I heard a qute that really stuck with me from our pastor's brother. He commented on how in America God has really become more of a "convienece" to us and not a need as in other countries.... There's a ton of truth in that. I felt so convicted in my own heart because it is so easy to think "I've got this, God." Then He reminded me of the promises He spoke to me concerning this baby and how I may trust Him right now, but did I actually believe He could provide those things for us???

Well, yes! I had to reassure my heart, and sometimes I have to do it often.... But God is always faithful. It may not be in our timing, but it is in His.

So, as I sat in service yesterday, Jason and I locked eyes and we knew that God was reminding us that "He's got this".... and He sure does....

Because this is what was waiting in the parking lot for us after second service:

Yes, that's a 2003 Dodge Caravan that seats...SEVEN..... One of my many "concerns" when I talked with God many months ago in trying to convince him that we "couldn't" have 5 kids....

Someone wanted to blesss us with this van - at no cost to us other than the insurance! And how we still doubt what God can do for us!!!!

What are some things you need to remind yourself that God will do in HIS timing?? He hasn't forgotten, and He won't.... don't abandon your dreams that God has for you.

1st Trimester Update

I really am not showing that much, it was the pants button sticking out....LOL

We've finally reached the end of the first trimester and I will have to say it's been a rough ride. I guess I was spoiled with my last three being easier and not having to deal with morning sickness or anything really. This time.... not so much. Let's just say brushing my teeth made me sick :( 

But - the light in all this??

I really had to learn to apply Proverbs 3:5,6 - "Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways awknoledge Him and He will direct your paths".

There were days where I am sure the kids watched cartoons and movies all day. There were days where I had to pull over because I didn't want to get sick in the car. There were days that all I could do to keep my eyes open was feel like a zombie. But God heard my cry for strength each and every time I cried out to Him. So why didn't I do it more often? Maybe because when things start going well, we do tend to think we got this. How quickly we forget where we've been and who got us out of where we are.

All I know is that without God the road through the first trimester could have been SO much worse! I did have some awesome days where I felt like myself and I could get so much done and play with the kids. I am definately looking forward to more of those days as I move into the "honeymoon" phase of this journey.

I did get to see the little bean yesterday at my monthly doctors visit. It is growing right on track and even "waved" at us during the ultra sound. We still have no names yet, although I think once we find out the gender we will be able to narrow down some choices.

Baby "waving" hello

God is so good and the road He's set before us has been good. He never said it would be easy, but He did say that He would give us strength for each new day. And that He has - whenever I've asked for it.

Don't forget the road you've been on and how you've traveled to where you are now. Look back and remind yourself of the goodness of God. It shines bright in the dark.

7 = Perfection

A week or so ago I had a strange dream. I dremt that we were going to have 5 kids. It was one of those dreams in which you feel like it is real. I remember arguing with God over this (like I can even argue with Him, anyways?!). I remember telling Him that I REALLY don't want any more kids - I am content with four - and it's an even number. I remember going through all the logical reasons as to why we can't have another one....

• our truck seats six, not seven
• we gave ALL our baby stuff to others in need
• four is a nice, even number - no one is left out on a roller coaster
• Life is good, comfortable, and pleasant right now

As I was trying to talk some reason in to God during my dream, He reminded me that His plans are bigger than mine, and what if...just what if.... this child was the one that God used to bless our family because we were able to TRULY trust in Him and not lean on what we "know" or "think we know".....

He had a point there. I did feel prepared with the other four and isn't always loke God to bring you WAY out of your comfort zone to show you how much more YOU can actually do?? And the blessings that come from FAITH and stepping out in trust!!!

So, I woke up and chalked my dream up to an "ok God, you've got my attention - I will trust what ever plans you have for us."

I didn't think He was serious....

Here's the irony in all of this. Not only did I have a dream about this, but then later that week, a friend of mine came up to me during our youth group and asked me if I was pregnant. I know people kind of expect it from us, but I thought to myself - "I am never wearing this shirt again!"

Then on Thursday, I made an appt. with my OB for my yearly appt. She is AMAZING, and so she's usually booked 6 months + in advance. The nurse there said they JUST had a cancellation and that I can come in in the beginning of June... Cool! Little did I know that the appt. would be for a different reason.

So, yes, you've probably guessed - we are going to become a family of seven. It's an excited, scary, awesome journey that I can't wait to see play out.

Did you know that 5 means grace and 7 means perfection?? I can say that I feel our family will be complete!

Springtime

I'm going to write a post later on my spring break... it was a beautiful learning time for our marriage and I love how God shows up even bigger than you expect in the midst of brokeness.....

But for now, I want to share with you some pictures I was able to take of the kiddos in the Texas bluebonnetslast week.... I didn't get as many as I would have liked of the older two kiddos, but they were having too much fun running around! Isn't springtime awesome??

New Year's Eve... just a tad late ;)

We usually stay home on New Year's Eve as we have a dog who is not so fond of all the fireworks that go off around the neighborhood. There were a LOT of fireworks this year. I am thinking it was because we weren't allowed to have any on the fourth of July because of the drought.....At any rate, we hung out with our next door neighbors and some of their friends. Jason was the hit of the night, lighting fireworks for all the kids. Can you tell their amazement?

 It's noce to live in a state where you are allowed to personally shoot off fireworks. I can only imagine the stupid things people in CA would try to do... The fireworks we got were cool and not too dangerous. :)

 The girls liked the lights, but not the sounds. Jenna stayed the whole time in the garage drawing on their whiteboard. Occasionally she went inside for a snack...

All in all, we had a ton of fun and didn't have to worry about crazy people on the road because when kids got tired, we just had to walk across the lawn to our house!

PS - LOVE our house still!

Take the Stage

I know it's been a while.... okay, more like a couple months since my last blog post.... I HATE that I haven't written lately, because we have been doing so much as a family! Sometimes it seems like too much as obviously I haven't had time to post all the fun things we've been up to. Well, here's one of many blog updates....

Take the Stage...

Jenna has always had a passion for music, but she was just so stinkin' cute this morning as she draped her blanket over the picnic table and grabbed my hair brush to sing to the radio. It was too cute. I tried to get a video of her, but she wasn't as cute as when she thought no one was watching,... Here's a little video of her an Julianna rockin' out;

Caught on Camera

I FINALLY caught Jayden walking on camera tonight. Seems he doesn't like walking much, but wants to go straight to running....Guess he's got three older siblings to catch up to!

Here he is on video:

Meaning

I truely believe that children are a blessing from the Lord. That is the reason why I've named my blog what I've named it. "Made From Above." Children show us how to be more Christ-like and how to love unconditionally.

I can't imagine losing one of them.

I can't imagine life without any of them to make me smile or challenge me.

But a dear friend of mine and Jason's has to "suck it up" and be strong for her other kids.

There was a news segment this morning about a little girl that was hit while playing with her brother.... I didn't make the connection...

Until I saw her status this morning on facebook and read the newest blog post...

Tears started flowing as Julianna is a few months younger than Aimee is. I remembered bringing them dinner when she was born and learning how to manage a "bigger than average" family from her as she has raising six kids down to a science.

I thought of how I would feel if one of my children had suddenly been "taken" from me a week after his/her birthday and I started to feel a bit of anger....

Then I remembered this: when we are absent from this world, we are present with the Lord. Although her family here will always feel a hole and a missing piece, she is now whole and God is going to do something AMAZING through this tragedy. Hard things come our way to strengthen us and to give us an even more powerful testimony.

You might feel helpless, sorrow, grief, anger, whatever....but remember even in a short three years of a person's life, a HUGE impact can be made on the people around......

I felt a challege to myself.... How am I going to impact the world around me? I have a quote in my classroom and I am going to follow it this year: "Be the change you want to see in the world." There's too much sorrow, greed and overall moral decline. I'm going to be the light that I saw little Aimee have already; at such a tender age of just three years old.

Thank you, Aimee for teaching me so much in your short little life. I know your mom and dad are proud of you! :)