tomorrow...

Tomorrow is a VERY difficult day for my family, every.single.year. Especially for my sweet Mom and Dad. October 28, 1978 is the day that my 4 yr. old sister was taken to heaven. So, while knowing that she is in such a better place it is also HARD for my parents and family to face every.single.waking.moment. without her,even though it's been 31 years.

I never felt what they felt until I became a mother. I knew it was sad and it made me sad that they were hurting. I was sad because I never got to know my sweet sister. BUT, I never really got it until I gave birth to a sweet little bundle of pink named Claire and then her sister, Lily and brother, Drew. Now I KNOW. And, I use this, the end of October, to allow myself to truly feel someone else's pain. I make myself slow down and capture each little moment that God gives me and I tuck it away, I cherish it. Each little hug and kiss and story and laugh and even each tantrum!! I try to give thanks in the midst of it all...

This year, I invite you to join me. You will never know if this is your last laugh with your child. Your last coloring sheet. Your last battle over bedtime. Your last story time cuddled in your lap. Your last Fall. Your last Christmas. Your last good morning and good night.

You will never know.

So, squeeze your kids. LOVE them A LOT!!!! Shower them with love. Do something they want to do and don't look at your watch. Take a deep breath and just "BE"...... in the moment....because it could be your last.


Much love and many prayers for you all,

Julie

Of things hoped for....

A blog I try to read often because it is such an encouraging blog for mothers to read is this one. She has written a wonderful series on Biblical Motherhood and this post is just one in that series. I love the way she describes motherhood and leaving her legacy. I love the way she describes family, just as it should be, in my humble opinion. Have you ever considered just how you will treat your children's future spouses? Do you pray and prepare for them, even now?

She gave me some things to think about, that's for sure! Why don't you go on over and read for a bit? It will be time well spent. I promise!

Just numb...

*updated to add: I do continue to pray for the leaders of our country. In fact, now more than ever. I do not like the choice for President and I do not support this choice. However, I believe that God allowed him to become President for his own reasons. Whatever the reasons, and whatever he stands for, I must pray for him as I am told by my God to pray for the leaders of my country. Just wanted to clarify that. I don't hate Barack Obama. I am not a hater. I do, however, hate what his actions have done to the unborn of our country. And I will continue to stand against abortion and gay marriage and the list goes on.... I believe that God is placing us in this period as a time of trial. I believe that we will become stronger through this and I am no biblical scholar but I believe that we may very well be close to the end. Anyway, just my ramblings and thoughts. Thank you for continuing to read. And please, please, continue to pray fervently for this country. We all know that especially in these times, that it is extremely important.

Also, my husband has a post here that is well worth the read. It gives me hope and a reason to carry on. For I KNOW IN WHOM I TRUST. I KNOW WHOM I SERVE.

Hurting in my heart for this country,
Julie

Andrew Coy David....8 weeks old!

Our son. Our third child here on earth. Beautiful, calm, easy going baby of the family. Mama's little man. Daddy's buddy. Claire & Lily's baby doll. I love to watch you with your sisters. With Claire you smile and coo and try so hard to interact with her. She calls you her, "sweet sweet drew" and runs to your every cry. With Lily you kindly tolerate her rough loving! She loves you so much but she just doesn't know how to be gentle! =) We are teaching her though and she is becoming a great big sister, too. Very protective of her baby Drew! =)

I love to watch you lay in your bassinet and stare at your mobile. You love the Bach and Beethoven settings and the nature sounds of crickets and birds. You are most definitely mama's boy! Classical music is what I love best when I have a bad headache and I could go to sleep under the stars any night! You are so cute when you move your fists and feet and try to talk to the crickets!

Daddy's nickname for you is "chigger" just as he calls Claire "cricket" and Lily "lightening bug". You are chigger. And it fits you so well! =)

You are eating every 3 hrs. just about right on the dot and you take about 3 -1 & 1/2 hr. naps every day. You eat about 8 pm. go to sleep, wake up at 11:00 pm, eat, and sleep through until about 6 or 7 am. You are an excellent sleeper! Which helps Mama feel so much better and I am able to function so much better with good sleep. =)

Drew, you are just a very good, laid back baby. You bring a lot of peace to our lives. You are just so good and content most of the time! =) We love you, so much, Drew-bear, chigger, and we can't wait to see what wonderful plans our Lord has for your life! It is such a blessing to be your mother!

Lots and lots and lots of love,

Your Mommy

*the other day, we were in the grocery store and a man stopped us and said, "you certainly have a quiver full" "it is so nice to see people who are joyful with their children, you seem like very good parents". It felt so good to hear someone praise us for having children instead of the usual looks and even rude comments we get sometimes because our children are so close in age. I just wanted to share that to encourage all of you that have children. There are people that notice your hard work and even though that is not what's important (that people notice) it feels good to know that there are kind people out there who understand all of your hard work is for a purpose. Anyway, I just wanted to share that. It made my day! =)

URGENT PRAYERS NEEDED!

A young lady that we know, Brittany, just gave birth to twin boys, Justin & Richard. Richard was without oxygen for awhile because the placenta tore as Justin was being born. (very similar thing happened to Claire but Thank God, there was NO brain damage). Richard is thought to have some brain damage. They will not know the extent of it until Saturday. Please pray for Brittany and her boyfriend and their babies, especially, baby Richard. She is only 15 yrs. old and I will let you read the rest of the details here.

Thank you for your prayers. I know the family really needs that right now.

Love
Julie

(ps. Brittany is my nephew, Jack's half sister. Please pray for Jack, as well. He is trying to be very strong for his sister. She really has no father figure in her life. )