10 years ago

Halloween has never been a holiday I've enjoyed. Mainly because it's overall purpose is to be scary and I am a big fat chicken. However, 10 years ago today I found a reason to love it. My sophomore year at Auburn I dressed up in overalls and a plaid shirt to go to a Halloween Party last minute with some friends. There was a guy there that I had met in choir and he was good friends with one of my friends so we were going to make an "appearance'. After getting to the party it didn't take long for my fickle self to forget him completely because standing on the porch in a leisure suit playing guitar and singing was a HOTTIE! After I saw him sit and play the piano as well I knew he was something special. Thankfully he noticed me too and a little romance started that has lasted 10 years and is still going strong.

The funny thing is that technically we met 11 days before this night. Zach remembers me from a birthday part I attended with some guy friends and he says we were introduced that night. It wasn't until after we had been dating for a few weeks that I knew this and I still don't have vivid memories from it. I am so thankful that he remembers me though and so beyond blessed that a third of my life has been spent with this amazing guy!

I was listening to a song the other day that made me think of us together. It is of course a Sara Groves song because I swear she's inside my head writing my thoughts and life!

TWICE AS GOOD
Sara Groves

when I am down and need to cry till morning
I know just where I am going
when I'm in need of sweet commiseration
to speak out loud

raise a glass to friendship and to knowing
you don't have to go alone
we'll raise our hearts to share each others burdens
on this road

with every burden I have carried
with every joy it's understood
life with you is half as hard
and twice as good

with my good news your dancing on the table
babies born to celebration
the joy of life oh what a sweet communion
shared with you

I know we're growing older
can you imagine what that will bring
it's all a mystery to me now
but this one thing

will be half as hard, and twice as good

sunday song

1. Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
   Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
   Jesus ready stands to save you,
   Full of pity, love and pow’r.
   • Refrain:
     I will arise and go to Jesus,
     He will embrace me in His arms;
     In the arms of my dear Savior,
     Oh, there are ten thousand charms.
2. Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
   God’s free bounty glorify;
   True belief and true repentance,
   Every grace that brings you nigh.
3. Come, ye weary, heavy-laden,
   Lost and ruined by the fall;
   If you tarry till you’re better,
   You will never come at all.
4. View Him prostrate in the garden;
   On the ground your Maker lies;
   On the bloody tree behold Him;
   Sinner, will this not suffice?
5. Lo! th’ incarnate God ascended,
   Pleads the merit of His blood:
   Venture on Him, venture wholly,
   Let no other trust intrude.
6. Let not conscience make you linger,
   Not of fitness fondly dream;
   All the fitness He requireth
   Is to feel your need of Him.

'glow'timate

A large group of YoungLifers play ultimate frisbee on Thursday nights and Sundays for fun and outreach. Zach plays most Sunday afternoons but has only played on Thursday one other time. Last night they had a special ultimate that they called "glow"timate. The field was pitch black due to the shorter days coming and all the players were wearing glowsticks and throwing a lit up frisbee. Zach could not resist being a part of the game so the boys and I went to watch them for a bit. Their favorite part was getting to play with the glowstick necklaces and bracelets. Micah was quite good at spinning them :)

jack o lantern

We carved our very first jack o'lantern this week. Micah and Connor helped pick it out from their pumpkin patch at school. Micah drew up the design. I somehow got the task of cleaning the majority of it out. Zach got all horror movie with his knives and carved away. Two little boys LOVED the experience :)

37 weeks

According to babycenter.com...

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

In 3 weeks (more or less) our 3rd son will enter our family in a more tangible way :) In many ways we're ready, in many more we're not! There is so much that is 'almost' done. Which isn't the easiest thing for me. I am one that likes things completed! My list is officially made for all the little things left to do, but lots of little things add up to a lot of time. I am quite sure it will get done though so I'm trying to just ignore the "have to have it done now" part of my brain.

In pregnant lady news, I'm actually feeling pretty good. Except for the normal things like being a little sore whenever I'm walking or standing up a lot and needing/liking help being hauled up off the floor, that miserable feeling isn't present yet and hopefully I can get away without it at all.

Last night we took Maternity/Family pictures. Leslie came with us to help keep an eye on the boys whenever Zach was taking a picture of me and then to take the pictures whenever Zach was in them. They turned out great! Zach is not done editing but here is one picture to give you a preview. I can't wait to share them :)

sunday song

Satisfy Us

Mike Kinnebrew

Satisfy us Lord

with your tender mercy

that we may rejoice

that we may be glad

all our days

For in your presence

is fullness of joy

and in your hands

are pleasures forever

the flash

Last night Micah put on one of his costumes that he calls his Flash outfit. His amazing daddy told him he was going to take a picture of him running and then set the camera so that when he ran by he was nothing but a blur. I have never seen a face that excited!! He could not believe he was that fast! He must have run in and out of the room 30 times and each time he asked if we could see him. So cute!

Of course Connor needed a turn too!

lil pumpkin's shower

Sunday evening my awesome friends here in Conyers through baby brother and I a shower. It was fall/pumpkin themed :) The food was delicious, the fellowship wonderful and the friendship overwhelmingly awesome! The majority of the pictures are me eating or smiling at a cute gift. We got some great stuff and I've already made my list of the little things I need to get before he comes. Which isn't far!

So just to let you know, I almost cried after I opened my first gift because it kind of hit me that I'm having another baby in 4 weeks. Obviously I knew that but I hadn't had the opportunity to really stop life and focus on him. Opening his first gift definitely put it on the forefront of my mind. I thought I was ready. I'm not ready yet. I can't wait for him to be here and to meet him and see what he looks like but my mind hadn't quite gone to the taking care of a baby and two big boys thing and for that I'm not ready. Of course I don't think there's any way to prepare for that change. In the meantime I'm praying for each of us to have an easy transition to a family of 5 and ask that if I ever pop into your mind you'd pray for us too!

pumpkin patch

On Saturday we took our annual trip to Southern Belle Farm for their pumpkin patch extravaganza. It's not really called extravaganza but I added it because it's oh so fun and there's so much to do! This is the 4th year we've visited and it's always so much fun. This year I was particularly thankful that baby brother wasn't due for another month because it was great being able to enjoy it with Micah and Connor without having a newborn to care for as well. The Cardozas, Millers and Moons joined us and it was seriously one of my favorite trips yet!

Micah and Natalie tag teaming the goat feeder

Micah and Bella checking out the chickens

Connor swing on the horse swing

Zach and Connor staring at the field of corn.

I can only imagine what they were talking about.

In line for the tunnel slide.

Our family picture on the hayride.

The pigs swam during the pig race this year.

Micah FINALLY rode the cow train. Every other year he's been too scared/nervous!

Connor's face started the ride like this but ended quite smiley :)

Connor didn't like the big jumpy pillow because "the big kids bounce too high". Instead he bounced on the inflatable horse.

Bounce, bouncing away!!!

My favorite thing about all the pictures is that in most of them there are friends in it somewhere. So blessed to have amazing people to make memories with!!!