Christmas in October

I decided I wanted to play around a little bit with adding things to my blog, like pictures. Also, thought this was a fun one to post, since it is all of the family and kind of a fun story. My parents came to visit us for a couple weeks during October. We decided it would be fun to celebrate Christmas with them while they were here. It is really hard and expensive to travel in December, so it will be a rare occasion that we will be able to celebrate together at Christmas time. We set up the tree and some of the decorations. The kids had a blast helping. We turned on the Christmas music, and planned a special meal. It was awesome. It felt so nice to share that time of giving to each other, without the commercialism and busyness that seems to permeate the Christmas season. Have to say it helped the budget a little bit to, spreading out the gift-giving. We moved the tree to a back room and went back to enjoying fall, but I wouldn't have traded that special time with my parents and kids for anything.

And Baby Makes Three...

Yes! I am pregnant with our third child. I'm six weeks along and in the throes of all the side effects of pregnancy. We are extremely excited and blessed to be having another baby. We knew it was God's timing for our family. Wow am I exhausted, though. I remember being tired with my last pregnancy. Lilia was only 18 months when Benjamin was born. But the level of exhaustion I feel seems way beyond that. I know we have a lot more things going on now. A growing family brings much more activity. Somehow I feel at peace(most of the time) even though my house is quite the mess, my family is eating much more convenience food, and I generally have a hard time doing much of anything during the day. After a couple go-arounds of pregnancy, I've finally come to realize how quickly this season comes and goes. I truly do look forward to all the milestones and moments that a growing baby inside of me will bring. There is definitely not the same focus like I had with my first baby, but still there is such a specialness to this time. I can't wait to meet this little person who God is forming inside of me and all the plans and purposes He has for this little life.

I guess I better get writing since I know I have readers now. ;)

Well, it has been a while since my last post. Sometimes I struggle with what to share on here. Sometimes I tend to be very philosophical. Then at other times, my posts seem to be about simple, everyday things. Maybe I will find a happy medium in my writing. Or maybe I'll realize that life is full of all ends of the spectrum and it is ok to write about all of it.

My special thought for today has to do with a realization I had during worship at church today. Life around us has been pretty crazy lately with a couple of friends dying way before it seems should have been their time. There's been some major struggles come up with the ministry we work with. Not to mention all the instability in our country in general. Throughout some of this turmoil, the amazing thing I have experienced is the "peace that passes understanding" that God promises us in Philippians. The realization I had today was about where the Lord has brought me. For a long time I struggled with the need to do something significant. To really impact people for the kingdom of God. The problem was that I felt discontent when I didn't see it happening the way I thought it should. He has brought me to a point where I don't have to be anywhere or do anything beyond where He has me right now. I only need to be obedient to Him and His word. I am so thankful for the contentment I've found in this place.