Baby boy is growing great! 3.3 pounds as of 9/9. His tummy was a little small but nothing to be overly concerned about. I have gained 13 pounds. PTL When I delivered Benjamin I had gained over 80 pounds and 60 with Grayson!
Official due date is November 21..... If the preeclampsia stays at bay (which I think it has started), the placenta has moved (which I think it has, will find out tomorrow), and a host of other things; I will be having an amnio at 36 weeks and if the lungs are good I will deliver the next day. Because of my age, I will not be allowed to stay pregnant any longer than 37 weeks. As you age the blood supply to the placenta and uterus is restricted which can mean death for the baby. So I am OKAY with the amnio. BTW the amnio may be moved sooner if things change.
Back to the preeclampsia, my feet have really started to swell and I can feel and hear my own heart beating like crazy. I have had traces of protein but nothing above the normal range. Time will tell.
A1C started out at 6.8 high side of beginning in control. It is now down to 5.2 which is normal. I asked (joking) if I could go off the insulin seeing as I'm normal. She rolled her eyes at me. lol
Next week starts twice a week office visits, some weeks it will be three times. I am glad I don't have to drive to Kalamazoo like I did with the boys. I have it all written down but I betcha I forget an appointment. I have pregnancy brain! One morning I took Benjamin's pills, and had to make my self throw-up to get them out. I forget to make several bulletin announcements. And sometimes wonder if I should check to see if I really wiped my butt.
Fetal Echo back in August was fine. They saw all but 2 vessels and said if they were abnormal there would be other heart issues showing up. The Cardiologist was comfortable with leaving it at that. Sent the report on to the Pediatrician, and if she agreed with him then no further testing is needed.
Back to May (I think) The scan on the brain and spinal cord showed it all closed the way it should the brain appears to be formed just the way it should have. No spina bifida or water on the brain.
So in 5-6 weeks, with God's mercy and grace, we will be loving on our new baby.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Baby Number 5
One of the nurses asked me this morning what pregnancy this was for me. When I said it was number 5, I was kind of shocked!! That is a lot of babies.
Things are going well. My blood sugars are good. A1C may not agree. :( Blood pressure was good, although I have been having some mild swelling. It better stay mild, I have no desire to do any bed rest this pregnancy. Heart rate 170. They transposed my weights so it looked like I gained 12 pounds this month. LOL Really I gained 3 pounds. Ultrasounds every month from here till the end. Thyroid checked out so-so. There is a small nodule/cyst on the right side. More blood work and another ultrasound in December.
Next ultrasound is June 15. I am excited for the boys to see the baby. Grayson thought is neat to hear the heartbeat this morning. Benjamin what to know what it is in a bad way. I am undecided. As with the boys we will not be telling you the name until the baby is born. If you really want to know I may take a bribe.
We are cloth diapering again. Dan is only contracted to work through September. So that's why we are CDing, on top of that it so much better for the earth and the baby. It was a struggle to decided at first but then when we sat down and talked about the price of diapers and wipes, and how long he could be jobless, and then going back to school well it was a no brain-er.
Things are going well. My blood sugars are good. A1C may not agree. :( Blood pressure was good, although I have been having some mild swelling. It better stay mild, I have no desire to do any bed rest this pregnancy. Heart rate 170. They transposed my weights so it looked like I gained 12 pounds this month. LOL Really I gained 3 pounds. Ultrasounds every month from here till the end. Thyroid checked out so-so. There is a small nodule/cyst on the right side. More blood work and another ultrasound in December.
Next ultrasound is June 15. I am excited for the boys to see the baby. Grayson thought is neat to hear the heartbeat this morning. Benjamin what to know what it is in a bad way. I am undecided. As with the boys we will not be telling you the name until the baby is born. If you really want to know I may take a bribe.
We are cloth diapering again. Dan is only contracted to work through September. So that's why we are CDing, on top of that it so much better for the earth and the baby. It was a struggle to decided at first but then when we sat down and talked about the price of diapers and wipes, and how long he could be jobless, and then going back to school well it was a no brain-er.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
4+1=5
I know my math facts!
What it really means is we are having another baby!
I had my 9 week 2 day ultrasound yesterday and we have a heartbeat. Baby measured 2.6cm. About the size of a grape. And looked just like it should. Thanks be to God! I have been a wreck.
I LOVE our high risk doctor. Dr. Jelesma, through Spectrum health. He was very up front explained everything, answered all of my questions, and reassured Dan. He asked if we had a church. I said East Saugatuck CRC. He was like hey I am CRC too! This was after we told him we will not be having an abortion if this baby is abnormal. What a great God. He placed us with a believing Doctor who respects our discussions. Who shared how hard it is for him as a Christian to have to offer abortion as an option. We went on with our appointment and talked about many things relating to this baby. At the end he said "May I pray over you?" Does it get any better than that?
To answer some of the questions. No we did not plan this, but God did. Yes we are very happy. Yes we have told the boys. Yes I know how old I am. Yes we are excited. Yes I am nervous.
What it really means is we are having another baby!
I had my 9 week 2 day ultrasound yesterday and we have a heartbeat. Baby measured 2.6cm. About the size of a grape. And looked just like it should. Thanks be to God! I have been a wreck.
I LOVE our high risk doctor. Dr. Jelesma, through Spectrum health. He was very up front explained everything, answered all of my questions, and reassured Dan. He asked if we had a church. I said East Saugatuck CRC. He was like hey I am CRC too! This was after we told him we will not be having an abortion if this baby is abnormal. What a great God. He placed us with a believing Doctor who respects our discussions. Who shared how hard it is for him as a Christian to have to offer abortion as an option. We went on with our appointment and talked about many things relating to this baby. At the end he said "May I pray over you?" Does it get any better than that?
To answer some of the questions. No we did not plan this, but God did. Yes we are very happy. Yes we have told the boys. Yes I know how old I am. Yes we are excited. Yes I am nervous.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Child-like Faith and Humility
Jesus' disciples asked him this question one day, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?" He called a little boy from the crowd and said "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:1-4
I never have really gotten the full meaning or understanding of the beginning of this chapter until I read this book.
The footnote in my Bible says "Whoever humbles himself until he becomes as this little child exhibiting trust, openness, and an eagerness to learn. These are childlike qualities that constitute greatness." The only great child I can think of is the Dalia Lama who was a child in the movie Seven Years From Tibet. I am thinking that this is not what they meant. Were the disciples asking about the hierarchy of heaven like the Jehovah Witnesses believe? The more people you save the closer you get to sit to Jesus? Again I don't think so. Was Jesus trying to get them to understand about humility?
In the book, Heaven is for Real; the father asks this question of himself after Colton, the son, talks about the lights above the angel's heads. What is childlike faith? What is childlike humility? "It's not the lack of intelligence, but the lack of guile. The lack of an agenda. It's the precious fleeting time before we have accumulated enough pride or position to care what other people might think. The same un-self-conscious honesty that enables a three-year-old to splash in a puddle, laugh with a puppy, or point out loudly that you have a booger hanging from your nose, is what is required to enter heaven. It is the opposite of ignorance-it is intellectual honesty: to be willing to accept reality and to call things what they are even if it is hard."
I think about the lack of an agenda, who doesn't have those? How is this going to benefit me? What will I gain from it? What about pride, position, and what others think. We are a society that has the mindset of keeping up with the Jones', looking out for number one, driven to work 50 hours a week to move up the ladder. What about the lack of guile? The definition here says "deceitful, cunning". Yikes neither of what I want to be known for.
Childlike faith is intellectual honesty. WOW Think about what that is; They, children, are not afraid to tell it like it is. They do not care who is around. If someone smells bad they will let you know. If someone is disabled they have no problem asking, loud enough for all the world to hear, why that person can't walk. I have hairy arms, most kids don't think twice about letting me know my arms are hairy. After I agree, yes they are very hairy, they always ask why, I say God made my like this. They accept it for fact, with faith that what I have told them is true. Childlike faith.
Why is it so hard for my to have this kind of Faith? Why do I struggle with giving things to God and then an hour later take that worry back? Why do I try to fix things myself? Why don't I always trust that he has plans "to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future." A promise from my father who knit me together in my mothers womb. He knows what words I am going to say before I even speak them. He know how many hairs are on my head. He loves me a lot! he has a plan for me!
Lord give my a childlike faith!
I never have really gotten the full meaning or understanding of the beginning of this chapter until I read this book.
The footnote in my Bible says "Whoever humbles himself until he becomes as this little child exhibiting trust, openness, and an eagerness to learn. These are childlike qualities that constitute greatness." The only great child I can think of is the Dalia Lama who was a child in the movie Seven Years From Tibet. I am thinking that this is not what they meant. Were the disciples asking about the hierarchy of heaven like the Jehovah Witnesses believe? The more people you save the closer you get to sit to Jesus? Again I don't think so. Was Jesus trying to get them to understand about humility?
In the book, Heaven is for Real; the father asks this question of himself after Colton, the son, talks about the lights above the angel's heads. What is childlike faith? What is childlike humility? "It's not the lack of intelligence, but the lack of guile. The lack of an agenda. It's the precious fleeting time before we have accumulated enough pride or position to care what other people might think. The same un-self-conscious honesty that enables a three-year-old to splash in a puddle, laugh with a puppy, or point out loudly that you have a booger hanging from your nose, is what is required to enter heaven. It is the opposite of ignorance-it is intellectual honesty: to be willing to accept reality and to call things what they are even if it is hard."
I think about the lack of an agenda, who doesn't have those? How is this going to benefit me? What will I gain from it? What about pride, position, and what others think. We are a society that has the mindset of keeping up with the Jones', looking out for number one, driven to work 50 hours a week to move up the ladder. What about the lack of guile? The definition here says "deceitful, cunning". Yikes neither of what I want to be known for.
Childlike faith is intellectual honesty. WOW Think about what that is; They, children, are not afraid to tell it like it is. They do not care who is around. If someone smells bad they will let you know. If someone is disabled they have no problem asking, loud enough for all the world to hear, why that person can't walk. I have hairy arms, most kids don't think twice about letting me know my arms are hairy. After I agree, yes they are very hairy, they always ask why, I say God made my like this. They accept it for fact, with faith that what I have told them is true. Childlike faith.
Why is it so hard for my to have this kind of Faith? Why do I struggle with giving things to God and then an hour later take that worry back? Why do I try to fix things myself? Why don't I always trust that he has plans "to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future." A promise from my father who knit me together in my mothers womb. He knows what words I am going to say before I even speak them. He know how many hairs are on my head. He loves me a lot! he has a plan for me!
Lord give my a childlike faith!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Steel Cut Oat Bread
Background first on how I cook my oats:
I make steel-cut oats (SCO) as follows
3 cups SCO
12 cups of water
1 stick Butter
1 1/2 tsp. salt
I brown the oats in the butter first. Then I cook it for about 30 minutes or so and enjoy. My boys didn't like the extra nutty taste at first but they have since learned it is really good. I make a HUGE batch and keep it in the refrigerator. They are creamier reheated and I don't have to wait for it to cook. To reheat I chop it up with a wooden spoon and add hot water. Heat until hot. Another plus about browning it, the butter keeps the oats from boiling all over my stove. Moving on....
This bread recipe uses the oats how I cooked it above. You can cook them with out browning them but add the fat, EVOO or butter to the dough.
2 cups Cooked SCO room temperature
1/2 cups Black-strap Molasses
Butter or EVOO (see above) 1-2 Tab.
2 cups warm water
4 cups unbleached white flour
4 cups graham flour
2 tsp sea salt
1 Tab lecithin granules
1/8 tsp vitamin C powder
1 tab and 2 tsp yeast or 2 packets
This may be a tricky dough, depending on how wet your SCO are, so you may need to add additional flour. This can be halved. The amounts listed above made 5 pounds of dough. Kneed 10 minutes. Let rise till doubled, punch down form into loaves, let rise till doubled. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. I weigh my bread dough. I have 1 pound and 1.5 pound pans depending on your pan size is why the time varies. Bake until golden brown and when tapped with the back of your finger nail you get that hollow sound.
This is my new favorite whole grain bread. It is not very sweet, if you like your bread sweeter than I would add some sucanat.
Let me know your thoughts.
I make steel-cut oats (SCO) as follows
3 cups SCO
12 cups of water
1 stick Butter
1 1/2 tsp. salt
I brown the oats in the butter first. Then I cook it for about 30 minutes or so and enjoy. My boys didn't like the extra nutty taste at first but they have since learned it is really good. I make a HUGE batch and keep it in the refrigerator. They are creamier reheated and I don't have to wait for it to cook. To reheat I chop it up with a wooden spoon and add hot water. Heat until hot. Another plus about browning it, the butter keeps the oats from boiling all over my stove. Moving on....
This bread recipe uses the oats how I cooked it above. You can cook them with out browning them but add the fat, EVOO or butter to the dough.
2 cups Cooked SCO room temperature
1/2 cups Black-strap Molasses
Butter or EVOO (see above) 1-2 Tab.
2 cups warm water
4 cups unbleached white flour
4 cups graham flour
2 tsp sea salt
1 Tab lecithin granules
1/8 tsp vitamin C powder
1 tab and 2 tsp yeast or 2 packets
This may be a tricky dough, depending on how wet your SCO are, so you may need to add additional flour. This can be halved. The amounts listed above made 5 pounds of dough. Kneed 10 minutes. Let rise till doubled, punch down form into loaves, let rise till doubled. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. I weigh my bread dough. I have 1 pound and 1.5 pound pans depending on your pan size is why the time varies. Bake until golden brown and when tapped with the back of your finger nail you get that hollow sound.
This is my new favorite whole grain bread. It is not very sweet, if you like your bread sweeter than I would add some sucanat.
Let me know your thoughts.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Bacon Jam
Yes you read it correctly Bacon Jam. Of course I have revised this to make it more healthy. Is it even possible with 2 pounds of bacon in it.... of course it is, I can talk myself into anything. For instance chocolate is a vegetable, as is coffee. Gummy bears or any fruity candy that has at least 1% fruit juice is a fruit and so on. So now onto the healthy version of this recipe.
2 pounds of bacon cut into small pieces with scissors
3 medium onions (about 3 cups)
4 cloves of crushed garlic. (2 1/2 tsp.)
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup sucanat
1/4 real maple syrup (NOT Log Cabin)
1/2 cup brewed coffee
1/2 cup bourbon
1/8 tsp real salt
1/4 tsp fresh cracked pepper
Brown the bacon drain on a towel (no paper napkins in my house), leaving 1 Tab bacon "juice" in the pan. Saute onions and garlic for about 5 minutes on low. Add remaining ingredients and stir well to remove the brown bits off of the pan bottom. Pour the contents into a crock pot. Cook on high uncovered for 3 1/2 to 4 hours until thickened. Coarsely pulse in a food chopper. Chill for up to a month. I am freezing some of this too.
My healthy changes areas follows:
-I used raw vinegar with mother. Click the above link to find out why it is better for you.
-I used sucanat instead of brown sugar. It is pure cane sugar not refined white with color and flavor added.
-Real Maple Syrup, expensive, but it doesn't contain HF corn syrup.
I plan on making some bread on Friday to try this out on in the morning.
The alcohol cooks out of this so it is safe for children.
Leave me a comment if you give this a try.
2 pounds of bacon cut into small pieces with scissors
3 medium onions (about 3 cups)
4 cloves of crushed garlic. (2 1/2 tsp.)
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup sucanat
1/4 real maple syrup (NOT Log Cabin)
1/2 cup brewed coffee
1/2 cup bourbon
1/8 tsp real salt
1/4 tsp fresh cracked pepper
Brown the bacon drain on a towel (no paper napkins in my house), leaving 1 Tab bacon "juice" in the pan. Saute onions and garlic for about 5 minutes on low. Add remaining ingredients and stir well to remove the brown bits off of the pan bottom. Pour the contents into a crock pot. Cook on high uncovered for 3 1/2 to 4 hours until thickened. Coarsely pulse in a food chopper. Chill for up to a month. I am freezing some of this too.
My healthy changes areas follows:
-I used raw vinegar with mother. Click the above link to find out why it is better for you.
-I used sucanat instead of brown sugar. It is pure cane sugar not refined white with color and flavor added.
-Real Maple Syrup, expensive, but it doesn't contain HF corn syrup.
I plan on making some bread on Friday to try this out on in the morning.
The alcohol cooks out of this so it is safe for children.
Leave me a comment if you give this a try.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Grapefruit and Rosemary Jam
The concoction of the day is Grapefruit and Rosemary Jam. This started as a marmalade till I remembered I don't like marmalade so I tossed the peels and started over.
I zest-ed 2 grapefruit.
Add the pulp from about 8 grapefruit and all the juice.
I had made fresh squeezed citrus juice it had grapefruit, oranges and a lemon in it. There was about 1 1/2 quarts left so I used it all.
Pure cane sugar to taste.
Agave nectar to taste.
Pinch of salt.
Rosemary and black pepper (1/2 tsp) and 1 tsp. sugar morter and pestled till a fine powder was achieved.
I boiled the pulp, zest, juice, and 4 cups water for 15 minutes. Then set it in the porch to cool overnight. Added the rest to taste and let it simmer till a jell is formed. I am then going to can it. So far it tastes pretty yummy!!!
I zest-ed 2 grapefruit.
Add the pulp from about 8 grapefruit and all the juice.
I had made fresh squeezed citrus juice it had grapefruit, oranges and a lemon in it. There was about 1 1/2 quarts left so I used it all.
Pure cane sugar to taste.
Agave nectar to taste.
Pinch of salt.
Rosemary and black pepper (1/2 tsp) and 1 tsp. sugar morter and pestled till a fine powder was achieved.
I boiled the pulp, zest, juice, and 4 cups water for 15 minutes. Then set it in the porch to cool overnight. Added the rest to taste and let it simmer till a jell is formed. I am then going to can it. So far it tastes pretty yummy!!!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Banana Jam
A blast from my childhood...bananas and peanut butter on toast. YUMMY I had about 12 over-ripe frozen bananas in my freezer. Not being a huge fan of banana bread, and not feeling like making smoothies for a month I did some Googling and came with my own creation for banana jam.
12 frozen bananas peeled and mashed
1 lemon, juiced
cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves; to taste
1/8 tsp. salt
2 Tab. of my homemade vanilla vodka extract
1 cup of water
1 1/2 cups sugar or to taste
1 tsp. unsulfured molasses
I mixed it all together and am now cooking it down to thicken. I am going to refrigerate it when done and freeze the rest. I wanted to can it but I don't have PH paper or a tester so I will save that for another day.
ETA: Don't add all of the lemon juice, mine it a little tart. Also back off on the sugar to sweet. I will probably add more vanilla. If I had a whole bean I think that would be even better. Scrape the seeds and boil the pod.
12 frozen bananas peeled and mashed
1 lemon, juiced
cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves; to taste
1/8 tsp. salt
2 Tab. of my homemade vanilla vodka extract
1 cup of water
1 1/2 cups sugar or to taste
1 tsp. unsulfured molasses
I mixed it all together and am now cooking it down to thicken. I am going to refrigerate it when done and freeze the rest. I wanted to can it but I don't have PH paper or a tester so I will save that for another day.
ETA: Don't add all of the lemon juice, mine it a little tart. Also back off on the sugar to sweet. I will probably add more vanilla. If I had a whole bean I think that would be even better. Scrape the seeds and boil the pod.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Ker-Thwack!
Back to that last posting....we were walking hand in hand and it was a FANTASTIC night. Dinner was great, it was the perfect temp. outside just plain wonderful. (We had no idea that my Mom's house had been broken into the day before.) We had not a care in the world!!!
We were walking.....Dan looked down and said look at that! I screamed then the night was ruined! ;) He took his size 16 feet and smashed the biggest roach I had ever seen! It was one of those hissing roaches. It grossed me out!!!! To top it off....all the rooms have doors that are on the outside, unlike a hotel where they are inside the building. The doors don't seal at the bottom and I worried all night that we would be taking home roaches. The next day, as we sat outside of our building on this little bench and enjoyed the view of the gulf; something caught my eye; and there stuck to the wall, rather close to my head was a green gecko! Once I got over the shock he was rather cute.
It was a wonderful trip. I have been truly blessed two wonderful boys and a God fearing husband. I had said earlier...times have been REALLY hard. Our savings has been drained but never fail there is always food on the table and the mortgage has been met. The bakery put tires on the car this winter. God heard our cry and dropped the idea of the bakery and we ran with it. Talk about a God thing! "Someone" put extra money in the box with a note saying this was extra for us to help out with bills and the like, it was so fun to take it and give it back to the Lord that next Sunday. AMAZING
A good part of being tested is we have shared the money or lack-there-of with the kids. Nothing is hidden and at their young ages they understand many concepts that adults struggle with on a daily basis. We went out to dinner this past week-end. We dined family style at an "Amish" restaurant. I asked our server if we could take the leftover food home. She was like nope sorry. Benjamin was stunned! So much so, that he confronted her (a huge step for him) about how sad it was to waste food, how expensive it was, what a bad idea to just throw it away. I was so proud of him!
I hope that when you're tested and look back you have found something good has come from it, life shaping soul changing growth!
We were walking.....Dan looked down and said look at that! I screamed then the night was ruined! ;) He took his size 16 feet and smashed the biggest roach I had ever seen! It was one of those hissing roaches. It grossed me out!!!! To top it off....all the rooms have doors that are on the outside, unlike a hotel where they are inside the building. The doors don't seal at the bottom and I worried all night that we would be taking home roaches. The next day, as we sat outside of our building on this little bench and enjoyed the view of the gulf; something caught my eye; and there stuck to the wall, rather close to my head was a green gecko! Once I got over the shock he was rather cute.
It was a wonderful trip. I have been truly blessed two wonderful boys and a God fearing husband. I had said earlier...times have been REALLY hard. Our savings has been drained but never fail there is always food on the table and the mortgage has been met. The bakery put tires on the car this winter. God heard our cry and dropped the idea of the bakery and we ran with it. Talk about a God thing! "Someone" put extra money in the box with a note saying this was extra for us to help out with bills and the like, it was so fun to take it and give it back to the Lord that next Sunday. AMAZING
A good part of being tested is we have shared the money or lack-there-of with the kids. Nothing is hidden and at their young ages they understand many concepts that adults struggle with on a daily basis. We went out to dinner this past week-end. We dined family style at an "Amish" restaurant. I asked our server if we could take the leftover food home. She was like nope sorry. Benjamin was stunned! So much so, that he confronted her (a huge step for him) about how sad it was to waste food, how expensive it was, what a bad idea to just throw it away. I was so proud of him!
I hope that when you're tested and look back you have found something good has come from it, life shaping soul changing growth!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Testing Testing.... Happy Anniversary!!!!
January 19, 2002... seems so long ago when I look at the date, but it feels like only a few months, crazy how things change.
We meet on the computer! :) After I had traveled 1/2 way around the world for three weeks a year before to meet a different guy, who, by the way, did not chop me up and put me in the freezer, I figured meeting a guy from Holland would be safe too.
So after 8 months we got married and jumped on a plane to Mexico. It was blissful but I should have realized it wouldn't last... You see, after dinner one night, as we were walking back to our room.... we were filled with the finest food, walking hand-in-hand, savoring the wonders of newly married life, the moon light, the warm breeze off of the Gulf of Mexico, the promise of things to come on night made just for newlyweds.....when all of a sudden my world was SHATTERED, the honeymoon was over just like that in one loud "keer-thwack" It was OVER!!!!
Six months later, after a business trip, I walked into the bedroom of the bachelor pad, laid down by my husband and said "So, how would you like to be a Daddy?" I think he cried more at this short sentence then when he saw me walk down the isle. (go figure) You see I was married before, and after 11 years, infertility stuff, and 1 miscarriage, I was sure that children were not going to be apart of our new union. I was wrong! Then he was born...what a wonderful moment when I held my newborn son, smelled that sweet breath, kissed that soft forehead... I knew then and there that if I was asked to die for him I would. (not the route for this post but I still thought it) anyway, 2 weeks later "keer-thwack" Dan lost his job, down sized. I became the main bread winner. I had to get the baby up and out the door to be to work in Kalamazoo by 8. The pressure was intense, I didn't like it at all.
About 1 1/2 years or so later "keer-thwack" another job loss, embezzlement and poor management this time. But yet again we made it through. He got a job, I was able to go down to part time money was coming in we were doing good again. So we decided to move....
"Keer-thwack" This one was a dozy! We bought this great house in Hamilton the payments were do-able.....Dan came home from work, 2 months after we moved in, 1 1/2 years after giving birth to Benjamin.....I handed him a little box with a positive pregnancy test in it! Life was GREAT! Then...
1 week before we were about to deliver our new baby we got a letter from the mortgage company, sorry to inform you BUT we figured your taxes wrong and forgot to add a season, we need to redo your mortgage. Our once "now do-able" mortgage was now going to slowly eat away the savings account because they needed to raise our house payment to make up for the shortage. (I didn't sign-up for this) The baby came, I nearly died, and the bills from that mounted. Dan had a job maybe his 3rd at this time I was able to stay home life was OK. Then Dan lost his job AGAIN (seriously again?). We signed up for Love Inc. Learned the proper way to build a budget, payed off the creditors, got out of all our debt except for the mortgage. Life was GREAT again and then Dan ca.....I will stop. You get the idea.
The babies are now 7 and 5, Autism, ADD, blown engine, wet basement, job loss, Crohn's, cancer scare, miscarriage....
We have been tested, a lot! But it could be worse....I could have had cancer, we could have lost a child, foreclosure, Dan could still be unemployed, I could be a widow, our house could have burned down..... our trials are so small. We made it through....
"WE?"
Wrong!! We never could have made through any of that without God's guidance, mercy, and grace. I love looking back at our 9 year journey to see...that we have never ever been without, ALL of our needs have been met, (the underwear may not be new but its underwear) he has been faithful, we have not been given anything more than we can handle. He has never left us, never forsaken us. I don't like to be tested. It is not fun, it hurts, it gets messy, it just plain sucks. But without it where would I be?.....No children, living in a bachelor pad, wasting money, maybe single, alone, cold, or stuffed in a freezer. It is during those times of testing, that wonderful life changing, spirit shaping growth happens. So (being very honest here) Istand sit, and say very very quietly, bring on the testing Lord! It has been an adventure filled 9 years, and I am so thankful to travel this journey with my hand on the left being held by my Husband and the hand on my right being held by my Savior.
By the way....that night in Mexico when the "keer-thwack" happened, that was real and it really truly happened!!!!
We meet on the computer! :) After I had traveled 1/2 way around the world for three weeks a year before to meet a different guy, who, by the way, did not chop me up and put me in the freezer, I figured meeting a guy from Holland would be safe too.
So after 8 months we got married and jumped on a plane to Mexico. It was blissful but I should have realized it wouldn't last... You see, after dinner one night, as we were walking back to our room.... we were filled with the finest food, walking hand-in-hand, savoring the wonders of newly married life, the moon light, the warm breeze off of the Gulf of Mexico, the promise of things to come on night made just for newlyweds.....when all of a sudden my world was SHATTERED, the honeymoon was over just like that in one loud "keer-thwack" It was OVER!!!!
Six months later, after a business trip, I walked into the bedroom of the bachelor pad, laid down by my husband and said "So, how would you like to be a Daddy?" I think he cried more at this short sentence then when he saw me walk down the isle. (go figure) You see I was married before, and after 11 years, infertility stuff, and 1 miscarriage, I was sure that children were not going to be apart of our new union. I was wrong! Then he was born...what a wonderful moment when I held my newborn son, smelled that sweet breath, kissed that soft forehead... I knew then and there that if I was asked to die for him I would. (not the route for this post but I still thought it) anyway, 2 weeks later "keer-thwack" Dan lost his job, down sized. I became the main bread winner. I had to get the baby up and out the door to be to work in Kalamazoo by 8. The pressure was intense, I didn't like it at all.
About 1 1/2 years or so later "keer-thwack" another job loss, embezzlement and poor management this time. But yet again we made it through. He got a job, I was able to go down to part time money was coming in we were doing good again. So we decided to move....
"Keer-thwack" This one was a dozy! We bought this great house in Hamilton the payments were do-able.....Dan came home from work, 2 months after we moved in, 1 1/2 years after giving birth to Benjamin.....I handed him a little box with a positive pregnancy test in it! Life was GREAT! Then...
1 week before we were about to deliver our new baby we got a letter from the mortgage company, sorry to inform you BUT we figured your taxes wrong and forgot to add a season, we need to redo your mortgage. Our once "now do-able" mortgage was now going to slowly eat away the savings account because they needed to raise our house payment to make up for the shortage. (I didn't sign-up for this) The baby came, I nearly died, and the bills from that mounted. Dan had a job maybe his 3rd at this time I was able to stay home life was OK. Then Dan lost his job AGAIN (seriously again?). We signed up for Love Inc. Learned the proper way to build a budget, payed off the creditors, got out of all our debt except for the mortgage. Life was GREAT again and then Dan ca.....I will stop. You get the idea.
The babies are now 7 and 5, Autism, ADD, blown engine, wet basement, job loss, Crohn's, cancer scare, miscarriage....
We have been tested, a lot! But it could be worse....I could have had cancer, we could have lost a child, foreclosure, Dan could still be unemployed, I could be a widow, our house could have burned down..... our trials are so small. We made it through....
"WE?"
Wrong!! We never could have made through any of that without God's guidance, mercy, and grace. I love looking back at our 9 year journey to see...that we have never ever been without, ALL of our needs have been met, (the underwear may not be new but its underwear) he has been faithful, we have not been given anything more than we can handle. He has never left us, never forsaken us. I don't like to be tested. It is not fun, it hurts, it gets messy, it just plain sucks. But without it where would I be?.....No children, living in a bachelor pad, wasting money, maybe single, alone, cold, or stuffed in a freezer. It is during those times of testing, that wonderful life changing, spirit shaping growth happens. So (being very honest here) I
By the way....that night in Mexico when the "keer-thwack" happened, that was real and it really truly happened!!!!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Happy New Year!!!
1st ever contest!!!
I got this idea off of a yarn blog that my niece Heather likes, and thought what great idea. I will give you free _______ ; if you send 7 friends over to the Bakery and Garden Cart Facebook page. What they have to do is click "like" and say (insert your name) sent me.
I guess there have to be some... rules, so here they are:
* Michigan law says I can't send my goods in the mail. So pick up only
* you have to be 18, I guess, the legal stuff kind of eludes me but it seems appropriate, sorry minors
* Even if you get 150 people to like the page I can only give you one baked good, but I really appreciate it & think you have amazing networking skills!
* We'll run the contest until the end of January
How does that sound?
I got this idea off of a yarn blog that my niece Heather likes, and thought what great idea. I will give you free _______ ; if you send 7 friends over to the Bakery and Garden Cart Facebook page. What they have to do is click "like" and say (insert your name) sent me.
I guess there have to be some... rules, so here they are:
* Michigan law says I can't send my goods in the mail. So pick up only
* you have to be 18, I guess, the legal stuff kind of eludes me but it seems appropriate, sorry minors
* Even if you get 150 people to like the page I can only give you one baked good, but I really appreciate it & think you have amazing networking skills!
* We'll run the contest until the end of January
How does that sound?
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