I've been blogging ONE YEAR TODAY! YEAH!

Little did I know after beginning my blog one year ago, I'd have 300 followers and 550 subscribers. I know that's nothing compared to the "famous bloggers", but I'm THRILLED to have that many people willing to put up with me! I mean really... Just re-read some of my post titles:

• Harry Performs! My Crooked Face, and Myra's Mixing Bowls
• Abigail Got a Hold of the Flat Iron
• Frantic, Crazy, Tired...Excited!
• I'm Back...I think...Am I? Let me know
• Weird Breakfast, Cute Babies and Thrifting!

Yes, you put up with me, but you love me don't you? Yes! Admit it - YOU DO! How can you resist me? Right?

Or maybe it's my very sane family that keeps you coming back for more. Is that it?

Or perhaps my very happy children?

And you want your children to be as diligent as mine too, don't you?

And you feel sorry for my children because they are so timid and shy...

Oh wait! It just came to me - It's because I'm such a tender, loving mother who never (lovingly) donks my children on the head! Yes, that's IT!

Well, WHATEVER it is, I'm glad you keep coming back for more! I'm so happy that you've become my chums and I adore you all!

In honor of my one year anniversary, I have a fun giveaway planned that I'll tell you about on Monday. Abigail and I have something up our sleeve(s). Can you tell?

Oh, and I also have a monthly giveaway planned for Getting to know YOU starting this month! Read about it on Monday too!

Happy Sunday to you my Chums! Hope you didn't blow up with the fireworks because I would miss you.

Look at my little treasures! Oh, and somebody is Over-Caffeinated!! :)

My blogging chum Lisa sent me a big box of goodies this week - just because she loves me. Isn't that SWEEEET! It was a surprise too. So much fun! Some of the things got broken :( but there were some really fun treasures that I'm so excited to have. Here are a few of them...

I'm getting ready to re-do my bedroom in a rustic ocean theme and have been buying little things at sales for it. Look at this little light Lisa sent - a Captain's wheel even! I'm going to paint it light green. I'll show you when it's done.

This is the booth at the antique mall that inspired the rustic ocean theme idea.
Remember Lisa's friend - Charla Steele that does the beautiful collage art? This is one of hers. This one reminds me of Cecily and Anna. Don't you love it? I'm going to put it in Cecily's room. We're doing her room in "Shabby Chic" decor - faded flowers, pastels, whites, creams, etc.
This was Lisa's grandmother's jewelry box. So cool! Look, it's smiling at you!
This is the inside of the jewelry box.
A lovely and delicate lady that fits very nicely in my dining room.
Thank you SO MUCH LISA! (If you haven't visited Lisa, you should - you will just love her!)_____________________________

Cecily and Harrison and I went thrifting today and boy did we find some treasures! I haven't had that good of a thrifting trip in quite a while. When we came home and put all of the stuff on the table, Jared said, "That stuff definitely has "Mom" written all over it.". (and Cecily likes a lot of what I like too)

And it only took us about 2 1/2 hours! Are we good or what!?

I'll bet you think this is ugly don't you? Just wait until I'm done with it!
I'll update you with all my decorating projects. I have to pace myself. :) We're just getting Abigail's room finished up this weekend.
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Today I'm sending you over to visit another spaz - well, I'm assuming she is since her blog is called....

Confessions of an Over-Caffeinated Housewife

I'll let you decide whether you think she's a spaz or not. She actually seems rather calm to me... and rather cute too. (I'll admit though that her picture in her header might be a dead give away on the spaz thing. hee hee! Mrs. "Over-Caffeinated" does have a serious side too though - she has a heavy burden for orphans and is letting God use her to minister to their needs. I think that's beautiful.

Take a few minutes to visit her cute blog and if you have time, click over to some of her favorite blogs:

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com
http://oatsvallteam.blogspot.com/
http://loristapp.blogspot.com
http://russianpeanut.blogspot.com
http://weare1body.blogspot.com

I'm hosting a giveaway in the next few days because it's my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of blogging on Sunday! YEAH!!! What a fun year of blogging it's been too! Stay tuned!

Oh boy, I think I have LAZY Summer Days Syndrome

There really is such a thing you know...I just invented it!

What is Lazy Summer Days Syndrome?

Symptoms:

1. You wake up and enjoy the sunshine through the window, grab your cup of coffee and plop down to read your bible, check your email, etc. and forget you have to pay attention to anything or anyone else. Two hours later you find yourself STILL in your jammies and bare feet walking back to the coffee pot for your third cup of java!

2. You don't have a single plan for the day - whatever happens happens.

3. You have three days worth of swimming attire hanging over the bathtub. Or maybe it's fallen IN the bathtub.

4. Your yard is decorated with stray basketballs, bicycles, mason jars with bugs, buckets with frogs, hoses, dirty pools, and broken 'stuff' from running over it with the mower (oh, maybe that's just because I'm a lunatic mower woman!)

5. You can't think of a thing to cook for dinner. You'd rather just grab an apple, some cucumbers, maybe some lunch meat...oh, and maybe an iced coffee from Starbucks.

6. Your kids get their baths in the sprinkler or pool.




7. You have flips flops flipped all over the house.

8. Your husband pulls up and you make yourself stand up real fast because you want him to think you were being productive. (Oops, the way the house looks gives it away.)




9. You go to garage sales to feel like you're doing something.

10. You go to the zoo to say you did something educational (our trip to the zoo on Tuesday was extremely educational - just look at our pictures).




I said we were going to continue to 'school' through the summer but I'm really struggling here. I'm not being exactly lazy lazy. Just not doing anything very routine or productive. I am a free spirit and lately you can REALLY tell!

Should I just give into it and be lazy? Is that allowed? Does anybody else have this problem in the summer? The older I get the more I want summer's off! Oh wait, am I resorting back to childhood - yes, I think I am!

I've been preparing (in my head) a blog post that I think you'll all be able to relate too. I was visiting with a friend the other day and we had this great discussion about the stresses of modern day motherhood. I think we need summer's off. Yes, summer can be a time of rejuvenation for us stressed out moms.

So what do you think? Should I let me and my kids play this summer or should I get out my iron whip and get back to work? What are you doing?

Remembering Samuel Micah Kraft 7/1/92 - 7/13/92

I hope you'll join me and my chums for Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane. This is a wonderful way to document memories...those made long ago and those made today. Whether short or long... sentimental or funny... memories are worth documenting! To learn how to participate, click on the button at the top of this post.

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When I was about seven months pregnant with our second child, Kyle and I were told that our baby had anencephaly. We were told our baby's condition was not compatible with life and that he would die in the womb, during birth or shortly after deliver.

I carried Samuel for 42 weeks. He was delivered by a cesarean section on July 1st, 1992. We chose to have a c-section to give him the best chance of surviving the birth (he wasn't doing well during the contractions). We hoped we'd have some time to get to know our son.

Although we had accepted the fact that God had made Samuel different and we rejoiced in his creation of our baby boy, we hoped right up until the end that God might heal our baby. That didn't happen.

Before I had Samuel, my greatest fear was ... fear. I was afraid - period. I was afraid of how I'd react when I saw my baby. I was afraid I wouldn't feel a bond with my baby who would look so different from a healthy child. I was afraid of the whole situation. But as soon as I saw Samuel, I fell in love - a deep, tender, motherly love. I should never have feared a situation that God placed me in. How can a mommy not love and adore her child. We were bonded at the heart, nothing else mattered. I just wanted the doctor to get me stitched up and back to the room so I could spend time with my son - precious time that I would cherish.

Samuel didn't die in the womb or during birth or shortly after birth. God allowed us to spend 13 days with our son. Those days were stressful and heartbreaking, but they were precious. We even took Samuel to church one Sunday morning.

I was able to nurse him a few times and that was such an amazing blessing. I didn't think I'd get that with him. However, he had a very weak sucking reflex and it only lasted a few days (we were told he wouldn't have one at all) so he lost weight rapidly.

Samuel slept in our crib and our bassinet - the same crib and bassinet that had held Jared and has since held, Abigail, Cecily, Anna, Silas and Jonas. He cuddled up in my arms, his daddy's arms and the arms of his grandma's and grandpa's, aunts, uncles and friends. Samuel was greatly loved and touched many hearts throughout that time.

It's been a long time since Samuel was in my arms, and I had him for such a little time. I don't really remember what he felt like anymore. I've forgotten his fragrance. I never got to know his voice, his likes and dislikes. I could feel cheated (and perhaps did for a time back then), but one thing I do know is that I will be with my son again. He didn't exist and then just disappear. I gave birth to a soul and that soul lives on in heaven. My heart doesn't hurt anymore, but it will always long for Samuel. He owns a piece of it.

My daughter Anna, who never met Samuel on earth (and mentioned many times how much she looked forward to meeting them), now knows him better than I ever did. It comforts my heart to know that my children - brothers and sister - are living together in heaven with their Creator. I look forward to the day that they greet me at the gate. I look forward to hearing stories of their time together.

Samuel would be 17 years old today. He and Jared would have been less than 2 years apart. He and Abigail only 11 months apart. He would have been one of FIVE teenagers! I can't believe that if all my children were here, I'd now have that many teenagers under one roof! Yes, I wish Samuel was here...but he's not.

No, Samuel's only in HEAVEN! He's enjoying "pleasures evermore". He'll never turn his back on God. He'll never sin. He'll never have to feel pain, sadness or fear. To have God take your life from earth before you even have a chance to grow up - while seemingly unfair - is actually a beautiful thing. I'm so glad that Samuel doesn't ever have to experience the sorrow of loss. He was spared. He is blessed. Blessed to be without his momma and daddy? Blessed to be without some of his brothers and sisters?

Samuel will have those opportunities. He didn't lose anything when he left this earth. He only gained. He gained all the things that I look so forward to gaining. He didn't lose us - he just has to wait until it's our turn to live there, and in the meantime, I'm sure he's enjoying every moment. Time flies when you're having fun!

I'm comforted as I remember the eternal perspective of time - "life is but a vapor". Right now it may feel like forever until I see my precious child again, but even if I live to the ripe old age of 100! life is still a vapour compared to eternity.

I wish I had beautiful pictures to post here, but sadly, I didn't have a good camera back then, and my pictures are far away and low quality. So, I'll share the only picture I have to share - the same one you've seen many times before - but maybe you'll see it in a new light today - on Samuel's "would be" 17th birthday.

Happy birthday Samuel. Momma loves you.

Samuel Micah 7/1/92-7/13/92

Let God Lift You Out of Your Pit

Life is just a bummer sometimes, isn't it? Not every day can be great. Even if we're happy with our lives, we aren't always happy with our current circumstances are we? Can you imagine what our hearts would be like if we never had to depend upon God? Now, I know that we always 'need' God, but do we always 'know' we need God? For some reason, that's pretty easy to forget.


We all tend to drop into deep pits on occasion. Sometimes these pit experiences come from difficult trials or grief, and other times we find ourselves falling into those pits when life is peaceful, easy or sometimes just plain dull. There are times we simply lose our zeal - when we set aside our passions, and we can't see anything beyond those dirt walls of our pit.

Often when down in these dark, lonely places, we try to climb out, but it's like we can't quite grasp anything sturdy, and we continue slipping. Every time we slip we land a little harder and fall a little deeper. Often we get discouraged and think there's simply no way out. Usually when we're down there in that pit tired of fighting and ready to give up, that's when we drop to our knees and decide to look up. In looking up, we realize there's a hand to help us out - a large sturdy hand. We're told it was there all along.

Psalm 89:13 "Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand."

I recently met a lady who is really struggling with sadness and lonliness. She has some circumstances in her life that have caused her heart to ache, have made her soul feel empty and have put her in a place where she's searching for some hope. My advice to her was to find her joy in the Lord - despite all that's going on around her; despite the unfair treatment she's receiving and despite the lack of love being shown to her by those whom she's shown so much love to - to simply let Jesus change her life and allow that change to affect those around her.

Whether we're sad and lonely or whether we're in one of those pits and can't seem to find our way out, God is ready to lift us out of that pit. We'll see that if we just stop and look up.

Psalm 5:3 "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord. In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up."

Psalm 40:2 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."

What are the steps we need to take to ensure that we stay out of that pit? There are two simple steps that take effort on our part but reap huge rewards. The first is to pray. Sounds so simple...why is it so hard?

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."

If that verse doesn't make you want to pray, I don't know what will. Every time I read that verse, I get excited to pray. That verse makes me want to fall on my knees and call on my Savior who can make all things right...all things new. God wants to do "mighty things" in my life - things that I can't even fathom.

The second thing we need to do is open God's word and read it. Every single time I do that, I'm so blessed and just can't understand why I don't run to the bible first thing in the morning and grab it at every opportunity through the day. There's comfort to be found, hope to be seen, a future in Heaven to get excited about... Godly character to be learned, instruction on how to love and forgive, conviction... .

Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (It gives clear direction for our lives)

2 Tim. 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:..."

One thing I do when I'm sad or have fallen into a pit is that I read the Psalms. The Psalms are so full of comfort. They're full of forgiveness. They're full of praise. They're full of hope. Years ago a friend shared this neat system for completing the Psalms in a month. When I'm down, I'll often read them all for several months until I'm back on my feet. Here's the method:

• Read the Psalm for the day. (i.e. If it's June 30th, read Psalm 30).
• Then read every 30th Psalm after that. (So, on the 30th, you would read Psalm 30, Psalm 60, Psalm 90, Psalm 120, Psalm 150)
• You will read 5 Psalms every day. There may be one that stands out as more helpful or encouraging, but read them all and then go back to the one that stood out and underline those verses that stood out to you, pray over them and write about them in a journal.
• On months that have a 31st day, use that day to read Psalm 119 (because it's so long) - skip Psalm 119 on the 29th day of the month.

You WILL be blessed. This system of reading the Psalms has pulled me out of some deep and dark places.

If you find yourself in one of those deep pits today, whether from a severe trial or from a spiritual "rut", I pray you'll look up to Jesus...he's waiting to help you out. I pray you'll follow these steps to liven your spirit and begin to shine again for Jesus.

Lord I Need You - Ron Hamilton (Patch the Pirate)

Sometimes when life seems gentle and blessings flood my way,
I turn my gaze away from You and soon forget to pray.
But when the sky grows darker and courage turns to fear,
My anxious voice cries upward with words you long to hear.

Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.
O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.
Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.
Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.

Lord, help me to remember I'm weak but You are strong.
I cannot sing apart from You, for Lord You are my song.
Although I'm prone to wander and boast in all I do;
Lord keep my eyes turned upward so I depend on You.

Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.
O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.
Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.
Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.

Get out of that pit and claim your victory. SHINE for Jesus!
*This post is dedicated to my friend Melody.

Some P&P and R&R .... and Meet a Precious Family with a New Baby Girl!

I enjoyed my Sunday - as usual. After having a very nice church/communion service (and great fellowship meal), we rolled in to our gravel drive at about 1:30pm. Cecily said, "Mom, you wanna watch a gurrrrrly movie?" I was like, "Yeah!"

This picture is actually from Saturday, but doesn't Cecily look pretty in her new (garage sale) dress?
So... back to veggin' ... I lounged in my usual Sunday spot on the couch (with Harry randomly climbing up on me).

He's a huge skin toucher. He always has his arm in my shirt so he can touch my tummy. He even tries to do this in public, at church, etc. It can sometimes be a little embarrassing - after all, 9 babies have lived in this tummy, and I don't exactly like showing it off - ya know?

So, we left the room messy (I don't clean on Sundays) and the kids rearranging (from "campout") was still in place (out of place). Yes, I even left the stuff from the top of the table, underneath the table.


Then we pulled out one of our favorites! Pride and Prejudice (A&E, 1996) Oh, how I adore that movie. The scenery, the music... ahhhhhh! We didn't make it all the way through it (yet), but I enjoyed every minute of it with my precious daughter.

Oh, and speaking of daughters...

This blogger hasn't been able to comment much on the featured blogs (she's just been so pre-occupised), so it might seem like I'm breaking my rule (featuring good commenters first), but God placed it heavily on my heart to share this blog today, and since it's my blog, it's okay to break my rule once in a while right? :) I know you'll agree ... at least this time.
Today we're getting to know, Kristy at Waiting for Happy!
This blog will break and bless your heart. This precious family has two adorable little boys...has said goodbye to two baby boys... and has just welcomed their first (adorable!) daughter, Hope. The Bolte Family is awaiting test results to find out if their daughter has Epidermolysis Bullosa and like any mommy would be, Kristy has been really struggling with this. I want to offer her more prayer support and I just know my chums will be willing to help out. I'm sure we can all understand the anxiety that would be involved with the waiting (I've personally been in a similiar place and many of you likely have too). Let's all visit Kristy's blog and let her know that we'll be praying for her. Oh, and there are a lot of beautiful pictures of the family on her blog, so enjoy your visit. I know your heart will be touched, as mine has many times while reading.
Here are some blogs that Kristy enjoys visiting.

http://emily0305.blogspot.com
http://sgirl79.blogspot.com/
http://obrienfamily2008.blogspot.com/
http://oursydneygrace.blogspot.com/
http://thestanfieldjourney.blogspot.com/
Oh, and you asked for it, you got it! New blog comment system is GONE! I might bring it back when/if they allow you to log in using your blogger account. We'll see...

(On second thought, maybe not! Removing disqus was not easy! Thank you Abigail! I panicked for a while and thought I screwed up my whole template)

Happy Birthday Silas!

Look who has a birthday today! I can't believe Silas is already 8!!!



Kyle had this great idea for a gift for Silas. A few years ago this would NOT have happened. I didn't used to be a fan of these ...however, I'm getting wild in my old age. ha! Actually, the fact that we have an outbuilding to keep them in made all the difference. I would have gone mad with a set IN the house. This is how the morning went.

I (in my jammies) was the camera lady - and wasn't awake enough to do a great job. Are you wondering what's in the box?...



...Kyle wrapped up the snare drum and made Silas think that was all he was getting. Silas was happy but did seem to have a "What?" look on his face. After all, how much fun is ONE snare drum?



Then I said, "That's just too loud in the house. Let's take it out to the gym where the sound won't echo so much (Kyle's idea). So, we went out and there was the rest of the set. Daddy set it up last night after Silas went to bed.



He is one happy birthday boy! The first thing he said to us was, "Now I can be in the band!" (You know the one with his daddy and brother and sister (and Mark) ). Isn't that cute? :)

I love this little guy!

Okay, here's the video! Who do you think they get their wild side from? ha! Kyle's screaming in the background is the funniest part! He cracks me up.