Aliana Grace loves the camera. And it has given me more initiative to get it out more lately and get cute shots like this!

A Nasty Bug

A nasty bug invaded our house last friday. R was running a temp for 48 hours, I finally took him to the doctors on sunday and we got him on antibiotics. Around 3 AM monday morning his temp broke and he's on his way to getting better. Now Ali is starting and she is miserable. Pray it doesn't hit her as hard, as she had her flu shot, so it shouldn't! I became captive sunday evening, my whole body hurt and being up with r all night didn't help. I started running a fever and told hubby he was going to need to help me out. (We have no plan B when I get sick). I couldnm't get out of bed, everything hurt. So he was stay-at-home dad yesterday, and may I say, he is quite efficient. The kiddos loved it too, and we're doing well yesterday for him. So that was quite a blessing. Praying that neal does not get struck down by this. As hard as the last five days were, I am glad this was the first time so far this year that we have come down with something. I have heard stories of how it keeps coming back. But we are on our way.

Was looking through some pictures. Found this one, I just love this, R sitting on top of my preg belly. I want to get it blown up and hang it on the wall. I was still on bed rest, right before I delivered Ali. My wonderful friend tina came to visit and help me watch rowan one day, as we couldn't find a babysitter. She snapped some shots. She kept telling me I needed to have some prego shots of me and R. I assured her they would turn out awful as I was soooo big. But I LOVE this picture and I'm glad I agreed to it.

Farm Show

Neal had school up in harrisburg these last two days so we met him yesterday afternoon. We went over to the farm show the kids really loved it. If you're thinking about it, GO! There is so much to look at, and it's very interactive, oh, and it's FREE!!! We got to go through many diffrent rooms, (there like huge arenas). They had cows, horses, sheep, chickens, bunnies, pigs, and so much more. They even had an incubator where you could watch baby peeps hatching from their eggs. It was so neat. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it of course, I was holding two kids in my arms. If only I we're an octupus! Anyway R was super excited that we got to ride a school bus to go from our parking lot and then it picked us up to take us back. He also loved the tractor room. Kids could climb up on almost all the tractors they had. It was a fun time.

A nice surprise

R is surprising me today with a (so far) two and a half hour nap. I know my jaw is on the floor too! Anyway I am taking advantage and surfing the web, this is something I never do. But have read or saw some cool websites to check out lately. Here they are:

www.freeheadset.org
www.sweetpotatoprint.com

The first one is not a hoax. You can really get a free headset for your cell phone by going on this website, you just have to pay like $5.00 in shipping. I need to order one.

The second one. I am not telling you to buy these, but we should have a party and make some shirts. What a great idea!

Gifts

I have been struggling in mommyhood lately. I came across a book that I picked up at Goods menno mall for $1.00. It's called: "Chasing God and the Kids Too". By Cheryl Carter. She explains strong spiritual homes welcome the presence of God.

"Children are a gift from the Lord, and anything God gives us is good. Conceptually we know this is true. Sometimes it's just that our children are not quite packaged the way we want them to be. If we're very quiet and meditative, their loudness annoys us. If we're very scholarly and our children struggle scholastically, we inwardly struggle with how to fix them. What we are really asking is how we can make them into who we want them to be. However, as different or varied as each of them is, we must accept them as our gifts.

"The real issue is : what do you do with a gift? You graciously accept it. Have you ever recieved a strange gadget as a gift? Perhaps it was a grab bag gift or something you recieved at a tupperware party. You may look at it curiously and perhaps rotate it in your hand, wondering what it is. Could it possibly have any use? Then the giver informs you that the strange thing is a bagel splitter. Your eyes gleam, and you think about all the times you cut yourself trying to divide bagels and realize what a blessing it will be to you. Understanding brings acceptance."

"As you chase after God, I want you to know that your children aren't hindering you; in fact, they are what equips you to run the race. Their innocence, their zest for life, and even their messes are molding you into a woman after God's own heart. Your insight as a mom draws you closer to the Lord. Still, there are times when you may wonder....does God really understand? How can he possible know how I feel."

"Moms, God is with you every day, and he understands you better then you understand yourself. So continue to cry out to him for help, mercy, and strength, for he is waiting to fill you. And the great thing about God's filling is that when you get empty, he'll fill you afresh again. His spirit is infinate!"

I think I will be printing this out and hanging it in my kitchen so I can keep reminding myself.