Sleep Wars, colds, and doctor's report

It's amazing how I try to write updates but get so side-tracked by such a myriad of things...which is what this update is about.

Sleep Wars II had a brief truce but seems to be back in full force.  The girls were doing so well going to sleep shortly after getting in bed and sleeping until a decent hour the next day...UNTIL...the wonderful world of cold germs seems to have taken up residence in our house! 

Meliya came down with a mysterious fever Tuesday night and Wednesday so we decided to keep her home from school on Thursday and send Caillyn.  In the middle of the night Wednesday, Caillyn woke up coughing and snotty.  So much for having Mommy and Meliya time on Thursday, because it quickly became Caillyn's sick day.  For those of you who don't realize when even one of our girls is sick, it seems to give them both the liberty to act horribly.  Fighting, temper tantrums, refusal to sleep, "NO!", and everything else seems to come back in a vengeful flood.  So needless to say, our days this week have not been filled with loving family time.  Instead, it has been one discipline crack down after another.  Dave and I have to constantly remind ourselves that our hard headed children will one day realize that the time-out's they hate will only go away when the bad behavior goes away...Right?

Anyhow, through all of these wonderful parenting struggles I have to wonder what God is wanting us to learn since He is so clearly allowing challenges into our lives right now.  I don't know about you, but I would like to learn this lesson quickly so that we can move on to greener pastures...QUICKLY!  The only thing that comes to mind is that God is trying to drive home a few points very clearly: Love through every word and deed, as well as trust Him and fear not.  As our dear daughter #3 is getting close to her arrival date, I wonder if God is molding us to have the kind of patience necessary to handle 3 kids with only 2 hands a piece.  That is a very hard lesson to learn, but I am trying my best to embrace it quickly. 

The other lesson of not fearing seems to be something that keeps coming out of the shadows.  Whether it be a ridiculous fear that pops into my head and is easily dismissed or something more tangible, my focus should always remain on God's promises of provision and care.  Which leads me to wonder whether something really big and bad is on the horizon in which we would have to put these lessons into full practice....here we go...fear...  Funny how Satan can take one seed thought and keep prodding us until we let it take over our thoughts and minds.  So this is where I will take captive of that little seed of descent in my mind and turn it to something grander and more glorious: God is love.  If God is love, then no matter what He allows our way will be for the ultimate good and His glory.  Just as He has promised to never leave us, He has also promised to always leave us a way out of temptation. (Heb 13:5 & I Cor 10:13)  So in that mindset, I must stop allowing my human nature to interfere with God's Holy Spirit.  What a huge battle that is on a moment to moment basis!

I am running out of free time, so here is a quick update on the baby and Dave's job search.  On Wednesday, we took the girls to my 34 week ultrasound.  They both got to see their baby sister on the big TV screen which they were excited about.  All is good.  She is now head down and is right on schedule.  We will be seeing the doctor every week from here on out.  The finish line for this pregnancy is quickly approaching with only 5 weeks left starting today.

(Her head is at the top of the picture with her belly on the left.)

Dave's job search is still just that, a search.  God has not opened any doors for anything promising yet.  We are still waiting patiently as He is doing His work.  However, God has been very gracious to us while we wait.  Not only have some sweet couples from our biblestudy class given us meals, but God has been faithful to financially bless when we least expect it.  Just the other day, Dave opened the mail to find a substantial amount of money anonymously given to us by some sweet angels in my mother's Tuesday night bible study class.  To those sweet angels, thank you with a heartfelt, deep gratitude that cannot be fully expressed.  Your generousity will be rewarded to you greatly through God's gracious hand! 

Dave and I have pretty much resigned to the fact that we will be weathering this journey much longer than either of us intially wanted.  We both had hoped that a new job and new insurance would happen before the baby came, but realize that God just may be blessing us with time together before her arrival instead.  I am thankful for that time!  We are choosing to enjoy this privelege of time together, even if it is not in a traditionally accepted way.  Thank you, dear God, for taking care of our needs while you bless us with some wonderful family time!

On that note, I must go before the girls destroy the house in efforts to get my attention!  I hope you have a God blessed week and praise Him for all the little things, despite your circumstances!

Creativity Abounds!

This week has been an interesting week for us.  We came home from Dallas after a family visit with everyone having some form of a cold.  After a really long, arduous drive home Sunday thanks to the rain, construction and a 3 car pile up we made it home exhausted.  Monday and Tuesday were strictly recovery days for me.  I always underestimate how much my body can take at this point in the pregnancy!  However, God has shown His creativity this week despite my body's (and mind's) desire to quit.

Of course, our most mischievous member found my couch ridden self too much of an opportunity to ignore.  Caillyn decided to do some exploring in drawers which she knows are off limits.  Below you will find the product of her creative explosion!

It's too bad the camera didn't get the full impact.  These snowman stamps covered both of her arms much like a fully tattooed person's arms are covered!

God got creative in His plans for us too.  The job interview we were hopeful about did not end in a job offer.  However, God has managed to open a door for Dave's old company to employ him on a temporary part-time basis to help them get through some HR projects.  It doesn't solve our need for long-term, dependable employment or income, but does help in the interim.  God has even opened the door for Dave to have the ability to work for them from home this week.  That was a HUGE blessing to me since there were times when he had to take care of a problem because I just couldn't.

God has also blessed us so richly with wonderful friends and family that generously give us the support we need.  We were blessed with family members to help us watch after the girls last weekend.  Also, we received in the mail this week an anonymous note from a "friend" offering encouragement and prayers as well as a gift of cash.  What a wonderful surprise to have an angel in a friend!  To that sweet angel, we are humbly thankful and grateful for your sacrifice and generosity.  May God bless you a hundred fold!

Thankfully, the creativity did not end there.  Dave has been able to start working on the baby's room so that it is no longer a storage closet "in progress."  He has been able to begin repairs on some cracks that our shifting foundation caused.  He even covered up the mural I painted for Meliya with primer and aqua paint to get ready for the new baby's nursery.  No we did not shed a tear, but there were some wimpers as we watched the mountains, flowers, ducklings, pond and tree disappear.

Lately, Meliya has been very helpful in this transformation process too.  She learned how to pull out nails from pieces of base board with a hammer.  She even learned how to paint today.  What a wonderful big sister she is going to be!

 

Despite the learning curve of how to dip the paint brush into the paint with out making a mess, not stepping in the paint, and not leaning against the wet paint, she did an excellent job!

Also, I have been able to get to work on the baby bedding.  With only 6 weeks left until my due date, I have no time to lose!  I have managed to get the dust ruffle sewn together and have started putting together the bumper pads.  Hopefully, it will continue to go smoothly so that I can be finished with it quickly! 

Thank you to all who have been praying for us and supporting us in your own ways.  We are doing well; God has been very gracious to our family.  We are thankful for this wonderful time Dave has been able to spend at home with us.  God has provided all of our needs so far, as I know He will continue to do.  We continue to practice our patience as we wait on His master plan to unfold in the coming days and months. 

Baby Teer is close to having a name...we think.  She is doing well so far.  I have an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday.  The girls are excited about getting to see their sister on the TV at the doctors office!  I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time! 

Please continue your prayers.  We could not have traveled this road over the last 2 months without each and every one of them lifting us up over the potholes and stumbling stones!