Just 3 weeks OR less to go...

I haven't posted in over a month. Life has been busy around here. We are all ready for baby Luke to make his grand arrival! Especially me!

I think pregnancy gets harder the older you get...or maybe it is hard every time...hmmm...either way the reward is awesome. I am really looking forward to snuggling up with him and the girls together during the cool fall and winter months. I am praying that it will be a precious, peaceful time for our family. What a joy motherhood is!

Paige has commented several times that she is really nervous/anxious about his arrival. I think it is hard for her because she is a planner and needs advance notice of changes, etc. So it has been hard for her to digest that we are in waiting mode. I shared with her the other day that God has his birthday picked out and it is perfect! It will be a perfect surprise!

Landri is funny. She is constantly kissing and hugging my tummy and talks to Luke like he is outside of the womb. She hasn't shown any worry or concern about this transition in our family...however she is 4 so that makes a huge difference.

We are trying...okay...I am trying to stay up with our homeschooling and serving as Children's Director at church. Its been a little crazy coupled with the fact that I am exhausted most of the time. We did experience our first Sea World Homeschool Day last week with a total group of 29 from our church! It was so encouraging to me. This week we will tour a pumpkin farm and take all things of fall in. I soooo LOVE FALL!

Coley winterized the boat this weekend and moved it to the winter storage - aka our backyard - so that I could begin parking in the garage again. I think he was a little heartbroken to move "Elvira" from her safe environment in the garage. This also symbolized that summer is officially over for us...I mean its not like we didn't take full advantage of summer. We spent lots of time on the lake and am looking forward to many more summers of being on the lake as a family.

I do love Sunday afternoons and Sundays in general with my family. It is a sweet time to serve and worship together then rest! Thank you Lord!

1st Day of School

We had our first day of school at the homeschooling co-op today. The girls were sooo excited! I am so thankful to be a part of such an encouraging learning environment with other parents who are on the same path as us. I also had my first day of teaching 4th grade math and it wasn't too bad. I had two boys who were very well behaved and excited to learn.

We made it there on time and I even had time to swing by Starbucks and get a latte. I would say that is success! ;)

Back to School...

Its incredible to me that this summer is almost over...well not the heat part...but the no school part!

We have had a super busy but fun filled summer. We've been on the lake most weekends and enjoyed getting to bed later and being able to sleep in.

The girls and I have been busy over the past week trying to wrap up summer and prepare for school to start on Monday. They are super excited as Paige will be starting 1st grade and Landri will be continuing pre-school. I will be teaching 4th grade math at the co-op which we will attend on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we will be doing our school work at home and Fridays will be our field trip/fun/rest day. I am also excited to be joined in the homeschooling journey by 6 other moms who attend our church. We have begun our own "support" group (that sounds funny) but we have a whole year's worth of activities and field trips planned. I am so encouraged by it!

Landri is hilarious! She always adds humor to my day and has begun to be more and more independent. She really challenges Paige which is funny to see play out. She still loves her thumb...not sure when we will lose the attachment to it.

Paige is growing up. She is changing so quickly and I see her personality, thoughts, words, etc. beginning to mature. Of course learning to read has opened up a whole new world for her...some things I wish she couldn't read...

Not to mention we are about 2 months away from baby boy's arrival. We still have lots to do to get ready. We need to paint his room and go through baby stuff. Hopefully, much of this can be accomplished during Labor Day weekend. He moves constantly - especially at night...the girls are always commenting on my belly. They are excited to be a part of the whole process.

Coley has been super busy at work. This is their busy season which means working 6 days a week and averaging 70 hours. With the heat he is worn out so we just try to make the most of our family time together.

The Lord has really laid on my heart lately to resonate joy not only in my role as a mom, wife, friend, children's director but most of all to Him for all he has done for me. I have been reading Crazy Love by Frances Chan and the Lord has used it to remind me of my daily walk and how much I still can learn about him. Very encouraging.

Psalm 63:3-5 "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."

We're having a boy!

It has almost taken me two weeks to get a quiet moment to sit down and write! We are really excited to announce that its a boy! We found out on June 4th and really have been in a state of shock almost. After having two girls you just figure your chances of having another girl...are well...pretty good. He is precious! They took a 3-D pic of his face and while it was pretty much just flesh on bone at 20 weeks, minus pudgy cheeks, he is completely adorable. Dr. said all looked healthy and good.

The girls are excited and have named him "Jackson" however, I keep reminding them that will probably not be his real name even though Jackson is cute. Landri told us tonight "that if its a boy we will bring him home". We laughed.

We have been on summer break for a month now and it seems to be flying by. I had lots of goals like Paige reading every day for at least 30 minutes. However, its been crazy busy. We did get the girls room painted and all fixed up so we can begin working on baby boy's room. We have been reading and the girls love the books on CD so I need to find more of them. Their favorite is Skippy Jon Jones.

We are looking forward to going on vacation next week with Heather, John and Ethan. Our annual week long trip to the coast. Its such a simple, sweet time with our family. We don't do anything huge just enjoy sand, sun, picking up seashells, swimming and grilling. We have learned that simple is good with the kids.

There is so much more to say...however by the end of the day I am at a lost for words...as I am a little more tired than usual.

Pregnant and almost 30...

I am exhausted - mentally, physically, emotionally...I am joyfully pregnant exhausted. Does that make sense? Seriously, I will spare you a pic but I feel and look like I am at least 6 months pregnant and yet I am not quite 5 months. Its crazy but I am afraid of having a 10 pounder come October. Maybe its because I am older??? The puky feeling is getting much, much better. We will find out on June 4th what sex the baby is. I can't wait. This is a first for us. We didn't find out with the girls.

As I enter this last week in my 20's its kind of funny that I have been thinking about turning 30. I am not sad about life in my 20s being over...its funny but I never thought about being in my 30s. It always seemed so far away. Hilarious!

I am thankful for the last 29 years and feel incredibly blessed to be married to the same man, a mom of two - almost three, a daughter, a sister, a friend and a daughter of the King.

Speaking of...Coley and I had a great early anniversary getaway to our favorite close by coastal destination. It was great to sleep late, take naps, eat good seafood without entertaining our children during mealtime, and enjoy some sun and sand. We enjoy being together and can still laugh at one another. After almost 10 years we also have realized that fighting just isn't worth the effort and coming to a solution is always more fun. He is my best friend.

And because I am exhausted...just staying up waiting for my hubby to get home from work...I am beginning to ramble. Good night.

"Be the Church"

This morning we didn't have church as usual. We were the "church" outside of the church walls on a Sunday morning. Novel idea, huh? Well actually...it was first written about in the book of Acts.

Anyway, it was awesome! We had about 100 folks show up and we went into a neighborhood and cleaned it up, worked on people's houses, loved on them and fed them lunch. We totally got our sweat on! It was neat to see everyone working- worshiping - because it wasn't about them...

We had a specific kids area where we played games and then planted flowers into pots. The kids then broke up into groups and headed out to deliver the flowers to the neighbors. They got so into it, loved getting dirty and then being able to give something they had worked on.

I especially loved the example of their parents and involving our children into serving one another in our community even though we didn't know them.

I love it that "church" can happen anywhere at anytime...even on Sunday morning! Its good to be reminded of that.

Kindergarten Successful!

We are wrapping our first semester of homeschooling this week and Paige's kindergarten year. It has flown by! I have been thinking alot lately about how I just dreaded sending her off last summer to the big world of "school" and how God changed our course midway and set us on a new path. I have also been mindful that as a parent just because I make a decision today doesn't mean that I have to stick with that decision forever. It can be for a season or a few seasons. That's hard for me because I am a planner and want to see the road ahead of me.

This semester hasn't been the easiest - especially with me being pregnant and puky - but we made it! Yeah! I love the flexibility that homeschooling and being part of a co-op gives our family. We aren't tied into the "school schedule" and I do love being with my children...well except when they are emotional (got girls anyone?), or a little grumpy and need a good spanking. Ha! Good thing is that they put up with me on days like that as well...I still laugh at the fact that I am a mom - a stay at home mom - at that. Its never what I envisioned - but we don't always see the plans God has for us do we?

Paige's teacher at the co-op gave her an evaluation on end of year Kinder math and language arts to which Paige completely mastered. She said that she is already on a 1st grade reading level and is ready to take on 1st grade. 1st grade? What? I thought that I would never get out of potty training alive!

Our girl Landri is a hoot! She keeps us laughing and I am so jealous of her already olive skin. She looks like she has been tanning for months. She revealed to me on Saturday that Paige is her best friend. She is always wanting to rub my belly and tell the baby "Hi".

I am horrible with taking pics of the girls regularly. ;) Malinda took the above pic of Coley and the girls on his 31st birthday. We had a good day with Malinda and Wayne and enjoyed all the sights of the hill country in the spring. Fun day.