We have NEWS.....

I know, I haven't been attentative to this little blog...I will work on that. The house has been busy lately with getting more involved in church and the kids with sports. But it is about to get a little busier in our household....God decided when everyone said "you guys have your hands full"...well that God of ours decided he wanted to trust us with more...So here we are...We are growing once more from 4 to 5 children. God truly is giving us "ONE HAND FULL!" I haven't been nauseated, no headaches, no signs to tell us other than a little extra line on a pregnancy test!
Friday...I was 3 days late..with a negative pregnancy test.
Sunday..I went to get my hair done and the smell of the bleach suffocated me and being 5 days late...I was a little curious..I told my amazing hairdresser and she happened to have a test under the sink in the bathroom. I went ahead although I was thinking I wasn't pregnant! No symptoms...just a little late. Well....that test had two little lines. Pregnant...
Monday...I made a Target run for diapers...and I grabbed another test. Moms: we all know that one test isn't enough..we have to have about 2 or 3 more ( just to make sure ;))  Another ...Pregnant
Wednesday....Thatcher had a pediatrician appointment for his pre-op visit ( he is having surgery on his ears...tubes) and I took a test there as well... Final Test...A VERY DARK POSITIVE!! Yup definately pregnant! 3 tests can't all be wrong right??? Looks like we are going to be adding to this amazing journey! This was our last test...I couldn't get a clear photo...But the pink line is there:)

Just when we think we have everything planned out...God says "BUT I AM IN CHARGE". He definately is and when you live on his word and LOVE the way he intended us to...he blesses you abundantly!!  I am so amazed by HIM! He has given us so much and I am excited to enjoy every second of this pregnancy and this gift he has given us!! Other than a little tired...I feel amazing and a little giddy with excitement knowing God LOVES us this much!! We are 5 weeks and 2 days pregnant with baby #5!! I can't wait to share this journey with our readers!! Have an amazing day and enjoy every second of the amazing gifts God gives you!!

Thatcher is ONE!!! Sorry we are a little behind!

Poor little Thatcher's FIRST birthday party was cancelled due to his 103 fever! So, one by one each child has had his go round with this and we have been a little busy playing "catch Up".
Thatcher,
      This year has passed by so fast and watching you grow from a tiny newborn to a precious one year old has been such a privelege. We have enjoyed every minute of sharing your very first year with you! You have brought us so much joy and LOVE. You have taken your very first step and you stand up in the middle of the room and glance around but slowly sit back down. I LOVE watching you do this. You are in constant wonder and amazement of your surroundings. You are a blessing and we are proud to call you our precious baby boy! Happy First Birthday Thatcher!! Here goes year number 2 :) We LOVE you soooo much!!
Love
 momma

Watching you just dig into your cake face first was hilarious! You decided you couldn't pick it up but you were definately gonna eat it some how!!

Your first taste of cake batter....It is momma's favorite too Thatch :)  We LOVE you sweet boy! I am so sorry you were sick on your special day!! Don't worry little buddy....WE ARE GOING SHOPPING!!!!!!

Ty is 6 today!!!!!

 Ty IS 6 TODAY!!!! 6 years ago we welcomed Ty into this world. All 5 lbs 9oz. of him!!  He was so entirely small that he wore preemie clothes for the first 2 months of his life. He still is very tiny but he has the BIGGEST heart and LOVES with his entire heart. This little guy has brought us such amazing joy and happiness. God's gifts are the best gifts...Ty is definately a treasured gift from God!

 Ty,
      Today you turn 6 and you are growing so fast! This was your first year of "real school" (kindergarten). You are getting so big and I LOVE the way your heart works. You are so LOVING and giving and you always make sure you let us know that you LOVE us! You tell me all the time that I am the best mommy ever and each time my heart melts and tears fill my eyes with so much joy. I LOVE you so much Ty. When you came into this world, you were so tiny and you still are and will always be our "Little guy". Ty you are such an amazing blessing from God and I know he has amazing plans for your life. Just listen to him and you will fullfill everything that you were sent to do. Little guy...enjoy this day and know that you are definately one very special, LOVED boy! WE LOVE YOU TY TY!!!
Love,
Momma

It's Valentine's Day!!!

This morning on the radio ( KLOVE) I heard Mathew West sing this amazing song for a married couple...By the end of the song...I was a teary eyed, snotty nose mess! This song hit me so hard and made me play back every moment of my relationship with my husband. This isn't the life I pictured as a little girl...then.. everything was absolutely perfect in my mind. Nope...this isn't the life I pictured at all...IT"S SOOOOO MUCH BETTER!!!! God knew exactly what my heart needed and that's the way he works...he laughs at our plans because he writes our story. Our plans don't make it..they are like blueprints in our minds and God takes them and he giggles because he, Our amazing father has better plans for us. I couldn't find the lyrics to the song...So, I, very stubborn as I am..I sat and listened and stopped..rewinded and wrote it all down! I found the song online and I will link it.. Here it is ...John, I LOVE you.. You are an answer to prayer...Happy Valentine's Day!!

                                                     I Would't Change A Thing  ( Mathew West)

I had a picture in my head

of how I thought it all would go

but look who showed up instead

it turns out you never know

Love will steal you by surprise

and take your heart just like a thief

Love can bring a stubborn man

down to one knee

Chorus:

And I wouldn't change a thing

it's perfectly imperfect

So crazy

but it's worth it

And I am wrapped around you like this ring

and something tells me

Even if I could

I wouldn't change a thing

Love will show you what you like

Love will Laugh at all your plans

and if your heart won't give it back

Well, Love will slip right through your hands

Well, heaven knows we've had our share

of days we'd rather leave behind

Oh, but Love don't really seem to care

it makes the wrong turns

turn right

Chorus:

And I wouldn't change a thing

it's perfectly imperfect

So crazy

but it's worth it

and I am wrapped around you like this ring

and something tells me

even if I could

I wouldn't change a thing

I'm truly

deeply

madly

completely devoted

every moment until my last breath

I'm yours

Gotta picture in my head

of a hundred years from now

When all our lines have all been read

and we're both up there looking down

Saying....

I, I wouldn't change a thing

it was perfectly imperfect

and every bit was worth it

and I am wrapped around you like this ring

and something tells me

even if I could

I wouldn't change a thing

OHH, I WOULDN"T CHANGE A THING

I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING BY: MATHEW WEST

11 months old!!

 Thatcher,
         My sweet sweet boy! You have hit many milestones including: feeding yourself, walking around furniture, waving bye bye (backwards but it is way cuter this way), reaching out for me when you want me and giving big huge smackaroos! I LOVE all of these and the ways you do them. Your little mouth is full of teeth. We are slowly starting to wean breastfeeding and introduce new foods. This first year is almost over and we will be venturing with you into your 1's! I am sad to say goodbye to all of the "firsts" but excited to step into this year ahead with you to see what you will show us next. You have made us laugh, brought tears of joy to my eyes and you have given me more LOVE in my heart than ever imaginable. You and your amazing brothers are such gifts from above and I know God  gave you all the qualites that he knew would be a perfect fit in this family and that would teach us and inspire us. We all have our own nicknames for you: Mine for you is "thatch and Diddle", Your daddy calls you "John jr.", Quentin calls you "jingle", Ty calls you "sweet cheeks" and Jack ....well he calls you something different everyday.  Your a joy to this family! We all LOVE you very much Mr. Thatch.
LOVE,
Momma

I LOVE this face :)

 and....this one

 You have started feeding yourself, you enjoy this little independence that you have.

These are the hands that I held the first time I held you, the first time I rocked you, the first time I sang to you, the first time I kissed your hands, and these are the very hands that hold my HEART!

WE LOVE you sweet little mister

Personal thoughts on relationships

After looking back, thinking and praying...I have realized that God gives us certain people at specific times in our lives. We have relationships and sometimes they remain in our lives and sometimes they leave our lives..sometimes we know why and sometimes we don't. We miss ones we lost and we LOVE the ones we have..sometimes we walk away and we look back and realize the petty fight we had, or we just can't remember what caused our seperation. I feel God has given me amazing relationships throughout my life, ones I will always hold dear to my heart. He gives me clarity like an open door, he let's me know which ones are here to stay and which ones I need to let go of. This is something I struggled with for such a long time, I would try and hold onto every relationship in fear of losing someone special and not being open to what God has in store for me next (not that every relationship includes letting go but some do)  I have walked away from people in fear of being hurt many times or because I "assumed" they didn't care about our relationship the way I did...Now I realize making assumptions is NOT the truth...it is our way of explaining to ourselves what "we think" is going on and in this we make our minds up on something we don't know to be true. This week I realized the people in my life are here because God put them there and the people that aren't is because God had other plans for me and them.  I won't question that, I will accept it and move on. I will smile and say  "Thanks for the time you let us share together, Bless them."  Enjoy each relationship as they enter your life and Love them until they exit your life.

Happy Early Valentines Day

Look at my little Rebel! How big he has gotten so fast..makes me want to hold onto his chubbiness and not ever let go. I can't believe in just a few months he will be ONE, no longer baby...he is slowly moving into a Beautiful Toddler.

 I absolutley adore this little picture with his hand up!! His bright Blue eyes make my heart melt everytime. He is definately our little Cupid :)

As Tricia Hackney has photographed Thatcher since age 4 days old, I have "oohed and ahhed" at each picture and fallen in LOVE with her photography! She is awesome!!

Sunday Service

This past Sunday, our church service spoke to me... Pastor Chris talked about how "Jesus is our defense attorney" he stands at God's right hand and he defends our case as we confess our sins. Jesus paid the price for our sins, so we don't have to. Chris said " If you pretend to be perfect and say you have never sinned...you are a liar" ( For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God  Romans 3:22) If you walk in Honesty, have humility and you stay in that place...You will Grow in Jesus. WE never grow in areas that we protect from the truth...So step out of the darkness, confess your sins and step into the light...Renew your mind! If we confess our sins to one another, we may be healed.   Jesus Christ defends our sentence, for our sin has been served, Jesus served it. Jesus absorbed the wrath of God for us already!

I just had to share this because sometimes...We need to renew our minds and be reminded that we are not perfect...But with Jesus as "our defense attorney" and all he sacrificed for us..We should remember...he will NEVER leave or forsake us!! Seek Him!!

Pictures I have been forgetting to post!!

Jingle Baby  9months

Thatcher  6 months

My sweet boy  9 months

I Love his baby blue eyes

All Mom's need a break

Yesterday, as my 3 year old woke up with barely a voice and little Thatcher having a double ear infection...my husband stayd home with all 4 boys. I headed off to church...AWESOME sermon!!! and then our "oh so dreaded Dave Ramsey class" ( this will be good for us, I keep encouraging myself) I praised God, like it was only him and I in the room and felt so connected...I learned alot in Dave Ramsey's class...although I was looking forward to My husband and I having a date that evening (I felt Dave Ramsey saying NO) SAVE SAVE SAVE!!!  UGH>>>>It's like he is stuck in my head with every dollar planned to be spent! So we cancelled our date and SAVED!! I came home to have lunch, and then went out to see my brother in law's new home, popped back in to give the kid's a bath and then left again to go cut hair. A friend made my family dinner in exchange for me cutting her daughter's hair (THE WOMAN CAN COOK). So, my point is...I LOVE my babies, I spend every moment with them but yesterday I had a break and it felt nice to regain patience and my momminess. God Bless my husband because I think he felt my everyday stresses yesterday as he held down the home and cared for all children. But it was days like yesterday when I get a much needed break and that I look at him and LOVE him more for giving me this break. EVERY mom needs a day to herself...you need to regroup, remember who you are, and give yourself Grace for all you do...Because being a mom is a hard job but it is definately the GREATEST Gift we will ever recieve. And we all need a break in relationships to make them stronger even with our children!

10 months old...Little Thatcher

Thatcher,
         Your 10 months old today, my how fast it has gone! Your turning into this little man with your own personality and your own ways of thinking. Your littleness touches my heart with such sadness. I know too well, how fast your growing and how each day you are growing into a little boy and becoming less baby! My heart weeps as I long for those first days again, to hold you and  memorize your newborn features. I will forever miss those moments of our first days together. But, I am also excited to see and share your days ahead with you and form a bond with you that hearts can only form.  Our hearts were tied together the very day you were concieved and I will forever know the sound of your coos and your cries. I have grown to know your every need, want and how to calm you when your having a rough night. I am so proud to be called your momma....When God Blessed us...He Blessed us well. It's in you, that I see his miracle...and that's how I know that God's name has one meaning...LOVE! Thatcher...you hold my heart in your hands just like each of your brothers. I am so entirely blessed with amazing children and a husband that Loves me...Your daddy and I cherish you all!
Love,
 Momma

It's amazing how much your growing!! Your beautiful Thatcher!

You LOVE to play with your brothers..and they LOVE to play with you!

January 4th, 2011

Yesterday, I turned 28!  I have to say it was the best Birthday I have ever had. I woke up on my normal routine to get my children off to school, but decided I was going to "dress up" today :) So, my children went ahead of me down the stairs and I followed behind soon after. I came to find a dozen beautiful hot pink roses, a card and a picture of me as a child on a pretty purple table cloth. My husband is awesome!! My boys, guided me into the kitchen, they were so proud....they layed out all of my coffee ingredients for me so that "mommy wouldn't have to". My boys are so thoughtful.  I got them all ready and out the door for school, and some girls at school made me feel great by complimenting my "new outfit"...sometimes I get in a "momma rut" and forget to do the little things like dress up to make myself feel good.  I came home after dropping them off, put Thatcher down for a morning nap and I spent some time with God in my devotionals and prayer and I recieved some very sweet Birthday texts and calls. My Gram called and asked if I was feeling better....She said I am coming to spend the day with you :) I was so excited, I had absolutely nothing planned and she had just given me time to look forward to. She came, we talked and she gave me something very special...her childhood bible...a gift from the heart is a gift treasured!!!! Oh how I LOVE it and will always hold it close to my heart. Her and my Grandpa also got me some mary kay and money...so I got some fabulous boots and some tights and a belt. Gram, Jack, Thatcher and I went to lunch and shopping. We came home and Gram and I had "our time", (I LOVE this time we get to talk) and we enjoyed each other. I picked the boys up from school and Ty surprised me with a beautiful card made especially by him! John brought home a yummy dinner and we had family over and a very great friend. My mom and Dad got me a dozen roses and some dansko shoes ( so comfortable, I LOVE them), My in laws got me a yankee gift card and my brother in laws got me starbucks gift cards and John's aunt Phyllis and uncle John got me a Birthday angel plaque and a Bookmark with scripture on it. I had the most delicious cookie cake, which I am snacking on now :)  I had an amazing day!! But the best part of this day was to look around and see that all of these people LOVE me, and My great friend that came is a true friend whose relationship I value with my whole heart. There is nothing better in the world than to feel LOVED, this isn't a gift that can be bought, it isn't one that you can unwrap on occasions....It remains... exactly what it is ...hearts combined and LOVING one another completely. LOVE was the BEST part of my day!

28....is closer to 30....

This is my absolute favorite cake :)

I Love beautiful fresh flowers...They make a home feel so fresh

 Hopefully...That wish comes true ...

3 out of 4 of my little men..

Gram's childhood bible that I will forever cherish and hold close to my heart!!

These are the boots that I have been wanting to pair with some tights :) Yes they are 80's style!!

My new dansko's that mom and dad got me, I have been wanting a pair for about a year. They are so comfortable!

My husband had this set up by 6 a.m.!! He is so thoughtful!

My new belt :)

Angel plaque with a very sweet poem

The cards that are filled with LOVE and words that spoke to my heart!

The Little Mister...is feeling crummy

A little sweet, playful cutie pie like this shouldn't be feeling and looking so pitiful today!!

This is today, ( note the thanksgiving bib that we indeed use all year round :)   Thatcher was up with aching gums...thanks to the next tooth that is popping up, a oozy little eye that he scratched and a croupy cough and ear infection! My poor little mister is feeling quite yucky today and has been very quiet. I feel my family passes around one sickness and we get rid of it just, to get stuck with another!! I sure hope this little man of mine gets better soon.