2nd Trimester!!!

I'm so excited about today. I am officially in my 2nd trimester!!

I've taken pictures of my belly each week and I've found myself comparing them to my previous pregnancy bellies. Looks about the same expect I'm more "rounder" this time around.

Here are my shots. 

I'm finally starting to have some relief from HG. I'm only sick about 5-7 times a day, which is awesome because I am able to finally keep some stuff down. I've gained 2lbs! I never thought I'd be so excited to gain weight but when you have lost 14lbs, 2lbs is HUGE! 

I wish I could write more, but everyone in this house is "sick". Josh had his wisdom teeth removed Thursday, and Brennon is having some issues with his asthma due to the weather changing so quickly. Tripp is whinny... and Zachary is a typical 5 year old. :) 

I'll post more when I can. 

Oh, and here is a belly shot from my 1st pregnancy at 14 weeks and the one I took this morning with Baby#4 at 14 weeks. About the same to me? 

Answered Prayers

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Today this blog entry is mostly my prayer for my children....

I place my children within Your hands and your keeping... 

Continue to give me the wisdom I need to guide their steps on Your pathway and to help them know Your plan and purpose for their whole lives.

Knowing that I can bring to You the prayers of my heart-carrying with them my deepest longings and strongest desires-is a great blessing.You have heard my heart's cry for a family, and You have given me, through my children, more than I could ask or dream. 

Thank You.

What a blessing and joy each one is to me. They help me in so many ways to see that understand Your heart more clearly. 

Thank you for Your full, generous, and giving heart. Thank you that You invite them, encourage them, and welcome them to come to You in prayer, to sit at Your table, and be in Your presence. 

As I pray for my children, I am reminded of the importance of living an honorable life and of giving honor to whom honor is due. I pray that You give children sensitive and caring hearts for others that will bring honor to others. Help them be honorable in their actions and attitudes and be generously responsive to the needs of others. May they, in their submission to You, be careful to show respect to those who have been placed over them. 

May they be wise students, productive workers, good citizens, supportive team members and respected companions. Help them to know how to follow so that they will learn how to lead. Help them know how to give so they will know how to prosper. Help them know how to bend, so they can stand tall. 

Teach them to walk as You walked and to honor their Father in heaven as You honored Him when you walked on earth. May their days be long, may their hearts be full, may their lives be enriched, and may their blessings be abundant. 

It can always be worse....

If everyone were to lay their problems and struggles on a table and look around we would gladly pick ours back up. 

Everyone has it bad at times.

Everyone struggles.

Sometimes the struggles are hard.

Sometimes the struggles are even harder. 

To the person who is concerned about needing a 2nd vehicle-

There is someone who walks their children to school and then walks to work everyday because they can't afford 1 car. 

To the person who just told their mom they hated her-

The girl down the street has grown up without her mom, who died of cancer when she was 4. 

To the person who just experienced their first miscarriage-

The lady on a pregnancy board just learned she had her 2nd tubal pregnancy and can't even try for a baby of her own.

To the person who is complaining about being too fat by their 8th month of pregnancy-

A lady down the road has been waiting 2 years to adopt a child.  

Point is.... 

It can always be worse.


I am guilty of being stuck in my self pitty, sad about things other call a blessing, and wondering if God could have sent me something better. Truth be known, I am truly blessed.

And I am forever grateful.