Guilty!

I just saw Luke in our entry way. The look on his face told me he was up to no good. I didn't say a thing when suddenly he yelled, "no, no, NOOOOO!" and ran inside the coat closet and slammed the door behind him. Hmmmmm...

Turned out to be a poopy diaper. I can hardly wait for potty training.

Anne, Tony and Madison come to Idaho!

She just gets cuter and cuter. Here is Madison getting some "belly" time.

And here I am, getting some "Madison" time.
Luke was interested in the baby, but not too interested, thankfully.
Jay thought she was pretty cool as well.

Jay and Luke admiring sweet Madison.

Anne or Tony took these great shots Sunday morning while Nick made waffles!

I was busy holding my niece.

I love this photo...I wish I could take credit for it.

Anne is such a fun aunt!

It won't fit...
Nope, nobody is getting to that baby!!!

Thanks for flying all the way to Idaho to spend the weekend with us!!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Luke!

Jeremiah 29:12-13

Today is Luke's second birthday! I can hardly believe he is two!! Anyway, in October, I wrote about Jay and how he is God's answer to my very selfish child-hood prayers for blue eyes. Every time I look into his beautiful blue eyes I see God's love for me. The same holds true for Luke, but in a different way. In his case, I see a very specific answer to years and years of a very specific prayer and one prayed by many…a prayer for a baby.

Many of you know that for Nick, one was enough. Whatever his reason, he was sure that our family was complete with one child. I, on the other hand, felt quite differently. When Jay was three, my desire to have another baby came with full force! I wanted another baby. I longed for another baby and I was very open about it. Nick was pretty much hounded night and day. Those of you, who know Nick, know that one of his greatest qualities is his steadfastness. He is solid as a rock and loyal to the end. He is resolute and committed and if he says he is going to do something, he does it. He is not a flake and he doesn't change is mind. Okay, on the other side of that same coin is man who can be somewhat stubborn. We laugh (now) that while I have the characteristics of an elm tree, he is most certainly an oak!

The Bible study I was attending here in Boise knew, in confidence, of our struggle. And they prayed for us. My friend Britiney said, in full confidence, "we'll just pray for God to change his heart." I laughed to myself and thought, “She obviously doesn’t know my husband.” I guess in a sense, as much as I wanted to believe God could change Nick’s heart I had my doubts. There were many people who prayed this same prayer, people who wanted us to have another baby almost as much as I did. My mom prayed. Nicks mom prayed. I prayed some more. After moving to North Carolina, my new Bible study prayed. I later found out, that unbeknownst to me, my dear friends Lori Jo and Andrea would meet and pray together for the desires of my heart. Even Jay started praying, not knowing of our strife (well, at least I don’t think he did), for a baby brother.

One day I was on a run with some friends discussing it and telling them that all I could do was pray. I couldn’t make Nick have another baby with me. He wasn’t giving in. And as desperate as I sometimes felt, I knew I would never scheme a baby out of him…although, honestly, the thought had crossed my mind. I said to one friend, “all I can do is pray that God will change his heart.” Her reply was, “praying isn’t going to get you pregnant.” Sadly, I half-heartedly believed her.

Then after three years of praying and scheming and begging and pleading, arguments and resentment, and praying some more, Nick and I sought counseling…Godly counseling from Chaplain Zaccardi. And then something remarkable happened, Nick and I started praying together. Then the astounding, I started seeing my husband again, the one who I fell in love with and my desire, this overpowering need to have another baby, started to wane. I was reminded of the beautiful life God had provided for me, a loving and devoted husband and beautiful, healthy, blue-eyed son. All the while the miraculous was happening, Nick heard God’s voice and his heart changed too. And today, we have Luke.

Many of you are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11 a beautiful verse; "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Read on through verse 13; "Then you will call upon me and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Happy Birthday Luke. I love you!!!

P.S. I can’t help but to point out God’s magnificent timing. Most obvious is for me, Luke came into my life after I found peace in my circumstance and a renewed admiration and love for my husband. But Luke also came into this world at a time when a woman battling cancer desperately needed to know God heard her prayers and at a time when a little boy was learning his first lessons on faith. He came after some had given up hope and when many had probably forgotten.

A Fun Idea!

I saw this idea over on Britiney's blog and thought I'd play along. Here's how it goes . . . The first five people to respond to this post with a comment will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer has some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year.
4. You will not have a clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your toilet or laundry or (fill in the blank). I may draw or craft something. I may bake you something. Who knows? Not you. That's for sure!
The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog (or facebook/myspace page) and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.
The first 5 people to do so, and leave a comment telling me they did, win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift made by me! Oh and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!
Good Luck!!

My Little Multi-Tasker

I am so proud!

Wanna see...

...what an eight-year-old, boy, sleep over looks like? Here is the tamed down version minus the wrestling, popcorn, and endless trips to the bathroom...

At last, they are all laying down, in their sleeping bags enjoying Speed Racer.

Breakfast. I made cinnamon rolls.

Their plates are clean but I noticed the strawberries are all there.
Luke is playing Rock Band...or at least he thinks so.
Of course, he had to get in on all the action!

Eddie sings "Mississippi Queen"

Guitar right, drums left.

I love all the blank, zombie stares. This band needs a little more caffeine or something!

Oh, and my house was a WRECK!

Apology

I need to apologize for my rant in the previous post. I don't hate Oprah. I think she does a lot of good in this world. I just don't like her favorite things show. I LOVE the Super Bowl and thought this past one was the best game ever! I don't know what was up with me. My husband even asked "what was up with that post?" The only answer I can come up with is hormones.

It's a new day. I am back to my old self and I still want what other people have...and I am fine with it.