First Snow of 2008

Since then we've had a few more inches fall - this is pure heaven to my little boys' hearts!

I know, I know, I know....

I feel so bad. I really do. Ideally, I would not have left you hanging like that, I promise! Teasing you with my fun, new info. One of you even called this morning, just to make sure everything was okay. What a sweet reminder of the care and concern of our many dear friends. We are so blessed to share our lives with you!

It honestly wasn't my intent to wait until this afternoon to post my news. I've just been running like crazy. I got my mom and my sister called on the way home from the sonogram, but then kids were crying, the new snowfall was calling, the answering machine was full of messages that needed to be returned, and dinner needed to be started since we were having guests over. You know how it goes. Some of my very dearest friends didn't even get called before my sweet husband (love you!) posted the news on facebook. Haha! It was not intentional - I promise! (He took it down, after I called him, in case you're looking :).

We were up late Christmas shopping online - good grief, we are a little behind! And then we hit the ground running early this morning again, with the church to decorate for our MOPS Christmas party tomorrow. Then it was sledding fun in the front yard again (which means, mom runs around up and down the hills, pulling the sled behind her. Uh, huh, that's right. I am a FUN mom!), followed by hot chocolate, lunch, and - finally! - nap time.

So here I am - 1:45 pm - with my lunch and my laptop, ready to tell you my news. But you probably already know by now!

I am such a loser. But this is life, right?

Anyway, without further ado....



It looks like pink is in my future, after all!!!!! I am still in shock - was so not expecting that!

We are beyond excited - and amazed at the tiny 13 oz girl we watched kicking around inside of me yesterday. I still can't get over it. I am going to have a daughter, people! She was laying there, all stretched out, with her legs extended, one arm behind her head...very cool, this one. It made me laugh. And yes, cry. But I am NOT more emotional this time around - I swear, I am not! :)

Thanks for hanging in there, and for all the love and prayers. 20 more weeks, and you can meet her!

Today's the day!!!

Refer to the poll on the left. :)

Visiting Bethlehem

2 Sunday evenings ago, we surprised the boys with a trip to the Mast family farm for a live nativity experience. All around the pond on the property, it was set up like the city of Bethlehem, during the year the Lord was born. And numerous actors told the story in a way that made it seem so real to them. Everything was so well done - we just loved it, and hopefully we'll make this a tradition we keep every year.

We didn't tell the kids what we were doing until we parked and got on the bus to ride to Bethlehem. They were so excited!


I forgot to get my camera out again for awhile, so I don't have pictures of all of it. But when we arrived, a Roman soldier met us and took a group of us to "register" in the census. It was there that our guide Benjamin met us, and took us on our journey through Bethlehem.

We stopped to hear the rabbis read from the Torah the prophecies concerning the birth of the Messiah - that He would be born in Bethlehem! How incredible to think that God recorded so many prophecies about the coming Lord Jesus, and that there were ones who looked expectantly for His coming. What an amazing night that must have been, when He finally arrived!

Along our way, outside the city, we came across a group of shepherds, warming themselves by the fire. As we spoke with them, all of a sudden, angels appeared out of nowhere, proclaiming good news of the coming Babe!

We hurried on to Bethlehem. The city was a bustling marketplace.














The boys got to make dreidels - they loved this!





Finally we saw the star, above a stable. It was Mary, Joseph and Jesus! (But really, it was Chris, Candace and Conner!).





The wisemen - still looking for Him.










At the end of the journey, we passed 3 crosses and then an empty tomb. Joseph of Arimethea told us the story of how the Baby had come to die and to save His people from their sins. And he encouraged us to put our trust in Him if we hadn't already.



What a beautiful story! Thank you, Lord, that it is true!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree...

We decorated the tree tonight. The boys have been impatient with anticipation, but we wanted to wait for an evening when we could all do it together. And it ended up being really special, so I'm glad we did. The boys are just in awe of everything Christmas - from their toy nativity set to the stockings hung with care - and it is so fun to see their wonder at the beauty of a Christmas tree.

We bought a real one this year, a fraser fir. I have to admit, it smells like Christmas now. But I think I have vacuumed every day since we got it. Ugh...give and take, I guess.

This little one inside is moving a lot these days - I am almost 18 weeks now. I saw my doctor this afternoon for a general visit, and he said I am measuring right on. So probably no twins, for those of you who have asked. :) I am just fat. Although technically the 5 pounds that the scale says I have gained shouldn't make me look so fat, but it is what it is, right? I guess we'll see if this pregnancy workout video delivers like it promises.

Ha!

No puking today. I feel absolutely glorious, and at least a little hopeful that this is a good sign of things to come. My doctor just chuckled at me, and said that in his opinion, morning sickness itself is a good sign and it makes him very optimistic. Thanks, doc. Just what I wanted to hear. :)

My sono date is set for a week from Tuesday. I can hardly wait to take another peek at this little one!