The MOTHER of all Announcements.

Well, maybe not. But I am thrilled to announce that we are expecting our third child! We're about a month into the construction of our new family member.

Shhh. I'm secretly praying for twins, but don't tell hubby. He might faint! And since twins run strongly in his dad's family, I've got genetics on my side.

I am extremely excited as we have been trying to get pregnant for two years. I have adenomyosis in my uterus, so it's been very difficult and frustrating. You might remember a few months back, I posted about how much I wanted more children and how my doctor had said that after the shots, there would be a small window of time where it would be possible that we could conceive! IT WORKED!!!!

What's funny is that this past Friday, my daughter was telling everyone at our Messianic Congregation that I was pregnant with a girl and that she was naming her Jilliet. So I had all these ladies coming up to me and asking when I was due. Beats me, I thought. Isn't that strange? What's even weirder is that I had had suspicions earlier that day because I was a bit nauseous and my back was killing me. And no, I hadn't shared my suspicions with my daughter. I just blew it off assuming it was because I hadn't eaten well and had been carrying large boxes around for weeks. Well, no more heavy lifting for me! I got home from church that night and remembered that I had a spare test that I hadn't used yet, so just to be certain that I could be lifting things to pack, I took the test. I certainly wasn't expecting to be expecting! Praise God!

Please pray for an easy pregnancy and a healthy baby(s). :)

My Happy Place

I used to be all old-world in my taste for decorating. But I have recently fallen hard for these bright, saturated, bold colors! There are so many artists out there right now who are making amazing things. When I need a pick me up, I just browse through their blogs and shops. I get really giddy.

Here are some of my favs:

Diana Fayt – Ceramic extraordinaire
http://oneblackbird.blogspot.com/

Thompson Family-Life – a true feast for the eyes
http://thompsonfamily.typepad.com/

sheye rosemeyer – my heart soars here
http://sheyerosemeyer.blogspot.com/

little birds handmade - adorable little sewn things
http://littlebirds.typepad.com/little_birds_handmade/

bella dia – crochet diva
http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/

hello my name is heather – paper crafting darling
http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/

SoulaMama – she has such a FUN house
http://soulemama.typepad.com/

Angry Chicken – in particular the Japanese craft book stuff
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/japanese_craft_books/index.html

Simple Sparrow – all things lovely
http://simplesparrow.typepad.com/simple_sparrow/

Felt garland step by step
http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2006/12/cozy-up-with-blanket.html

Carrie Young – photographer
http://www.carrieyoung.typepad.com/

Pancake Meow – look at that name. how can you not click here?
http://www.pancakemeow.com/category.php?category_id=54

Posie gets cozy – all things cozy and rosy
http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/

m. patrizio – illustration, crocheted creatures and cute stuff
http://www.mpatrizio.blogspot.com/

One good bumblebee – simply adorable goodies
http://onegoodbumblebee.com/category.php?all=1

Mamarazzi School – where auto mode is for sissies
http://www.mamarazzischool.blogspot.com/

Photojojo – totally groovy things to do with pictures
http://photojojo.com/content/

Blabla Kids – adorable kids clothes and accessories
http://www.blablakids.com/index.html

Mood Swing Studio – Baubles for every state of mind
http://www.moodswingstudio.com/index.php?category=41

Pink Sparrow’s Etsy shop – amazing felt happiness
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=4201&order=&section_id=&page=1

Flatten Me – Your photo – their story – your adventure
http://www.flattenme.com/

Memmert Sign Co. Old-timey looking metal signs
http://www.mummertsignco.com/products/metal-signs/sizegallery.php?catid=10

Announcing Baby – My all-time favorite place to look for cards
http://www.announcingababy.com/photobirthcards.html

And here's some pictures just to give you a tasty treat. Click on the links above for the four-course meal. What a feast for the eyes!

so simple. so darling.

Chalkboard paint on the kitchen cabinets. I soooo want to do this.

This chandelier wants me to copy it. It told me so.

Good gravy! Pom pom garland!

Speaking of garland: I really want to do this for Christmas this year. (yes, I realize that it's only February, but seeing that I have no skills whatsoever with a needle and thread, it would be best if I started now.)

finished product

I am sooo not a purse girl. I don't give a hoot about designer purses. I prefer the biggo, honkin' bags you just sling across your chest and go. But this cute little thing puts a skip in my step and my heart.

recycle, renew, reuse...

Can we organize? Yes, we CAN!

I'm an artsy fartsy kinda gal. So this stuff makes me swoon. You may be wondering, how is it that I am able to post such a long, highly graphic entry when I'm supposed to be packing? Well, I needed the distraction. Ahh. That's better. Now, back to my regularly scheduled evening of packing and painting...

Happy Love Day!

Carpets and Stud-finders

I feel very studly today because I hired a great guy to install carpet in our condo. I'm officially going with all carpet. No laminate.

yeah me. yeah condo. yeah great guy!

We're in the process of updating some things here since we're moving to Colorado and need to sell the place. I've been all over the map trying to decide how to re-floor everything. (We've lived here 4 years, and I've potty trained two kids here. There's homemade playdough and Kool-aid ground into this carpet. yuck!)

I had originally thought that I'd just re-carpet, but then I saw some prices for wood laminate and thought that I could do that. And since it was sort of expensive, I determined that I would lay it myself. (yeah, I know) Then as I got more and more overwhelmed with the prospect, I figured that I could put down laminate in some areas and carpet in others. As the cost kept increasing, I knew I had to have another plan. I'm so relieved to know that my floors will look great and that I don't have so much on my plate now. Packing and painting is enough, if you ask me. :)

I had found some ok deals, some really awful deals and then this one. And I almost cancelled on the poor guy. I called him this morning to tell him not to bother coming by because I had seen a really good deal last night. But I was intrigued by his persistance. Especially when he said he could match or beat said good deal. So he came to measure and gave me a great price. I am completely confident that I will not find a better deal out there right now. I am so happy with this guy and his company. And as icing on the cake, it's a Christian business. I'm happy to support them.

Hubby called a bit ago and is looking at houses. We've found one we really like. He's filling out the application as I type...

I also was treated today to Joe's Crab Shack for lunch as a sort of 'thank you' for all the writing I've done for the church. The kiddos got to come along and everything. While us grown ups were having a wonderful talk, the kids were playing in the mud. Seriously. There's a little sand pit with a playground outside. I told the kids that they could play on the playground equipment if they stayed out of the mud puddles. After about twenty or so minutes of lovely adult conversation, I look over and see them sitting in the water. No kidding. I got them changed in the bathroom (I ALWAYS pack an extra set of clothes for the kids because my theory is "You just never know), and I put the filthy clothes in the trunk as the kids walked without shoes to the car. Honestly, it didn't faze me. And don't tell them this, but secretly, I actually kind of think my kids are super cool for enjoying that sort of thing. :)

Because I find this sort of thing fun...

I've been tagged by a friend of mine who was an intern at the church I attend (until he up and left us for a pastoring job at some other church. But who am I to talk. I'm about to move all the way up to the Rockies!).

Here's what you have to do...

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages.)
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Link back to the person who tagged you.
6. Tag five people.

Now you gotta cut me some slack. I'm in the middle of packing. Most all my books are sufficating in boxes right now. Poor things. I do have a few books out, but they're mostly homeschool curriculum workbooks and little chapter books, like The Boxcar Children series and stuff. So I moseyed over to my bathroom to find my book o' choice.

1. Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis

2. Ugh. I have to cheat again because page 123 in my book is a chapter heading page and says nothing on it but DUST - Movement 5. So I'm going to go with page 124. Forgive me.

3. "They realized that something much bigger was going on here, involving them and the people around them and all of creation."

4. "Something involving God making peace with the world and creation being reclaimed and everything in heaven and earth being brougt back into harmony with its Creator. But before all the big language and grand claims, the story of Jesus was about a Jewish man, living in a Jewish region among Jewish people, calling people back to the way of the Jewish God. When I first began to realize that Jesus wasd Jewish, I thought, No way; he was a Christian."

5. There ya go, Chris.

6. Can't wait to hear what you all are reading: Jennifer, Amanda, Grace, Jenn, and Danielle.
(I don't actually know Danielle. But I seriously adore her, and I commented on her blog once so maybe, just maybe she'll realize that I've tagging her someday.)

Rebekah

We went to the park today with our good friend Rebekah. When I think about leaving Texas, my heart just shatters when I think of being away from her. She's been our family's best friend for years now. We love her so much. She is like no other teen you will find out there. She's not disaffected by the world, but rather very engaging and compassionate. Her heart spurs her into action, and I have been greatly inspired and blessed by her example. We've recently discovered that we both have webcams, so I'm sure we'll be on all the time chatting it up. She's also been working her parents over to let her visit this summer. We cherish every second we get to spend with her!

Love you Bekka.

By the way, how about that picture of Miss Gillie? Outstanding! She is just so vibrant! What a light!

Forgive me

Before I was a believer, I had always heard that we are to frequently ask for forgiveness for our sins. After becoming a Christian, I struggled with this because the Bible says that Jesus’ death on the cross, God’s grace and our acknowledgment of our need for these gifts is enough. Psalm 103:12 says that God removed our sins as far as the east is from the west when we accepted the gift of His Son as our Redeemer. Our failings can no longer affect our salvation status.

Early on in my Christian walk, I didn’t understand why I would need to ask for forgiveness after that initial, desperate prayer to God when I first admitted that I was a sinner and that I needed forgiveness. God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice made me right with Him, so I didn’t think I should ask God for forgiveness over and over again, as if Jesus’ death didn’t actually finish God’s plan for redemption. I wrestled with this for a while and then finally became halfheartedly appeased when I figured that the concept of frequently seeking forgiveness must just be referring to our making amends with our fellow people, not God.

But that just didn’t seem right. I don’t know when my perspective shifted, but I later on realized that asking for forgiveness from God is essential. It humbles us to admit our failings. It is the act of agreeing with God that we stumble and fall. It is an act in which we can align our opinion of ourselves with God’s intimate knowledge of ourselves. I think it is absolutely necessary to do this on a fairly regular basis. I aspire to do it daily, but I often don’t. Honestly, I don’t typically find it as pressing as some of my other needs because I let my trust that I’m completely forgiven push my need for humility to the back burner. This is not an ideal state for growth. Nor is it a state of reality.

I don’t believe we need to ask forgiveness for each and every sin, because all of our sins (past, present and future) are covered under Jesus’ Life-Assurance policy. Acknowledging our sins to God won’t affect our salvation status, but it will cultivate a humble and contrite heart before our creator and Savior. This is where Jesus lives.

Isaiah 57:15 says

“For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”

By admitting my sins, I am inviting Jesus to revive my heart. My prayer for myself and for you today is this:

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord.
And renew a right spirit within me.

Practicing being warm

We found this cute and colorful scarf at the Dollar Store yesterday when the kids and I went on a snack run. Gillian wanted to model it today for me. She said that she had to practice being warm for Colorado. What I love is that she is wearing a very light yellow, epitome-of-Spring-type dress under the sweater and scarf. How precious is that?!

Invisible Mommies

I found this today on a lovely Australian blog. She didn't say who originally wrote it, but it is soooo gorgeous. God bless Mommies!

"I'm invisible.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?"

Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these weren't the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going . . . she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and felt sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip, and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird; on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."

And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MUM"

Colorado!

Most everyone who reads this blog already know this, but we are moving to Colorado at the end of this month. Hubby was offered a job there for significantly more than we currently earn. Yes, we will be able to get a house. (BACKYARD!) We are also grateful to leave our butt-bumping kitchen days behind us! We are very excited about this new adventure for our family and look forward to seeing what God has in store for us there. We really feel like this is God's will as so many things are taking care of themselves. Hubby has two sisters who live there, and they have 5 kiddos all together, so the little ones will be able to play with their cousins all the time now.

We vacationed there for 10 days back in August. We didn't realize at the time that God was just giving us a sneak peak into our new digs. We were all taken with the area and with the two churches that we attended while we were there. We dreamed of moving there 'one day' but never imagined that it would be so soon. We feel very blessed.

Although we are super excited to go, we're heart broken to leave our friends back in Texas. I've never lived outside of Texas, so this is a real adventure for me. We have so many amazing friends, and our churches have grown and shaped my faith. I am thankful that we live in the 21st century and can keep in contact with them all pretty easily. We're already planning on having a space for 'visitors,' so if you know us, consider yourselves officially invited to look us up if you're ever in the area.

If you think of it, would you please pray for us to transition smoothly. That the packing and transporting of our things would also go smoothly. That we would be sensitive to God's leading and guiding regarding the selling of our condo and the purchase of our future house.

Thanks. God Bless!