Updates :)

When I started this blog a few years ago I decided that I wouldn't blog unless I had something worth saying. I wasn't about to write a blog post just "because" or in order to keep my readers. Often my posts have come as a passion burning in my heart, I sit down at the computer to write and within a few minutes I have it published. But lately this hasn't been the case....so I haven't blogged much. And I also decided I wouldn't let blogging get in the way of caring for my family. If I was too busy....the posts would have to wait.

Well my lack of posts in the last few months have been because of these reasons exactly. I haven't had a lot of those "I just have to share this" moments lately. And I have also been too busy to blog!

But today I thought I would take a few moments to give an update of our lives :)

My last post was about the changes that have been taking place in our life when our 3rd child, Megan got engaged. Well since then we have set a wedding date and are now BUSY making plans!!! Henry and Megan's wedding has been set for Mar. 3rd. This is a real exciting time for all of us and we are having a lot of fun! So far the invitations are made, the bridesmaid dresses are in the making, the church has been booked, the meal has been planned.....and the list goes on :) It's always nice to check things off the list as we get it done!

Henry bought a house a couple of months ago and so our family has been helping him renovate it and get it ready for them to move in after they are married. That's also been a big job that has taken time but it has been so great to be able to pitch in where we can as a family! Things go a lot faster with lots of helpers!

We also had a quick visit with our Tennessee friends, the Munck's, when they came to visit us this past week. It was so great to see each other face to face again and catch up on all the little details of our life. It was hard to say good-bye, but we look forward to seeing them again....hopefully sooner than later!

Today marks 33 weeks of my pregnancy. My blood pressure has been great, and my blood sugar as well so that has been an answer to prayer. Baby is still growing and kicking and letting mama know it's in there! We did have an ultra sound last week because I was measuring a little bigger than I should have been. Of course ultra sounds are not very accurate at this stage in pregnancy so I am not sure it helped out much. The tech said that the dates can be off 3 weeks (give or take) and off almost a pound (give or take) so it's no use going by the info we got! But for the record I was 35 weeks and baby was 5 lbs. 6 oz. So we'll see how far off that actually is! I guess OUR goal is that the baby will stay put until the wedding is over. I don't care if I go into labor that night.....but please Lord, not before :) But in my heart I know that God's timing is perfect and we will rejoice with whatever time He chooses! I have never been earlier than a couple of days before (except for the times I was induced) so I am not too worried :)

We are also teaching a parenting class this winter so that has been a lot of fun! We have a great group of parents that are so eager to put into practice the things they are learning. And of course, as always, we are learning right along with them! It is always refreshing to go through this course and to encourage other parents that it is possible to have children that you can enjoy parenting!

And other than this, it's been the regular everyday routine of life in a large family. I am noticing as I get older that my brain gets tired quicker than my body somedays! Of course now we have every stage in our family, married, engaged, adult, teens, adolescence, children, toddlers and soon to be infant, so there's a lot to keep up with. Yup, life is full :) But we love it!!!!

And that is my update for today. Hope your weekend is going well!

Changes

From the day our girls are born I pray for the man they will marry someday (Lord willing). And as soon as they are able we train them daily in preparation for the day they will marry and have a husband and a home of their own to care for.

And even though there are all these years of planning, training and dreaming, nothing can quite prepare you for the day it becomes reality!

As you know we had our first wedding almost 3 years ago when our oldest son Joshua married our wonderful daughter-in-law, Rebecca. Their marriage was the beginning of the changes that were to come to our family. Our family unit as we knew it would never be the same again. So as happy as it was, it was also kind of sad that this phase of our lives was over! I think you have to be a parent of a married child to truly understand these mixed feelings. Of course we would trade nothing for this new phase. Adding Rebecca to our family has been a huge blessing....it's like she has always been here, she fits into our family so perfectly. And as a bonus we now have two wonderful grandchildren as a result of this marriage.

But just when you think you understand and have adjusted to change.....things change again! And so has happened to our family in the last month. Another change.....a very happy, but yet a little sad, change.

And this is where a dear young man, Henry, comes into the picture, the day he asked to court our daughter Megan, and the day we gave permission. A day that we remember fondly. Yet a day that we realized another change was about to happen. For us as parents, and particularly for three sisters whose bond had grown strong over the years. But the day we had dreamed, prepared and prayed for Megan had come.

And once again, we have gotten used to change and are thrilled with the results! We have grown to love Henry as our own son. In fact it now feels like he has always been part of our family. I just love how God puts these things together so perfectly!

Which brings us to today, the day Henry proposed to Megan and asked her to be his wife! We are so excited and happy for them. What a blessing to watch a young couple who desires God's will for their lives. Henry has been such a blessing in the way he has respected our wishes as Megan's parents and has shown himself trustworthy in his relationship with her. He is a really great example to all young men in a courting relationship. And Megan as well has been so careful to continue to let her Daddy guard her heart until the day he gives it over to Henry. Again, a wonderful example to the young women around her! It's truly been a beautiful thing to watch and be a part of.

We love you both, Henry and Megan and we are excited for you as you prepare for your life together. We look forward to this new change and season in our lives as we know it will bring great things!

And as for my blog readers, I will try to keep you up to date with things as they progress! I know my blogging has been very sparse lately....but maybe now you see part of the reason why?????

And this about sums it up.