Being thankful for blessings

Many of you have probably read my previous posts about our views on childbirth. Unfortunately, some of our family (and friends I'm sure) don't agree with our views. I must say that makes it difficult for us to be completely elated when we find out news of a new blessing coming to our family. We want to be able to tell our family have a wonderful, joyous & genuine excitement fill the air as we announce it, but its not that way. We continue to pray that our families will accept that this is what feel God has called us to, but its still hard.

It is also difficult to figure out when to tell certain people because of the loss they may have recently experienced. I always want to know when people are expecting another blessing (even right after my miscarriages). I want to rejoice with them! I want to join with them in singing praises to our faithful and wonderful Lord!! I am learning (which is always a difficult process in and of itself) that we MUST praise and give thanks to our Lord in all things - at ALL times!! Now, I have not experienced a loss of any magnitude since coming to this realization, so I'm sure when that first one hits its going to be more than difficult, but I know its what I must do. If I can't praise him in the hard times, why is He going to listen to me in the easy/good times?? He is always faithful to me and so I must be to Him. (I just hope I can live up to that.)

So all that to say - We're expecting another blessing!!!! God is so gracious and giving and we are so thankful that He has chosen to bless us again. We have told our families and now I wanted to announce it to my readers first. I will put this posting on facebook, but with the title I'm sure I won't have many readers - only the few faithful. We found out December 17th, but (as we traditionally do) wanted to wait until after our first ultrasound and appointment. I was able to confide in a few friends so I would have someone to talk to in case of a miscarriage, but otherwise no one knew until this past week. I will am 11 weeks today (Monday, 1/31) and I'm feeling much better. I was very sick for several weeks and wondered "How in the world am I going to do this?!" But, once we figured out it was the prenatal vitamins and I switched to kiddie chewables, I've been feeling GREAT!! Tired - but GREAT!! There are many questions we have and I'm sure some of you do too, but we are trusting that God is in complete control and that He will see us through this as well. After all, if He feels we should be blessed with another child - HE alone can provide for that child!! I'm so excited to see how that will play out and what is in store for our family. (It's not a very clear picture, but this is what the little peanut looked like at our first ultrasound.)

Tyler is five (he will be 6 in June), Tucker turns 2 this Thursday, Madi will be 1 in April and this little blessing will join our family in August!! I think we're gonna be busy!!! Right now my main concerns are rearranging rooms to prepare for whatever we're having (boy or girl), getting curriculum nailed down for next year (as we are probably moving into year-round schooling & seeing as I'm going to be out-of-commission most of August this needs to be done asap), preparing things for our local JBF sale at the end of February and just general de-cluttering!!! I know our house and life will run much smoother if I can get the house in order before I get too far along. I will post more on my de-cluttering and organizing tips tomorrow! See you then!!

Homeschool help and sickness update (not a clever title I know - sorry!)

I've been having trouble connecting with my 5-yr old during our school times. This morning I came across this blog post and I now have a new hope!! I just wanted to share this with you all today in case there are some of you out there thinking of homeschooling or are in the same rut I am.

http://www.homeschooling.net/blog/homeschool/first-a-relationship/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+DianeHopkins+(Heart-to-Heart+with+Diane)&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail

By the way, we are still sick in the Breedlove household. I think we are finally on the mend with the 5yo and baby, but I can tell you now this is ONE TIRED MOMMA!!! I'm pretty sure we would become millionaires if I invented a "disinfectant bomb" for the house!! Until then, we'll use our lysol, vinegar/water mixture and WASH, WASH, WASH!!!!

Happy schooling and healthy days are ahead (I just know it!)!!

Long time no type!

WOW!!! It has been a really long time since I've written anything. We took a break for the holidays and then our family has been battling sickness (various forms) for about 3 weeks now. I think we are finally on the mend, but BOY am I tired of sickness! I really don't have time (or anything but sickness to write about) to do an entire post as I'd like, but I wanted to share this one with you. I read this post this morning from one of my favorite blogs. I must admit I am new to this whole homemaking thing. I have been a homemaker for over 3 years now, but I have never thought of my "job" as more than making do & keeping up with the piles of laundry that come with 3 kids!!! This mornings post really hit home with me and the "slump" that I have been feeling. I've been down due to sickness and then have felt over the past few weeks that I'm not adequate to keep this house up the way it needs to be. Now I realize its because I've been going about it ALL wrong!! I've been looking at it from a JOB perspective instead of an ETERNAL perspective!! WOW!!! Talk about a light-bulb!! I am so ready to move forward with the new attitude of doing work around the house to make a lasting impression on my kids lives! I couldn't ask for a better JOB!!!

I also read this post and thought, how can I make lasting impressions on my sons! They are my oldest two kids at the moment (yes, we plan on having more!!) and the ones I am "training" as I do things around the house. I am still working on that, but I'll get back to you when I have some ideas and answers! Our daughter is not old enough to do or learn (homemaking) things just yet, but I can't wait for the day when I can teach her to cook (one of the MANY reasons I have taken up an interest in this now), efficiently run a house with multiple kids & schedules and SO much more!!!! I'm so glad God has blessed me and challenged me with these tasks at hand. I am up for it!!!! Are you???