For several years Kyle and I have discussed having more children. Then one day, I was talking to a friend who kindly pointed out that I had been talking to the wrong one.
God is not only the giver of life but he also knows what is best for us. So I started talking to God about the matter instead.
It was a very happy day when Kyle came to me and said that he decided we could have another child.
Lesson learned! Don't nag your husband, talk to God!
I am glad in many ways that we waited. Life is more settled and we are thoroughly enjoying our little one.
Seth and Josiah are wonderful big brothers and Isaac is the perfect addition to our family.
God is good!
Our little guy has not come without challenges. I got Lyme Disease again this spring when I was about 32 wks. pregnant. I'm still fighting that, along with what we think is a cracked tailbone.
I know that we will get over this hurdle too. Today is my first day without help. Kyle's Mom has been with us till now. I'm so thankful for her help. Thanks to her, I was able to put the house back on the market this week.
This week has been a good reminder that there is no room for perfectionism with a newborn in the house!
Isaac has been a wonderful, easy going baby so far. God knew just what I needed. Life is challenging right now, but it's a good kind of challenging.
I'm actually looking forward to starting school this year. I'm looking forward to being able to sit down and still feel productive.
Speaking of productivity, I must go make use of Isaac's nap....

It all started with a conversation. I went to visit a friend and left with a horse to keep on one condition, I had to train her. It was an exciting idea.

Tea Cup was the text book horse. I would send her away from me, then let her come, and she would follow me everywhere. Just like the trainer guy says she's supposed to. Wow, I thought I was pretty good at this stuff. She behaved nearly perfectly for me. When I had to get rid of her, she went on to bite, break bones, and buck like a bronc. Whoops! Well... better luck next time.. right??
Pebbles was my next one. I got in the round pen with her and tried to chase her away from me. Well let's just say... she had me runnin. Right up the fence. I needed a little help breaking that habit of hers. However before long she was a great trail horse. She will always have a sassy attitude. But, that's just her. It was time for another challenge.
My baby girl. She was a quarter horse filly. Stubborn as a mule with no respect for my space. Never would follow me in the round pen like she was supposed to. At one point I had kind of given up on her, and my friends at the farm tried to sell her. The people brought her back, they said she was too pushy. So, we started taking walks. I would sing to her. Usually I would sing, "Life's a Dance." I really felt like I was learning right along with her. At times I was terrified of her. Why?? Because I had never seen her do anything really bad (except step on my toes). I was just waiting for that one moment when I would push her too far and she would explode. After all that's what horses (and people) do right? Well we kept walking, and eventually
she was easier to walk than my Mom's dog. I rode her, always waiting for her to show me her other side. She still hasn't. However, she faced a test with flying colors! This month she walked up to a firing cannon, had a pistol fired off her back, and at one point was so scared her whole body shook. She stood still, that's all she did. It wasn't me riding her. The lady that was riding her was shocked. She thought sure that horse was gonna flip. I'm so proud of her. To most it would seem silly, and that's ok. I think she is an amazing horse, she trained me well :)

Horse stuff is kinda on hold now till baby arrives. Thus the reason Puzzle is doing civil war reenacting. I was just so excited to hear that she did so well. It took a lot of work to get her to this point. I've spent 3 years working with her, so it's fun to see her succeed.

2011 was a tough year for us.
2012 Lord willing will be a year of new beginnings for us.
We hope to sell our house in the spring and move closer to Church, out of town, and away from the creepy neighbor.
Then Baby Walker is due to arrive in July.
Sometimes I wonder if it's a bit ambitious of me to think I can pull off moving and having a baby in the next 6 months.
We really want to move though. So I am going to do the best I can. Thankfully the boys are old enough to be great helpers!

This morning I had a mama melt down. Life has gotten to be chaotic, and I am exhausted.
Then I got a good swift proverbial "kick in the pants." A very dear friend is going through an awful time in her life. Something I cannot begin to imagine living through. Somehow she still takes the time to keep in touch. She still thinks of others. She gives me strength and she has no idea. No matter how hard my life is I have it GOOD.

You know that house that I've been too tired to clean, its a blessing from God. A warm dry place to live
I have the privilege of home schooling my boys, and being home with them
I have the food to cook pretty much whatever I can come up with
Most of those messes in my house, were made by 2 precious boys, gifts from God
It's amazing how the biggest challenges, are often the results of the biggest blessings. It's also amazing how big little things seem when you are just too busy.
Alright, time to conquer that blessing of a dirty kitchen :)

This past year I feel like I've lived in 2 very different worlds. After beginning treatment for Lyme disease my meds quit working and my migraines became frequent and I ended up with a headache that never left. I got to the point where I couldn't even homeschool. We were ready to send Seth to public school. I HATED homeschooling because my brain was so foggy. I couldn't deal with conflict at home either. Our home was not a pleasant place to say the least. I was on Vicodin and when that quit working, they put me on Oxycontin for the pain. I was constantly doped up with pain killers. So I mostly stayed home.
In March the pain wasn't just in my head it was in my back too. It was absolutely unbearable. I went to the ER where I found out that I had a cyst on my ovary. Just what I needed. Guess what they said..... take more pain killers.
I started reading about Dr Gerson. He's a guy that claimed he could cure cancer with major diet changes, and some other benign unpleasantries. The theory is to give your body what it needs to cure itself. Ahhh just what I needed. I was desperate so I would try anything. Guess what.... It worked! I can think again. I even enjoy homeschooling the boys. I can be a mom and wife again, I might be a rabbit food eating mom, but hey... could be worse.
I saw a friend at the homeschool fair today, that helped me get through that awful year. I hadn't talked to her in a few months, it reminded how wonderful life is now. How different. The pain meds do awful things to your mind. I have not had a migraine in over a month. I thank God for life and the ability to live it! I thank God for our friends that helped us get through school, and life when it seemed impossible. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly life changes. I still have to maintain a very low stress level but it is constantly getting better.
Please pray for Dad. They think that he had Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. He tires very easily. In his words, if he reads for 20 min. he sleeps for hours. He's getting better but it's very slow. He's still very weak.
It seems like somebody is always sick in our family. I told Dad that I'm going to bring my juicer and let him try my diet. :) Nothing is a cure all. I knew it was a chance when I started the diet. Desperate times call for desperate measures :)