Finding New Life

As we know, Easter has recently passed us by, but being that I kinda had a baby the very next day I didn't really get to give you the low down on our Easter and the way that the Lord has made His Resurrection so meaningful to me this year.

The Wednesday before Easter we had a hum-dinger of a tornado-filled storm pass through our area. Where we live this has NEVER happened before and we were caught off-guard. Unfortunately, we, along with thousands of people, lost power and running water. Ours came back on in the wee hours on Easter morning. Many are still waiting.

So much for having the laundry all caught up before baby's arrival, huh?! Oh well, it was quite the adventure for us, and made us oh-so-thankful to have not been severely affected--our lives and home were untouched. That's the most important thing, not little inconveniences for a few days.

However, the story gets SO much better. God always seems to find a way to be glorified in the midst of the storm and this definitely rang loud and clear in my ears that Wed. night. When we lost power our 2 year old ball of energy, Ethan, wasn't to thrilled about being stuck in the dark and surrounded by all those stormy sounds. Clara wasn't real happy about it either. As I was lighting candles and reassuring them that everything was ok, I was quick to point out something that we often go over in Sunday School: We don't have to be afraid, because Jesus is always with us.

Our conversation went something like this:

Me-- Jesus takes good care of us.

Clara-- Yeah, but not the bad guys and police (think she meant robbers), they don't get to go to Heaven.

Me-- Actually, being good or bad doesn't have anything to do with going to Heaven. We all do bad things sometimes, but to go to Heaven we have to believe that Jesus is the only way that we can get there and ask Him to take us.

Clara-- I want to do that someday, because I want Jesus to take me to Heaven.

WOW!!! Inside my heart started to race and I thought, "Is she really ready to make this decision and accept Jesus?!" Of course, I quickly called Matt over and filled him in on what was going on. He took Clara aside while I took Ethan out of the picture so they could have a chat. How I wish I could have heard every word that was exchanged between daughter and daddy!

After a few minutes, Clara came to me with a big smile on her face and said that she wanted to tell me something. She happily told me that she had "prayed to Jesus that He would take her to Heaven someday". How that blessed my heart!

As soon as possible I talked to hubby and grilled him for all the details of what had happened. He assured me that he had explained everything thoroughly and that she understood that the only way she could get to Heaven was by Jesus and that she prayed on her own that Jesus would take her there.

Often since then she makes comments such as, how "full of joy" she is, because she knows that Jesus is going to take her to Heaven. Glory!

Happy Mama and Clara--April 4, 2012

So, you can see how a few days without power and water seem like nothing in comparison to my beautiful little girl putting her faith and trust in Our Almighty Saviour. I am so thankful that Jesus laid down His life on the cross and then took it back again 3 days later so that at this Easter time my precious daughter could find  new life through Him!

Matt's dream or Clara's prayers?

I am sitting here looking over a prayer letter for my hubby. Guess that's probably not a part of most ladies "wifely duties", huh?! Writing and proofreading suit me just fine.

Anyway, {I'm off track already} I was thinking about getting back to blogging more consistently and where to begin and it dawned on me...I will blame my prego. brain for not thinking of it sooner. Maybe you remember in a recent post  that I shared with you my little poem and baby news. Well, here's {insert Paul Harvey's voice here} "the rest of the story..." ;)


With each of my pregnancies, my prophetic husband has a dream. I say "prophetic" because he has these dreams before I am prego. or at least before I am aware of it, and they have, up until now, accurately predicted the gender of our coming child.

Before Clara came along, he had a very vivid dream of the doc. proudly passing him his girl baby. We chose not to find out her gender ahead of time, but it pretty much happened just like daddy's dream had foretold.

Then with Ethan, daddy dreamed that we had an about 2 year old blond haired, blue eyed boy, running around Grandma and Grandpa G.'s farm. Have you seen pics of our son lately? Yeah, totally fits that description and should be tromping all over the farm next summer at, you guessed it, age 2.

So, lastly, he dreamed that he was holding hands and walking with 2 little boys, Ethan, and a little dark haired boy, supposedly baby #3.

I do have to give him credit, he is batting 1,000 so far.

But here comes the dilemma...

A few months before this baby came to be, Clara got it in her cute little head that she wanted a girl baby. In her mind, she is big and has a little brother who is quickly growing, so naturally a little sister would be just right. I was very diligent to explain that 1) God decides if and when we get to have another baby and 2) He also decides if it is a girl baby or a boy baby. 3) We get to pick the name. I also told her that it would be just fine for her to pray for God to send us a girl baby, but we have to be happy with whatever He chooses for us.

Night after night, my lovely girl, of her own accord, remembered to pray and reminded us to pray for her girl baby. Such precious child-like faith and sincerity, it was so sweet and touching. This went on for about 3 months or so until we were finally able to share the news that a baby was on the way. BUT, we didn't know yet if it was a girl or boy, of course. She was happy and accepted that. Her prayers for a girl baby continued.

At 15 weeks, the anticipated day arrived. We got to go "see" our baby on the screen. Clara was excited, but we didn't get our hopes up, or tell her, that we might be able to find out if baby is a "he" or "she". I wish I had a video of Clara's face when she saw our tiny baby wiggling around and heard the "thumpety thumps" of it's heart beat. So precious!

And, baby was feeling photogenic, too! The doctor confidently told us and showed us that our new little bundle would be a "YES" answer to Clara's prayers. A darling little princess to love and adore! ♥

P.S. If you cheated and skipped to the end of my captivating-yet-o-so-long story, I forgive you. ;)

You Are Now Entering...

the Twilight Zone?! {Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do}

Nope, not quite. (Although, now that you mention it...)

Uncharted waters?! Yep. Most definitely.


In fact, we are stepping into a whole, new world. A world of wonder and learning.


It's more commonly known as "School...um...er....HOMEschool!

So far, so good. {Boy, do we have a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG way to go!} {Grin} ♥

**CLICK ON ME to make me BIGGER**

Cute Clara Quotes

{While giving her a bath one morning...}

Clara {in a moany voice} --"Mooooommm,
there's water in my eye.
My eye swallowed the soap!"



            Clara--"These aren't Bubby's jammies,
                             they are MY jammies!",
            as she holds his footy PJs up to her tummy.

            Me--"Oh really?!, But they won't fit you,
                                                you're too tall."

            Clara--"They will fit, see?!
                          I'm just too tall for the Footy Pockets!!"

                            "Mama, I have an owie.
                              My lip is falling off!"

                                               "No Sticks in the Car!,
                                                  That's a good rule!"

Laundry Lovin' Helpers

 Who says laundry can't be a barrel {or basket} of laughs?! My kids think it's so much fun that they want to get right in the middle of it.

Sometimes there are just no words!

Not to be left out or out done...

Say "CHEESE" and hold on tight!

 Ethan decided to find his own spot to steal the show.

Sittin' in the bathroom sink

Since I am here..."Toothpaste, anyone?"

He is part monkey after all...makes sense to me. :))

Bilingual Birthday and Bowling Bash!

{Anymore good "B" words that I can fit into that title?! Hmmmm.....I am sure I can think of a few more. ha!}

Wow, so much has happened in the last few days, its hard to know where to begin. We started our celebratin' in Sunday School. Clara helped me pick out her favorite snacks to share with all her buddies. They had fun and devoured almost all of it in record time! :)

Here they are, hard at work, even Ethan ;)

The rose amongst the thorns, giving hugs!

Silly faces, she is an expert!

After lunch that day, we decided to take a few "glamour shots" for her 4 year old pictures. It was a miracle that her outfit and hair were still in tact, and that I actually got a few "normal" smiles out of her.

She looks so grown up!

B-E-A-U-TIFUL!!!

Monday morning, we awoke to a cold and very damp world outside, so no trips to the park. But, we had lots of things at home to keep us entertained. We had a good day together as a family!

Waking up on her birthday!

Princess Clara, all dressed and ready to party!

Her princess decor.

Getting ready to Skype with G. and G. Reed and open presents!

Ripping into the first gift

Princess hair clippies from G. and G. Reed

"Winnie the Pooh and the Hefalump" Movie

After presents, daddy set up the projector in the office and let Clara watch her "Pooh Bear" movie on the "big screen" er....wall. She loved it!

Playing "Don't Spill the Beans" or as Clara calls it  'the peanut game' lol!

Later mommy and Clara had to try out her new game. I Won! Not a lot of glory in beating your 4 year old in a game on her birthday, huh?! ha! She took it well, though!

Coloring the "Princesses"

Bible Story Time with Daddy {and her balloon} :)

The next day was the biggest surprise as we all got up and got ready to head to the big mall. When we got there Clara was very surprised and perplexed to see our Pastor and his family there, along with her "adopted" grandparents. It took her a while to catch on that they were all there for her!!
We ate together in the food court and daddy even bought Clara her own Happy Meal. Now that's Big Stuff!! Then we got out the cake I had brought and sang "Happy Birthday" to my sweetie. Yep, in English, right there in the middle of all the Argentine bystanders! ha!

Clara's princess cake!

More presents--Hello Kitty watch!!

Then we headed upstairs to the arcade and rides area. Matt and the guys had fun playing a game of bowling while the ladies and kids spent the rest of the money on the kiddie games and rides.

A bit blurry, as they were whizzing by!

They had to get in on the bowling fun, too!

It was so fun to see how excited Clara would get when she knocked down a pin or 2. And, of course, Ethan was right there to cheer her on.

Daddy with his babies--Ethan's going to help him throw a strike!

We saw this at a toy store and she needed a pic with Mickey!

So, our 3 day celebration was a great success! I am so glad we were able to make Clara's birthday special for her and make memories that we will cherish as the years go by, too!

4 years of Smiles!

I remember...oh, so many, many things...

I remember going to the hospital and after thankfully a short and fairly easy delivery {water births are the BEST!!}, meeting my sweetie girl for the first time. We came to the hospital, like all 1st time parents-to-be, not really knowing what was in store for us. On top of that, we came with 2 names picked out--Clara Grace and Seth Matthew, because we had decided to be surprised and didn't know that we were having a Clara yet. Well, actually, if you ask my hubby, he was pretty sure it would be a girl. With both of my pregos. he has had a dream and very vividly saw what gender baby we would have. So far, he's 2 for 2! Stinker! I thought it was us girls that were supposed to have "women's intuition"  and all that?!?

Anywho, our darling bundle of joy came into the world on Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at 7:13 p.m. She weighed in at a whopping 6 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19 1/4 in. long. Her sweet little head was covered with a good amount of dark brown hair that curled when wet and had her daddy's beautiful blue eyes. She was a picture of perfection, sweetness, and all things girly. And to me, she still is!!

Just moments out of the oven!

♥ Our first family pic! ♥ {Yes, I know how exhausted I look!}

A few hours old and very alert!

Home from the hospital!

♥ My all time favorite pic of Hubby and baby Clara ♥

1st Father's Day--1 1/2 weeks old

We enjoyed our little sweetie so much that we decided to take her "show on the road", a.k.a. deputation. She made a big splash, let me tell ya!

My favorite pic of me and my baby girl! ♥

Such a happy, relaxed baby!

Check out those chubby cheeks!! ♥

Lovin' Life, Lookin' Cute!

Playing with mama!

Lookin' Mischievous!

6 month/Christmas pics

First piggy tails and waving!

First time to swing!

First Easter--9 months

Her shirt says: "Everybody Loves a Blue Eyed Girl!"

Lighting up the room with her smile!

Time at Grandpa G.'s farm--doing laundry and playing with cats = FUN!

One cool chick!

And before we knew it, it was birthday time.

"Happy Birthday toooooo Yoooooouuuu!!"

Showing us that she is "1" year old!

1 year pic

Family pics on her 1st birthday!

And somehow, 1 turned into 2.

Daddy/Daughter moment on her 2nd birthday

Which quickly jumped to 3.

3 year old "glamour shot"

Until we find ourselves here, with our "baby" girl turning 4!!! I know what you are thinking, it's only going to get worse. The time is not going to slow down any time soon, but rather fly by faster and faster like a spinning top or a rushing wind. And I know that is most definitely true! So, I will be thankful for today and for the 4 years of beautiful, precious life that the Lord has graciously given our daughter. She is truly a gift from God that has brightened our day, everyday of her life.

4 year old "glamour shot" from Sunday

My princess on her birthday!