Random happenings & fill-ins--PART 1

I am technologically dysfunctional this week and my computer is not turning on...I don't know. So thankfully I managed to get these 5 photos up before Miss Sophia did something to my computer. There will be a Part 2 and possibly 3 as soon as my hubby gets home and helps me figure it out.

The kids are hilarious and always full of fun. Well, almost always :) Sophia is now the master of crawling...she even chases her brother and sister. We all love watching it and listening to the laughter. Brayden & Savannah are in this make-crazy-faces-at-the-camera phase and it cracks me up, so that's what the photos toward the bottom are showing! The one on the porch is the kiddos playing without knowing I was watching and using their imaginations--I love those moments!!

Now without further ado...some recent photos of our happenings!

Long time, No entry...

I apologize for the absence to those of you who regularly check-in...however small, yet so very special that group may be :) However, life is busy and full as usual! I have been so busy enjoying my family and our yard and the weather rather than blogging about them--so I'm very far behind. I will be posting a TON of pictures (hopefully) tonight/wee hours of tomorrow morning with all that has been going on in our lives.

So check back and be ready for lots of random photos and info!

And just as an FYI, we are loving Spring! What an amazing display of God's beauty and handiwork. This is the first time in my life that I actually witnessed the daily developings of the leaves on our many, many trees (33+)! It has been the neatest thing for us to admire.

May you hear God's voice in the birds' songs, see His majesty in the budding flowers, feel His presence in the spring breeze, and know that He is LORD all around you today!

Happy birthday LOGAN!

Today we're off to Clyde Peeling's Reptiland in celebration of our nephew Logan's 3rd birthday! Here's a picture of the gang (from Easter) that will be going--Logan is at the top left. Jennifer took the kids last year (only 3 of them old enough at the time) and they had a BLAST! But since our family has multiplied exponentially, more adults are required this year--no complaints here as I love this stuff! We're heading out first thing so we can hopefully pet some of the animals.

Last year--unbeknownst to Jennifer--they made it for "feeding time" and from the stories I heard when they returned it was quite the experience. A bit on the shocking side as a matter of fact! Poor Jennifer had to field all the questions as the python was downing a frozen rat treat...sometimes you gotta laugh! Soooo needless to say we're wanting to not dwell on that part of the exhibit. Just like life, there are alot of things that happen in nature that I don't need to see to believe it happens. Enough said.

Anyways, happy birthday, Logan! What a great way to celebrate your day with you!

Happy Birthday, Elle belle!!

Today is Elle's day! 10 years old...WOW!! I would love to be sharing some of her yellow cupcakes with chocolate icing! YUM!! Seriously, our niece is one of the most creative, funny, quick-witted, beautiful young ladies I know. And, no, I'm not biased...okay, maybe a little bit :) Of the few things in life that I would like to change, living closer to her and the rest of the gang would be at the top of my list. We don't get to hang out as much as I would like, but do I ever love the time we do get together!! She is so funny and bright (hmmm, sounds like a few other people I know...great genes must run in the family, right?!) and I'm usually dying of laughter within the first few minutes of our conversations. She truly is a trip! I can't wait 'til the next time we can all hang out, explore the creek and the woods, play Crazy UNO, and just have fun again!

So Happy Birthday, Elle. Today our gang is celebrating YOU! We love you, Elle. You ROCK, girl!

9 months!

Our sweet Sophia Kathryn is 9 months old! She's now been outside of my womb for the same amount of time that she was in there. Whoa! Even after the third time around it still amazes me at how fast time goes by. I love being a mom more than anything (except being Daryl's wife). I was going through my routine at the house here today and thinking about what a blessing it is to be a stay-at-home mom/wife and be with my kids. Yes, there are many times that I feel as though I may lose my mind (for about the bizillionth time), but boy is it ever worth it! And I know that many moms are experiencing the same things I am or have already been there so they can understand--and sometimes give me pointers! But I would not trade it for anything.

I never posted on Sophia's 8 month birthday and WOW has she blossomed since then! I could do a post just about her 8 month birthday, but its not worth all the extra space at this point! (I did however put this first picture up as it was taken on her 8 mo b-day). As you can see, I LOVE her bear outfit! (I actually took pictures on her 7, 8, and 9 month birthday in it. Now I'll have to pack it away :( **sniffles**

Anyways, she popped her 2 bottom teeth right before Easter, finally! And she also conquered crawling in one day--yesterday as a matter of fact. She's been scooting around here and there, but nothing major. Yesterday morning she would crawl maybe 2 or 3 little moves...then, BAM, Daryl comes home and she's all over the place in our house! We were cracking up. She was so excited with herself that she would zip from one place to another then stop to laugh and clap! It was great entertainment. Brayden and Savannah loved it too!!

Oh yes, and she learned to clap too and thinks that it is great fun! She's into mimicking everything...especially sounds her brother and sister make. One of my personal favorites is her imitating our Harley Davidson clock! Its a riot! She LOVES tubby time. If she's by herself, she kicks and squeals and blows raspberries. But she has just as much fun with Brayden and Savannah splashing and carrying on with them! She is loving food, gets very excited when we sit her in her chair, and polishes off a jar with no problem! We usually go through 1 1/2-2 jars at a sitting! I LOVE her chunky rolls...her knees even disappear when she straightens her legs! HAHAHAHA!

She still adores her siblings, thinks that Momma and Daddy are the best, and has the best disposition of any little one we've had...she truly is a bundle of joy. Her huge smile lights up the room. Yeah, no doubt about it, we're hooked!

8 months

First time in a swing at the playground yesterday--she LOVED it! Brayden was pushing her for awhile and she laughed her little head off!!

Enjoying some tubby time to herself!

The yummy chunky legs...note the lack of knees due to her rolls!!!!

Tubby time with Brayden and Savannah is always a blast!

Sisters!!

Just thought I'd share this picture Brayden took of his sisters. HAHAHAHA!!

In Celebration of Tricia's new lungs...

...April is National Donate Life Month!

Those of you who know me know that I work in the operating room of a Level 1 trauma center. What many of you may not know is that I am often working with the Transplant Team in both transplanting and retrieving organs/tissues. I am even more of a proponent of organ donation than I was before I even knew what goes on "behind the scenes". I've been apart of many traumas--each and every time all resources and energy are used to save precious lives, and we are--by the grace of God--usually successful. Sometimes the patients return to us after their earthly fight has been lost, thus granting life to many still fighting. I am always in awe of the experience and full of emotion and prayer for all involved. Most importantly, I am in constant awe of our Creator and the magnificent work He did when designing the body and all of its beautiful intricacies. Talk about humbling and amazing at the same time!

This was written in our Employee Newsletter and I thought it was more than appropriate to share in light of Tricia's journey. I am proud to be an organ/tissue donor and encourage everyone to consider it...after all, we can't take it with us when we go!

National Donate Life Month has a twofold purpose: emphasize the importance of organ donation and encourage everyone to become a donor. The goal is to ease the extreme shortage of organs available for surgical transplants in the United States. More people need transplants than there are organs available, and the statistics are eye-opening. Every 13 minutes, a new name is added to the nation’s organ transplant waiting list. That adds up to about 110 new people every day. On average, 16 people die every day while waiting for an organ to become available. Did you know that just one donor can give more than 50 people a second chance in life?

“Organ donation is vital to the success of our transplant program and helps save the lives of patients who might otherwise spend years on a waiting list,” says Chintalapati Varma, MD, Geisinger Director of Transplant Services. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our employees to register to become organ donors and give the gift of life.”

Almost anyone 18 years or older can donate organs, regardless of health. If you would like to be a donor and help save another person’s life, check out the following web site for details, fast facts, FAQ’s and steps to become a donor: http://www.donors1.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=132.

Power of Prayer

I have a very special request...all of you who read my blog please pray tonight and tomorrow for Tricia Lawrenson--she's undergoing her double lung transplant right now! It is going to be a LONG night for all involved. You can get all the info as it happens at their blog site, Confessions of a CF Husband, which is linked up on the right side of your screen or just click on Tricia's name above.

I can not even begin to imagine what all the emotions are like for Tricia's family or the donor's family. But I do know that God is good ALL THE TIME. And I also know that prayer works!

Wow, I serve an amazing LORD!

Thank you so much for gathering at the foot of His Throne with me. What an honor!