A little stressed...

These last 24 hours have been a roller coaster ride. Last night Aiden, Derek and I got no sleep. Seriously. Aiden had the roughest night he's had in a looong time. He'd fall asleep then wake up crying or whining wanting to be cuddled and sung to. I felt helpless. I tried everything I could and Derek did too. Derek saw how exhausted I was and took over and let me sleep for a few hours. When Aiden woke up this morning from the few hours he did get, he was better.

We are all so tired today. We went out at lunchtime and took Derek a coffee, which I'm sure he needed, and had lunch at my in-laws house. Aiden fell asleep on the way home. He stayed asleep the whole time I carried him from the car to the house. While I took his coat and that off and laid him in bed. It's been a few hours and he is still sleeping. I can't get anything done because I'm afraid to go too far in case he wakes up...and I am so tired myself that I can't bring myself to do any major chores today. The kitchen is clean and laundry is caught up.

Everything else can wait until tomorrow.

This whole experience has me a little worried about how I'm going to manage things once Emily gets here...I pray that once she does get here, I will have a routine down where things won't be overwhelming. I'm glad that Derek is helpful and supportive. He's a great husband :)

In the next few days, we will be receiving some news about what is going to happen with work. Things are just so slow this time of year, please pray for us. I know that God has a plan and I'm leaning on Him to provide us with our needs. He has a perfect time and place for everything and I'm learning more and more each day to trust in Him and not to stress out. Sometime I have better days than others at it, I ask for help and guidance each day. I feel so unsure of where our path is taking us but as long as God is in control, which He ALWAYS is, I know that everything will be ok in the end. Life is an adventure...I wonder where this adventure will take us...

Well I really need to either nap or do a few overdue chores before Aiden wakes up, which will be any moment now.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

 1 Corinthians 10:31

Happy Thanksgiving...

Yesterday was so busy. We started it by waking up earlier than normal. Aiden had a bit of a rough night that night and was up early. We decided (not one of our best decisions) to go stock up on some groceries while stuff was on sale. So we packed up, picked up Madison, and went to Swanson's, Top Foods, and Safeway getting the items that were on sale at each store. I really wish we hadn't..3 stores and 3 hours later, Derek and I were a little stressed. Safeway was the craziest. We could barely move in there let alone shop. When we got home I was all excited to make pumpkin cheesecake. I have been craving cheesecake for a few weeks now and so my pumpkins bars turned into a cheesecake. I was gathering all the ingredients on the counter when I realized I don't have the appropriate pan for making cheesecake...

 OH NO!!!

We played with the kids for a while and then went out the my in-laws for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner. We got home super late but my in-laws had the pan I needed to make my cheesecake.

So today, I'm going to get ready, make my cheesecake (fingers crossed it turns out), pack up, head to my families, then back to my in-laws.

WOW..so busy. I'm going to sleep great tonight. Actually probably not, the bigger Emily gets the harder it gets for me to sleep. Plus Aiden is getting his back molars so he has been waking up at night multiple times. When I do actually find a position I can sleep in I hear movement then his cute little voice looking for comfort. I think it's the Lord's way of telling me not to get too used to sleeping good since Emily will be here in less than 3 months anyway.

Sleep, it's overrated anyway :)

I hope that everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving today.

Give thanks for Jesus, our Lord and Savior who died on the cross for us.  Amen

God is SO very good...

It has been such an amazing last couple of days. God has truly showed us that He is always there and has a plan for everything. On Sunday, my best friend's husband showed up at our house with a dryer. He said a co-worker had an extra one and just wanted to get rid of it so he brought it to us FREE of charge. Then today, I checked the mail and an unexpected financial blessing was in our mail box. I was able to get the groceries we needed and get our internet back up and running!! Yay! I am so grateful for my loving God who takes care of all of our needs. Being a child of God is the best thing EVER. Just when things look like they can't possibly get worse, God has a plan and puts it into action when you don't expect it.

"The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." ~ Psalm 28:7

I am so thankful for all of your thoughts and prayers during these last few weeks. I am so very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. Let us all give thanks for the special people we have in our lives.

I've learned so much about patience and waiting for God's timing through these last couple of weeks. It doesn't matter what I want to happen, God has a time and a place for everything and if we just let go..completely let go, God will handle everything in His perfect timing. Giving up control is hard sometimes but how can I expect my Lord to take care of things when I'm not willing to just let go...point taken and lesson learned. I'm living on God's schedule from now on. Life is so much sweeter that way.

Tomorrow will be busy for us. I'm going to try to make pumpkin bars and some other things for Thanksgiving. We will be visiting family that won't be there for dinner on Thursday so I might not blog tomorrow but I will try. If my pumpkin bars turn out good (I've never made them before), I will post pics and the recipe.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Praise God

Encouragement for today..

We woke up fairly early and I'm not sure if it was the fact that I had to carry loads of laundry out to our van or pregnancy hormones raging today, but I was cranky this morning. It didn't take long for the Holy Spirit to remind me that my attitude in the morning affects my whole day. I soon felt better after being thankful for all the things that did go right this morning. Aiden slept great and that is something to be thankful for!!! I have about 5 loads of laundry to do today at my in-laws so I'll be busy with that the first half of the day. I've been feeling so tired and just plain drained lately. My belly is getting bigger and Aiden is getting heavier. I'm so glad he's starting to walk so by the time Emily comes, I will only have 1 baby to carry.

It's just seems that everything is happening at once. Between our financial woes and things breaking down..I feel like breaking down. And then, I look at my smiley Aiden and just know that none of that stuff matters. What truly matters is that I am a great mommy, a great wife, and a great daughter to my Father in Heaven.

"But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I am planning on posting all the things I am grateful for on my fridge and telling my family and friends how thankful and grateful I am for their love, support, and encouragement. We all have down days but it is important to remember all the wonderful things and people we do have in our lives. That Jesus died on the cross to save us, He wouldn't want us spending our time down and blue.

"You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14)

We must shine bright so others can see our light... 

Be the light in someone else's life today and keep smiling, even though that is easier said then done sometimes.

A small update:

So, since my last blog alot has happened. As I mentioned, we've been having some financial difficulties..our internet has been suspended so I haven't been able to update or blog in almost a week. Our dryer also decided to go out, we replaced the washer last year so I knew the dryer wouldn't be too far behind. So I'm out at my in laws today borrowing their computer and their dryer..hopefully we can get the part we need for the dryer soon :) I'm NOT losing faith. It's at times like these that I think of Job. He had everything taken away but he never lost faith.

I am so grateful for all that we do have.

Actually, since we haven't had internet, I've been spending more time reading my Bible, reading my book, and praying. This past week has been more of a blessing just becuase I never really realized how much time I spent online.

Well, this is my last post for a few weeks until we get internet or until I can get to a computer again :)

Thank you all for your support and keep praying for us.



Hope

Today, things seemed to be little on the stressful side. We woke up happy to Aiden at 5:30 am talking to us. Then as Derek was leaving for work we got some bad news regarding our finances. It comes at a bad time when just last week, we were informed that Derek might have to go on unemployment soon. Then thoughts started swirling in my head. If we are having financial troubles now with the size of family we have, how much more difficult will it be when Emily arrives. We started talking about me seriously going back to work but after calculating the expense of daycare for 2 babies, I will have to find a great paying job. I did have an interview a week or so ago at a doctor's office. We talked about my pregnancy plans and when I could start so maybe that will work out. I just feel that God wants me to be at home but I'll have to wait and see what He has planned for our family.

After having all of these thoughts race through my head, I started feeling very stressed and overwhelmed. I felt like I needed to fix things. How could I do the will of the Lord and help my husband with income? I then heard the words, "I need to turn to God for guidance and understanding." I felt the inner peace of the Holy Spirit reminding me to be still and know that my Father will handle this situation. He has always provided us with our needs. He has chosen our family to be the size that it is for a reason. We may have had to cut back on wants and at first it was hard, but we have never gone without a meal. We have all that we could ask for. We have a wonderful home and a loving environment for our children to grow up in. 

I feel so blessed to have my Savior in control of all of our situations.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

I know that no matter what happens in the future, God will continue to love and provide us with our needs because we are His children. I know that there will be hard times ahead, especially in this unstable economy and that we are blessed to have what we have. I trust God with all of my heart and I know that He has a path for our family to follow. I just need let go and let Him take full control. I need to worry about the responsibilities that He entrusted to me, which is being a great mom to my kids and a wonderful helpmeet to my husband. I will spend my day today with the love of God in my heart. I will pray more today, not because of this hardship but with the song of praise for all of the things that He has blessed our family with. To God alone be the glory! Amen.

But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

(1 Corinthians 2:9)

Daylight Savings Time..

Today was a rough one for us. I thought I would love gaining that hour but I woke up feeling more tired than ever. It could be because no matter what the clocks says, my children woke up at their normal 7:30 am. The clock read 6:30 am but that made no difference to them. So we started our day early and got off to a great start but for some reason, motivation was lacking for me this morning. I did the best I could to get everyone breakfast at a decent time. My husband had to work again today so it was just me and the kids. They seem to be full of energy but it is something that is missing for me today.

How do you keep up with littles while being pregnant? That is one secret that I am craving to know. I feel so blessed to be able to mother such wonderful kids. I see them growing such a heart for the Lord. Madison last night told Aiden, "Aiden, you need to know God". It was so cute. All I could do is smile.

I'm starting to feel a little nervous as I get farther along about how I'm going to be able to manage my house, keep that upbeat attitude, and raise multiple littles. I tell myself every morning that God never gives me more that He can handle. I trust in Him and the plan He has for us. I know that I can either be stressed about having 2 babies at once or I can embrace it with joy. It's funny how I get down sometimes (probably just the hormones) but then the moment someone asks me, "are you planning on having more children?", I get this lifted spirit and start defending our choices.

Yes, I know my 2 youngest will be 14 months apart. Yes, I know there will be tough moments. I'm used to a 4 year gap between Madison and Aiden. The best thing I can say is God gave me these beautiful children because obviously He feels He can trust in me to be a good mom to them. Will we think about more children once Emily arrives in Feb? Who knows but no matter what choice we make, we choose to follow God's leadership and let Him guide our hearts to do what is best for our family ♥

Getting to know me...

      Hello, my name is Kristina and I am a stay at home mom. My husband and I share our older daughter, Madison who is 5. We have a 1 year old son together and we are expecting a little girl in February 2012. We love Jesus with a passion and do all we can to glorify Him.
      I started this blog becuase I love reading all about larger families, saving money, homemaking, and being a helpmeet. The one thing I didn't find is a blog of someone who was just starting their large family. All of the blogs I read seemed to be about families who were already very large and had a few older children to help out. They have all figured out (somewhat) how to run their large families from laundry to making large meals. I am not that experienced with having a lot of littles.
      So now you kinda know how this blog is going to go. It's going to be my daily journal of how my little family is turning into a larger family and the day-to-day things I am learning and experiencing. I'm sure once Emily comes in February(ish), things will get more interesting.

     So now on to my day - This weekend is our weekend with Madison, she is 5. She comes to visit us every other weekend. We woke up pretty early this morning and have been go go go ever since. Our days usually start early, daddy has to leave for work by 7:30 am and we do our best to get him coffee and say our goodbyes. Daddy doesn't usually work weekends, but this weekend he will be working. So it's just me, Madison (5), and Aiden (1).
      After breakfast this morning, we played and did chores. The most difficult part of my day is mornings. I am almost 7 months pregnant and finding energy to get everyone ready, make breakfast and start my daily chores is a task in itself. I'm hoping that soon the energy that comes in this stage of pregnancy will arrive soon :)
      
     This is just the start of my daily posts, so keep checking back. They will become more informative. I will have posts on my daily activities, my spiritual walk with Christ, and my journey as a mom.