Things I love now...

Sloppy, wet kisses with lots of spit!

Very early mornings combined with a baby's smile...

Saying "no" the very first time and knowing it won't be the last!

Loud banging noises coming from my living room

Using LOTS of stain remover

"Dora, Dora, Dora..doot, doot, Dora!"

Thinking about the future

Pondering the past sixth months

Finding time for "me" amidst the chaos

Late night blogging....:)

Baby Einstein classical music blaring from my speakers

Lullabies

Loud raspberry noises

Soft, small hands and feet

Snuggling in the early morning

Wiping away tears

Singing about Jesus, all the time, to a new soul

Soft blankets and small teddy bears

Carrot stains

Caressing a sweet, soft cheek, during peaceful sleep...

And..the thought that Jesus gave me this precious gift.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

One beautiful nephew, and one amazing sister

Shelly, Isaac, David and new brother Luke Nathanael

Proud sister Abigail and Luke





I have had people tell me, "Amber, you don't have to 'be' Shelly. Be yourself.'" Even though they admire her, they have wanted to make sure I didn't feel pressured to "be" her.

Well, I halfway agree with that statement.

Let me explain.

Shelly is my beautiful, sweet, honest, strong, God-fearing, Proverbs 31 sister in law and sister in Christ.

Shelly and I have known each other for let's see...about four years now - about as long as Justin and I have known each other, because we met shortly after Justin and I met.

When I met her, I knew she was special. I had never met anyone quite like her. She didn't wear as much make up as me, and she was quiet, and sweet, and she wanted to have LOTS of children. That's about the extent of what I knew.

She had three children at the time - Isaac, Abigail, and Andrew. Andrew was the youngest, and I fell in love with him, because he looked just like Justin in all of his baby pictures! Abigail was a bit older, and the sweet, innocent girl of the family, and I immediately was drawn to her because of her sweetness. And Isaac was the oldest, and the funniest. He literally lives up to his name - it means, "laughter".

Shelly and I took a bit of time getting to know each other, - I think, simply because we're different in a lot of ways. And I think that she would agree with me on this one. She really was not so much of a diva as I am! She didn't take an hour in the morning to prep herself every day before she sees others. She didn't have the time! :) She didn't ever watch t.v. She preferred wearing brown over pink any day, and me? Well...I like bright colors.

Instead, she spent her days getting her children up out of bed, teaching them about the Lord along with their abc's, and making them a good dinner each night. She has a diabetic son, so she has to take extra care of him and make sure his bloodsugar is okay each day, as well.

And at the time, even though she only had three, she expressed a desire to have "as many children as the Lord would bless her with."

Well, I came into marriage with Justin feeling a bit differently about the whole children thing.
I wanted one, maybe two children, to "spoil" and to "give a good life to."

But I have grown to appreciate Shelly's view on childbearing more and more over time, because I have gotten to know Shelly more and more over time.

I feel now, like she is really my sister.

I can honestly say I have watched her get up every day, and give it her all, with four beautiful children. She's not a complainer. One by one all of the kids got the stomach bug this year right before she went into the hospital to deliver her fifth, and she didn't complain once.

I was in awe of her strength, too, when she asked me to come into the delivery room with her and be by her side for a while during labor, and she hardly made a sound.

Shelly had never even had any maternity pictures done until this fifth baby, while I took one of myself almost every week during my first pregnancy!

She's truly not high maintenance...unlike me!

But I think that's one of the reasons we get along so well.

And it's one of the reasons I admire her so much, and wouldn't mind being like her at all.

She gives life her all.

She's told me that each baby she has is for the glory of the Lord, and another person for the Lord's kingdom. I truly believe that I will see each of her children in heaven one day, as a result of Shelly's faith, and her love for the Lord.

So, I wouldn't mind being like my sister. In fact, I aspire to be like her.

Now, I'm not sure if my body is physically capable of producing five (or more) children at this point, seeing that I'll be 31 at the end of next month.

Stranger things have happened I guess.

But I want to be like my older sister.

I am in awe of her faith after seeing her live it out each day, with each child she has.

This last one, Luke Nathanael, is another beautiful gift from God, and I thank the Lord for him.

Thank you, Shelly, for allowing Jesus to use you. You amaze me, and I love you!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

Fun in the cement and spring break with Nana

Nana came to visit and we spent some quality time in the sun on Tuesday. It was fun!
Kaleb got his foot and hand permanently in the cement at Opa's "Mancave".

He loves Auntie Shelly!
Sittin up on his own!!! :)

We have teeth!!!

Well, one to be exact, but it really excited mom!!

Kaleb has been "teething" for quite some time and we didn't really know whether he was, but he has now confirmed it. I felt a tooth on the bottom middle of his mouth yesterday! Fun!!

He has been showing it by slobbering ALL over the place and eating his fingers.

Fun!!! Just wanted to share! Will post more soon...He has also started sitting up on his own for very short periods and I will post a cute pic of that soon too! :)

Balloons of joy

Holden's sixth month in glory...

I know some of those who read this blog already know about this, but I wanted to share with those who didn't.
I have a song on my site that probably doesn't make sense to some who hear it because it's about a baby who's passed away.
This is why - Kaleb's sweet cousin, Holden, went to be with Jesus in August. And it only makes sense to me to blog about him because he's near and dear to our hearts.

Monday was a special day for me and Kaleb.
We were able to help put together a surprise balloon celebration of glory for sweet Holden. Monday would have been his sixth month here on earth, but instead, he's spending it in heaven.
So Kara, one of Sarah's (Holden's mommie) good friends, decided out of the sweetness of her heart to get some of us girls together to write letters to him, and put them on balloons to send to him at his grave site. :)

These are pictures from that day.

It was a very touching experience. The number of letters and balloons sent was amazing to me. Sarah and Chet are so loved, because their love for the Lord shines through such a deep, emotional tragedy.

It continues to be a hard issue for me, because I feel so much pain for my sweet friend, because we were so close in our pregnancies.

So I write this because it is something I want to remember, always.

What a special day it was, for them, and for all of those involved. I won't forget it.

And I like to think that Holden won't, either. :)

Oh, the joy amidst heartache, I think, is one of the Lord's biggest blessings in disguise.