Has It Been a Year?

This past year has flown for our little family!  So many different activities have taken place since we came back from California...including moving three times!  There is one thing that remains the same...our Savior has been there for every step that we have taken.

I am preparing for my doctor's appointment tomorrow, and I can not help being excited that it is my last visit in my second trimester!  Next week, the third trimester begins!!

At the same time, I feel like I have a hole in my heart.  This week, we would have been celebrating a little One year old's birthday.  I am very happy that our Shiloh is with the Lord, but sadden at the same time.

God has shown us through Shiloh, that He is faithful and loves His children.  He used Shiloh to get my attention and focus on Christ.  Away from my desire that was starting to be my idol.  Although children may be a blessing, they are also a gift given by God, and in God's timing.

As I sit here typing, I am feeling kicks and elbows.  This little bundle of joy has reminded me of the little ones that I have lost, and yet he constantly reminds me of gratefulness to God!

Every miscarriage is hard, but as long as our focus remains on Christ, He carries us!

I Will Carry You - is known as "Shiloh's Song" is our house.  It has brought many tears, but it reminds us that Christ is with us every step of our lives.

We Are Having Another Boy!!

Our Baby Boy #2 is due July 26th, 2013!!  We are all excited, and thrilled to add another member to our family...especially Joshua! :-)

We started to discuss a name for this little one, and like we did with Joshua, it going to take us some more time and discussion before we can come to an agreement!  :-)  Why are girl names much easier than boys??

Life!

I can not believe that it has almost been a year since I last wrote a blog post!!  Much has happened in our life, and I am completely amazed what God had/has in store for our family!  Let me start where I last left off...

I finished Young Living's Slique diet program.  With the help of a local gym, Cyclone Classes (also known as Spinning Class), along with the diet program, I am happy to report that I lost a total of....20 pounds!!

In September, we flew up to go visit my family since I had not seen them since Christmas.  This visit was short, but wonderful.  Filled with so many memories that will be cherished.

We made our 13 move back to Dallas the end of October.  That was a busy month as we had a week for Daniel to be at his new job.  He is still working for the same company, but has a new job position...one that allows us to stay in one location.  

While living with Daniel's family, we prayed and waited to see if we should continue renting or if we should a buy home.  So, the month of November and part of December was spent in looking at homes.  Before we left to go visit my family for Christmas, we found a beautiful home that still needed to be finished being built.  We walked through the home, and both said that we should get this house.  Everything was according to God's plan, as this home and everything that followed fell right into place!  On January 30th, we made our 14th move and last into our home, and have been busy decorating since then.

As every December, we went to visit my family.  It was a busy season, but we all had a blast!  Tiffany and Ben had their second baby, a boy, towards the end of December.  They did not make it up for Christmas, but we were able to spend New Year's Eve with them, and I was able to cuddle with my new Nephew!!

Joshua is becoming more of a big boy!  He has started to read...just three letter words right now, and he can officially write his first name.  :-)  He loves singing, poking around on the piano, pretending he is Grandpoppy (my Dad) preaching, drawing, cooking, and playing Mindcraft (which he is pretty good at! ;-))  And, on February 28th, he is turning 5!!  Where did the time go???

Our biggest news :

We are Pregnant!!

Yes, that is correct!  We found out that I am pregnant on November 12th, 2012.  We have had some scares, which had me seeing a doctor every week and drawing blood.  I think I am becoming less frightened of needles!  ;-).  This baby has made it this far, and we praise God for giving us this newest blessing!!  On February 28th, we find out if we are having another boy or a girl.  Joshua is pretty excited at his newest sibling.  He asks many questions during the week about the baby, and we watch his eyes light up when we answer his questions.  :-)  We are excepting the arrival of this baby in July!!

I will try harder in keeping this blog updated.  Especially, with our newest member on the way!  I will also put pictures of Joshua and the house up shortly!

Day 1

 

It is hard starting the first day of any diet.  When you are walking the grocery stores, you realize what you can not eat anymore.  For some people, realizing you are limited to your food will bring them down and make them wonder if they are doing the right thing.  I am trying to keep a good attitude.  Doing this diet, I am trying to make myself more health and fit to better serve and care for my family.

(Note: I am a coffee drinker.  Not a "BIG" one, but I do enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning.  I do plan on keeping my one cup of coffee in my diet, but once that one cup is gone...it's gone.)

Breakfast: 

*Balance Complete Shake
*A Cup of Coffee

Snack:

* 8 Pineapple Chunks
*Water

Lunch:

*Slique Tea
*Balance Complete Shake
*Water

Snack:

* 5- Baby Carrots
* 1/2 T. Hummus
* 8 oz. of Lemonade
*Water

Dinner:  (I forgot to drink my tea)

*Balance Complete Shake
*Water

We spent part of our day after lunch playing with a friend at a park.  Daniel had to work a little late, so as the day got a little hot, we moved to play at Chick-Fil-A's play area.  I was hot and thirsty, and I have a soft spot for Chick-Fil-A's lemonade.  So, I got a child's size of lemonade!  I did slip a little today, but that is fine.  Everyday brings on new challenges!  :-)

Young Living's Slique Program

I am starting Young Living's Slique diet program today.  This program last a month, and my goal is to lose 15-20 pounds.  I will try to document my progress everyday. 

This is the regiment for the Slique Diet:


Breakfast
Balance Complete™ meal replacement shake
NingXia Red® packet

Snack
2–3 drops Slique™ Essence in water or low-calorie
beverage
Healthy snack (fruit, vegetables, nuts, etc.)

Lunch 
Slique™ Tea 15 minutes before meal
(Optional: add 1–2 drops Slique Essence)
2 Essentialzymes-4™ capsules with meal
Light, well-balanced lunch*

Snack
2–3 drops Slique Essence in water or low-calorie
beverage
Healthy snack (fruit, vegetables, nuts, etc.)

Dinner
Slique Tea 15 minutes before meal
(Optional: add 1–2 drops Slique Essence)
2 Essentialzymes-4 capsules with meal
Light, well-balanced dinner*

Evening 
2–3 drops Slique Essence in water or low-calorie
beverage


*Balance Complete may be substituted for one additional meal to add variety or reduce
caloric intake. Breakfast and lunch regimen may be reversed.  Exercise should be
incorporated into daily activity.

Instead of having a light well- balanced meal for lunch and dinner, I am only having a meal at dinner time every other day, and using Balance complete for all three meals.  I am also trying to drink as much water as possible.  Doing this, I am reducing my calorie intake so I can reach my goal weight.

After doing some research, I have found that the Sligue Essence Oil is to help in making you feel like you are full and not hungry.  Well, Peppermint Oil does the same thing!!  So, I am substituting the Slique Essence for the Peppermint Oil.  But, I am still doing the Slique Tea.  Which is pretty good without adding anything to it...not even sugar!!  :-)

Hold Me Now, O Father of Jesus

 Shiloh

 

Hold me now, Oh, Father of Jesus
Sheltered, safe, asleep in your arms
No other place can promise protection
A fortress from pain and a haven from harm

Hold me now, Oh, Father of Jesus
Sometimes I fear the dark of the night
Your kindness kindles the stars in the heavens
Your love is the reason the moon gives us light

Just You and I, and one holy moment
Together if I have eyes that can see
Open my ears that I might hear You whisper
Of Your tender longing for me

Now I know, Oh Father of Jesus
My hope lies in belonging to You
Never again will I live like a stranger
My heart understands now that You’re my Father too.

Michael Card, O Father of Jesus

April 27^th, 2012, is the due date of our baby Shiloh.   As I sit in the midst of unpacking, I am pondering the last nine months of my life.  I try not to dwell on what it would have been like with another baby growing in my womb and turning our family of three to four, as that was not the will of God for our lives.  But, I am trying to focus on being content and on what God has blessed me with right now.  I am surrounding by the greatness of God.

It pains my heart as I am not going through the pain to deliver a perfectly pink formed baby.  We will never be able to put a face to our baby.  We will never hear our baby’s cries, coo’s, or see all the smiles.  We will never be able to take pictures and chart the growth of his/her life on this earth.  But, one thing remains: Our God is in control and knows what is best for our lives.

We may not completely understand why God brought in our lives this small bundle of joy, and then take away the one thing we have been praying for, for three years.  We are very thankful to Him for giving us the couple of weeks to enjoy pregnancy.  It taught me to trust God more, to be hopeful, and that nothing stands in God’s way.

My Husband and I were watching “Facing the Giants” the other day, and a line in the movie touched me.  I sat there staring at the screen and watching this couple deal with emotions of wanting a baby.  They were trying so hard that their focus came off Christ.  When they realized that physically, they could not make a pregnancy happen.  The husband asked his wife “If we never have a baby, will you still love Him?”  I had to ask myself that question. 

Shiloh will always be apart of our lives, but at the same time, it is time to move on.  It is time to start showing my child that in life we do not always get what we want and that we should trust God.  We should be content where He leads and what He has in store for our family.  Whether that is for us to remain a family of three or be blessed with more children down the road…only He knows.  

 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Isaiah 26:3 

Our Life in the Past Ten Months Series...Post 2

The next part of our journey in California finds us at Legoland. This was Joshua's favorite place that we went to. He still talks about Legoland and wants to go back.

Joshua was delighted to see Bob the Builder, especially since he was completely made out of Lego's.

There were airplane rides...

Train Rides...

Corn made out of Lego's

Safari Rides

More airplane rides

Boat rides...

The next few photos are displays that are all made out of Lego's.

We did more rides with Joshua, but since the rest of the events included all three of us, our camera was not aloud to be used during the rides.

Below is a video of Joshua trying to pass a driving test in a Lego go-cart. Thankful it will be many years until Joshua actually drives a car!! The video proves why!! :-) (Sorry, for the slightly blurry video. Our camera was having a hard time focusing...)

Our Life in the Past Ten Months Series...Post 1

It is time for us to update our family blog! There have been so many things going on in our every day lives that the blog has been put to the side. But, as things start to calm down, I can focus on updating the past ten months of our life. As most of you know, we moved out to California for sometime for one of Daniel's projects. A job that was suppose to last for six weeks, turned into seven and half months.

We are now settle back into a beautiful home in Texas, and are trying to re-adjust to Texas life!! Daniel is at another project, which is coming to an end, but is enjoying being back around familiar territory. Joshua has a vocabulary that seems to grow on a daily basis. Joshua has also entered a stage where the talking never stops and he has multiple questions and lots of information to share with you. He is happy and thrilled to have a front and back yard where he can ride his tricycle and push his bubble lawn mower.

Now, this post takes us back to California. I thought since I did not post any pictures from our stay in California, that I would go back and post them. Instead of posting our trip in one post, I have it spread out to several post. So, keep coming back to see an update!

The first post is our trip to Universal Studios.

To get to the doors of Universal Studios, you had to go through the market street.

Joshua got to meet "Curious George". At the time that we went, Joshua's favorite book was "Curious George"! So he was so happy to see a live version of George.

Riding a train that takes you to see all the different stage sets they have to make up different movies.

First up, the town that makes up Dr. Seuss' world...

During our ride, we got to see a real live set...

The next couple pictures are "sets" of a downtown city. All the films that take place in a city are done here. The first picture was the main street for the "Andy Griffith" shows.

Come back to see pictures of our Adventure at Legoland!!