Mommy's Moment: Thanksgiving

I know this is a bit late. But, if you've read my blog for any amount of time you know that I'm always behind in pictures and such. So it's only fitting this is late I suppose.

Over the past few weeks I've been reflecting on what it means to be thankful in all circumstances. That's hard. Regarding the miscarriage, should I be thankful that I lost a child? No, I don't think so. But I can be thankful that although the Lord did not spare me from this pain, He has spared me from a far greater pain and suffering...separation from Him. This is not something I've earned or done but a gift that I do not deserve. And it's all because of Christ. He endured the most extreme suffering and pain on my behalf so that I may never experience it. And I deserve to suffer that pain because of the depth of my sin against Him. But He stood in my place. Now, as a Christian, I CAN give thanks in all circumstances because even though it is inevitable that I will experience heartache and pain on this earth...the worst is not yet to come. Instead, the best is yet to come when one day Jesus will wipe away every tear and I will stand in the presence of the Lord.

What else am I thankful for? I think what we are all thankful for, our families. I am thankful for my husband and the two precious children we get to love on every day. I am thankful the Lord has given us the opportunity to share Jesus with them daily and see His love for us as we love them. I'm thankful for my parents, sisters, brother in laws, nieces and nephews, in-laws, sister in laws and wonderful friends. They are all wonderful blessings in our lives. The Lord has provided us abundantly with wonderful people who all reflect Christ in a unique way. There is a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I'll leave you with our little Hannah singing her new favorite song taught to her by her daddy. It's a sweet sound indeed!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Oh Yeah...

Oh yeah, Grant got a pumpkin too.

My Perfect GREEN Pumpkin

Finally, it was time to go pick out our pumpkin. I was so excited. Mommy directed me to many plump, well rounded, orange pumpkins. However, I had something else in mind. Something green. When I layed my eyes on that beauty I knew I had to have it. Mommy coaxed me toward more orange pumpkins. I wasn't swayed. This green guy, well, he was different. I like different. I wasn't going home without him. And so, Daddy came in with the sharp knife and freed my green captive. I couldn't have had a bigger smile. I know Mr. Green was appreciative. I'm sure he assumed no one would take him. Little did he know I was coming that day. And I like green.

Hey, It's My Name!

Not that I can read or anything but we found a sign that had my name on it! I think Mommy was more excited than I was. Of course, this required a picture to be taken. You can tell how I felt about that. Afterwards, we took one last stroll under the tent before heading out to do some hard labor. Personally, I was just fine with the pumpkin I found under the tent. Hannah was too. In fact she loved all the pumpkins. Surprisingly though, she did not kiss any of them. My fellow readers, she's a kisser. In fact, we've had to stop at the grocery store so she could kiss several stuffed animals on display. But, she goes further. She kisses things that aren't meant to be kissed. Yes, I'm talking boxes, rocks, trees, bottles...you name it, she'll kiss it. I hate to break it to her. Those aren't real.

More Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Here's my friend Hayden. She and I enjoyed this wonderful bear. Don't worry, he's not real. He's just pretend. After talking to the bear for a bit, we decided to head on over to the pumpkins under the big tent. I immediately wanted to hold the small pumpkins (Mommy and Daddy were all for me going after the small pumpkins). But, we decided to be real pioneers and go and cut our own pumpkin off the vine. More of that to come later!

The Pumpkin Patch

A few weeks ago Mommy and Daddy took us to a local pumpkin patch. We met my friends, Hayden and Layne. Mommy and Daddy say this is the redneck version of the Roloff's Pumpkin Patch. You know, from Little People, Big World? I told Mommy I should be on that show, I'm a little person. She said, no, not so much. But anyhoo, Mommy likes the show. This was the best she and Daddy could do as far as recreating the Roloff experience for us. And it started off with a bang. Some of you may be wondering who that plasticky, creepy, fella is behind us. Well, he's the "Talking Chicken Man." He was the highlight of the trip for me. Though he scared me at first, I soon became drawn to him and his talking chicken friend. We visited him many a times during our short 1 1/2 hour stay at the pumpkin patch. So, I thought it only fitting to have our family take a picture with him and to use this picture as the beginning of our many pumpkin patch photos.

Dining in Style

There a few things you may take away from these two photos:

1) I am a messy eater.

2) Mommy does a poor job imparting proper manners while dining.

3) I am wearing white sport socks and sweat pants with Hush Puppies.

4) Mommy has lost her sense of style.

5) I will never have a sense of style.

or (my favorite)

I like to dine in style...with my good shoes on. (and, by the way, have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE "oose?"

Oh The Things I Say....

Mommy got a kick out of a couple of things I said today so I thought I'd share them with all:

Mommy is spooning sour cream into her soup, to which I say, "Mommy, can I have some bottom cream too?"

Today we played with our neighbor's dog, Strider or as I say "Stwyda." At dinner I called "Stwyda" a "gurl." Mommy replied, "Strider's a boy." To which I added, "wight, and a gurl."

I'm not sure why these got Mommy laughing, but it did. So I thought I'd share with the world in case it makes you laugh too.

Goodnight.

My Raincoat

Do you have a raincoat? I do. In fact, I am a bit obsessed with mine. You see, for awhile, I didn't have a raincoat. However, I dreamed of one. I talked of one. I imagined myself wearing one during a "thundewstowm." I often asked Mommy where my raincoat was when it started to rain. She couldn't come up with a solid answer. Well, Grandmama saved the day. She brought me a bag of hand me down clothes and what lay on top? A yellow raincoat. You can only imagine how my heart jumped at the sight of this beauty. Immediately I put it on. It didn't come off. I wanted to sleep in it. Then, it did come off. But, one rainy day...or a potentially rainy day...I put it on. You see, my friend Ada was with me (you can understand her frowny face in our picture together. She, like me, wants a raincoat too....that's a job for you Mrs. Laura Beth). So Ada, Gwant, and I (with Mommy of course) waited outside on this potentially rainy day. Me, in my raincoat, everyone else...not so much. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the ominous clouds finally followed through on all that talk (thunder) and raindrops fell from the sky. Mommy scampered to get Grant and Ada under the porch while I....well....while I ran under the porch too. After all that waiting, something just didn't feel right to me about standing in the rain. However, Grant and Ada, they felt fine standing in the rain, minus a raincoat. So there I stood, under the porch, in my raincoat while Ada and Grant ran freely in the rain...with no raincoat. Finally, Mommy coaxed me out. I stood hesitantly in a light sprinkle as my raincoat did its thing. It worked I guess. I stayed dry underneath. But I think I'm going to have to practice a little more about this running around in the rain with my raincoat. I enjoy wearing for more of a fashion statement. I'm not one for really getting too dirty or wet. I just like lookin' gooooood.

Mommy's Moment: Christmas for $22

Here is the final breakdown for my Christmas shopping for Hannah and Grant. My total spent for their combined Christmas is $22. I ended up buying the Little People Discovery Airport at Target because I had a $20 off coupon for it. Everything else I got for FREE with my Amazon gift cards from Swagbucks. Here's what I got:

Grant:

Piggy Bank

Airport

Cd player

tape measurer

dump truck

Hannah:

cash register

Curious George game

clock

sticker and paste workbook

finger puppets

Total before my Amazon gift cards: $179

Total I spent out of pocket: $22!!!

Total savings: $157

I am very thankful to be able to have some gifts for the kids but keep the spending to a minimum. We could not have spent the actual amount without the gift cards. If you haven't signed up for Swagbucks, I would encourage you to do so, especially if you're trying to save money. The key is really to get people to sign up under you because when your friends win, you do too..up to 100 points. Thank you to all those who have signed up under me. You have truly helped our family! If you want to sign up, click the button below and get started.

Cousins

A few weeks ago we made a special trip up to Grandmama's and Grandaddy's house to see my cousins Anabelle and Wyatt. It's not often we get to play "togedder" so while they were in town we took advantage of the opportunity. You see, they were waiting for their new baby "brudder" John Mark. Aunt Dani and Uncle Daniel were in Utah getting our new cousin...their new "brudder." While they waited for this new special fella, we kept them busy. Or shall I say, they kept us busy. Wyatt showed me how to use the special two seater swing. He also showed us all how he so adeptly can climb the slide. He and Anabelle also showed me how to play Candy Land. Grant, well he just watched. You know, he's not a big boy like I'm a big gurl. So he's not ready for such endeavors quite yet. Boy did we all have fun "togedder" though. Hopefully we can get up to Kentucky sometime and all play again...with John Mark this time!

Mommy's Moment: A Personal Note

This was supposed to be a "SURPRISE!" post. I had eagerly been waiting to tell the world of our news, a third baby arriving in July. However, as of Saturday, that news would no longer be a reality. This little baby went to be with the Lord. I hesitated to blog about it. Is it appropriate? Is it necessary? But I think it is. For two reasons. One, by blogging about it it helps me to process and think through what has transpired. But, more importantly, regardless of what little time this child had with us, he/she was our child and a part of our family. He/She brought us great joy during those two weeks as we eagerly talked about his/her arrival. Hannah already was giving him/her names...her favorite being Lauren. So, I can't not share this joy and not let this little life be a part of our family. I think he/she deserves a spotlight on this blog. Regardless of how short of a time he/she had with us, she was a life that the Lord created and for some unknown reason, He chose to allow this child to be with Him so early.

Every Monday I teach 6 homeschooled children. Each week we memorize a new verse. As I was preparing the material for the sub on Sunday, this week's verse struck a cord with me. It says, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18. What an appropriate verse for me to meditate on during this season. And as I pondered that I realized I can give thanks. Through this sadness, the Lord has revealed His love, compassion, tenderness, and care to me through my family and friends. I can give thanks to the Lord for each one of you who has shown me His love. I can give thanks that, although I have experienced one painful miscarriage, I have experienced two wonderful births and get to experience these two lives daily at home. That is a blessing. I can also give thanks that the Lord is in control. This didn't happen by surprise to Him. He knew it would happen. He allowed it to happen. And I know that He "works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Will I ever know why this happened? Probably not. But I can trust in the One who allowed it to happen and who knows what is best for me, even if it's difficult and painful.

So this post belongs to baby number three. Though it will be your only post, we won't forget you. And if I had to bring words to this child's mouth I think he/she would say, "Don't worry about me! I'm in a far better place than you are. I am celebrating with the King of Kings. You don't know what you're missing out on!"

A Bird's Nest

My next door neighbor, Ralphie, discoverd a bird's nest in our bushes. I was immediately enthralled. So, Mommy let me watch the birds' nest to see if any of the birds returned. We waited several days. No birds. Daddy informed us no birds would be returning this time of year. It's good to have that guy around. So, Mommy took the birds' nest out of the bushes so I could get a better look at it. I brought berries to the nest just in case the birds did decide to return. I knew they'd be hungry wherever they were returning from. However, if they did return I only think one could fit in it...or maybe just half of a bird. It's a little nest. Mommy let me set the nest on my shelf in my room. However, it only stayed intact a few days. Some little hands weren't too careful and it turned into a pile of pinestraw on my floor. Oh well. It was good while it lasted.

Crazy Grandma

While we were visiting Aunt Ashley we got to visit a nature center at Georgia Southern. I love animals. Mommy thinks I'll be a vet one day or maybe join the circus...then I can join two of my loves "togedder," animals and acrobatics. But enough about that. While we were there we got to wear stickers. This lets people know we paid the big bucks. Afterwards, Grandma and I had fun sporting our stickers around on our noses. You're silly Granmda!

Posing with Maggie

Maggie just couldn't help but put her paw around me (okay, okay, I did put it there but Maggie really wanted it there).
This is our model pose as we ever so casually look off into the distance so you can admire our stunning profiles.
Our "cool cats" pose.

Our silly face pose. Maggie could work on this one a bit I think. It just doesn't have that flair if we aren't BOTH doing it.

Our "glad to be best friends" pose. Don't get this pose of Maggie's confused with her silly pose. They do resemble each other very well.

Bad to the Bone

A couple of weeks ago Mommy, Hannah, and I went to see Aunt Ashley with Grandma and Papa. My true inner self came out. I may look all sweet and shy on the outside but, this, this is my true inner self. Just call me, "Bad to the Bone Harman." I can talk the talk and walk the walk. Don't mess with my bad self. You may just get hurt. WORD.