Lady-in-waiting

Carseat ready? Check.

Bag packed for hospital, with my favorite magazine (Country Living)? Check.

Camera charged? Check.

Baby's due date has come and gone, so this week we have been able to get more projects done around the house. It's crazy to think that we might have a child born in June this time... but that gives us a different birthday month for at least one of our kids!

We're excited to meet this little person soon. Hopefully my next post will include some pictures and good news!

Curb Appeal

Now that the weather is getting nicer, we've moved our projects to the outside. We're in the process of scraping and painting the house. This picture shows our three new paint colors. The color to the left of the door is our siding color (kind of a "green-grey-putty"), the trim is off-white, and we'll keep the door red, along with some red paint accents. I think it helps give the house an updated look and goes nicely with the brick front porch.

We've hired some guys to help Jeff scrape. Here's the back of the house. This is a huge job, but we're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...
And the landscaping... Here's the before picture, with no plants. And the after photo: I am so proud of Jeff for designing this space! He's amazing, and he never quits, even while the projects just keep coming.

Five

Happy Birthday, Emma Lu. You are a sweetie pie, or "Daddy's little cupcake," as he likes to whisper in your ear.

I love your giggles,

the way you make your bed in the morning because you like it to be clean with "no wrinkles,"

the way you pick out your clothes and have some amazing combinations,

the way you love to smooch babies and hold them,

how you like to help in the kitchen,

the way you hop on one foot or skip around the house,

how you love to dress up and have curlers in your hair,

and how you come downstairs smelling SO good because you used Peppermint Lotion, perfume, and lip gloss so you could be "fancy" for the day.

Daddy and I are so thankful that God gave us YOU!

Seven

How is it possible that our little guy is turning seven already? Clay, you are a treasure and we are so thankful we get to be your "Momma" and "Daddy," as you call us right now.

I love to see your quest for adventure as we go on hikes and you lead the way, exploring, poking things with sticks, climbing trees, finding bugs, chasing ducks, and crossing over creeks on fallen logs.

I love it how you pretend with Emma, and play Cinderella and dress up with her, but also build Legos and forts together. It makes me so happy to hear you play and laugh with each other.

I love your quest for learning as you recently asked me, "Mom, can we get more books about Science?" I love it that you have a nightly ritual with Daddy to read Chronicles of Narnia, and last week you and I started The Swiss Family Robinson.

I love your questions that challenge me, "How do we know heaven is real?" and "Who wrote the Bible?" Your bedtime prayers sometimes make me tear up as you sincerely and tenderly pray for needs around you.

It is so fun for us to watch you grow up and to help point you to Jesus. He loves you even more than we do, and He will always be with you. Happy Birthday, special boy!

Mother's Day

I had the best mother's day with Jeff and the kids. After church they made a picnic lunch and we took it to our favorite park in the area, Holliday Park. It was a gorgeous day and everything just seemed kind of magical with the sun streaming through and the beautiful spring colors.
This might be my last picture with just two kids... I am so thankful for them. For the ways they challenge my thinking, ask questions, explore, smell flowers, run, pray, and love.
I'm also thankful for my mom, grandma, and the mom and grandma I got when I married Jeff. I feel so blessed to have these amazing women in my life. I just read A. Ann's post here called, "Dear Daughter, Dear Mom." Her pictures and way with words are inspiring. I think you'll be encouraged in your heart to read it too.

Great friends

We were so blessed last weekend to have our sweet friends from our youth ministry days in Elkhart come and dive in for a work day with us! It was wonderful to have all those extra hands helping us on our "fixer upper." They scraped paint, weeded, prepared landscaped areas for edging, and dug trenches to bury our downspouts under the sidewalk.
This photo does not even begin to show how tough these guys worked at burying this downspout under the sidewalk. They were all pushing, pulling, yelling, and brainstorming to get the job done. Even Emma was in awe of the process...

Thank you Goodriches and Fultons for coming to visit and help us. We love you guys!

Happy May!

I just came across this quote in a devotional by Amy Carmichael. This comforts me as we approach a new month, with a baby arriving, and lots of things changing…

Joshua 3:4 : “You have never been this way before.”

This is a new day for you, but He who loves you meets you at the gate of the day, and at the gate of the new month, and He says, “Fear not, the Lord will give you strength; the Lord will bless you with peace”(Psalm 29:11).

So for you, whatever this new month brings, may you rest in His grace and peace knowing that God meets you right where you are and His presence will go with you.