Little Boys' Best Friend

Brett and Shadow.

Brett loves Shadow SOOOOO much.

They are so sweet together.

They really are best friends.

Ty and Shadow.

Ty loves Shadow, but not near as much as Brett does...

but Shadow definately loves the love and attention both boys give to her.

She is a good doggie!

Create or Make

In school we were talking about God creating, and that to create means to make something from nothing. Of course God is the only one who can do that. We don't create anything. We make things. So just to keep this in their minds, we "made" the earth from crayons. First they will cut out the earth.

We peeled the paper off of the crayons.

Green for land, blue for water.

Next, we used a cheese grater to get shavings to sprinkle

onto the land areas and water areas.

Sprinke sprinkle.

Put wax paper on top and then a cloth over that. Then iron.

*Note* Do not use a cloth with a pattern b/c your

earth will have many squares on it!

We "made" our earth! Squares and all!!

I love homeschool!

She's Here!

Kinleigh was born on August 27th at 12:03pm. She weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces. The best part? I was there!! I saw her coming, and boy did she come quickly! I was so excited!! When I first saw her head, tears welled up in my eyes and my emotions went crazy. I had to compose myself because Brad didn't seem so well, and I had to remind Jessica to push (as if she didn't know to)! In the hours and days to come all I could do was stare at her. She was so cute. So tiny. It reminded me that my boys were even smaller than she was. Ty weighed 4 lbs 13 oz, and Brett weighed 6 lbs 14oz. Hard to believe!

Anyway, I would catch people looking at me while I was holding Kinleigh, maybe wondering if I was thinking of Maggie. Wondering how I felt. Wondering. The truth is I never did. I never compared her to Maggie, wished it was Maggie, or really ever thought of Maggie. I thought of Kinleigh. I love her. I wish I could hold her more and watch her do everything (like lay in the crib, and lay in the sleeper, and lay on the changing table...). Because she lays so cutely!

I'm so thankful for her--Kinleigh Reagan. She's not Maggie Leigh. She doesn't even remind me of Maggie. She reminds me of Brett, and that's really funny!! So...she's here, she's cute, she's loved, and she's Kinleigh!

Kinleigh is Coming--and Other Blessings

My sister is having a baby. She is due in three days. She is having a baby girl. I remember several months ago when I found out she was having a girl. She had bought cupcakes and filled them with pink filling. When we all bit into them and saw the pink, that's when we knew it was a girl. I think everyone around me yelled and ooohhh'd and aaahhh'd...everyone but me. I suddenly, and unexpectedly became quiet and wanted to be alone. I was slightly happy, but mostly sad. Not sad she was having a girl, but sad I didn't still have mine. All my dreams and plans of being a mom to a daughter were gone. I remember when I had my ultrasound to find out what Maggie was. I wore blue b/c I wanted a boy! When I found out I was having a girl, I was so scared! I never was a girly girl and wasn't quite sure how to be a mom to a girl. But over time, I became excited! I laid on the couch and talked to her and sang to her in my belly. I watched her kick the remote control off of my belly. I had many conversations with her. Then one day...suddenly...it all changed. My sweet husband couldn't bring his baby girl home, and my daddy couldn't sit Maggie in his lap and tell her silly stories. My mom couldn't sing to her and teach her piano. My sister was there in the hospital with us constantly it seemed. She loved Maggie so much. And here we are, 8 years later, and a baby girl is on her way. Satan could easily attack me with anger and bitterness. I cling to Jesus in times like that. My daddy will hold Kinleigh and tell her silly stories, and my mom will sing to her and teach her piano. And you know what? That is awesome. God has blessed me SO much with two silly and wonderful sons and I couldn't love them any more than I do. My daddy takes them fishing and Matt plays ball with them. My mom laughs endlessly at them. They are joy and they are gifts, and that is what Kinleigh will be! I can't wait to meet her and hold her...and after 7 years of being a mom, I'll be happy to be able to hand her back to her mom!!!!

Don't Do This...

To save yourself heartache and money, don't put your WOODEN cutting board into the dishwasher! Luckily, my hubby is a wood expert and can fix it! I love him!

When There's Peace in My House...

Ah, the sound of peace...and funny little Brett sneaks SO MANY trucks and toys to bed EVERY night...until I go to bed. I always go in, cover them up, kiss them, and unload his bed before I go to bed. It's always so funny to see what he has in bed with him each night.

To My Husband

I've missed you a lot this week. I've had every emotion possible. I've stayed as busy as possible. 8 complete days without you has been extremely difficult. I understand (ok, maybe not totally, but more-so now than before) how Adam felt so alone, and why God created Eve for him. I did have my sister, the kids, church friends to keep me company, but no one is like you. I love you deeply. I love you with me :) But I'm so glad you went. I know it was an amazing experience for you, and I know that God used you so much there. I wouldn't change this week at all (except for taking Ty's sorrow away, b/c he definately missed you so much).
Thank you for being a godly husband. Thank you for loving me so much, but thank you for loving God first and obeying Him by going.
Now...I'm ready to do yard work with you, ride bikes with you, go to the gym with you, Walmart with you, and just be with you everyday. I've missed you so much!!
I love you more than yesterday...less than tomorrow...and that's how it will be until we see Christ.
Love,
Jaim

Ty turned 7 on Saturday. I didn't take many pictures at all, because once he opened his water guns (he got around 21 water guns)...there was a huge water gun fight and I was funning here and there, so I didn't take too many pictures. But here are a few pictures of who was here.

Matt with his new grill!

Ty thinks he is a professional baseball player. If you haven't seen him play, I wish you could. Really. He has seen the professionals on TV and on the Wii, and mimics their every move. It's so cute. I'm proud of him. He has a natural talent for most any sport. Here are a few pictures.

Ever Wonder What To Say?

For some reason, I'm thinking of when our baby girl died. The dark tunnel I felt I was in. The nights lying awake crying. The whirlwind of planning a funeral...for our daughter. SO MANY people were around us at that time. People called me that I haven't spoken to in years. An ex-boyfriend from high school even called to say how sorry he was.
And there were quite a few people who wanted to really and truly say the right things to us, but they were totally and completely the wrong things to say. Intentions were good. Their hearts were good. But the words were more hurtful than they could have imagined. Do you ever wonder what to say when a loved one or friend has lost someone, or some tragedy has happened? Here's a thought...that never really happens today.

Job 2:11-13
11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

Although it ends up that Job's friends weren't that great, they started out great. They were silent...for seven days. And in Chapter 3 verse 1, it was JOB who spoke first. Although Job said some not so great things, it was he who broke the silence and let his friends know he was ready to talk.

This could be a lesson for us. Sometimes, consoling means being silent. Praying. Being there. Hugs. Service. Without words. This might not always be the case depending on the person, but it may just keep us from saying something hurtful to someone who is already hurting.