I love it when I 'get' it!

I had a wonderful, peaceful start to my day. I had a lot that I 'planned' on getting done before company came this morning. It didn't all get done...and I didn't care. (That is not normally the case!) I woke up...deciding that I wanted to do my devotions real quick. 'Real quick' turned into over an hour...and I was loving every minute of it. I will share some of the verses that God planted in my heart at another time. It was so fun. It was refreshing to enjoy God that much. It was wonderful to be inspired to share what He revealed to me.

I felt led to read a chapter out of this book I had been lent months ago. Feeling guilty that I hadn't even read a word of it...I brought it out with me. I cried as I read exactly what God wanted me to know. I knew that these words would have helped me over the past few weeks...but I am so thankful that I chose to be obedient today.

The words of author challenged me to rethink how I view God. How do you view His physical appearance? I generally view Him as being fairly old. Maybe not a full head of white hair...but definately salt and peppered. =)

His point in asking...was to bring a different perspective. We know that God does not follow the rules of humanness. He is not affected by time. He does not wither. He does not fade. He is youthful. He is full of life. He is vibrant. He is wise. He is sharp.

So, I am changing the view of God in my head. I want to serve a God that is ALIVE. And I do. I want to serve a God that is strong. And I do. I want to serve a God that is not frail. And I do.

The following are some pictures that I took over the last few months. They are random..and in no order. I just thought I would share my family with you. =)

Blog inspiration? Sometimes. Haha! This particular day...he was just in the way. Lol! Him being a great dane...there aren't many days that he ISN'T in the way. ;)

She still has the touch to put our little Levi to sleep. She will be such a good mama some day.

       This is what Levi does everytime Eric plays guitar. He is always standing next to him...watching. And when he thinks that daddy isn't looking...he tries to play it himself. I absolutely love it! I want my kids to love worshipping through music as much as we do!

Love the colors in this shot. I just wish she didn't always have dirt on her face. Lol!

Love that smile! And the tall grass surrounding him....priceless!

 I took this picture of our barn on the way back from one of our walks. Eric was so excited...we are going to frame it for the house. I love to take pictures that eventually end up on the wall!

 He was refusing to smile...and yet I love the outcome of this photo shoot. I took many many many...and finally he started being a ham. We even took turns making silly faces at each other for the camera. Notice...those didn't make it to the blog homefront. Haha!

I realize this shot is blurred...and has a wierd shadow. But the face...I couldn't resist! You can't help but to smile at that face!

Aiden's kindergarten graduation. He was the lion...and I am so glad that I videotaped it...his roar was the best!! =)

I'm so in love with you!

I hadn't ever seen the sun look like this before. Or maybe it was that I just don't pay attention much. It looked like it was reflecting on water....when in reality this was the sunrise one morning...over my neighbor's house. I love to catch a glimpse of God's glory!

My Journey Through 7 Pregnancies-Part Three

It is now the year 2004. We were still a bit scared to try to have a baby, but we decided maybe it was time. Afterall, it had been over 2 years since our night in the Emergency Room. I had made it through the first year successfully without any cancerous tumor forming. I made it through the next, with days of sadness and anger. Finally, we were semi-trying to have another baby. Still very cautious. Still very doubtful that it would happen. But, that promise gave us hope.

A few months went by. Then a few more. No positive tests. When had gone from conceiving quickly, to not able. Each month marked another disappointment. Each month just a bit more bitter. We soon found out that my husband's grandmother was not given much more time to live. Our lives got put on hold. The thoughts of having a baby were now not constantly on our minds. Our energy was focused on being there to see her. Being there to surround her with family.

One day my husband got a call from his mother. If wanted to talk to her...we had better come quickly. We all sat on her floor, surrounding her bed...waiting to hear each word that she spoke. Some of them didn't make much sense. Some of them made us cry. But there were two that I will not forget. She awoke and just like every other time she woke...we asked if she wanted us to get her anything. At this point, she wasn't eating or drinking anything. So her response was always 'No'. This one time however, she said yes. We waited, wanting to do anything we could for her. When we asked what she wanted. She responded..."More grandchildren."

We all just kind of laughed. It was just like her. She was waiting for more great-grandchildren. Then she said that someone in the room was pregnant. We all laughed again, pointing the finger to everyone else. No one fessed up to it. But she insisted.

A few days later was her funeral. My mother-in-law was the rock that everyone leaned on at the passing of her mother. God gave her a super-natural strength that day. That night my husband and I were walking through the store and all of a sudden he got a very thoughtful, puzzled look on his face. I asked him what was wrong..and he said.."You are late." I have heard those words so many times in our years together. (I am a late person by nature. And he...is ALWAYS early!) But this time, they were packed with a whole new meaning. I knew exactly what he meant. I had no idea. Who had time to think about such things when faced with such tragedy. And just then...the evening after his grandmother's funeral...we found out it was us she was talking about. We were going to have another baby.

What now? How long do we wait to tell people? We have been there..done that...and been burned. Twice. How long do we wait to fall in love again?

We stood on the side of caution this time. Not going crazy with the amount of people we told. Asking immediate family (and maybe a best friend) to pray! Pray that this would be the child we had been promised. Pray that this pregnancy would be smooth and without complication. And that is exactly what God did.

Aiden Damon Knapp was born on May 7th, 2005. He was perfect. He was healthy. He was ours! God was faithful. God was with us. God gave him to us at the exact time that we would be blessed beyond our imagination. God gave me my son the day before Mother's Day. God brought friends into our lives because of the timing of that pregnancy. God led us to a church when we were desperately searching, because of the timing of that pregnancy. God had a plan....and I am so in love with it!

When you doubt His hand...it just doesn't make sense. HE is all-knowing. HE is all-powerful. HE is omni-present. HE is beginning. HE is end. And....HE is all that lies within. Trust His precious hand. Trust His pure heart. Trust His eternal, always best for you, plan for your life. It is worth it...always!!