Reaction

Well, I guess this time we really shocked some people.   I get a kick out of reactions.  I really didn't think anyone would be real shocked because we love having kids and truly believe they are a blessing.  But I was wrong. The reactions we have received have been so funny.  The kids were very excited and a couple said "I knew it, I knew it."  That night I went to a party and most were full of smiles, one asked if I was sad (not in the least), one said she just couldn't get her head around it, and several were quite excited but very shocked.  One of my Bright Lights girls keeps congratulating me every time she sees me.  The last time she saw me she said "Congratulations, I know I keep saying that but Wow!!! seven is a lot of kids."   That just makes me laugh.  It is so funny that this is such a shocker to people.  A friend of mine said "you really caught me off guard this time."  My husbands favorite comments are the ones who ask if we know how this happens.  His reply is, "Have you seen my wife?"  That always makes me laugh.  My dear friend called me right away and was so excited.  Sierra handed me the phone and said "There is some very excited person on the other line."  What a blessing.  I love the excited people.  The miracle of a new life is truly that, a miracle so here begins a photo journal of my growth.  I promise not all my posts will be about the baby, but for those who delight in babies I will keep an update here and there.  I get very large and start showing right away so don't be too shocked.  I have started feeling queazy here and a few other signs.  These are encouraging and exciting.   Have a great day and to God be the glory.

Alicia 6 weeks

What a Blessing!

For each or our children I have made them a baby blanket in different shades of blue, white, and pink.  They all enjoy their blankets and are a bit possessive of them.   So, with great excitement yesterday we gathered the kids together and placed new blue, pink and white yarn on the table and asked if they liked the colors for our new baby.  It took them a bit to process it but then the room erupted with shouts of excitement and bouncing.  So, if you didn't catch it, yessssss we are expecting a new baby.  We just found out yesterday so you are all some of the first to find out.  Actually, we have been sharing the news with friends and family but it is very new and I'm not far along.  I love to share with people the blessing of new life so we don't keep it quiet but proclaim the good news of God's blessing.  Hope this puts a smile on your face as we celebrate a new life being formed in my womb.  The miracle of that so overwhelms me.  Already God has decided if it's a girl or boy, the color of hair and eyes, the gifts and abilities and it is fearfully and wonderfully made.  

"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.  For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:  happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.  Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.  Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord."  Psalms 128 1-4

Thank you Father. Have a wonderful day

Alicia

Thankful for blankets

Aren't baby blankets wonderful?   I really love the ones that people have made for us.  I often wonder if the person that made us a blanket has any idea how much use it has had.  I had no idea 19 years ago when I covered my first little baby, Alex, with the blanket that my aunt made him, that 19 years later it would still be used to cover another one of our precious babies.  Isn't God so good.  As I was laying Isabella down for a nap the other day I covered her with a blanket that someone had made for Sierra.  It is a large blanket that has silky edging and I started thinking back to the lady who made that blanket.  I often think of the maker of the blanket, even if it's just "that is my mom's, or Aunt Wanda's, or Pamela's blanket," as I choose a blanket.  It just brings warm feelings and I feel blessed by such thoughtfulness of someone to make a blanket for me.  Some of our blankets are MIA (missing in action), via misplaced or used as a doll blanket but when they reappear I get so excited, "Oh, there is the blanket Pastor Wells wife made us."  It is a visual reminder of the creator of the blanket.  Some blankets, I have even studied the patterns and made them for someone else.  Once an ultra sound had said a cousin of mine was having a boy so I made her a cute blue teddy bear blanket and sent it to her.  Upon the birth of the baby we discovered the ultra sound was wrong and it was very much a little girl.  So, I quickly made another pink blanket.  Silly I know, but I enjoy crocheting and the blankets patterns were ones I copied from other blankets .  The Bible is a precious work from our Creator.  When I see my Bible or a Bible verse hung on my wall, I think of our Father and His heart He has shared with us in his work, the Bible.   The other day my Bible was MIA and what a joy it was to get it back and dig into it again.  Even the work of God's hand in all of creation sings of his love for us.  The Bible is an obvious reminder of our Lord but why stop there, all creation speaks of the Creators love and hard work to bless us.   As you look at your Bible, your child, or even the sky today may it remind you of the Creators love for you.   If you are someone that blesses others with hand made blankets, know that your gift is a reminder of you.  And thank you, Father, for making us so many blessings that remind us of you.

Just wanted to share a little of my own creativity today as I used some of God creativity :).  This morning I took some of my apricot jam I just made and added it to my pancake mix, threw in a hand full of chocolate chips and topped with apricot syrup.  Wow.  God Bless you all and have a blessed day.

Alicia

Harvesting

Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good:  blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
We are enjoying the fruits of our labor.  The girls were out working in the garden and were so excited to see the beans are nice and big and we have more then enough for dinner tonight.  We have so far been able to enjoy zucchini, sugar peas, lettuce, spinach, strawberries, and even a couple tomatoes.  Oh yes and we made 18 quarts of apricot jam from our tree.  The Lord is good and we are very thankful that he is bringing us a fruitful harvest.  Have a great day, trust in the Lord and be blessed, He is soooo good.

Alicia

God Bless the USA

I really enjoy the Forth of July.  This year I was feeling quite patriotic and like going red, white, and blue.  Alex was gone to minister in music at a local camp but it was exciting to have my brother and his son come here to spend some time with us.  The weather was beautiful and the day relaxing and fun.   I am grateful to our founding fathers for their work in founding this nation upon Biblical truths.  I want to thank all our military persons and their families for their sacrifice to ensure our freedoms.  As we prepare for an election may we seek God and keep ourselves in prayer for the future and Gods protection over our country.  II Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The kids and cousin decorating star cookies

yummy desert (recipe below)

blueberry pancakes topped with raspberries

the girls in coordinating red, white, and blue

red white and blue decor

Grandma swing with Isabella

cousins

God bless the USA

Red, White and Blue Dessert
1/2 cup butter
3/4 c sugar
1 egg
2 tblsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Cream butter and sugar, add egg, milk and vanilla.  Stir in flour, baking powder and salt.  Bake in pan at 350 degrees until just starting to turn brown, (about 13 minutes).  Let cool.

Topping:
mix 8 oz cream cheese till smooth, add 1 cup sugar and continue mixing till smooth.  Fold in small cool whip.  Place on top of cooled cookie.

decorate with slice strawberries and blueberries.  Chill until ready to eat.  

Answers?

It has been a while since my last post.  So, a little update.  First Isabella had her hearing test and it just showed a mild hearing loss.  They feel many other test could be done.  As a parent it is so hard to find what is necessary.  It would be so nice if there was just one test that answered all questions.  Maybe she just isn't ready to talk and all this other stuff is unnecessary.  I was very frustrated the other day and my husband reminded me, "she is so happy and isn't that what we really want."  Happy she is and that I do want.  She is a very happy and loving girl, that is so great, and I am so thankful for her joy and just to have her in my life.  So on our way home from her test I had a little talk with her.  "Ok, now I know you can hear me, no more getting away with ignoring me."  :)

 We had a princess day for our Bright Lights group the other day.  The girls loved dressing up and some even wore tiaras.  One girls asked if we could do this every week.  We are also setting up a BL conference and that is very exciting.

 We got to go camping with some friends and the kids enjoyed fun boating.

Wish you could hear the screams of delight.  :)

Alex and his friend boarding

Cassie loved the boats.

 Isabella got her first full pony tail.  So cute.

 Canned some cherries, froze some and made dessert with some.

 My wonderful friend Amy, heard of a lady getting rid of her raspberry bushes.  It is something I really wanted.  I can't believe how much they cost in the store and even a plant is around $7 a piece.  So as we dug them up we started laughing $7, $14, $21...  Lots of fun.  Hope this weather is not to hot and they will transplant well.

here is my garden growing and producing.  So exciting.  

We are blessed with such great family, friends, ministry and so much more.  It is so good to know God has all the answers we need and He is more than enough.  

Serenity

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. "  This was going over and over in my head yesterday.  I don't know that I have ever memorized or paid a lot of attention to this prayer but yesterday I knew it and prayed it well.  The last while at our home has been challenging to say the least.  We are unsure what or if Isabella can hear and the therapist, doctors and paper work I have gone through has been a bit overwhelming.  I only want to know what is going on and what we can do about it but it all takes sooooo long.  After leaving a doctors office yesterday I was pondering what she had said, "there is something definitely wrong" and "I don't think she can hear anything,"  and more test in a "timely manner."  Once in my car the familiar tears came and the words sent a series of whats and what ifs that I don't have answers too and apparently neither does anyone else.  But God does.  And this prayer came to me.  I wondered if those were the actual words and they were.  I opened my Bible to where I was in my reading this morning, there is a devotional section on the edges and guess what was printed there in black and white?  The Serenity prayer.  The prayer of my heart yesterday and today.  God is so good.  He know what we need and confirms his companionship with us.  So today I pray again "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.  In Jesus name, Amen"  God bless you all and know he is with you no matter what.