Hello... Is anybody out there?

Do I have any readers left? This is Steph-- the girl who used to blog nearly everyday but suddenly got abducted by traveling, soccer, homeschool, closets, and scripture memory. We were traveling for 2 weeks straight and then came home to our home projects. I have basically cleaned and organized all the closets in our house. I have moved the boys into their new room. Tim has been painting or staining everything in front of him and hanging things as fast as I can hand them to him. It is so great to be married to someone who can literally do it all. He is the reason we have anything cool in our house. I have ideas. He makes it happen.

In my "spare" time, I am still memorizing the book of Philippians and loving my Bible Study with the girls. We grow so much as we memorize 7 verses a week and then study them together. We really are feasting on God's Word and there is no way I would be doing this if the girls weren't (basically) holding a gun to my head. It is hard and every week I think the exact same thing,

"I CANNOT DO THIS". Then, I sit down and do it.

I am teaching the boys too. They have almost learned Chpt 1. We have learned 1 & 2 now. I am so thankful to have God's Word hidden in my heart. It has revolutionized my prayer life.

Now, as I pray for my boys I pray things like...

"God, help the boys "live a life worthy of You, pleasing You in every way, bear fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God" (Col 1:10)

or

"God, ' this is my prayer... that the boys' love will grow more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that they will be able to discern what is best and my be pure and blameless until You come back for us, fill them with the fruit of righteousness that can only come from You-- for Your glory". (Phil 1:9,10)

My desire is that my children KNOW GOD. That they would fall in love with Him and that their heart's desire above all things would be to serve Him with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. The best way for them to know Jesus is to know His Word... so we practice and practice and practice... and get cheeseballs (actually cheese curls now) as a reward.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

John 1:1

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Phil 1:1-21

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I LOVE THE BOYS' NEW ROOM. It is so beautiful, fun, peaceful and functional. It is still not finished but I have dropped off the fabric for the bench cushion and the pillows. I cannot wait to see the magic my seamstress does with navy, cream and orange.
I finally found some lamps that are great and that I think the boys can't break. Although their batting average IS perfect this year for lamp-breaking.

Introducing... phase 2 of their new room~

I am so in love with Tim. Good grief.. he is amazing. He is hanging a boat sail.

See? cute.
Also, I love my new framed pictures of the boys surfing.

Tim made this for me (them). FABULOUS. They have a huge closet. It was full of all the stuff we didn't know what to do with over the last 3 years. That took forever to sort through and move so that the boys could move in. THAT closet is where I have been during these past couple of weeks.

One small step for man, I giant leap for mankind. Look how simple boys are. They have tennis shoes. That is pretty much it. When I attempt to even look at girls things now that I am having a girl, I get so overwhelmed. I have no idea how to get all the stuff they need. Bows, tights, actual OUT-FITS?? What in the world? I tell the boys, "Put your clothes on". 5 minutes later, we leave. They have on some crazy outfit and major bed head and we are off to Church.

I give those lamps 3 months.

Can't wait until it is finished. Seamstress said Thanksgiving. I will definitely post pictures.

I am having a garage sale full of boy things. Email me if you live close enough to come. Selling 2 cribs, crib bedding and tons of boy clothes.

We went to an indoor waterpark in Pigeon Forge a week or so ago with my sister and her family. It was really fun. Wilderness in the Smokies.

So, that is us. My belly is growing, growing, growing. Baby girl weighs about 1 pound now and I am 24 weeks this week. My health is fabulous. I am very concerned about after I deliver and when all of the hormones that are keeping Lyme at bay, plummet. It is a very dark cloud and something we are praying fervently against. It really can scare me because I have gone through this before and it was not pretty. I got the best advice ever from Ephesians when it says,

"But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." Ephesians 4:7

In other words, the grace that I need for tomorrow-- or 3 months from now-- IS THERE. Christ has already measured out exactly what I need and it is there waiting for me. Just as He has done for your tomorrow.

I got the second best advice from a girlfriend I respect so much who said... "Don't spend time worrying about 3 months from now. Christ may come back between now and then and you will have wasted all that time." Good word, sister! I said, "you are right--I hope He does".

We are still not sure about Hope's full name. I love Bella Hope but Tim and the boys love Hope Elizabeth.

I am starting to think about her room.

It will be the boys old room and has pirate ship wallpaper in it that we have to take down. I am pretty sad about that because they have loved it.

We have already re-painted, re-decorated Lake's room. It is now a guest room (pictures to come). And, you may remember the shark bathroom? Painted over :).. guest bathroom now.

Tim's 'man room' is looking fabulous. Screen is up and lazy boys are in. Movie night comin' up soon!

I have missed taking pictures and writing in "my journal". Things are settling down now that the boys are moved in their room. Next project garage sale.. then decorating Hope's room. Please send me any beautiful pictures of nurseries that you have seen. Also, I just lost my lead in the Divine Caroline contest! Ahhhhhhhhh!

If you don't mind to take 32 seconds, CLICK HERE and vote for my blog, I would so appreciate it. Make sure and click the button that tells them not to email you anything and you will never hear from them again. I really want to win that $250 to go toward Hope's room and clothes. If you have already voted, will you have your husband vote or just vote for him? I have some tough competition. Thank you so much.

I love hearing from you. If you don't hear back from me immediately, I WILL eventually write you back. Even my answering machine has been taunting me every time I walk by when it flashes 29! 29! 29! at me. I never want to be too busy for people and especially not too busy for God's Word. I am toast if I am too busy for God's Word.

Will post updated preggo pictures soon.

My belly is getting big. I feel her move all the time.

I had bread pudding made out of Krispy Kreme doughnuts yesterday. MMMmmm. I am going to weigh 500 pounds by the time the holidays are over. I think THIS is the Bread Pudding recipe. You might want to take this dessert for Thanksgiving to become everyone's favorite relative.

Love and blessings to you...

Steph