This year has seemed to be a doozy.  We moved back into home land and are enjoying being near family.  My Papaw went to be with the Lord and now we are over a year later and watching how brave my grandmother has been. 

I took a part time job waitressing and had to memorize the menu and ingredients to simply write from memory on the paper.  (did I mention that tests have always terrified me.)  My husband asked me to consider working full time as a counselor in school or something like that...{freaking Out!! What is God doing?) complete overwhelming feeling but able to trust in God's direction.  Took a Praxis 2 exam (scarey stuff) and actually passed!! Can you see God stretching me here? Did I mention that I am terrified of tests?  I had worked 8 months as a part time waitress and was growing weary of it.  However, God used it to humble me and grow me as well as let me form friendships and see the nature of the world outside my little views indoors.

Then, God opened a door for me to apply to be a part-time Very flexible children's director....I got it!! So, because of my background the Lord Blessed me by letting my part time job be enough to help us and me not have to work full time.  Hubby threw another surprise by asking me to consider a part time school for the kids. It is very unique...kids go to school two days and you homeschool the rest.  Please pray for us in these transitions.  So much change and learning going on for me.

Due to changes and excuses that I should not make, I have been failing in daily Bible study.  I am a hit and misser.  I don't like it at all.  Praying for God to make me hunger and thirst and make it a priority.  Hard to admit my failing but it is true and must change....I need His wisdom and it is a paradox to think I can minister and do life without seeking it every day.

My kids are such troopers and the joy of my life even though I fail them so much.  They are the sweetest blessings!!

My husband's job has gone well.  I still wonder what God has planned in his direction and if he will be back in full time ministry anytime in the near future.  For now I am very happy and content with his job not in a church and I believe he is too.  A time to rest, renue, review and refocus.  Don't I sound like a preacher with all the r words.  LOL

Okay, for not writing for so long that is a lot of updates.  If I have written about these things prior please forgive the repetition. 

I *think* that I am officially moving my blog to blogger.  I have had one over there off and on for a while now and, although I love the HSB community, I'm a bit tired of all the glitches.  Please check out that blog -- Free Heart Reflections

Thanks!!

Grace Evelyn was born on Thursday, December 15th, 2005 at 4:20 p.m. Here is the birth story ...

The birth was amazing and I would have done it in a heartbeat again if I could!  I seriously mean that!! 

We went in Wednesday night (Dec. 14) to begin the process.  They put in the Cervidil and then I tried to get some rest, but I didn't get much.  At 6 a.m. Thursday they woke me up to take out the Cervidil and let me shower and get ready for the big day ahead.  They started the pitocin at 7 a.m. and the contractions began right away.

I got my epidural at about 10 a.m. and that was great ... it was just the right amount of medicine because I felt no pain, but wasn't completely numb.  My midwife came in and out to check on me and visit with us and our family.  Later in the afternoon the real fun began ...

At 4:00 p.m. Diane, my midwife, checked me and I was only at 6 cm. Diane was not pleased with that ... she didn't like how slowly she thought that I was progressing.  We talked about how Little Buttercup's birth went the same way ... seemingly slow progression and then all of a sudden she was there.  I told her that I didn't like the look on her face and asked her if she was concerned.  She said no (after the birth she told us that the look on her face was because she was praying as we were talking!!).  She asked me to bear down with my next contraction to see what that did to my cervix.  She was pleased with that... 

So she sat down and chatted with a friend of ours that had just arrived (Diane delivered her as well).  Then I began to feel pain ... I said that I felt a contraction and felt like something was "between my legs".  There were 2 nurses trying to find the baby's heartbeat with the monitor and neither could find it.  They kept looking at each other wondering what to do, but little did they know that the baby was no longer where  they thought she was ...

Again, I felt the next contraction hard, so Diane checked me and ... she announced that we were ready to have the baby! It was 4:10 p.m. and I went from 6 cm and 90% effaced to complete and the baby already coming down in about 10 minutes.  They got everything ready and I pushed 3 times and Grace was here!  We laughed and cried and laughed some more during the pushing ... it was truly a glorious experience!

Then everyone asked her name (we had kept it a surprise) and we announced "Grace Evelyn" ... Grace because the Lord gave us that name ... He taught us so much about His grace over those past 9+ months ... and Evelyn after my mom (who will never get over that!).