The Pregnancy Files | Week 7 | Baby #2

Today I enter my seventh week of pregnancy and.... I feel it. But more about me later. First, here what's up with baby #2:

• Baby is currently the size of a blueberry; which is incredible because just a couple weeks ago, he/she was the size of a poppy seed. There has been some big-time growing!!
• Baby's brain is growing fast, generating about 100 new cells every MINUTE! The arms and legs are emerging as joints begin to form. His or her kidneys are also in place! Is God big or what?!?
• I haven't yet had my first doctor's appointment, but we will FINALLY hear our little one's heartbeat next Friday! I am more than anxious to see the little wiggle worm and watch life taking root in my body. It's truly amazing.

As for me:

• I...am...nauseous. Big time. With Nathan, I was nauseated a little, but nothing like this. I've been living on Edy's Fruit Bars (thank you, Edy, whoever you are!) and Ginger Ale. The minute something sounds good enough to eat and I dig in...bad things happen. *sigh* Oh well. It's worth it. And I am more than thankful to have a sweet little boy with a helper's heart, and an amazing husband who goes above and beyond to take care of me.
• I'm tired but, thankfully, not as exhausted as I was with Nathan. Of course, I believe that's because I can't stay in bed all day due to Nathan toddling around. :) And I must say, his little smile makes everything a little easier.

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing. And life is even MORE beautiful!

Learning Routine

I apologize for going over a week without posting. Last week, we had Camp so it was busy, busy, busy. Once home, morning sickness began to hit me full force. Please be in prayer for me as I go about my day-to-day tasks.

Now that I am home after a week of Camp, I am glad to be back to the routine of my life here at home. Routine is something that sounds dull and unexciting, but I am learning that routine is anything but! I enjoy  routine. I like having a schedule and knowing where I should be and what ought to be done at a particular time. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy spontaneity too, but I am a planner at heart. I like structure and security and organization. And I am learning that it is essential to teach our children routine as well. Consistent routine gives little ones a very strong sense of peace, order, and security.
 
Elisabeth Elliot wrote in The Shaping of a Christian Home, "If everybody does that which is right in his own eyes there is no gathering together for a civilizaed breakfast, let alone for a quiet time in the living room afterwards. The frantic rush to find Father's briefcase, make school lunches, put on snow-pants and boots and get everybody out the door with the right lunch bags and schoolbooks, in time to be where they need to be, destroys peace for the rest of the day." (pg 77)

How much sense that makes! Leslie Ludy writes, "Routine protects those things that are most important in life: prayer, marriage, intimacy, and focused, purposeful times together as a family."

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." There is a time for spontaneous fun and games. There is a time for late night fun. But a bedtime schedule should be observed and a disciplined structure of quiet time should be enforced as well. Our goal as mothers and keepers of the home should be to instill that calm, orderly, routine in our homes and families. Why? Because, as Leslie Ludy said, it protects the things that are most important. If everyone ran around doing whatever they please all day, then we have a clashing of schedules and utter chaos when a parents decides to have some family time. However, if we implement routine, then the house knows that, come a certain time, everyone is to be in their place.

Grant and I are in the process of slowly developing a routine of family time (among other things) and I am finding that the peace that comes with a routine gives me time to truly sink into the arms of the Lord. And I need that!! Having a schedule gives me purposed time to get my work done and then ample time to study, journal, and pray in the quiet. I can spend time teaching my son and loving my husband without the constant chaos of unfinished jobs or a screaming toddler who's bored to tears.

What about you? How is routine a needful blessing in your life?

 

The Fruit of the Womb is His Reward

The Bible says that children are a heritage; a reward. I cannot begin to express how Grant and I feel to have been given the blessing of our son, Nathan. And now, I cannot tell you how we felt to discover that we were being "rewarded" a second time! That's right.... I'M EXPECTING!!!

Baby #2 should make his or her appearance sometime in mid-February of 2013.

My husband's and my reaction to this pregnancy was vastly different than with our first. With Nathan, we were overjoyed but very, very overwhelmed, not knowing what to expect. This time, we know full well what a blessing little Nathan is and are 100-times MORE thrilled and in awe; anxious to meet this little one and experience all the joys again.

Please be praying for me as I begin my pregnancy journey for a second time - for my health and little baby #2's health and safety.

God is big....and so very good!!

Psalm 127:3-5a
"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them..."

Finding Him Friday & a Link Up!

Much of my time had recently been spent scrubbing my carpets. Nathan is at the age where he knows how to dump his sippy cup and he enjoys watching milk drip to the floor. So I follow close behind him cleaning up the messes and getting milk spots and juice spots out of my carpet.

And oddly enough, that's where I found Jesus today.

Next week, Camp begins, and I will teach and lead and counsel kids. The theme this year is "the Cross." As I was scrubbing stains out of my floor, I saw Christ and what was done on the Cross in my carpet. How, you ask? Well.... I mess up. A lot. I have always been a "good girl," but by no means does that make me "good." (Romans 3:23). I am clay that is rather stubborn sometimes when the Potter is trying to mold me. I fight back. Molding is painful. Shaping is uncomfortable. Change HURTS. So my rebellious spirit rises up and drops of sin stain my soul's floor. But though I am hard headed and allow little sins to take root in my life, God's grace and His love are still ever present. His blood removes the stains of my sin and, though His cleaning and scrubbing is painful for me, He has my best interest in mind. He wants me clean, free of spots....just as I want the floors of my home clean and spotless.

John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Where did You find Him today?

Link up time!

Please grab the button below and link back here. You are encouraged and

welcomed to share posts about ministry, marriage, motherhood, and
finding Him in your everyday life.

&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">href</span>="http://www.createdtobehis31.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">blogspot</span>.com/" target="_blank">&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">img</span> <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">src</span>="http://i280.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">photobucket</span>.com/albums/kk189/4MyDesigns/Buttons/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">ctbh</span>_125_01a.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">png</span>" border="0" alt="Created to be HIS"/>&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;/a>



This post is linked to: Homemaker By Choice, A Mother's Heritage, Far Above Rubies, The Modest Mom, Deep Roots at Home, Raising Homemakers, and Thankful Homemaker

Homemade Spray Cleaner

If you like using natural cleaning products, I highly recommend trying this out! I love mine.

You will need:

 spray bottle
 2 T White Vinegar
 1 t Borax
 Hot water 
10 drops of essential oil
a few drops of a mild dish detergent (optional)

Mix vinegar, borax and hot water until borax is completely dissolved. Pour into your spray bottle. Add the essential oil (I like using lemon or rosemary) and dish detergent. Gently shake. Aaaaand there you go!



This post is linked to: Raising Homemakers, Far Above Rubies, and Growing Home

Finding Him Friday & a Link Up!

I found Him in my pantry. Yes, that's right. My pantry.
 
A few days ago, I was shopping for groceries and as I walked down an aisle of only bread and pastries, I had an overwhelming sense of conviction and sadness. Why? Because here I am - so blessed to be living in the USA, with everything I could ever need or want at my fingertips. Here I am in a modern grocery store with every convenience at my reach. A whole aisle of bread and pastries! There's a whole aisle of chips and colas. In my kitchen, it's no different. I have a whole drawer in my fridge of produce. I have an entire shelf in my pantry devoted to spices and baking ingredients. Another shelf is full of snacks like crackers, cereal, peanut butter, and trail mix. Just this morning, as I was preparing to fix my little boy breakfast, I saw how many choices I had. I could cook pancakes....or muffins.....eggs...sausage. And that's where I found Him. I found His overwhelming blessing of food that I overlook and take for granted every day!

Did you know that more than one billion people in this world lack access to clean water? 

Did you know that about 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes – a huge majority of them being children? That's one person every three and a half seconds. 

Count your blessings, ladies. If you have food on your table, thank Him and praise Him for it. And when you find Him in your kitchen....bring Him to someone else who's hungry for Him. :)

Link up time!

Please grab the button below and link back here. You are encouraged and

welcomed to share posts about ministry, marriage, motherhood, and
finding Him in your everyday life/

&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">href</span>="http://www.createdtobehis31.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">blogspot</span>.com/" target="_blank">&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">img</span> <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">src</span>="http://i280.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">photobucket</span>.com/albums/kk189/4MyDesigns/Buttons/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">ctbh</span>_125_01a.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">png</span>" border="0" alt="Created to be HIS"/>&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;/a>

When Marriage Becomes an Idol

Marriage is wonderful. Like most girls growing up, I dreamed about love and living happily ever after. Now that I am married, I often look back to my single years and, while I rejoice in the faithfulness of the Lord and the beauty of a pure past, I can see several pitfalls I wish I would have avoided. I pray you can benefit and learn from my season of singleness....
   

Today I am honored to be a guest post for Megan in her new series, Singleness Saturdays. Continue reading over at He Will Be Faithful.

Vegetable Quesadillas

Don't you hate looking at rotten vegetables in your refrigerator? Yesterday morning, I saw tomatoes that were going bad, celery going bad, and various other veggies that were on their way towards having to be tossed into the deep abyss of my trash can. So I took everything out and washed it all in the sink. I cut off the bad spots, then stared at the good and thought, "Okay...now what?"

Like a light bulb, I thought "Why not try to make a vegetable quesadilla?" So I did. Aaaaand TA DA!

 My one year old is scarfing it down. Want to know what's in it?

• 1/2 squash
• 1/2 zucchini
• 1/2 green onion
• 1/2 large grated carrot
• 1/2 celery
• 1/2 tomato
• 2-3 Tbs corn
• mozzarella cheese
• dash garlic
• dash salt
• dash pepper

Below is my recipe for vegetable quesadillas. This is an excellent way to sneak veggies into your kids!

Dice your chosen vegetables and place in a skillet over medium heat. Cook for 4-5 minutes.

Remove vegetables from skillet and set aside. Pour about 1/2 a tablespoon of olive oil into pan and place one tortilla into the skillet. Grate a handful of mozzarella cheese over the tortilla. This will act as a "glue." Take your veggies and pour over the cheese. Grate another handful of cheese over veggies.

Place your second tortilla over the vegetables and cheese. Cook each side until golden brown. Remove from pan and use a pizza cutter to slice. THEN enjoy eating something delightfully tasty AND, what's better, healthy! Yum!

Finding Him Friday & a Link Up!

Today I walked outside and did not feel the stifling heat that we have had lately. May has been unseasonably hot here in Arkansas. But I walked out my back door this first day of June to a pleasant 61 *F with a light breeze. And even in my moment of stress and headaches, I found Him there.

Ever feel like you are suffocating? Do you ever feel like you are dying of thirst? All you want is a gentle breeze to give you comfort or a drop of rain to ease the scorching pain. Yesterday we had our second storm in two days that did just that to our yard and garden. The ground was parched, cracked, and so very dry. Now it has been watered, refreshed, and it looks a lot better! Sometimes my soul needs that too. Some days, my heart is cracked and hurting. Some days, my well has run dry and I can't shed tears. It's on those days that I should lift my eyes to the hills (Psalm 121:1-2) and run to Jesus who is our thirst-quenching, water of life.

So I found Him today. I found Him in the calm, cool breeze which told me that that He is our comforter. I found Him in the puddles of leftover rain which reminded me that He makes my cup runneth over.

Where did you find Him today?

Link up time!

Please grab the button below and link back here. You are encouraged and

welcomed to share posts about ministry, marriage, motherhood, and
finding Him in your everyday life.

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This post is linked to: Women Living Well, Homemaker by Choice, Finding Beauty, and Consider the Lilies