Lost and Found

Have you ever lost something?  Have you ever lost something that you really liked or valued?  When we moved recently I lost not one but TWO of my favorite skillets.  They are really big and can be used for frying chicken or other things since we rarely fry chicken.  But I used these all the time.  One was given to me a year or two ago by my parents and the other one we bought with money from our wedding.  I loved these skillets.  My husband I kept searching and searching for these.  We felt they had to be in the kitchen, but there was only a few places they could fit and they weren't there. My husband thought maybe he had moved to the basement with other kitchen items he had moved down there...like my gigantic turkey roaster.  They were not there.  I had given up hope of ever finding them.  Then one day my husband comes home and says he thinks he knows where they could be.  And he was right!  He found them!  We owned the stove at the house we had been renting and we had never taken them out of the pan drawer.  They had been out in our garage the entire time. The only reason he thought of looking there was because we were selling that stove.  I was so excited and washed and used my skillets that very night. 
My husband had lost a Leathermen pocket tool during the move.  He had just gotten this tool right before we moved. He had been using constantly during the moving process.  The last time he remembered seeing it was in our friends dad's truck.  He figured he must have left it there and that it had probably rolled back into the back of the truck and would never be found again.  But then yesterday the Genius and I were cleaning out our van.  There was a lot of trash in there so I rolled our big garbage can over to collect the trash.  But there was no liner in it so I had to get one of the big trash bags to line it.  When I grabbed it I noticed it was the last one.  After we had cleaned, windexed and vacuumed the van I went back to grab the empty box and throw it away.  I thought "Wow.  This is heavy."  When I peeked into the empty box I saw a Leathermen.   I had no idea if it was the lost one so we took it to my husband and it was!!!! We were so excited!  He stuck it in his pocket and used it all day long.
It is so awesome when lost things are found!
What have you lost and found?

Worth Cheering For?

"THE  FOCUS"

 

Autumn has arrived!  Cooler days ... the leaves are falling ... kids are getting ready to 'Trick or Treat' ... and FOOTBALL is in full swing!

 

For those who know me ... you know that I am a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes!  It's been a great season thus far even though they are unable to go to a Bowl game.

 

I've talked about this before...but I think it deserves to be mentioned again so that as Christians we can maintain our 'FOCUS' - -

 

Isn't it strange ...

* if a football game goes into overtime - everybody thinks it's thrilling!  BUT...if the church service runs over by 15 minutes - folks are less than thrilled.

* if the football stadium is filled to capacity and overflowing - everybody is psyched! BUT...if the church service is crowded - folks says, 'Our church is getting too big.'

* folks will sit for over two hours in all kinds of weather (rain, snow, sleet and heat) to watch a football game.  BUT...that same weather will keep them from attending a church service.

* folks will spend big bucks on game tickets, traveling, hotels, meals, parking, programs, food, etc. just to attend a game.  BUT...complain that the church is always asking for money.

* folks will gasp when a player is injured on the playing field and cheer when he finally gets back on his feet.  BUT...in the church we are so quick to 'shoot our wounded'.

* folks will study and know the detailed statistics about the team and the players.  BUT...many in the church have difficulty committing to studying the details found in the Word of God.

* folks will leave the football game still talking about the game and even on Monday at work will continue to chat about the game around the water cooler.  BUT...many in the church never talk about the Lord outside the walls of the church building.

* folks will arrive early for the football game and stay after the game to enjoy tailgate parties and festivities.  BUT...many in the church zip in and out of the worship services as quickly as possible.

* folks at a football game will stand and cheer and clap and raise their hands in celebration and victory!  BUT, at church - - many just sit - - with no emotion or motion.

 

Former Ohio State University football coach, Jim Tressel, stated on a sports talk show, "One of the reasons that Ohio State Buckeyes play so well is because we are more than just a team ... we are a family."

 

Listen folks, we in the 'Church' are more than just a team that huddles together on Sunday mornings ... we are a 'family'!  A family united with one Father ... whom we worship and adore!

And the reason that we gather to worship Him is not because we 'hope' for a victory ... we worship Him because we are 'assured' of victory!  The victory has already been won!!  Now ... that's a reason to stand and cheer!!

 

"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" - 1 Corinthians 15:57

 

Full credit for The Focus goes to Pastor Dennis Wheeler of the Versailles Christian Church in Versailles, Ohio.  The Focus is a weekly devotional written and delivered by Pastor Wheeler.  To be added to the list for this weekly email please contact: dennis_wheeler123@yahoo.com.

A Great Day!

I had my (almost) 32 week check up today.  Lo and Behold, my mom had the day off and agreed to watch the kiddos.  We have never really lived near family before and it is SUCH a blessing!  I mean, yes, I could have handled the kids at the appointment but it is wonderful to just sit and think about baby 4.  The appointment went fine.  The doctor asked my concerns and I had two. 
One:  My heartburn has been attacking with vengeance.  I had been controlling it with camomile tea and Tums but that is no longer working.  So we discussed options.
Two:  I am terrified of a c-section.  Not just because of the procedure but because of the healing.  My husband will likely only get 1-2 days off for the baby.  My parents both work.  We use cloth diapers and our washer and dryer are in the basement.  If I had to heal from a surgery I have NO IDEA how we'd make it.  Truly.  I do not know.  So I asked the doctor about options if the baby does not flip.  She explained that they will flip the baby if he does not flip on his own. 
I asked her if she could check and see where she thinks he is. She felt and said, "I am positive that is a head and that he is head down"!  I go on Nov. 6th for an ultrasound so I can have it confirmed then.  I had wondered if he had flipped but it is hard to tell!  SO I am praying she is right and that he is happily head down.
After my appointment I met my parents and the kids for lunch.  The kids were cute and funny and the food was delicious.
I came home and found out my closest friend had had her 6th baby! 
Such a great day!

Harvest Party

My husband and I lead a Sunday School class.  One of our class members wanted to do a local service project.  We decided to help do clean up at a local school that has been closed down.  They are wanting to open it up for use by the community for office space and drama clubs etc...

All the kids pitched in to help and were rewarded with a wagon ride back to the house!  At the house we had everything set up for a Harvest Party! Chili, hot dogs, caramel apples, smores and more!

9 Weeks or Less

9 weeks or less til baby boy makes his appearance!  We are all very excited!  His Christmas stocking is on its way to our house, the bassinet is inside, bassinet sheets are washed and ready for use, newborn cloth diapers and prepped and waiting, clothes are hanging in the closet and I have my top 3 choices for his bring home outfit hanging up just waiting to go into the hospital bag.  I still have so much to do before he comes though.

Not is any particular order...
1.  The dresser for him is in our room but I need to fill it.
2. Pack my hospital bag.
3. Pack bags for other 3 kids so they are ready whenever we need to leave.
4. Get the playpen over to my parents house so they can have it ready for the Professor.
5. We want to take the kids away for a one night getaway since we have a giftcard for a hotel.
6. I want to keep doing fun and special things with the other 3 kids because I know once this baby comes....my energy will be lower.  And since my husband works 6 days a week it will be very hard to try and go out and about alone.

I am making headway on my goal to be done Christmas shopping by November 1st.  I have most of the stocking stuffers bought and most of the advent calendar gifts.  I am mostly done with shopping for the kids but still need to get their big gifts. 

I go next week for my next doctor's appointment.  I hope they can tell if he is still breech or if he has flipped.  Please be praying that he will be in the birthing position and stay there!

Find!

I still get a thrill when we go shopping and find an awesome bargain.  Today we all went to Kohl's.  My husband got me two maternity shirts and himself a pair of work shoes.  They were definitely on a good sale but nothing to really get excited about.  Then we had a yummy lunch and headed over to Goodwill.  I was browsing the miniature maternity section and just happened to find...not one...not two....but THREE Liz Lange Maternity shirts with the tags on!!!!  With  the prices at Goodwill it was less than $10 for 3 brand new shirts! I was SO excited!  Then I found a Land's End shirt for my husband that was half off and an Izod shirt for him as well.  We scored a neat pair of shoes for the Professor too.  It was fun! 
What good deals have you found lately?

Exactly One Year Ago

I did not expect to wake up crying today, but I did.  I woke up at 4:30 this morning and immediately began crying.  If it weren't for a house full of kiddos I'd probably spend the day curled up on the couch with a book and some hot chocolate.  Exactly one year ago today I drove to the OB office only to learn we had lost our baby.  I debated whether or not to even share this fact but I know there are others out there mourning for their children today too.  A year later and it has definitely gotten easier but there is truly not a day that goes by that we do not think about that baby.  I still feel an incredible ache whenever I see a baby who is the same age as our baby should be.  I still cry for our baby.
But a year later I can say.....
I look forward to seeing our baby in Heaven and holding him or her.
I am thrilled to be pregnant and so humbled by the fact that we will be the parents to 4 children.
I appreciate those who stepped alongside us and helped us through.
I look forward to hanging our baby's ornament on the tree this year....and every year from here on out.
I am thankful for the time we did get with our baby.
I have a whole new appreciate for conception, pregnancy, what it means to be a parent and what a blessing and an honor it is to carry a child.