I know it’s been quiet around here.  I haven’t posted since announcing our BIG News!

I’ve just been exhausted.  And nauseous.  Just trying to get by each day with the bare minimum….feeding the kids, and teaching school.  Cleaning….what’s that again?  Facebook?  Blah!  Even taking pictures?  No thanks!  I just dont feel like anything much that I usually do.  But I know we must press on with our schoolwork, and so I do.  And food…we have to eat…at least the kids do.  I dont always feel much like eating.  I have been so blessed by sweet friends from church who have been helping me feed my family for several meals.  They are such a sweet blessing to me!

Even though I feel pretty icky most of the time, I am so thankful.  I know this first trimester of pregnancy can be tough, and I am looking forward to the second, when hopefully, I will feel more vibrant!  But I know that feeling like this for a little while is producing something wonderful.  A new sweet precious child being added to our family.  It makes it all worth it!

So, although things are quiet on the blog, I am still here, gettin’ by, day by day….and still so overwhelmed with thankfulness for this new precious life God has blessed us with!

Oh – by the way – I have a picture of our little one taken a little over a week ago.

So cute, huh?!  ;)

I am overjoyed to announce that we are expecting again!!  I had a positive pregnancy test on January 6th, soon after we returned from our trip to FL – the perfect New Year’s gift!!  I am so very, unbelievably thankful to the Lord!!  It’s been killing me to keep it a secret from my family, friends, and blog readers as long as I have.  I usually tell the news right away.  I am not one who likes to wait until the “safe zone” of 2nd trimester, because, if you’ve been reading here for long you’ll know, 2 trimester has not been a “safe zone” for me.  I’d rather tell people right away, and have all the prayers I can for this new little one, and our family.  I don’t really know why it is that I waited a little while to share the news this time.  It’s definitely not because I was waiting for a safe time to tell.  It is also not because I don’t want prayer.  I think I have just been enjoying the news, and enjoying the joy our family has shared in this news, and being the only ones who know it for a little while.  Especially since we have been through some really tough losses together, and some tough long waiting through infertility.

The day I had the positive test, I was beside myself with JOY!!  I seriously fell to the ground thanking and praising God for blessing us with this new little life!  It has been almost 3 years since we lost our last son, Corbin, and I had not been able to conceive since then.  (I do have to allow for the 6 months I was recovering from surgery and not allowed to get pregnant, so technically about 2.5 years of not conceiving).  And because we have also lost our two sons, it has felt like an eternity since we last had a baby.  When this little one arrives, Trevor will be almost 10 and Zoe will be almost 8!  I have not had a newborn for almost 8 years!!  That feels so weird and crazy!

From the moment I found out we were expecting this little one, I told the Lord that I would thank and praise Him for this child every single day I have with him/her.  Even if that means I will again not meet this child face to face.  I am enjoying this little life He is creating in me – now!  I know and fully trust that the Lord has already planned out each day this child will live, and every detail of his/her life.  There is no reason or need for me to worry and fret about “what might happen,” or to allow myself to think about all of the “what if’s.”  I am asking God to give me the grace to fully trust Him in His sovereignty, might, and goodness each and every day of this child’s life!

So, as for the nitty gritty details….
I have been SO unbelievably exhausted!!  Especially beginning in week 5.  The nausea started at the end of week 5 – blech!  BUT – I am so thankful for these unpleasant symptoms as I know they mean I have a new sweet little baby growing inside of me!

I went to my first prenatal appointment at 6 weeks, and left that appt feeling weird and unsure of what I was feeling.  As I had time to process everything and let it settle in my mind, I realized I was very unhappy with the new Dr I am going to for this pregnancy.  I did not see her at my appointment (only a nurse), and would not see her until I am 10.5 weeks (that is IF she is there – she has been know to cancel for my appts in the past).  With the high risk nature of my pregnancies, I can’t exactly wait until I am 10.5 weeks to start seeing a Dr.  I was also informed by the nurse that I will rarely see the Dr throughout my pregnancy, and that basically, I’d be lucky if she made it to my birth!!  Wow!  Although she promised me last year that she would be able to give me the care I needed being a high risk pregnancy, I realized that simply is not true.  I am so glad I figured this out early on!  I have decided to go solely to my high risk Dr. whom I feel will give me the best possible care and pay the closest attention to my bloodwork and things that need to be watched throughout this pregnancy.

Oh yes, I am about 7 weeks now, and we are looking to welcome our new little one into this world around September 15th, 2012!!

We are so thankful, and would appreciate your prayers!

As always, I carry over anything unused from last week’s menu.  Also, our menu includes meals that are Wheat & Corn Free (for our daughter’s sensitivities)!

MONDAY:  Roasted Whole Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

TUESDAY:  Real Beef/Gluten Free Hot Dogs, Kettle Chips, Fruit Salad

WEDNESDAY:   Tuscana Potato Soup, Garden Salad

THURSDAY:  Gluten Free Spaghetti with turkey meat sauce, steamed broccoli

FRIDAY:  Chicken Teryaki Stir-Fry

SATURDAY:  Leftovers

SUNDAY: Chili, salad

Special Breakfast this week:  Baked French Toast

Special Dessert this week: Apple Pie &  GF Apple Crumble

Linking up with Menu Plan Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie!

Need Real Food Help and Ideas?

I didn’t mean to have this long of a gap between the Beach Edition, and this next one. I have been having some photo uploading issues with wordpress, but have FINALLY figured out the problem!!  Yay!

On to the photos!  Our reason for going to Florida over the Christmas/New Year holiday was to spend time with my sweet grandparents who live there!  We had so much fun staying with them for 5 nights!  They are a couple of the best grandparents ever, and I miss them already.  I am so thankful that the kids got to spend this lengthy time with them and get to know them better!!

Playing Headbandz

Playing Horshoes with Grandpa - one of his favorite activities

Grandma giving Zoe a tour of all of her plants/flowers

Zoe and Grandma

Grandpa and Zoe

The kids putting on a little concert with their new instruments from Grandpa and Grandma

Granpa yo-yo-ing..showing us how its done!

Yes, I know, I am a day late…
This is what happens to me when my husband is off of work for 4 days!  I totally ditch my routine!

But here it is, better late than never, my menu plan!

As always, I carry over anything unused from last week’s menu.  Also, our menu includes meals that are Wheat & Corn Free (for our daughter’s sensitivities)!

MONDAY:  Ate out

TUESDAY:  BBQ Chicken, broccoli, baked potato

WEDNESDAY:   Burrito Bowls (fajita chicken, black beans, cilantro lime rice, refried beans, lettuce, pico, quacamole in a bowl)

THURSDAY:  Tuscana Potato Soup, Garden Salad

FRIDAY:  Meatloaf (made with ground turkey & GF bread crumbs), mashed potatoes, green beans

SATURDAY:  Leftovers

SUNDAY: Chili, salad

Special Breakfast this week:  Baked French Toast

Special Dessert this week: Apple Pie &  GF Apple Crumble

Linking up with Menu Plan Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie!

Need Real Food Help and Ideas?

Time for another week of Menu Planning!  As always, I carry over anything unused from last week’s menu.  Also, our menu includes meals that are Wheat & Corn Free (for our daughter’s sensitivities)!

MONDAY:  Burgers, fresh winter fruit salad, beans  (bun-free for Zoe, and Cheese-free for Jared)

TUESDAY:  Pot Roast in the Crock Pot with carrots & potatoes, garden  salad

WEDNESDAY: Grilled Lime-Cilantro Chicken Breast, Black beans, broccoli

THURSDAY:  BBQ Beef Sandwiches made with leftover pot roast from Tuesday, tossed salad

FRIDAY:  Burrito Bowls (fajita chicken, black beans, cilantro lime rice, refried beans, lettuce, pico, quacamole in a bowl)

SATURDAY:  Leftovers

SUNDAY:  Potato Soup, Garden Salad

Special Dessert this week:  Pumpkin Dump Cake and GF Pumpkin Bread with corn starch free icing  (need to use up the rest of those pumpkins from our garden!!)

Special Breakfast this week: Whole grain Blueberry Pancakes with real Grade B Maple Syrup & a Wheat & Corn free version for Zoe, eggs, fruit

Linking up with Menu Plan Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie!

Need Real Food Help and Ideas?

As you know, we just returned this week from a week long vacation in sunny Florida with my grandparents.  On the way there we took a detour to Pensacola Beach, enjoying a chilly morning walk on the gorgeous white sand and a breathtaking view of the turquoise blue waves!

Some photos from our beach walk…

…Disney and Granparents Editions coming soon….

Well friends, it’s time to get back to posting my weekly Menu Plan.  I haven’t done this for the past 6 months or so, and I know it is something I need to do to help keep me accountable to creating a menu plan each week!  So, I will once again be adding this to my weekly blogging schedule.  :)  {This week I am a day late, since we just got back in town last night from our Florida vacation!}

All of our meals are now Wheat-Free, Corn-Free, and (partially cheese-free: at least for my husband’s portion of the meal).  Zoe is sensitive to all wheat and corn products, and my husband has a strong sensitivity to whey(all cheeses).  So our menu now centers around avoiding these items.  It can be tricky sometimes, I can’t just make whatever sounds or looks good….it has to accommodate these new food sensitivities.

For our breakfast we usually do something quick and easy, same for lunch (which  is often dinner leftovers).  However, I am going to plan one special (allergy accomodating) breakfast a week, and also, 1 special (allergy accommodating) desert per week.

So, here is our plan for this week:

MONDAY:  Baked Pasta, made with homemade ground turkey meatsauce & rice pasta

TUESDAY:  {our extra-curr. activity night – so it always needs to be quick and easy!} Leftovers, salad

WEDNESDAY:  {Care Group Night} Grilled Lime-Cilantro Chicken Breast, Black beans, broccoli

THURSDAY:  Garlic Grilled Shrimp, Asparagus, homemade rolls

FRIDAY:  Burgers, fresh winter fruit salad, beans  (bun-free for Zoe, and Cheese-free for Jared)

SATURDAY:  Leftovers

SUNDAY:  Chicken Tortilla Soup

Special Breakfast this week: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, fresh picked off the tree Florida Navel Oranges (from our Florida trip!)

Special Dessert this week:  Pumpkin Dump Cake and GF Pumpkin Bread with corn starch free icing  (need to use up the rest of those pumpkins from our garden!!)

Linking up with Menu Plan Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie!

Great cookbook for Real Food Desserts!!

I wanted to take a minute to say Happy New Year to my readers! I am currently riding along I-10 through Florida as my husband drives us home from our trip to Florida to see my grandparents! We have had a wonderful time with them, and made some great memories for us and the kids!

I’ll be having some picture posts coming soon from Christmas and our trip, but for now, I’ll pop in to say hi, and start the New Year off with a few iPhone pics from our trip! I hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday time with your families!

Pensacola Beach

Disney

Buying oranges from a small grove at the side of the road in Groveland (where grandma was born and raised)

Grandpa and Grandma

Wishing all of my wonderful blog readers a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

{Gorgeous Photography by the wonderfully talented – Mia Coelho!}

I love decorating Christmas Cookies with my kids.  It is so much fun now that they are at ages where they can do most of it on their own.  They really love getting to do this!

Lucy curious about what we are up to...

She is such a cute fluffball!

Hope you all have a VERY Merry Christmas!

A little Christmas Photo Fun from our 2011 Christmas season…

Christmas Bokeh

Christmas Bokeh

Christmas Snowflakes and Bokeh

One of my favorite ornaments

My ornament for this year

A silly boy....laughing after we told him he looked like 'Cindy Lou Who' with that on his head

Our twinkling Christmas Tree

Our twinkling Christmas Tree

Christmas Village

Advent 2011

Gingerbread Village Building

Gingerbread Village Building

Orange Clove Ornament Craft

Orange Clove Ornament Craft

Orange Clove Ornament Craft

How is your 2011 Christmas celebration going?

It’s been a great – and busy – week around here!

We began our official “Homeschool Christmas Break 2011″ on Wednesday!  We will be taking 3.5 weeks off for our break.  During our break, we will be heading to FL soon for some fun with grandparents/great-grandparents, plus a little Disney action while we are there.  ;)  SO looking forward to that!!

I have had a lot of niece and nephew time in the past week!  My toddler nephews from Houston spent last weekend with us, and my sisters children were over here for most of the day this past Thursday – the kids have had SO much fun cousin time!!!

We’ve built & decorated gingerbread houses, gone to the ballet, and are getting ready to host a Christmas party here at our home tonight!  Such a busy, but fun time of year.

So, on to our week in pictures….

1.) Zoe and I heading out to the Nutcracker Ballet, a little Mother/Daughter Christmas fun!  2.) Zoe at the Bass Performance Hall – during intermission of the Nutcracker  3.)  Cousins!!  Nana took the 4 oldest cousins overnight for her annual “24 Hours of Christmas fun with Nana” – they had a  blast!  4.) Homeschool Mom’s Night Out – dinner at Blue Mesa Grill, and a little browsing at Anthropologie  5-8.) Walking through a park FULL of Christmas lights in my old home town!  You gotta love the 3-armed Santa!  Poor guy was stuck that way! lol!

Linking up with:

I am SO excited to say that I have just joined Day Spring as an affiliate!  I adore Day Spring’s items already, so naturally I am over the moon about getting to share their  items with you here at Boasting In My Weakness!!

In fact, I just did a little Christmas shopping with Day Spring myself!  I just love that their items and gifts all point to Christ!  What better gift to give someone for Christmas?!  I try to be intentional with my gift giving at Christmas time, and not only find something someone will love, but also that will point them to Christ, or encourage their walk with Him.  There are so many great items at Day Spring that fit this method of gift giving so well!

So, what did I buy?  I ADORE their mugs!!  Seriously choosing which ones to buy is way too hard, because there are SO many great ones!!

He Fills My Life With Good Things – Christian Mug Start your day with a great cup of coffee or a savory cup of tea in this inspirational and colorful mug! Girls and ladies of all ages will enjoy it! Message on Mug: He fills my life with good things! Psalm 103:5 TLB Product Details: Holds 12 ozs. Coordinating design in bottom of mug Ergonomic handle Microwave and dishwasher safe

I actually own this “Really Wooly” Mug – and it is my FAVE mug to drink out of!  (My sis bought it for me for a gift!)

Really Woolly Christian Coffee Mug Start the day with a great cup of coffee and a great Christian message with DaySpring inspirational coffee and cocoa mugs. Product Details: *12 oz. *Dishwasher and Microwave Safe Message on Mug: For we are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. EPHESIANS 2:10 NIV Art inside Mug: Really Woolly Sheep

Then I picked up a few  Journals  since they were having a Buy 2 get one free sale – and this was one of the things Trevor asked for for his Frankincense gift for Christmas!

Joy Comes in the Morning – Christian Journal Morning…a new day, a new beginning. This journal is wonderful for recording morning thoughts and prayers during quiet moments with God. Relevant Scriptures are provided throughout, giving opportunity to meditate upon God’s goodness, mercy, and grace in your life. Cover: Joy Comes in the Morning Psalm 30:5 Sample Scriptures and quotes: In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 The promises of God are more certain than a sunrise after nightfall. Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Psalm 143:8 Product Details: Size: 6″ x 8 1/2″ Pages: 256 Wiro bound Full-color interior

I also wanted to point out that they are having an awesome sale on jewelry going on right now!!  Have you seen their jewelry?!  Oh my goodness – LOVE!

For example, this “Grace Alone” Bangle that I am Loving – on sale right now for only $7.99!  Awesome deal and such a great gift!

By Grace Alone – Cuff Bracelet Share your faith through jewelry!  This modern, silvertoned By Grace Alone cuff bracelet provides a contemporary flair that ladies of all ages can wear with confidence!  Lightweight and stylish, it will add the perfect touch to your already, fashionable wardrobe.  Jewelry is inspired by Scripture from I Corinthians 15:10  Product Details:  Size: 7 3/4″ circumference; 2 3/4 diameter Pendant:  1″ X 1 3/8″ Silvertone metal

Go here for more Inspirational Christian Gifts and Ideas!!

Be sure to shop now…Christmas delievery for the free

shipping option is only guaranteed if you shop by

December 16th!!

Note: I am an affiliate for Day Spring, so shopping through these links will give back a small portion of your purchase to help support my blog – Boasting In My Weakness!  However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine – and honest!

1.) Cousins playing kitchen;  2.) Cute little nephew munchkins hanging out with us today;  3.) What were reading for our school read aloud right now;  4.) Brrrr!  Cold Texas week!;  5.)Watching Charlie Brown Christmas – best part!;  6.) The kids with their finished orange ornament advent craft;  7-8.) working hard on their orange ornaments;  9.)  Family Game Night (advent activity);  10.)  JOY!;  11.) Zoe was in the lead!;  12.)  Advent reading – Tabitha’s Travels;  13.)My Tanzanian Nativity set Jared brought home from Africa 6 yrs ago!;  14.) Our Tree;  15.)Christmas decor;  16.) Had a little tummy bug for a day  Thankfully, only a day!;  17-18.)  My little Ballerina;  19.)  What Zoe does during her brothers Karate class – turns me into a fairy!

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