A Song for the Suffering: John Piper

"Not only is all your affliction momentary, not only is all your affliction light in comparison to eternity and the glory there. But all of it is totally meaningful. Every millisecond of your pain, from the fallen nature or fallen man, every millisecond of your misery in the path of obedience is producing a peculiar glory you will get because of that.

I don’t care if it was cancer or criticism. I don’t care if it was slander or sickness. It wasn’t meaningless. It’s doing something! It’s not meaningless. Of course you can’t see what it’s doing. Don’t look to what is seen.

When your mom dies, when your kid dies, when you’ve got cancer at 40, when a car careens into the sidewalk and takes her out, don’t say, “That’s meaningless!” It’s not. It’s working for you an eternal weight of glory.

Therefore, therefore, do not lose heart. But take these truths and day by day focus on them. Preach them to yourself every morning. Get alone with God and preach his word into your mind until your heart sings with confidence that you are new and cared for."

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/a-song-for-the-suffering-with-john-piper

Video of Abigail Practicing Her Dance for her Recital

Movie Monday: "Hello" by Annabeth (warning 1 second)

Annabeth's One Year Letter and Stats

Dear Annabeth,

     It has been a busy year! We have struggled with some sickness this winter.  You got an ear infection in February, and then in March we all got a stomach bug that lasted five days. It was rough but my prayer has been that we will be victorious in all the struggles we have had. You got diagnosed with a double ear infection May 4th.  God has been teaching me a lot recently, and I am so thankful that we have been victorious over all of our struggles this year so far. 

    You are still in the 95th percentile and your crib is in our room so you wake up many nights if you have not gotten all the food you need or because you are teething but Charlie is the ONLY one that can cuddle you back to sleep! The other night he turned his back to you and you got you bottle and banged it to his back until he cuddled you back to sleep. It was hilarious! You remind us a lot of Jackson with your sweet spirit and you love to play, kick, and throw balls. You have being really attached to us, and cry now when we drop you off in nursery situation. Anyone reading this feel free to pray and plead the blood that this gets better for you. You do ok if one of your siblings can be with you. You are always joking and laughing and throwing your head back and opening your mouth up wide to laugh. You also love to blow people kisses. You are a JOY Joycee and I think about my sweet grandmother who is heaven (and you are partly named after) often when I see you. We love you so much, and can barely remember our lives without you.

Love,

Mommy

Your stats from your 9 month well visit and from your 12 month well visit

 Amber Teething Necklace-Unfortunatley is not helping sweet girl

February / March Pictures

Hopefully, I will have a post about Annabeth turning one year old up this week! #imissmycomputer

Annabeth's 6 Month's Stats

Weight: 20 lbs 94%
Height: 27 3/4 inches 95%
Head: 17 1/4 inches 82%

• My other babies did not to be 20 pounds till they were 1 year old!
• We have to keep an eye on her weight because if she gets to be over 22 lbs then we have to move her out of the infant car seat.
• December 17th she got her first real illness (she has been congested in her nose for the majority of her little life). She got diagnosed with a left ear infection and amoxicillin of course did not work so then on the 18th she had a bad double ear infection. We are so thankful to Jesus for this being her first infection. My other babies had multiple ear infections by this time. 
• She is a complete joy and so strong and so smart. As of now she says baby and signs it. 
• She started crawling the week before she turned 7 months. She is so fast now! She is also is standing some by herself now.
• She has a temper...sadly. 
• She is still not a great sleeper so pray for mama and daddy...we are little weary. I am not able to do some things I enjoy like blogging...haha. I can already tell getting her off the bottle is going to be a huge challenge.
• My Joycie is a Joy!

Any advice on how to get a 8 or 9 month old to eat more food and less bottle?

Movie Monday: Annabeth Enjoying Her First Christmas

Info on her 6 months stats soon!

Back to Running / Advice Given-Advice Needed

Wow, I am SLOW!

Today I ran 3.1 miles on the treadmill at 41 minutes. In a race, I did it in 37 minutes, and when I was preggers with Annabeth I ran it in 41 minutes in a race.

Here are tips:

1. Just warm up for 1 minutes on the treadmill or just start off running. In a race, this is how it will be.
2. Do not walk longer than 2 minutes, and run at least 2 minutes at a time.
3. For the first mile, I try to run for 5 to 7 minutes straight, walk 1 or 2 minutes and then finish till I get to a mile. When running the race, have timer going somehow.

What advice to you have for making your time faster? Hoping to run a race at the end of the month.

Movie Monday: Annabeth Laughing with her TEETH!

We are still not sleeping much with Big Baby but she is a JOY!

First Day Back at Dance After Having Tonsils Out=One HAPPY Girl

Fun Friday-A Few Summer Pics

Annabeth's 4 Month Stats

Weight: 17 pounds, 4 ozs, 95%
Height: 25 inches, 90%

Dear sweet Annabeth (Joycie, Big Baby Buddha),

     You are our first 90 percentile baby! At four months, you looked like a 6 month old. You are now 5 months old and wearing 9 month old clothing which works out perfectly for mommy because you and your sister were 3 months difference in size and she was always in the 50 something percentile. You will not take a pacifier unfortunately like your brother and sister. You get very mad because it is not the bottle. I secretly like having a non paci baby because I get to see all your facial expressions all throughout the day. Sadly, you have been congested the majority of your life. Probably because your brother or sister is always in your face, loving you. HOWEVER, we are so so thankful that none of these episodes have turned into ear infections, which is a miracle. Your crib is in mommy and daddy's room against the other part of the room, it is so much easier for us. You have been sleeping till 7 am, which makes mommy and daddy so happy. Oh yeah and you were crawling a little at 4 MONTHS! Wow, you go girl. You are very active and have been trying to hold your head up on your own since you were born. You can sit up by yourself when you lean forward now at 5 months. We love you so much, but you have grown up so fast on us. You are so long it is hard to cuddle close with you and you definitely make mama sweat a lot carrying you around...haha. You have made our lives lots busier but not overwhelming like going from one babies to two.
     When you smile you have two dimples which is amazing (unlike your siblings at this age), and your hair has always had a blonde root which is so cute. You are so funny, and have the best laugh. I love babies, and you have made our life so much more joyful. You are so worth it.
I love you with Christ's love that cannot be measured.

Love,
Mommy