I Failed 4 Times

I decided that 4 kids was PLENTY for me. I decided that if DHS called with a child, I would tell them our home is full (I've actually already done that before). I decided that my quiver is full (see Psalm 127:3-5 if you don't understand that).

Then I began not only to read Radical by David Platt, but I began to go through a Radical study with Cowboy & 3 other couples.

During the first week of our study, God very plainly spoke to my heart about my decision that our family was complete. He let me know that He alone would decide when He was finished adding blessings to mine & Cowboy's life.

So, I have been teasing Cowboy that after I go to Uganda this next year, I'm sure God will call us to adopt from Africa. I really have not heard that from God, but it's fun to tease.

Then, during the next week of our study, I began to feel YUCK! I started thinking back to the last time that I knew for sure I wasn't pregnant. In the busy-ness (& infertileness that has been our lives over the last several years), I hadn't a clue when that was.

A couple days later Cowboy brought home a gift for me, a pregnancy test. Failed. Because I had failed pregnancy tests with both of my previous pregnancies, we weren't putting a lot of stock into those results.

So after a few more days, I bought a double-pack of pregnancy tests. I took one. Failed.

Then I decided I was SICK of not knowing for sure. I scheduled an appointment with my doctor. The morning of the appointment Cowboy suggested I go ahead and use up the last test. Failed.

I told the doctor of my concerns. Had blood drawn. Got a call the next day. Failed.

So...now I have failed 4 times & still have no idea what is up with my body.

The great thing here is that I don't feel like I've failed. I still get to go to Africa next year. I still get to go skiing in February with Cowboy, the munchkins, and some dear friends.

I don't, however, get the joy of having a brand new, sweet baby next spring to love on and take care of. Or do I? Maybe DHS will call and God will tell us to say yes. Maybe He won't. Maybe we'll eventually adopt from Africa. Maybe we won't.

Hopefully, though, we'll listen and choose to be in the center of God's will.

Can't think of anywhere in life I'd rather be than that.

He Keeps Me in Stitches

Today C-Man & Cowboy were wrestling around when Cowboy noticed something on C-Man's toenail. He said, "What's on your toenail?"

C-Man said, "It's a crack and it's been there as long as I can remember."

To which Cowboy replied,

"It's better to have a crack in your toenail than a toenail in your crack."

Laughter is such a beautiful thing!!!

I Rely on Cowboy TOO Much!

I know I'm super-spoiled. Cowboy understands that my love language is Acts of Service and just jumps in to do whatever he can to lighten my load. He is so selfless about it that I just take it for granted.

This morning, after not enough sleep from the time change and a family movie night last night, I was tired! Cowboy got up and took Miss B to a swim meet. I woke up in time to get myself ready, but misjudged how long it would take to get 3 sleepy boys up and ready for church. (He usually gets the little ones dressed for church while I get ready).

We are NEVER late for church because Cowboy plays bass guitar and we always have to be there early. Besides, we drill it in our kids' heads that it is stealing to be late. We try very hard to make it a priority NOT to steal peoples' time.

This morning...we were late to church.

Not the end of the world...

Unless the ladies' group from your church is surprising you with a missions award.

I was SO embarrassed!

First of all, I didn't deserve this recognition. I could name TONS of people (pretty much every member of the church) who deserved this honor before me. I continue to feel like serving God's people needs to be a much bigger part of my life and I admire SO many people in my church who do a better job of that than me.

Secondly, I WAS LATE!!! I could not believe I had to be hunted down in the kids' area, while checking in kiddos to their classes, and lied to about someone needing me so that I would quickly get myself to the sanctuary.

Things I want to change after today:
1. Function better without the help of my sweet man.

2. Serve God and His people more fully every day in every way.

Banana Puddin'

Last weekend our family got together with my friend Cottagebaker and her family. We always have a great time with them. She's a fabulous cook and made the most delicious potato salad. I'll post the recipe on here when she gets it to me (hint, hint). I made banana pudding for dessert. It's so easy, but yummy!

Cowboy's dad's birthday is today and I found myself in the kitchen again with Martha (my Kitchenaid) whipping up some nana puddin'. I thought I'd share my recipe with you.

Banana Puddin'
1 can Eagle Brand milk (I use the fat-free version)
1 box vanilla instant pudding
1 box vanilla wafers (reduced fat, of course)
2 (8-oz.) cartons Cool Whip (light)
2 c. milk (skim)
a few bananas (naturally fat-free HAHA! I just had to add that!)

Mix Eagle Brand milk, 1 carton Cool Whip, and pudding together. Pour in milk and beat until well blended. Pour over wafers and sliced bananas in layers. Chill 1-2 hours. Reserve the second carton of Cool Whip to dallop on the individual servings of pudding.

Can you tell by this recipe that I LOVE COWBOY???? I do my best in the kitchen to make everything a little less bad for his cholesterol.

By the way, can I just say that just because a person is a Chaplain does not mean he is mature?

Just before we left Cottagebaker's home last weekend, the laughter among all the kids was overpowering. They were giggling at something they were reading from the Bible. I should've known better, but I asked what was so funny. Apparently Cowboy had shown them Deuteronomy 25:11.

Let's just say I'm glad we are good friends with Cottagebaker's family.

Have fun searching in God's Word!!!

Double Whammie

The following story is VERY true and is one of the many reasons that my sweet Cowboy and I want our children to not suffer through dating the way we did. I recently heard someone explain dating as "practicing for divorce". Although originally I was confused by his statement, I thought about it and it eventually made sense. On with the story...

It was the summer of 1988 and a once skinny, now bulkier blonde haired hunk of a teenager was experiencing a newfound confidence with his new muscles. He was dating cute girls left and right, and also catching the eyes of others he didn't even know. Even though the dates were fun, he was blowing through WAY too much money on all these girls. He had a new idea. Why not take these girls to the dollar movie instead of the more expensive movie theater and then skip dinner altogether? It sounded like a good idea to him so he gave it a shot.

The movie went well, then she said she was hungry. What was a boy raised by a fine mama supposed to do? The only logical solution came to him. He pulled into the 7-Eleven and told her he was going to get some dinner and she could get some if she'd like. He got himself a "Double Whammie" and a Mt. Dew and she, surprisingly, decided she didn't want any food after all. She decided, instead, that he should probably just take her home.

I don't remember if Cowboy ever told me who that girl was, but I do know that once I had the guts to have our friends set us up (a few months after he caught my eye that same summer at our neighborhood pool) he never once asked me to pay for any date we ever had. He willingly took me to the nicest restaurants and the nice movie theaters. Love will do that to a cheapskate-at-heart-handsome-blue-eyed-boy.

I love that man! (Even if he still sometimes eats Double Whammies from 7-Eleven).

My BIG Scare

OK, I laughed my head off several months back when my sister had her BIG scare because I never thought it could happen to me. Remember, we're the couple who were infertile and couldn't have a third child biologically.
Yes, I am a homeschooling mom who truly believes every life is a gift from God, but I'm feeling a bit too old to carry one of those precious gifts myself. Anyway, I can talk of this now because the scare is over. God is not currently growing a precious life inside of me. The other day, when Cowboy found this out, he was truly disappointed. WOW--he is some kind of amazing! He reminded me that a gift of that nature would be a HUGE miracle from God, therefore he was disappointed. Anyway...I'm happy to be the mom to 3 (4 including NoBo). If God decides I need more, he's more than welcome to make that happen!

Our Surprise Christmas Gift

When Cowboy first went to work at Hobby Lobby in 2002 we were overwhelmed by the company's witness to its employees. One of the amazing things was that the company has a chaplain for its corporate employees. A year ago the chaplain began talking to him about how there was a need for a second chaplain. There were simply too many ministries to oversee and too many people with needs that she couldn't get to. Cowboy and I began praying then for God to open that door if it was where God wanted to use him. Recently Cowboy's hours have been really crazy and he's been quite sleep-deprived, causing us to pray even more fervently about this potential. Saturday morning he went into work and found out that he would be starting work on Monday morning as a Chaplain.

Cowboy put in his first day as a chaplain yesterday. He has much to learn, but has never been so excited about a job. He now gets to share openly about our mighty God who wants to be in relationship with the people He created! How cool is that?

What an incredible Christmas gift from God!