Beautiful blankets,hats and booties Grandma made for Emma and Noah

Emma helps daddy clean the van

tired

I had contractions all night and morning.I sat in my recliner all night and slept in between them but sure don't feel rested. My middle is so sore! I am so ready to be done!
We have been doing acupressure and lastnight we drove around on bumpy roads and railroad tracks. These things definitely cause contractions but still not full labor.
I know it won't be long but it feels like he will be in here forever!

Today

Nothing new in the baby having department. I am effaced but not yet dilated. Doc doesn't think I'll make another appointment before baby is here and I sure hope he's right! If I don't start labor sooner, I'll be seeing my doc in Wichita in a week. He may induce me, as both docs seem against the baby getting too big. Normally, I wouldn't consider it but my uterus is a consideration and I really want a vaginal delivery! I hope it doesn't come to that.
In the mean time, the contractions continue coming,dinner and dishes are done and I am going to work on some scrapbooking.

Title: The Mother at Home: Or The Principles of Maternal Duty, Familiarly Described

The world knows not of them; and hence the world has been slow to perceive how powerful and extensive is this secret and silent influence. But circumstances are now directing the eyes of the community to the nursery, and the truth is daily coming more distinctly before the public, that the influence which is exerted upon the mind during the first eight or ten years of existence, in a great degree guides the destinies of that mind for time and eternity. And as the mother is the guardian and guide of the early years of life, from her goes the most powerful influence in the formation of the character of man. And why should it not be so? What impressions can be more strong, and more lasting, than those received upon the mind in the freshness and the susceptibility of youth? What instructor can gain greater confidence and respect than a mother? And where can there be delight in acquiring knowledge, if not when the little flock cluster around a mother's knee to hear of God and heaven?
Author: Rev. John S. C. Abbott
Publisher: American Tract Society
Date: 1833

Emma's third birthday

Emma in her Dora birthday clothes

TODAY

So far it's been a pretty good day.
Zach came by to visit for a while and made everyone happy. :) Isaiah was very excited and Emma took a little while before she was following him around.
Hubby and all three went to the storage unit and store and dad and mom went to play pool.
I am alone at the moment, wishing the baby would quit fighting it and just be born! Boy am I sore and tired. I know it won't be long.
I am going to find something to eat and rest for a while.......... the contractions are starting AGAIN.

baby

I am exhausted! I've been having contractions for over 18 hours and even though they are bearable I haven't got much sleep at all. I really hope he comes today!

Fun in the rain

I took the kids out into our evening thunderstorm to play in the rain and puddles. At first Emma said "I cannot do dat, I do not have shoes on" but it only took a few seconds for my little miss proper to be running and splashing with joy. Isaiah had to be dragged out into the rain as he is just too big and cool for such silliness (he thinks).It was raining quite hard and we were completely soaked.It was a lot of fun. :)
Daddy was grilling steaks on the porch while we ran around being silly.
Rain on a hot day and yummy steaks make for a very nice evening.

Dreaming

Dreaming about a house with plenty of garden space and chickens.... privacy and active kids!
The size of the house isn't very important when there's lots of room outside!

Training

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart (turn away) from it. Prov. 22:6

I found out that my nephew is in jail today. He has committed several crimes, including burglary and drugs. It is so very sad to see this young man wasting his life! He doesn't even know his father but is following in his footsteps.
This has caused me to think a lot about parenting and the concept of generational curses. Curse is a strange sounding title but the concept is a good one.
A family member recently asked me how I know my son won't grow up to do all the bad things that his father (when very young) and uncles had done. After all they were raised with different "standards" than they followed. I thought a lot about that and have concluded that "standards" are irrelevant.
Telling a child that something is right or wrong is not the same as training them. Telling them what you believe is not training them. Taking them to church is not training them.
Training is what you do day after day, EVERY day, by your companionship, constant example and conversation. Satan will have influence over them EVERY time that he can, through their friends, teachers, neighbors,pictures, TV, music,what they see at the mall and any other possible way. To train a child requires that we influence them MUCH more than any other influences -all combined! In order to do that we must be with them the most, talk to them the most and show them the most. This is impossible to do as a part time parent with your child in public school and is the reason that so many well intentioned Christians watch their children "turn away" and end up on a path to curses, misery and hell.
There is no greater heartache than losing a child and therefore no greater calling than training them.

Deut. 11:18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.


Deu 11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.


Deu 11:20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:


Deu 11:21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

Doctors galore

After the long trip to Wichita and not so fun exams I decided to postpone my appointment with Dr. P. I don't think he'd find anything today that wasn't there yesterday....
Boy, will I be glad to have this baby!

POOH CORNER

FUN AT THE FAIR