My husband read to me last night from Max Lacado's book Greatest Moments in the life of Christ. Prior to that we enjoyed dinner at Mom and Dad's... it is nice to have family close by....
Tonight Whitney came to visit with her dog Bella.... Addie cackled at Mia playing with Bella.... Addie was really happy and delightful today.... we played outside and went shopping.... it was really cold yesterday but tomorrow it is going to be 72 degrees!
I am so grateful for old friends who always care.....
Whitney commented on how low I am carrying this baby.... It is strange how different my two pregnancies are.... With the first I carried high, was sick, gained a TON of weight, had major hot flashes, etc. With this one I am carrying low, have not been sick once, have not gained any weight, but rather just shifted weight around, and have had a stable body temperature.
I am nesting early... I started cleaning out the attic today and not the attic looks great but upstairs is aweful b/c of everything i pulled out of the attic! I hope to make a dent in the upstairs tomorrow b/c tonight I am relaxing under my electric blanket watching TV.... it is quiet and peaceful..... Addie reached for her bed and went straight to sleep.... I am afraid she has spoiled us with sleeping so well and consistantly..... Our next child will probably be as inconsistant as the weather. Lord give me genuine rest anytime I do get to sleep once this next baby is here.
As I cleaned out the attic i found two rocking chairs.... Mark told me tonight that they were his and his late brothers.... I am so excited that my children will get to have them. At Mom's Addie loves to rock in Mom's old rocking chair that she used as a child (as well as I used).....
I need to get the video camera out more often b/c she is changing so much everyday and I want to capture these moments that have touched my soul!
I am off to a land of dreams ..... Have a blessed evening!

I am grateful for the prayers, phone calls, emails, and family and friends who have ministered to us. Yesterday we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon hanging outside with our neighbors, and we have enjoyed this evening (after I got home from work)... we are currently watching the Titans and Colts play with my electric blanket turned on b/c I am COLD....
Mark had an interesting situation today.... He went to take the hospital bed down for his mother and he told her that he moved Brandon to TX permanently. Expecting drama he was shocked when she said she understood that it was alot on he and I and that she hoped we would be able to have stability now. She commented that she knew something was going to happen b/c of all of the problems. As Mark left, she stopped him and asked him to pray with her. Never in 40 years has his mother prayed with him. He was amazed! Miracle never do cease.....
we have not believed all of her claims to have rededicated her life, etc but it difficult times where she has chosen to remain calm and composed it has definitely told us that something is changing within her.
I need the Lord to give me forgiveness towards her and towards Brandon. Brandon started school today in TX. Lord please bring someone into his life in this new place and touch his heart through your missionaries in that region/school/neighborhood....
I think the Lord is teaching me what perserverence is.... I feel stronger even though I feel weak with everything that has happened. I have laughed today and it felt great to smile!
On another note... our confirmation ultrasound is Thursday but we KNOW it is a BOY!
Boy names in the running...
Cameron, Keaton, Brody, Jackson, Sutton, Grayson, Peyton, Houston, .... if you cannot tell i really like "on" endings b/c we already have Brandon and Addison.... any suggestions??!?!?

ITS A BOY!!!!!!!!!

I do not know where i stopped blogging but i am going to start with July-August of 2008... Brandon moved home from a 6-8 week sabatical with my in-laws in TX, and things were okay. We went on family vacation and it was actually fun...in my opinion. August we got him enrolled in school and then it all began.....
His grades were AWEFUL from the 2nd week of school. We decided that we would let him fail if that is what it took to teach him that school is not a joke. We withdrew him from the school play b/c he refused to do any homework. A few weeks of minor teenage issues go by and I thought I could handle living with this family dynamic. labor day arrives and he lets loose on me verbally and emotionally(in an abusive manner)...threatening to steal my car, pushing his way into my room, yelling/cursing, got suspended from school for similar unruly behavior at school, etc. My mother-in-law made things worse by threatening me and encouraging Brandon to counter me in every way imaginable. She has said and done more horrific things intintionally that I knew a person could. My parents had to step in and take Brandon b/c I was not safe. Mark returned from the hurricane relief deployment (the longest three weeks of my life) and things calm down for a few days... after Mark had been home for 4 days Brandon is standing in our door yelling at us like we are trash that he walks on. My marriage is strained to say the least.... a week later his grades are worse and he expects his freedom back. Mark addresses the consequences for the grades and Brandon starts throwing things in the garage and hitting our car with objects from the garage. Beating on counters and cursing in front of our daughter. I am at my whits end at this point and beg God to strike him or me or both, but we could not keep living like this. Last week Mark tried to get Brandon to study and he threw the homework at Mark and cursed/yelled at him in from our living room to his room. Last night Brandon and his mother were having a conversation about girls boobs and after he got off the phone i told him it was not appropriate and I wanted the phone. He said NO and it escalated from there... i went to my room waiting for Mark to get home and Brandon would not leave me door and kept beating on the walls and yelling.... Mark sent him to his room and Brandon beat on the walls and door for an hour... he was cussing and yelling while my daughter is playing in the living room. it is uncontrolable and he does not even respond to Mark anymore. He lies constantly and I am so weary that if something did not happen soon I would not have the strength to stay. As Mark watched Addison cry and cling to me listening to the chaos of objects being thrown in Brandon's room he decided to send him away for good. We have a baby and an unborn child that need a safe home and this behavior is not tolerable anymore! I cannot get him to stay out of my closet and going through my personal things..... everytime i go in his room or bathroom I find something not acceptable in this home...from tobacco on many occassions to condoms to pics that are not appropriate to stories that are grafic(written by him) and vile to music that is so sinful, etc.... Tomorrow morning Brandon will be living in TX with Mark's father for the remainder of his highschool career. My marriage is so weak....My daughter is so confused....I am so angry that this has happened....and Mark is hurting.....
Please keep Addison's security, Brandon's heart that needs to find the Lord, Mark's leadership and stability, and my bitterness in your prayers b/c we are all struggling and need Divine Intervention!
I have gotten angry, cried, pretended like I was fine, and wanted to run away through this past two years of marriage but God has shown me how much I need Him. I am weak and I knwo that I can only be a mom and a wife in His strength right now.... The Lord has blessed me with a moms group that is studying how to be a mother lead by Proverbs and it is convicting about my role in this family and how important it is to speak pleasant words in my home. I am trying to learn to be "soft".....
God can use all of this misfortune to help someone and I pray that I do not stand in the way....

Families are so complicated. Some people you cannot get enough of and then others you never want to see again. I am going through a study on being a wise woman/wife/mom and it is convicting about what type of example I am setting for my family - saved and lost. I have been struggling with my circumstances but yesterday I was convicted about being so selfish always upset about what is happening to me. I have a great home, a family that is there for me, a flexible job, a husband who provides and is actively involved in our lives, and so much more!

I recommend everyone seeing the movie Fireproof ... it touched my heart last night when mark and I went to see it!

I am almost 4 months along now and it is starting to show in my mid section! I am almost positive it is a boy...we will know for sure next month....... I want to be a godly mom and I pray that God will guide me each day with my children. I am tired ALOT!

I hope everyone is enjoying this weather of breezes and comfort as we are!

I am so excited to watch my husband love our baby girl and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for our family! I am looking forward to her first birthday party in a few weeks! I hope to see you all again soon and thank you for your prayers and support!

Things have gotten worse before they have gotten better. I was not sure I could take much more when my husband informed me that the task force was going to have to stay at least another week. We are already in the third week of them being gone. I wanted to scream, cry, yell ...anything but I did not..... He continued to tell me that he had told him supervisors that he could not stay and would need immediate transportation home. I was overjoyed even though we did not know when or how he would get home. Yesterday we talked and it was looking like Tuesday or Wednesday at the earliest until at 6 last night he called me to let me know he was headed to the Houston airport and I could pick him up around 10p.m. My heart leaped b/c he was finally home!!!
We need him home to take care of the unruly mess that has been created and it just gives me comfort to know that he is back. He woke Addie, played with her a while, and got to see her walk for the first time! I loved watching his face and he delighted in our baby girl.
He is going to rest today b/c he has had one heck of a couple weeks..... Praise the Lord for compassionate leaders who let him leave without jeopardizing his job. I was sad to have to get up and come into work today but I feel so relieved to know that he is going to be at the house when I get off.
Mom is still keeping Brandon b/c he is STILL SUSPENDED. He has gone over and above to try to break me and my spirit this past two weeks. Pray for wisdom b/c something radical is going to have to happen and we want to make sure that all of our decisions are guided by the Lord.
I go to the doctor this week to hear my little baby's heartbeat! I am so grateful that I have not been sick b/c that would have probably been more than I could bare with all the stresses that I have been subject to.
If it is a boy I am leaning on the name "Cameron". Mark is not sold on it but I am going to say it alot so maybe he will get used to it :) ..... Any suggestions on baby names I would love to hear them! Addie is home with Daddy today and I cannot wait to join them in a few short hours!
Have a blessed week and dont ever take your spouse or family for granite!

God has brought people into my path - some who have been there for as long as i can remember and some who i would not have expected - who have helped me through trials this week and last. I am not sure where to go from here but I know that I will sleep better at night when my husband returns home. I am doing a study through proverbs with other women to learn how to be a wise mother and wife. I fail my family daily and I am praying for guidance to learn to serve them rather than thinking of myself. If the Lord is trying to humble me He is succeeding!
I am so grateful for resources that are helping me! Thank everyone for your prayers and concerns.
Addie took close to 10 steps several times over the past couple days. I am getting excited that she is starting to walk! the slower I get being prego the faster she will get! :)

I am reading Atonement Child and it is so thought provoking everytime i want to have self pity.
I am struggling with anger towards someone in my life right now and I want to walk away and never think about that relationship again but i know that is probably not what i am supposed to do. Boundaries are not supported and i dont know how to stay in control of my home.
I desperately dont want Satan to have a strong hold over anyone or anything in my house!
I pray for the ability and wisdom to safe guard my home with my husband...
I pray that the Lord will equip mark with all the necessary tools to lead our family!

On a lighter note i am watching Along Cam Polly and for those of you who have seen it the hairy sweaty guy in the basketball match just about made me barf! I love this movie!