Glimpse of store life...

Many people have already read this....but we were in the newspaper!!! Click the link below to read. :)

Newspaper Article

Glimpse of life right now

• Our oldest daughter turned 12 a few weeks ago, she's getting so old! She's participating in a writing class this year and is loving it. Writing is her passion.
• We've entered the 5th month of being store owners. The business is plodding along. I'm still enjoying it, though I haven't come even close to mastering a balance between work and keeping up with housework! :P
• Pregnancy is also plodding along, I'm approximately 14 weeks now. Glad to be out of the first trimester tiredness and nausea!
• We're hosting our 3rd annual Birthday Bash this Sunday. It's one big party that we throw for all the kids instead of having 'friend' parties for each of the kids throughout the year. Should be a blast.
• Mabel is nearing 7 months old already! I'll end this with a cute video of her giggle (please excuse my lousy camera work)...

Sharing 5 things

Today I'm going to join in with Kimmie in her 5 things series:

5 words that best describe you! 

Laura:

Happy

Anxious

Nauseous

Tired

~

Preggo!

  

6 months....almost

My heart is heavy.

Next week we hit the 6 month mark.

I thought one month was hard, now 6?

Yesterday I logged in to Google Plus and was flipping through a friends pics of a graduation party we went to last summer....only to come across this gem.

Meet Roar-y.

He was Josiah's favorite stuffed animal, because he was all soft and fuzzy. Josiah was ALL about anything fuzzy.

I didn't have a good picture of the two of them together...til now.

God's sweet little mercies continue!

Our New Business Venture

On the first of May our family officially opened a business, Duckygirl's Resale. I've had a few people ask me how things are working out (like: what in the world are the kids doing?) and what led us to decide to do this.

Well, for pretty much all of our marriage we've talked about having a family business. Something that would allow us to be together but also provide the kids a place to learn and have their first jobs. If you've followed my blog for awhile you probably already know that I have been selling homeschool curriculum out of our house for about a year and a half. It wasn't busy by any means but it was a fun sort of hobby to have. I had dreamed about actually renting a storefront and giving it a go...but that seemed far off.

Then Josiah....oh, sweet little boy...Josiah....

Our world seemed to turn upside down.

I'm not sure even what started the ball rolling but we started researching commercial buildings and the idea of selling children's clothing along with the curriculum.

The research led to driving around, looking through buildings and lots of daydreaming.

And you know what? It was good.

Good to have a goal.

Good to have a distraction.

Good to have something to throw ourselves into so we aren't overwhelmed by grief.

It's helped us to have something together as a family unit. Totally awesome at this time.

So here we are finishing up our first opening week.

We have two rooms for the kids. One school room and one toddler room with toys and beds for the littles to nap. When there aren't any customers I'm in mom mode, hanging out with the kids and teaching them. When someone comes in I go out front and work. It's been a pretty smooth transition....I'll post pictures of the store and all the kid areas as soon as I remember to bring my camera with me! :)

Mercies

Another month has gone by without a blog post....whoops! Life has been pretty full lately. In the midst of all the busyness the kids entered in the annual AWANA Grand prix races. We don't seem to do well with making fast cars so we stuck to entering for design this year. The kids had fun building, painting & decorating.....and they won! Kenny took first with his angry birds scene, Stephen took 2nd with a replica of the AWANA race track, and Amanda took 3rd with her girl in a bathtub car (in their respective girls/boys divisions). I couldn't be any prouder!


Honesty time now.... I was having a hard time that morning.

Thinking back to last years races and how much fun Josiah had while there.

Thinking it was going to be especially hard to see the racecar they usually have set up for kids to sit in like a photo booth.

Thinking about the sweet photo I have of Josiah in that car from last year...

and you know what? The Lord knows. He knows how hard this must be and I think he gives us a break once in awhile. Sweet little mercies in life.

When we showed up and walked in I was aprehensive, but turned to see that this year there wasn't a race car.

For the three years our kids have attended this event that same car has been in the exact spot.

This year? A motorcycle.

I have no idea who made that decision to switch up what was there, but from the bottom of this sad mama's heart THANK YOU!

Sweet mercies, I tell ya!

A special dinner

A few months ago I mentioned here on the blog that I was hoping to get to go to the Hearts at Home Conference. One of the main speakers at the conference this year is Michelle Duggar. I've always admired her and her wonderful family and thought it would be amazing to be able to meet them.

Well....a friend of mine knew this and decided to email them about our family.

Which turned into all of us getting to meet them!!

The kids came for a couple of pictures and a 'meet and greet' then returned home with the babysitter. Ian and I were blessed to be able to spend the evening having dinner with them.

In person they are just as genuine and sweet as they are on their show.

We both left feeling very encouraged.

Thank you Jim Bob & Michelle for such a wonderful evening!! :O)

A few more pictures...

I'm already

Two weeks old!

Introducing

Our sweet Mabel Jane

Born on February 12, 2012
7 lbs 9 oz
19 inches long




Welcome to the world little girl, we love you!

Random update in bullet points

Wow. Life has been eventful (crazy even?) these past few weeks, with no sign of slowing down.

• The kids have been passing around the typical wintertime sicknesses, colds, fevers etc. Ian kept feeling ill too and the dr finally diagnosed what has been bothering him. So, yesterday he went into surgery and had his gall bladder removed! He seems to be recovering nicely but is just super tired.
• Theo (who will be 14 mos next week) has learned to crawl down the stairs after a couple of months of knowing how to go up and getting himself stuck there. He also cut his first tooth. All of my other kiddos got teeth around 9-10 months so he is a bit slower on that.
• I'm now 38.5 weeks along with baby #10 being due in just a mere 12 days!! Since Ian is in recovery mode I sure hope she gives him plenty of time. I think this is the first pregnancy where I am NOT feeling anxious to 'just have the baby already'. :P Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited about her arrival I'm just content with it coming in another week to two weeks. :)
• A couple ladies are throwing me a baby shower this Saturday, Stephen turns 9 on Sunday & February 12th is our 12th wedding anniversary.
  

Through ALL of that we have been surrounded by SO much support from friends, church family, neighbors, co-workers etc., it's been a huge blessing. Thank you so much to all who have helped with meals, cleaning, childcare or helping by being a shoulder to lean on.

You all have been the body of Christ indeed. :)

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:26-28

One month

Most of the time if I think about not seeing my kids it's measured in hours or days and I miss them intensely while we're apart. Now though, I'm faced with the realization that it's been an entire month.

A month.

How can this be??

One month since I've held his little hand.

Since I've heard his sweet voice and fun little giggle.

One month since I've run my fingers through his thick blonde hair....

I know that there are going to be SO many milestones or 'firsts' down this road, but knowing they are coming doesn't make any of them easier.

We miss you So much Josiah!

Psalm 142:5
I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Learning

Learning to navigate this huge sea of emotions I have.

Learning that I can have a big ole' huge cry and then get up and be somewhat functional.

Learning that grief is appearing differently in each of the children, each in their own time and all of that is okay.

Learning, learning, learning....I am the student He is the teacher.