Update: Six Months After the Storm

In one sense it seems like such a short time ago since April’s fury turned our lives upside down. But it has been 1/2 a year ago today.

And yet, going along in what was your normal life and having every element of it turned upside down and/or erased is no easy road.

The hardest thing, logistically speaking, is that we can’t really begin to “find our new normal” because we are living in temporary housing, waiting to go home. Everything feels like it’s on hold–our eating habits, our daily routine, our normal activities–as if “life will begin” once we go back home. In the mean time, life is; and so I try to make if feel as normal as possible for our family.

“I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4

And I’m reminded of those who can’t, who will never know normal again, and I feel ashamed for having even had the thought of a “hard day”.

Nutshell: we are building quickly and God is amazing. Period. So far my husband has overseen the whole building project (it still costs less for him to be out of work and do that than to hire a GC–and can I just say, my husband rocks!) and most labor has been volunteered. PRAISE GOD FOR YOU ALL!!! Aaron and I have lamented numerous times how much we wish we had had the presence of mind to photograph and journal all the volunteers that have sacrificed their time and families for us. We cannot say “thank you” enough for helping us rebuild our home so quickly!

 

Hubby, our two skilled friends, Ben & Alex and my son, Ashton after a hard day's work. Aaron and Ashton really enjoyed working with these guys!

We hope to be able to move in by Christmas, having the main level completed and finishing the basement (where all the kids’ rooms are) once we move in.

My Dad, (who brushed death with a massive heart attack the morning of the storm), has had to be re-hospitalized twice to have stents redone but now seems to be doing great and is working hard as ever, building their house.

The verse God instantly gave me at the hospital that morning with him–”He is mighty to save”–which I “chanted” all the way to the OR, and would later dwell on through the cold, devastated night, has proven to be a beacon of hope for us in a thousand ways. Perhaps you can find strength in it too:

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

I am continually overwhelmed as I reflect on the love of so many and the provisions God has made daily for our family. We cannot express our gratitude enough to you, to our church family and all the surrounding friends who have walked beside us during this time of testing. My faith grows more and more as we rest on the Rock, our eternal Foundation.

Thank You!

Just wanted to send a quick note out to say “thank you” for all your sweet well-wishes and thoughts on the birth of our son, Jax.  I have savored each one.

(Thank you, Kathy, for the beautiful blanket–I think it becomes him!)

The birth went very well (I may share more details a little later if anyone cares to hear), though about an hour later, I began to hemorrhage and for the first time ever, I thought I was dying.  My blood pressure dropped to 60/30 and I felt like I was fading away…very scary.  So because of the intense uterine massage I had to have (by 3 nurses at one time), I am extremely sore and experiencing unusual levels of pain compared to my typical deliveries. But we are rejoicing that the Lord kept me here and I’m so thankful to be on this side of delivery, cuddling this sweet little (“little” being a relative term ) boy in my arms.

I cannot begin to thank you all for your prayers, love and concern you have expressed to me through these last few weeks.  There were days when the knowledge of your prayers were all-sustaining as I battled with fear and a host of other challenges, waiting on this little fellow to arrive.  I am so grateful for you all.

As a fun side note, throughout my pregnancy my husband joked about “how fun it would be to have a male version of Mallie”.  Take a look at these photos:

Left picture is Mallie…

Jax is on the right!

Pregnancy Update…

My official “due date” was last Wednesday, the 16th.  I am still pregnant, though

In all honesty, this has been one of my greatest struggles with a pregnancy yet. Part of me knows that the truth is a “due date” is only an average between 4 weeks of what is considered normal delivery time. So technically, I’m not overdue yet, though I feel that way.

I am physically pretty miserable but it’s much harder emotionally waking up *still pregnant* day after day.  (I guess in the back of my mind I’m always hopeful that after this many children I’ll actually go a few days before my due date.) I periodically just break down sobbing, then pull myself together and start again. I went “over” two weeks with my first two, but this is the longest past my due date I’ve gone since those.

In addition, Ellia has the stomach virus.  This is her “love the baby” position. She raised my top and fell asleep on my belly after a rough night for both of us. (I hope this picture isn’t offensive; if it is, tell me, and I’ll remove it. It seemed so sweet to me.)

I am learning that I am certainly not in control and that all one can do is be at peace with God’s time table.  Easy to say, harder to live.

It feels like life has been on hold for weeks.

But despite the irrational notion that sweeps over me periodically where I fear I might be pregnant indefinitely, I know little one will come soon.

Also, God has revealed Himself in such a mighty way through all the comforting words, prayers and flood of love and care through friends from the blog world down to my closest ones.

In addition to friends who have already brought meals to us, a very special young lady begged us to come and stay until the baby is born so she could help out.  She has been here over a week already, (she’s staying until we return from the hospital).  She LOVES to cook (I call her a “food artist”) and delights in the meal preparations each day, entertains the children so I can rest, does what needs to be done, and just generally brings joy and a huge helping hand.

Bria works alongside her, of course…I can’t fail to give her due credit. Bria has been such a constant encouragement to me, full of joy and tenderness and service. But Olivia’s presence here takes so much of the load off and makes it more fun for Bria. (They are like a well-oiled machine together, and then they retreat in the afternoons, giggling with their cups of tea and favorite book or movie, to a quiet place to refresh.)

What a blessing to see the vision these two have!  To be happiest when they are serving! (I can’t even *make* Olivia go home for a break.) And what a beautiful thing as I watch them, along with my children, playing, laughing and eagerly serving our family, finding absolute joy in it, where so many would scoff that “it’s unfair”, or that a mother of many shouldn’t *have* to have help.

Beloved, this is what the body of Christ looks like in motion.

Until you’ve seen it, it’s hard to understand.  They’ve had more fun these few weeks, making special meals, baking cupcakes, having mud fights and sunny picnics and “soapy trampoline” time, anticipating with all the energy of children, the arrival of their baby brother.  It’s not the heavy drudgery some might imagine.

I just have to say “Kudos” to all my children and husband (please don’t think me bragging…I am just so humbly grateful) for their patience, their eagerness to do whatever they can to make me more comfortable, their hearts of gratitude, their infectious joy and smiles and all the wonder they bring to my life.  I feel ashamed, when I reflect on these blessings, to complain for one minute about this anxiety I’m feeling.

God has been so good to us!

By the way, unless something unforeseen happens, I will likely have time to post an “I’m in labor!” for you

Sisters

“Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.”

Taking Dominion One Toilet Brush at a Time

Apparently I have successfully imparted to my 4-year-old that as home-making-dominion-takers we must strive to see beauty in all things. Mallie tied ribbons around every object in the bathroom while her little sister took a bath.

She has productive hands.  Some would say “messy” if they saw most of her “produce”, (“Mallie, did you fill all the Mason jars with rice?”) but I choose to look at the positive side.

A Quick “Hello” From Our House to Yours

We are busily scooting from family to family, enjoying the bustle of Thanksgiving, being reminded of the blessing of family.  There was a time I grumbled about the traveling, the packing and the driving; not anymore.  These times are fleeting, and I pray you enjoy your time, as well, with the loved ones in your life.

A quick pose while they’re waiting for Mom to finish her hair