Guess what?????!!!

You guessed it, we got PREGGO!, but keep reading

So, I've been trying to think how I would write this post. I'm not the most politically correct person. I probably won't ever be, but I still do not want to offend anyone purposefully today. Here we go.... Ronnie and I have 4 wonderful kids, with which we are very thankful. We have been preventing pregnancy since Silas was born. We haven't taken extreme methods as in surgery, but we are very cautious in the preventing method. If you want further detail, ask later. To my sheer shock I found out Thursday, the 15th of November the most crazy news. Blood tests confirmed, sure enough I was 5 wks pregnant. The irony here is I had just finished my period. Therefore, we did follow up blood work on Monday. I knew deep down this pregnancy wasn't going well. We still told our parents and a few close friends so they could be praying for us. Monday came, I was having pain on my right side and still bleeding. Due to an error by a staff member, my doctor didn't receive my blood work results until Tuesday morning. I was beyond aggravated, I knew from being a nurse (specifically OB triage), I should have been in the doctors' office Monday with an ultrasound. I guess God really wanted to test me here? Tuesday came, blood results showed an atypical HCG rise, so an ultrasound was scheduled to deduce if I had an ectopic pregnancy. Sure enough the ultrasound showed a mass at the base of my ovary connected to the fallopian tube (which is the ectopic) along with an even larger cyst. 
   

Do you think they look alike

People tell me all the time how much my kids look like Ronnie. There is one in particular who not only looks like him, but acts like him. Jack and Ronnie are both such fun-loving, people crazy, friendly guys. They both like to talk, neither can stand for anyone to be mad at them. At young ages you could/can see the Lord pricking at their hearts. They are both thoughtful and love to make people feel included. These 2 are some of my favorite guys!!

Have you heard, it's not me, but you.

I have got several friends who are pregnant right now, trying to get pregnant right now, or in the process of adopting. In no way am I pregnant, hence the title of this post. The waiting period is full of  emotions, ya know? Good, bad, ugly, fun, scary, doubtful, joyful, painful,  & etc. To encourage my fellow women out there. I looked through our photos and found pictures of me preggo with each of my kids. Photos are great because they instantly capture a memory. So without further ado: 

Kids' Books

I thought I would post 4 books that I really like for our kids. I know there are several other books out there, and some I even have on my shelf. However, I'll just tell you about these four and why I like them.

I really like this book for our kids. I think from about 18 months on, any child           

can interact with this book. It is colorfully captivating and Biblically based. All the stories point to Jesus!

ahh...water

This summer we have been soaking up the water activities. Given that Arkansas has been exceptionally hot and humid, we are extremely thankful for the water!!

We have been to the lake 

And on the boat

and had a ball

we went to the splash pad

Hud in the Pool

Our neighborhood has a pool
and we've had so much fun!

Race to Remember

I am SO thrilled to have run my first race in Arkansas. It was a 5k at 8am on July 21. I have recently gotten into running and I could not think of a better race to run for the season of life I am in. I was so honored to run this race and run it especially for Abigail Wright. So many precious babies were remembered this day and it was a fun day honoring them. I have been running with my friend Jennifer and our goal was to finish the 5k in under 30 minutes and we met our goal! Running has been a fun time of bonding and a de-stresser for me personally. Here are a couple of pictures:

Holly and I- we ran for her daughter Abigail

Jennifer and I running, we are so graceful!

Silas turns 1

So, sweet Si turned 1 on June 25. I know we should do a big party and all, but with our family we have a party in and of itself. Silas got some presents from his brothers and sister. We took him out to eat and got him a birthday cake. I think he had a fun day and so did we. Silas is so precious to our family and we are so thankful for him.

Things I like

As is typical, my posting skills are lagging. I decided to do one of a few of my favorite things. Without further ado:

Burlap: My neighbor made this for my door and I love it!

Gain: Apple Tango Mango!

Hobby lobby: What is there not to like about this place? 

Feltner Brother's: I always get a cheeseburger and I especially like it during the spring and fall when we can eat outside.

Bliss: I usually get the Red Velvet, but I pretty much LOVE all the cupcakes

Starbucks: I like the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Mocha Raspberry


What are some of your all likes?

The Box

So, I am trying to step outside of my comfy box. A friend of mine has gone through a recent tragedy and I decided to come along side of her. I began thinking and asking the Lord to help me. So here we are and I have picked up running ( insert gasp) as a way to meet with her as she is a runner. I honestly have never been so burdened for another family and so helpless at the same time. Thank the Lord, He has honored my prayer and the friend and I have gone running and I'm hoping we have many many more runs together. In the mean time a sweet friend of mine has been attempting to whip me into shape so I do not die. Its been a fun time connecting with her too. Considering I haven't exercised, let alone really run in over 3.5 years, this experience hasn't been a complete catastrophe. Im up to 2 miles and the goal is 3. All this to say, ask the Lord to show you ways to take you out of your box and minister to others. Chances are you will be ministered to as well.

Hudson Timothy the stud

Hudson turns 2 tomorrow and I cannot believe how fast those years went! He is such a fun little guy. He is our compact ball of energy and that is just the way we like him. Hudson has had the most health challenges out of our children. Hudson was delivered super fast because his heart did not tolerate labor very well, he's been in the step 2 nursery, possible spina bifida, possible hole in heart, decreased thyroid levels, possible celiac disease, a too close for comfort experience with water, and too many head injuries to count. :) However, God has been faithful to bring him through so far. We think God has got incredible things in store for him. Hudson Timothy is named after the missionaries Hudson Taylor and Timothy in the Bible. We named him with a purpose,  for Hudson is a miracle in my book and we really pray that he takes Jesus all over the world. 

HE not ME

   I am struggling right now. I mean, for real. I am feeling the weight of others' burdens and I desire so badly to fix all of them. I have been asking the Lord to make me more compassionate and aware of others' needs. Can I just say that He answered and DUMPED opportunities for me to practice this. I seem to be failing more than I am succeeding. There is one situation currently that I am begging the Lord to show favor in. I need Him to come through for them, I need Him to come through for me.    
      Honestly, I am realizing that I am trying to rely on myself. I think I can handle this and the truth is I cannot. I wish I could waive my magic wand and heal all the hurt. I think this is one way that God is continuing to remind me and say, " Hey don't settle for this earth, don't get too comfortable, this is just a mist in the scheme of eternity, baby girl this ain't your final home, & I've got this". Not Marci- God. I'm pretty much ready for a new object lesson, but I must be a very slow learner.   
     A verse in the Bible that I have been working through is 2 Corinthians 4 :8-9, " We are pressured in every way, BUT not crushed; we are perplexed BUT not in despair, we are persecuted BUT not abandoned we are struck down BUT not destroyed". The other verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:24, " He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it".  HE not ME. Sometimes it seems that the Lord brings us right to what we feel is our edge, just to sweetly swoop in and engulf us in His mighty power. I really am thankful  that He is teaching me to be more like him. I am loving walking with other women and their families through trying times. I am loving how the Lord is stretching me in new ways, even if it hurts for the moment. He's good and faithful you all, for real.

Just look how creative God is!!

The Gentry Safari

One of the things we miss most about living in a bigger city is a zoo. In Northwest Arkansas they have this thing called the Gentry Safari. It may be a little "country", but the kids loved it and it was really cute.

Part of the safari you drive around in your car and the other part you walk.  On the walking part you can pet and feed some of the animals.

A little of this and a little of that

I am trying to be more crafty, creative, not boring, whatever you would like to call it... so I made something.... please be proud even if you notice the uneven paint job : )

We put one of Jack's birthday gifts to use- this bubble was massive!!

Jack finished soccer season and got his first medal!!!

Easter 2012

Easter was a bit different this year. Our church had 6 services on Saturday and Sunday, therefore Ronnie was gone a little bit. We dyed eggs on Saturday night late. Then Sunday evening we had people over to celebrate who were like us, missing family! We LOVE having people over and this will be something we do again next year. We also had a small Easter egg hunt. It was a great weekend.