Two Years!

My baby will be two tomorrow!
Where has my baby gone? He is so big, he's not a baby anymore.
I praise and thank the LORD for Bob! Life would not be the same without him, I can't even imagine it.
I'm very thankful:
for his cheerful spirit
for his good obedience and patience (for a two year old)

for his contagious giggle
for his butchered words
for his clear words (Daddy!)

for his snuggly hugs
for his kisses that are more and more like real kisses
for his soft, warm feet rubbing my leg when we snuggle

for his adventurous personality
for his goofy dancing

for his soft blonde hair and big brown eyes

for his efforts to be a big boy
for his thumb sucking and belly button fiddling
for his little "thank you"'s

for his "singing" out of the hymnals
for the little mole/freckle on the back of his arm

for his help with chores (he is really good at unloading the dishwasher : ) )
for his love for his little brother (it melts my heart when Bob hugs Tom, or holds his hand)

I have been blessed greatly with this little boy!
I love him very much! He has a chunk of my heart, right next to his daddy and baby brother.

Bob, I pray that you become a great man for the LORD. That you follow his Word. Always honoring your Father, by respecting and obeying your earthly father and authorities, and loving your brothers in Christ. I pray for many more years for you to live for the glorification of the Lord and edification of the brethren. I love you so much son!

Major Adventures!

We have had a number of adventures as a family. Here are just a couple of the big ones:

Marriage, Oct. 2011

Me moving to Missouri, Oct. 2011

General Lee's birth, June 2012

Buying our first home, Dec. 2012

General Stonewall's birth, Feb. 2014

Moving to South Carolina, June 2014

We praise and thank our LORD for his guidance and protection of our family over the past 2 1/2 years! He is all powerful, and all that has happened is part of His perfect plan!

Fear Not, Little Flock

The souls of those who seek for wealth the Lord shall soon require,

But riches which are stored above shall never there expire;

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; thy Father knows thy need;

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; He will His children feed.

Behold and see how lilies grow; they do not toil nor weave, 

Yet kings in all their royal dress are not arrayed like these.

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; thy robe is sparkling white;

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; the Savior is your light.

If God so clothe the forest green whose leaf will soon be gone,

Shall He not much more glorify His chosen and foreknown?

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; thy God is on His throne;

Fear not little flock, fear not, fear not; He'll come and take you home.

~ Ralph E. Harris

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving...

What a wonderful holiday this country established!

It is a nationally celebrated holiday, whose sole purpose is giving thanks to the LORD for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us.

I wanted to list a few thanksgivings to the LORD here.

I am thankful for a country that sets aside one day each year just for praising and thanking the LORD.

I am thankful for a country where we are free to worship the LORD according to His word.

I am thankful for the men and women running the country, so we have no need to worry.

Thankful that the LORD is in control of their decisions and the outcomes of their decisions.

Thankful that my husband and I can raise our sons how we wish.

I am thankful to the LORD for preserving my husband through the serious illness he had nearly a year ago.

I am thankful to the LORD for preserving my husband and son through a car accident.

I am thankful for a Daddy for my boys, to raise them into godly men.

I am thankful for the life put inside my body, and the pleasure that I get from feeling him wiggle.

I am thankful for a healthy, growing toddler, that is learning more and more daily.

Thankful for our parents, and the loving guidance they offer.

Thankful for many siblings.

Thankful that I am able to stay at home, and still be able to work to benefit my husband.

I am thankful for the man of God that diligently prepares to bring us the word of God each week.

I am thankful that we don't have to "sweat the small stuff" in things that don't matter.

I am thankful to the Lord for His compassion, graciousness, long-suffering, mercy and truth

          "But thou, O LORD, art a God full of compassion, gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." Psalm 86:15

I am thankful that we can approach the LORD, and freely speak with Him. Praising Him. Thanking Him. Requesting of Him. Confessing to Him.

I love this holiday! It was a wonderful invention, and I'm thankful that we live in the country that celebrates it!

Gender Prediction

A fun part of being pregnant is dreaming about the gender of the baby inside you:

Will you be flooded with bows and dolls, or boots and tractors?

There are many Old Wives Tales that can "predict" the gender of your baby. 
I did about a dozen just for fun. : )

Chinese Calendar: I'm not exactly sure how this works, so I just used a tool on the internet. It has something to do with the age of the mother, the conception date, and the lunar calendar.

Mayan Tale: You add the age of the mother at conception and the year of conception. If it is even, it is a girl; odd and its a boy. 20 + 2013 = 2033

Baking Soda Test: You pee on baking soda. If it fizzes, then it is a boy. No reaction and its a girl. 

Heart Rate: Above 140 its a girl, lower than 140 its a boy. Ours was 141.

Shape of Belly: High and sticks out, its a girl. Low and round, its a boy. I don't have too much of a belly yet, but it is low.

Skin/Acne: If you break out more, then it is a girl. If you stay the same, or clear up, it is a boy. I've been about the same.

Ring Test: There is an episode of LHOP where this test is done. Caroline sees a gypsy, and is told that she will be having a boy based on this test. Well, she ended up having a girl; Baby Grace. Anyways, you hang your wedding ring on a string, and hang it in front of you belly. It it swings back and forth it is a girl, if it swings in a circle it is a boy. The first time I did this, it ring didn't move : D I did it again a few weeks later, and it moved in a circle.

Cravings: If you crave sweet things like fruit then it is a girl. If you crave savory things or protein, then it is a boy. I've mostly been craving chicken sandwiches and fried/mashed potatoes.

Morning Sickness: If you have it, then it is a girl. I had it worse than when I was pregnant with Bob, but not as bad as it gets.

Moodiness: If you are moodier than usual, then it is a girl (because of all the extra hormones, they say). You're usually the same or happier if you are having a boy. Bryant says that I'm about the same as before.

Daddy's Weight: If Daddy gains weight, then it is a girl. If Daddy stays the same or looses weight, then it is a boy. Bryant has stayed the same.

Sleep on Left or Right Side: Sleep on your left side, its a boy. Sleep on your right, its a girl. I like to sleep facing the edge of the bed. So, on my side of the bed I lay on my left side, but I do lay on my right when I'm on Bryant's side.

Ultrasound: Not an old wives tale, just the ultimate predictor... or should I say confirmer. It took the technician some poking, prodding, and patience, but we did get to see that we are having another little General. 

Thomas Jonathan Jackson Cutler

(named after General "Stonewall" Jackson)

Again, this was just for fun. We mostly went by father's intuition : D then were confirmed yesterday with our ultrasound.

Mmmm.... Canned Green Beans!

So, we have all these beans from our garden... they had/have to be dealt with...

So, why not can them?

No reason not to, except I don't have a pressure canner (it is much quicker and efficient to pressure can beans). 

I could borrow one, forgot to ask.

My dear mother-in-law told me that they can be water bath canned, it just takes about 3 hours in the water.

(I'm more comfortable using water bath than a pressure canner anyways.)

Cool! Off to google...

Where I found this link!

Most of my beans are snapped, so I got busy!

Sterilized jars ready to be packed with beans

The beans all washed and ready.

My setup of beans, salt, boiling water, and ready jars.

The jars all packed and starting their hot soak.

... 3 hours later...

Tada! 7 pints of beans!

Only 6 sealed, so one is in the fridge for a meal sometime soon.

Happenings

It has been quite a while since I have last blogged, and I'm sorry for that. Most of the things that are going on and pictures we take are posted on our facebook page. I just wanted to get on here to post a picture or two and maybe a video of the little General.

First is a picture of our harvest from our garden that the LORD so plenteous supplied us thus far. There are bell and banana peppers, a cucumber, a tomato (we have already eaten two), a load of squash, and zucchini. We have probably picked twice as much, if not more, zucchini than is pictured.

The General and his Daddy taking a nap at Great Grandpa's house on Memorial Day weekend. Aren't they precious! 

Now a close up of the little General. I can't believe that he will be one in just a couple of days!

He is getting so big and learning so much! I'm looking forward to what the LORD has in store for him in the next year, especially becoming a big brother!

Oh! and here is that video of the General. 

"Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work:..." Jer. 32:17-19a

Thank you LORD for your lovingkindnesses and tender mercies to our little family! May we show ourselves acceptable unto thee!