Smell something??

What a cute, harmless, little animal. Don't you think?


Now picture it laying in a bucket, on its back with four sooty, lifeless paws pointed stiffly heavenward.

That's what the chimney guy pulled out of our fireplace today.

I gladly paid him $162 to get the stinking, rotting thing as far away from here as possible.

Living near the woods comes at a high price--although you could argue it was squirrel who ultimately got the raw end of the deal.

Arrival

It's never officially spring until...


PS--I think Ethan needs a new bike.

Four

Adelaide turned four today.

Four?! Where did the last four years go?

She is such a big girl. I complained to her about turning a year older. She promised me she will be three again tomorrow.

This little girl is one of my favorite people in this entire world. She makes me laugh. She is thoughtful and helpful. And lucky me, she loves to snuggle. I think she is in tune with the Spirit without really knowing it yet. She has been such a support to me that past couple of weeks. It is as if she has sensed that I have needed a little extra love.

Adelaide is very detail oriented. Things must always be done a certain way. She turns out lights that are not supposed to be on. She studiously colors. She does not like being reminded a second time to do what she has been told. Don't be thinking she always does things the first time she is asked. No, it just means she heartily complains when things have to be repeated. "I know!" she says in the most teenagery voice she can muster.

Adelaide is our tiny contrarian. She can be as angry as she is happy. She is as shy as often as she is outgoing. And she can be just as sweet as she is a pill. One thing she is quite consistently is stubborn. (She gets it from Randal. I say that only because I'm too stubborn to admit which parent she may actually take after.)

The thing is, we wouldn't take her any other way.

A Door Shut

I've been absent from the blog scene for some time now. Trying to keep up with the nausea of pregnancy becomes a full-time job for me making the thought of blogging out of the question.

I'm feeling much better and am ready and need to start doing the things again that I love, one of which is staying in touch with family and friends who are so far away.

I don't even know how to say this. This is not what I would want to be writing, but I feel it important to explain.

Last week I went to one of my routine doctor visits and learned that our baby was no longer living. I was nearly fourteen weeks and had no indication anything was wrong. We are heart broken.

This is the reason I am feeling much better, however I would give anything to be sick right now.

Even though I feel very sad, I am so grateful for a loving and selfless husband, two fantastic kids and family and friends who love me.

Our family has had its recent trials, this being the pinnacle. Right now the lesson I'm learning in all this is that life is just hard sometimes--for all of us. Randal and I are hopeful a window will be opening for us sometime very soon.

Thank you for all your love and prayers.