We're still here... :)

Hi Everyone, Sorry I have been neglecting the blog for the past few weeks. I have been hobbling around for a couple weeks now with a pinched nerve in my hip and it has been really bothering me and then last week I totally crashed with a bad cold that went straight into my lungs again. Boy, it was not fun but I am so grateful for the prayers of friends and for God's healing hand raising me up.

Now, we are waiting and waiting for our little bundle to arrive. We had had a day or two that we thought was going to be it so when they turned out not to be it just makes the waiting even harder! Charis was born late at night 6 days before her due date and Mercy was born early in the morning 5 days before her due date...today is 6 days till due date...could it be tonight or tomorrow morning?! I would love it to be!!! Caleb was 15 days early so that has come and gone long ago, the baby didn't get the memo that I had wanted an anniversary baby (our 6th anniversary was Sunday) so beyond tomorrow the rest is uncharted territory which I had hoped would remain uncharted but only time will tell and God knows the perfect day for this baby to come.

So, hopefully, my next post will be an announcement but to tide you over until then (I know you all must just be dying that I haven't posted in 2 1/2 wks...j/k) I thought I would leave you with a few recent pics.

Here is my sweet Caleb and Charis wearing matching outfits for her birthday, as you can see, my son is about as photogenic as his father and that was the best I could get him to smile! ;)

Mercy is our sweet little girl who LOVES to sing, all the time and anywhere. :)

A couple of pics of Charis with her doll cake that she requested for her birthday. As you can tell I didn't feel up to doing anything fancy, thankfully she is only 4 and didn't mind too much...besides it was chocolate cake! :)

And here is the progression from week 20, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38 then 39 and still waiting....

Hope you all are doing well...until next time!

Charis is 4!

Today my little girl is turning 4 years old! I can hardly believe it!
She is such a sweet sister to her big brother and her little sister. I made the mistake of telling her that the earliest I could have this baby would be on her birthday so now she associates baby with birthday and says her baby *brother* (as she calls it) is going to be born today. When I told her not necessarily (I'm at 37 weeks!) that it will be born today or that it will be a brother, she then decides that I will have it at the birthday party later this week at my parent's house. ;) I kindly told her, no thank you, that if I happened to go into labor at the party I would just go around the corner to our house to have it. Ahh, a 4 year olds mind. :)

Anywhoo, she's precious to us and we are so thankful that the Lord blessed us with our sweet Charis Joy 4 years ago tonight!

We're Here...

Hi Everyone, as many of you already know, last week someone hacked into our personal and business e-mail accounts and website hosting. Whoever it was was very hateful and sent out such wicked things from our accounts and unfortunately caused harm to friends, clients and family. I am very blessed that the person did not realize that I had a blog attached to the business' google account as I was very concerned that they may have posted evil things here as well.

Our case is under investigation with the local police and FBI. Our google account may be shut down completely very shortly and will thus close this blog down with it. I have already figured out how to export it to a new spot and should the need arise I will make sure everyone has the new web address when/if this blog should close. Leave a comment if you want to make sure and have the new site when it changes. There is light at the end of the tunnel, praise the Lord!

Hope you are all having a lovely week. :)

Hooray!!

Hallelujah it is found! A picture I discovered on the camera documenting the last time I saw the camera...in my bedroom closet.

And a very happy little boy who excitedly brought me my camera that he just found while destroying, I mean, playing in his room this morning. Yay! I am so happy. Just thought that I would share.... :)

Easter Sunday

Well, I'm a little bit upset right now but it's partly my fault. Caleb had our camera out going on 2 wks ago and I saw him with it and should have had him put it away right then but I was distracted. I told him to turn it off though since he was using it as a flashlight in my walk in closet. :P And so now I cannot find my camera, I know it has to be here somewhere I simply cannot find it though! How can someone not find a camera? Well, ours is a very small and slim (about 2"x 4.5") and it can hide very easily unfortunately!


So all that just to say I haven't been able to take pictures of the children like I would want to. :(


On Easter Sunday morning though, Ruth Ann was taking some photos of the Crane boys for Amelia. They are a hoot as you can tell! :)

I mean, isn't this great?!

So while she was out there I asked her if she could take a few pictures of the girls walking through the field behind church. The sunshine was just gorgeous and the grass was so green!

Just what I was envisioning...

Ruth Ann, put this verse of _Stepping in the Light_ on this picture. I love how it has mercy and grace mentioned in the words. :)

I, of course, put them in their matching smocked dresses, why not?! And they will probably be in them again for Mother's Day too. :) But is was sweet putting them in their little hats.

Sweet sisters

Run to momma!

Thank you Ruth Ann!

Growing up...

Where does the time go? On Sunday Mercy turned 18 months and I can't believe how fast our little girl is growing. I just went through some recent pics and pulled out some of my favorites of Mercy to share.


At a recent birthday blast she enjoyed playing the piano, being with Mommy and Daddy and playing with Papa and cousin Titus. :)

I love pictures of sleeping babies, Mercy thinks sunglasses are very cool and enjoys playing outside. :)

Smile! One morning she got up with her blanket and then just laid down in the hall, Charles had to take a picture of her. If you can't tell she is really into slides and loves them immensely, sitting with Charis at the zoo. :)

More slides and plenty of dirt at the picnic park area of the zoo, a smiley face while I was on the computer one day, outside watching a plane go by (which she loves as well) and enjoying the clover blossoms. :)

Sitting with Charis on the sofa during devotions "singing" from a book, really getting in to dancing to a song, lollipops and baby dolls are fun, and I am a big kid now and want to do everything C & C does...it can tire Mommy out. We were at our Science Museum and she wanted to make sure and do it all. :)

Mercy, our big baby girl with her (of course, unclad) "Mercy" doll as we call it on the way home from church. Let me just say car rides are very loud, she decides whether she wants to say Momma or Dadda and just kind says/sings it very loud the whole time! It is an area we are working on with her to sit quietly in the car. ;)

Tagged :)

So, I was tagged to list 7 things I love... I think some of them take no thought...



1. I love the Lord and am so thankful for Jesus Christ and how he strengthens, guides and protects me and my family.



2. I love my husband! I am grateful for how he challenges me to grow (although I might not be so grateful during the time than after ;) )and how he consistently leads, loves and provides for his family.



3. I love my children. I can't imagine life without them and am grateful for each and everyone that God has seen fit to send our way! And I pray that He will continue to send us many more. :)



4. I love my family and am thankful to be close to them. I am grateful for their support and love the fellowship that we can have together. It is also special that my children can play with and enjoy time with their aunts and uncles. :)



5. I love baking and cooking and have so much fun trying and creating new things (especially desserts!) in the kitchen. I also derive great pleasure doing wedding cakes and such. So fun to be a part of such a special event.



6. I love sewing and now smocking as well. I enjoy clothing and such much better than other projects but I have a heap of stuff I need to finish right now!



7. I love babies, baby showers, births and birth stories. Everything about a new life is so exciting and it is such a blessing coming upon this Easter season knowing that Christ died and rose again that we might have new life in him!



I'm supposed to tag people but I don't have many I can...I'll "tag" Rebecah, Allie and Ruth Ann...if you read it and feel like doing it. :) RA, you can leave it in the comments section if you feel like it. :)