A fun filled day at Young's Dairy. The kids enjoyed it, although Alex will not feed the goats. Audrey, on the other hand, tries to hide a goat in her pocket to bring home each time we visit. They love to go to the goat ice cream place. To the best of my knowledge we are not eating goats nor are we eating goat-made ice cream. I could be wrong. The kids love to go into the barn and see the calves and kids and mother animals. I would think the smell would detour them but not so.

We did not sign Alex up for T-ball this year. It has been rather hectic and he has no interest in even putting on the glove we got for him. He would be the boy out in right field picking clovers or chasing flies. He loves to run and play so our sand box and swing set get used quite often. Thank the Lord for protection to Audrey - Alex loves his swing set so much and loves to swing HIGH and Audrey loves to run while Alex is swinging. Not run out of the way of the swing... so you can imagine the scare we had when she was "bonked" on the head. As I said, Thank the Lord she was ok, just a flesh wound.

The kids finished up VBS (BBS - per the kids) earlier this month. They loved it. My mom has started praying for Alex's kindergarten teacher. I guess Alex was increasingly wound up as the week went on. They loved the songs and the characters. In fact, both Alex and Audrey will say the Bible points all the time, just out of the blue. It will be nap time and I will hear, "Jesus gives us the power to help others! AHA!" or if Alex is almost asleep it is, "Jesus gives us the power to help others about God! AHA!" Alex also has his own interpretation of Amazing Grace - "Amazing grace how sweet the song that saved a wrench like me..." It is really cool to watch them learn. Alex and his daddy are going through his Bible for about the 7th time.

Alex and Audrey are also learning math. They already know all the letters and all of the sounds so now it is off to math. Alex loves it and Audrey is stuck at "eleventeen" which oddly enough comes after fourteen. I guess I should give the rotten two year old some time. Alex is all about adding and subtracting. Here is an excerpt from a very long car ride without daddy, our local mathematican: "Mommy, what is three plus three plus three plus nine?" "Alex, use your fingers...hold up three, now add three..." "Mommy what is two plus two plus two plus two plus two...." You see where I am going with this? Thankfully Audrey hasn't gotten into that yet because she wouldn't stop. Mostly because she would realize I wouldn't want to do it for ever. She is very perceptive, too perceptive.

Audrey looks like a sweet angel and acts like one one-fifth of the time. She is very loving and huggy when she thinks something is wrong. And then there is the rest of the time...while still loving in her own way, she terrorizes the dogs. She tells them that she loves them while choking them. By choking I mean two hands wrapped around their necks. You may think I am exaggerating - but I am not. She has tried to ride Maggie a couple of times. For those of you who are not familiar with our dogs they are Min. Pins weighing in at a hefty 11lbs each. She also terrorizes her brother (of which he is beginning to catch on and return the same) and her cousin Lorelai. Today she took a toy cat so Lorelai couldn't have it. She ran with Lorelai chasing after her, jumped on the chair and threw the cat behind it, then turned and smiled. If my mom tells me she acts like me one more time...

As for other things in life... I am just over 30 weeks pregnant. Large as in a very large something and growing every day. Anaiya kicks and pushes, shoves and bites. We go for an ultrasound in two weeks. Alex and Audrey always talk about the baby. Today Alex told his Sunday school teacher that even though the doctor says the baby is a girl, he knows it is a boy and we will call him Anaiah. Audrey thinks the baby IS my belly button and enjoys poking the baby. She also tells on the baby for kicking. Alex constantly talks to the baby and tells her that he loves her. He hugs my belly all of the time. Some days this makes me sad for I know that we may have to discuss why we do not have a baby at home later on. Thankfully those days aren't too close together. Although I would be lying if I said they were not occurring more frequently.

I know in my heart that this is not, and will not, be in vain. I have discovered and uncovered blessings that I would not have otherwise. Granted, I have had to look a little harder but that is okay. Growth isn't painless. While we will have more information in two weeks as to the condition of the baby I will never regret this time. We so often take life for granted - especially if it isn't ours and if it isn't perfect. While many may have different views or opinions as to our situation - never feel pity for me or my family. It is sad. I cry. But in the end when everything is said and done my faith will be stronger, my family will be stronger, my marriage will be stronger, my relationship with my children will be stronger, and my compassion for others be stronger - no matter the outcome. I don't have faith in God to get me what I want but to get me through in spite of what I want (and without being bitter). Plus it helps to have a personal relationship with the Creator of all things, right? It certainly doesn't hurt. And another thing - we're still waiting, miracles still happen, and it ain't over till the fat lady sings and I'm not singin' yet.