Amazing Grace - How Bittersweet it is

I still have several posts from the past few months to make and was hoping to post in order but I really feel like I have to post a snap shot of these past two weeks.  These incredibly sad weeks.

We started out last week with the Boston Marathon Bombings on Monday 4/15 and the chaos that ensued.  Then, much closer to home, a dear friend's mother passed away.  On 4/17 there was an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas.  Finally, on Thursday 4/18 a young lady from church gave birth at 28 weeks pregnant.  Her sweet baby boy passed away the next day after 14 hours in this world.

I went to two memorial services in less than a week's time.

My dear friend's mom's funeral was last Saturday.  She and her husband (his dad) were married for 40 years.  It was incredibly heartbreaking to see the pain her family was in with her passing.  She was such a blessing in this world.  They also talked about how amazing it was that my friend's parents were married for 40 years.  It sure is commendable, especially in today's society.  Marriage can be hard work - I know!  Next summer Jay and I will be married for a decade!  I hope when I pass away "they" can say that through good and bad we stuck together and worked through life together.

Tonight was the memorial service for sweet baby Loretto.  I never did get to meet him.  Baby Lee 2.0 was kicking like crazy throughout the whole service.  I'd like to think she was telling me that Loretto is now doing great and is home with Jesus waiting until his family and we all join him in heaven or at the time of the Resurrection. It was particularly hard for several reasons but two of them include that I was 6 weeks behind her in this pregnancy (thank you Jesus that we are still going strong, I can't even imagine the pain) and also remembering my dear sisters funeral. She passed away 10 days before her 1st birthday.  Baby funerals are hard.

One thing is for sure, the two individuals whose memorial services I attended are in heaven with Jesus waiting.  And as sad as these last two weeks have been, the thing we can take comfort in is God's amazing Grace.

AMAZING GRACE

 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
 

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
 

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
 

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
 

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
 

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Jay's Graduation!

On 12/14/2012 I had one of those super proud moments.  The type you remember forever.  My amazingly smart and brilliant husband graduated from college. He already had (several!) associates degrees, but while working super hard to support our family, he continued on with school for his Bachelor's in Business Management with a concentration in Accounting.  Eventually he plans to go forward with schooling for a Masters and hopefully will be able to fulfill his goal of working in accounting and/or teaching at the collegiate level.  He truly is so smart it's crazy.  I hope our kids learn from his hard work ethic and I hope they are blessed with his smart genes!  My mom, sister, and my mom's boyfriend joined Keegan and I in watching Jay walk the stage. Aahhhh....

 

 

 

 

Elf on the Shelf 2012 - Introducing Paddy Cake

I decided to join the Elf on the Shelf bandwagon this past Christmas!  Aunt Kiki was kind enough to "Sponsor" our Elf's journey to our house and he arrived 12/01/2012!

 

The week prior to his arrival we had been reading the Elf on the Shelf book that comes in the set to Keegan every night to familiarize him with the Elf.  He named the Elf himself as well - Paddy Cake!  There has been some discussion as to his exact name and spelling but Keegan named him after his beloved Pat-a-Cake Curious George book and I think it's cute. Paddy it is - an Irish name of course :-)

 

I must admit, I was totally uninspired this year.  What 2 year old would truly appreciate extreme Elf on the Shelf creativeness anyways?  So here you have it - 24 days of Paddy before he headed back home:

Megan's Baby Brunch 12-02-12

I've become good friends with Megan - the "First Lady" of our Church a/k/a the Pastor's wife.  Their family feels like family to me if that is possible.  I am so blessed to have them in my life!  Megan was expecting their third child in January.  He made a surprise appearance a few weeks early in late December and is just the cutest thing!

My other other half Amanda (my bff that I work with, go to church with, and spend more time than anyone with) wanted to plan a sprinkle/brunch for Megan and AJ (the pastor) with some of our church friends and monthly bible study friends.  We decided to hold it at Beef O'Brady's here in Lehigh because they have a separate room but it would keep it simple food-wise and we'd be able to surprise Megan (she thought her and AJ were going to lunch after church).

I ordered some cute cupcake topper printables from Etsy and made cupcakes and purchased  some matching plates, napkins etc.  I had also ordered matching candy bar wrappers for favors.  I probably shouldn't admit this, but I made a diaper cake too (it was very basic and not that pretty or sturdy!). That was kind of the extent of decorating but I thought the cupcakes and candy bars were cute.  I have a thing with cutesy cupcakes and cupcake topper printables.

Why hello there, it's nice to see you again!

So I've managed to let more than 3 months pass since my last post.

Not much has happened, yet so much has happened.

I've been MIA for a reason.

Baby Lee 2.0 is due to make an arrival at the end of the summer!

I forgot just how exhausting the first trimester was with Keegan.  I hated it.  I had bad morning sickness and exhaustion and it was all I could do to go to work and come home and sleep.  I also had a husband who was home most nights at that time and no other kids to care for daily.  Well, fast forward almost 3 years and I have a husband who works lots of night shifts and a 2 year old and still the nausea and exhaustion. I will say I welcomed the second trimester with open arms! I do LOVE being pregnant, 1st trimester aside... 

This time, I am still pretty tired though.  Not like the first trimester but I don't have the energy I would like.  I'm working on it!

I am 22 weeks!  God willing, I will be crossing off number 1 on my list of 35 by 35 in August.

In the next week or so, I will go back and post things from the last few months.  Then I hope to stay pretty on top of things.  I still have to post about Christmas!  And Easter!  And anything in between....Man....

Here's a sneak peek at Baby Lee 2.0.

Here's Baby Lee a/k/a Keegan - not fully cooperating on the picture thing...