Land of Living Skies

*first - pause the music.*

Wow.

With the exception of the first two shots, all of the other scenes are Saskatchewan.

I would almost swear the elevator shot is Leask... (I actually asked them on the website I found this on. I'll let you know when I do!)

But seriously. Doesn't it just make you want to move here?
Sheesh.
I live here - and it makes me want to spend more time on a blanket, looking up at these incredible skies! And I'm super impressed with their Maker. :)

Land of Living Skies from Two Brothers Films on Vimeo.

August 30th, 2010 post-script:

They wrote me back. The elevator shot is actually Kronau - which is where my Auntie lives! :)

Anti-Stress?

It's funny how fear creeps in.
And I don't mean funny, "Ha-ha."

It's not like my world doesn't have the reality of a lost baby. I have friends all over who are living with the same heartbreak - some even more tragic than my own. But all these joint experiences seem to combine, at times, into a mindset where it is a true miracle that any baby is born healthy and alive.

I lay down for a nap on Saturday and got up around 4. Between 4 and 7 I only felt the faintest of flutters - odd for a baby who is getting pretty active. Crazy active at times.

So I prepared supper and played with Peyton and prayed. Ate supper praying with each bite. Bathed my daughter and reminded myself of Who gave her to me. I did some stuff on the computer with my mind and heart pleading, "Please Lord. Not again."

The end of that story was that she did - of course - start moving more urgently as the evening wore on. By the time Kurt got home at 10:30, she was causing my whole stomach to shift from side-to-side. I was beyond relieved.

I'm not ever in a place where I can think, "Of course she's okay." because I know that isn't necessarily true. Just wanting something to be fine doesn't make it so. Telling yourself positive mantras doesn't affect reality. Laughing at your fears doesn't make them irrelevant. When the world crashes around you, the anti-stress workshops seem almost comic in their simplistic approach to life.

This world is a place where bad stuff does happen. To think otherwise is kind of a head-in-the-sand approach.

So how does anyone cope?

In my case, it's Jesus.

Because I know He loves me. He has planned my future.
This baby, Peyton and Autumn are known to Him. He has given me all my children - but they are ultimately His.

I am known to Him. Whatever circumstances come across my path - tragic or triumphant - are for my good, His glory - and I will see that someday. I believe it - really I do.

He has humbled me and made me dependent. That's okay. Because just like chanting positive thoughts doesn't make tragedy disappear - thinking I'm in control doesn't make it so. How much better to embrace it - and better yet! - to embrace the One who has a firm grasp on the steering wheel?

Thanks to those of you who keep our family in your prayers and thoughts... it means so much. Keep up the good work! :)

I have no doubt that God is using all of that to keep us stable and sane. :)

Until Death Part Us...

Go check out this post from Abraham's blog.
Keep the Kleenex box close by...

27 Weeks

To quote Peyton: "Holy 'mokes!"

Another holy 'moke?
How quickly the counter is edging towards 100,000 visitors!
So thanks for that, friends. :)

The Facts of Life

Me: "Peyton! We're having chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy with brussel-sprouts for supper tonight!

(About those exclamation marks: I'm always enthusiastic about food. It's the best meal of the day.)

Peyton: "Chicken?" (looking questioningly to her Fisher Price farm-animal collection across the living room) "Eat chicken?"

Me: "You bet, kiddo. We eat chickens."

Peyton: (with a devious grin) "Heh-heh-heh."

A farm kid in the making, I'd say...

3rd Trimester, Dead Ahead

Today I have a foot, or elbow, or knee - something pointy! - sliding back and forth across my belly. 'She' has really ramped up her activity - and I'm really feeling the subsequent energy drain. (chuckle)

I told my manager I'd work until October 18th - but I'm wondering how that's going to play out. Not for lack of willingness to try, though! Take yesterday for example: I didn't even have to "do" too much, but after an afternoon of computer work I was almost limping as I left the office. It felt like 'she' was plucking at my sacroiliac nerve like a bowstring. (grin)

Even with this being my 3rd pregnancy, I'm surprised to remember how quickly the 2nd trimester "honeymoon" turns into 3rd trimester exhaustion. I guess it is official tomorrow - so I really shouldn't be shocked that I'm starting to get achy, short of breath, and am also - on top of everything! - waddling. (lol!) I'm not complaining - really. I'm just kinda amazed at how fast we got here.

It doesn't 'help' that our past 4 weeks have been a constant stream of activity: working, lakes, camping, driving, date-weekends (:))...

We want to do all this stuff - but when I wonder, out-loud, at 7 pm, "Geez. I'm tired. I wonder why?" Kurt just looks at me, my belly and our calender as if it say, "Duh, woman."

So onward we press - and this summer is flying by. We've gotten to do pretty much everything on our list: lots of swimming, time outside, and quality time together. B-G-III continues to grow, and is making up for her lack of activity over the first few months every night. I have two weekends back-to-back come end of August and September long... and then things will start to - please Lord? - slow down a little.

Just in time for harvest. (grin)

Isn't He Handsome?

Never mind. You don't have to answer that. :)

On another - and completely unrelated - note: 79 days! :-O

Nice Ride, Kid.

After swimming all afternoon, the method of transportation is both creative and effective when dealing with little legs + a steep hill.
But the question remains: just who came up with this idea?

The Most Adorable Picture of the Weekend Is... ?

Votes? :)

Two Years Difference

A comparison of these two pictures made me feel a little better about my 25-week gestation body. :)

After looking at them too long, I started to think there was no actual difference. Then I asked my mom and she said, "Wow. You're doing good." (grin!)

So yeah - that extra 30 lbs I was carrying while pregnant with Peyton does show in the first picture a little bit.

One more point which makes me happy: the first picture was taken around 7 am - before I went to work. Fresh hair, fresh makeup - clean clothes... you get the point.
By the end of the day I was no-doubt puffy, saggy and otherwise severely- haggard looking. :) It was also an emotionally challenging pregnancy - which I think aged me a little bit around the eyes.

It really started to show up around 28-29 weeks. In those pictures, I look exhausted and big.

So that said: this second picture was taken at 11:30 pm Wednesday night: after I had worked all afternoon and been kept awake because of coughing the night before. I was also having a less-than-perfect hair day, and wasn't wearing much for makeup.

Don't get me wrong. I'm no pregnant Heidi Klum (sigh...), but overall I'm thinking, "Meh. (shrug-sound) I guess it ain't so bad after all..."

With only 13 weeks go go, I'm thanking Jesus that this pregnancy has been relatively stress free so far. Baby is kicking like mad - growing great, and I'm busy enough that I'm literally forced to let God do his thing.

I'm thankful that despite everything every pregnant gal goes through with body-image, etc - I've been able to get pregnant again and that my body is doing okay so far. :)

I'm also very thankful that my bum hasn't gotten as big as it was. :-P

Life At Ease

My brother (Kiley) and his wife (Jessica) - along with Peyton's "boy cousin" (due only a week after her 'bebe sisser') have started a new business called "Life at Ease" which allows the convenience of online shopping and home delivery - anywhere.

As a bonus, if you spend over $75 it's free shipping. I don't know about you, but that's an easy feat for me. (sigh)At least this way I haven't spent the gas to get somewhere!

So far pretty much everything I've tried I've loved. Especially the laundry detergent, the facial tissues, the diapers and the skin care line (including foundation).

If you are so inclined, please feel free to check it out. You gotta shop anyway, right?
:)
(The link is also in my "loved links" bar waaaayyy down on the right-hand side.)

Currently Featured On My Desktop...

Feeling a little nostalgic for my sweet, chubby, baldish baby girl - only about 6 months old when this was taken. :)
Hopeful that I'll soon - Lord willing - have another one to cherish.

But look at the chubby arms and fingers!
Sigh. :)

Time Adjustment

This kinda feels like cheating - but with the 14-day adjustment, my countdown clock should actually read, "about 92 days to go."

Holy Cow!
How did it get below 100 so quickly???

Whoot!

Rejoicing with the Piper family on the safe arrival of their twins, Cadence and Whitson.
Great names, right? :-D
Congrats, Molly, my friend. God has been greatly glorified by your trust of him in spite of all the unknowns.
And since I am only technically 12 weeks behind you, I'm getting a little excited about my own bundle, too. ;-D