Fireflies and Photo-Bugs...

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." -Psalm 23

THIS! This is one of my husband's favorite Psalms. He even plays a tune to it on the guitar. I've heard this Psalm probably a million times. Not that I don't appreciate it, but I've never really related to it...until now.

I am at a point in my life where (while on summer break) I don't have to rush around for anything. As a matter of fact, I can sleep in. Every one of my children can make themselves breakfast (and lunch if need be). I don't necessarily sleep in late, but I do like to linger in bed. There is a huge Crape Myrtle tree in our front yard, and it completely covers my second story bedroom window. In the summer it's so full that I don't even close the curtains for privacy. There are a pair of cardinals (among a gazillion other birds) that hang out in our tree. Right now the blossoms on the tree are a tender, but vibrant pink. So, I spend my lazy mornings just staring out at this lively little space. I have no idea what kind of meetings or interactions are taking place, but I like to imagine the conversations being had. 

I feel as though, just like in the Psalm, God is slowing me down. He maketh me lie in bed to enjoy his tiny little natural world, just outside my window. "He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul."

I don't know what the fall will bring, but I do know that I will have a hand in homeschooling the children again. Last year Danny was the sole homeschool-facilitator. I was so ill from the pregnancy, that aside from my few days teaching at the Math Science Center, I couldn't handle anything else. 

We have very different methods and ideas when it comes to homeschooling. He is rigidly academic- driven, where I'm more art and nature-study-driven. I think it was brilliant to have the children experience both. Don't ask them which they prefer when Danny is in earshot :)

I'm excited to begin our nature journals more than anything else. You never know what you'll find when you're out exploring. Just tonight we found a few friends on our evening walk.

Lula is always catching fire flies:

I recently pulled my camera out. I haven't been taking photos; I haven't the desire or creativity lately. I wanted to make a few nice photos for Danny's mom before she headed back to Ethiopia. I figured the cell-phone pictures (though the quality isn't that bad) wouldn't cut it. So here I am, schlepping that dang heavy camera around because I have recently gotten the photo-bug. 

  

...and my goofy boy.

Well, we have 5 weeks left before we meet Noah. I know it sounds like a very short amount of time, but I am not doing well physically. I am completely wiped out. My body feels like it's not holding up. I can't explain how painful it is when Noah kicks downward. I remember this with the others a little, but this is just breath-taking. My doctor said that I am experiencing high fluids 25cm to be exact. This could put me in pre-term labor, but I'm fervently praying against that. Apparently, a low-sugar, high-fiber diet can help, so I'm working on making some dietary changes.  

Today was the first day I cried in a long time. Danny wanted us to take the kids to the beach, as much as I wanted to go, anxiety flooded over me. I can't go far for long. I get too tired. I got completely emotional because I felt like most days, I'm missing out. Danny will regularly take the children out while I rest. Today I didn't want to have to rest. 

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. 

Yeah, I know this is temporary, but it was just hard to grasp that today. 

I kept thinking that most pregnant women who miss out because they need to rest can say that it all pays off in the end. 

The reward in the end is all worth it. 

My reward is going to be taken from me and that was hard to grasp today.

We ended up going to my mom and Vince's pool across town and had a blast! We even dressed up as cows afterward and enjoyed free Chick Fil-A for Cow Appreciation Day :) 

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

Kobe had an amazing thing happen to him tonight. He got a phone call from his good friend Juan.

Juan had been in a very bad car accident a month and half ago. For the first three days after the accident, the doctors said that Juan was brain dead. We have been praying for him every day and every night. Updates would trickle in and little by little we would get news of his progress. Just a couple updates ago, he was giving yes and no signs. Then he was smiling, moving limbs, and giving more responses. 

Every update, Kobe would run into my room and jump around in excitement. "Look mom, look what Juan is doing now!"
So you can imagine what it was like for Kobe to get a phone call from him tonight. 

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

God is good!