Grateful Acres

So I posted the pictures of our vacation onto Facebook, but I can't really put all the stories that go with them into the little caption boxes... so, I thought I'd share them with you on here! I'm really bad at organizing pictures throughout text, so I'll do my best to coordinate stories to pictures... We left early in the morning on Saturday, and began the first 7-hour leg of our road trip to Harris Ranch, in Coalinga, Ca (aka my favorite place on earth :) ). We spent one night in Redding, CA, and then finished the drive and stayed 5 nights at Harris Ranch. On friday our little family parted ways with the rest, and headed to the coast to see the Redwoods! Ok, photo #1~ I wanted to include this picture because of the little tin Henry is holding. I bought both the boys a tin lunch box, and filled them with snacks, pencils, mini sketch pads, flash cards of bugs and animals... lots of little goodies from the Target dollar section. I totally recommend this to ...

Another one, in two ways: another blog post, just minutes after my last, and another child. Don't freak out, I'm not pregnant. I was writing in my journal of prayers just now, to ask God when I can have my next little one: July 13th God, your (I meant to write "our" -an honest mistake, but one worth leaving) next child is in your hands already. I feel the little one, perched at the edge of heaven, waiting for us to be ready, and for you to say the word. God, earnestly I ask you: prepare me. Prepare me so that I can have the privilege of carrying (and raising!) another human life. God, it is my heart's desire to meet our next child while they still have life in their eyes, this time- but your will be done, not mine. I trust you to give and to take life, even lives I once considered "mine". Prepare my husband, God. His heart runs so deep. Often I can't see the deepest parts, but You can- you created them. Prepare our boys to love another member of our...

**pictures are mostly unrelated... they are just of the boys enjoying one of the last empty packing boxes. Josh and I have been thoroughly enjoying hosting as many friends as possible in our new home! (Really, as many as possible. I think we've had about 4 days since we moved that we HAVEN'T had people over :) ) An elephant sometimes comes with our guests, and most people gently acknowledge it at some point: "So... we've heard about what happened to you...we're so sorry." I'm always glad when people aren't afraid to mention little Evelyn. I'm not afraid to talk about her, and I don't want you to feel awkward about her either. One little family we hosted recently expressed along with our elephant, that they were apprehensive to surrender more of their hearts to God, for fear that He would put them through something awful. I didn't have the opportunity (or the words, at the time) to express my response, but it has been in my heart since, and ...

So... Jonathan has this Teddy bear. It's not just any teddy, it's THE Teddy. He (and I ) has become emotionally attached to it, and I can totally see why: it's the kind of Teddy that ANY kid would fall in love with. Anybody remember Corduroy? Teddy looks like him. Grandma gave Teddy to Jonathan when he was born, and J became attached to him around 1 year old. Teddy came with us to the ER when Jonathan had a high fever (aug. '09), Teddy came with us to a family photo shoot with Caitlin Hooper (Cait Designs- look her up!), and Teddy has been snuggled, pee'd on, puked on, hugged, loved... I remember the first time I washed Teddy. It was a rather emotional experience for me. I had to strategically plan when to wash him (he was becoming more stinky than I could ignore...), so that J could have him for both nap time and bed time. I don't think I told Jonathan that Teddy was going to be washed, but I felt SO GUILTY dunking him under the soapy warm water in my sink. I w...