Burr...

The Farmers' Almanac is predicting a wet & colder than "normal" winter this year. Here is part of an arcticle they posted on their web site.
Could this winter's weather add to economic woes?

As homeowners across the country pray for a mild winter to offset rising energy costs, the world-famous Farmers’ Almanac is warning us to prepare for the worst. “Numb’s the word!” is how the 192-year-old publication is predicting the upcoming winter season. For 2008–2009, the Farmers’ Almanac is forecasting a “numbing” winter, with below-average temperatures for at least two-thirds of the country. Only the Far West and Southeast will see near-normal temperatures. Few, if any, locations will enjoy many above-normal temperature days this upcoming season.

Snow? Precipitation-wise, most of the South, as well as the Midwest, should experience above-normal conditions, while the rest of the nation will average close to normal. With below-normal winter temperatures and an above-normal precipitation forecast, the Great Lakes and Midwest will see above-normal snowfalls, especially during January and February.

Third Trimester

Today makes 7 months & the beginning of my third trimester. I am going to have to wrangle my friend Joanne into taking some pictures of me very soon. =o) My little ticker tells me I have 84 days to go. That seems like such a long time...but in reality it is already towards the middle of October & when you think of it in months - it seems like it is going to be here tomorrow! Yikes. I am starting to feel anxious & excited at the same time.

A picture of me...

I hardly ever like any pictures of me...however - I love this picture. So I thought I would share it.

Thursday...

I have been playing catch-up & trying to get a bunch of stuff crossed off of my "list". I feel overwhelmed. I know I can't get it all done - but the list just keeps getting longer!!! I was able to get a few things marked off yesterday & possibly a few more today. It is hard enough to keep up with day to day chores & tasks. I am praying for endurance & patience, these are what I feel I am lacking today.

Nursery

We have been working on the nursery here & there the last couple of weeks, but now you can see the fruit of our labor! Josh and his uncle Stephen painted the final coat of yellow on the walls on Saturday morning. The bedding that we ordered came in Monday. We bought letters & painted them white on Monday. Tuesday we decorated them & we hope to hang them on the wall soon. The room is coming together & I am so excited! I cannot believe it is already October!

We went to the doctor this morning & they said that Isaiah was measuring great. My Glucola test came back fine. My blood count was a little low - but I am already taking iron so I should be ok. I go back in 3 weeks & then every 2 weeks. I have been having some pain in my right leg & they said I need to stay off of my feet more. Because all the floors I walk on at work are just concrete with a layer of carpet glued down. They suggested I not work at the bookstore as much. So I am hoping my photography picks up more with a little advertising & I can cut back on some hours there at the bookstore.

Yikes Ike!

So much damage was done when the remnants of hurricane Ike rolled through the region on Sunday. I took several pictures of the damage. We survived with only minor damage to our gate on our fence & some limbs down. One of my flower pots blew away to who knows where!!! My Internet doesn't work because the power surges fried my modem for my DSL. That is why there have not been any posts from me. Who knows when I will get a new one because of all the damage to the area AT&T is behind on tons of calls. But we are very thankful our house was spared.

We helped my sister on Monday remove 4 or 6 large limbs from the top of her house. But no damage was done (somehow). They were very large & I am so surprised they didn't cave her roof in when they came crashing down.

Our power came back on @ 11:59 pm on Sunday. So we didn't loose any food in our fridge or freezer. However - my mom & step-dad still don't have power at her house out in the county. They are saying now it may take until Sunday for everyone's power to be restored. She brought some food over from her deep freeze to put in our big upright freezer to keep from spoiling. She also took a hot shower. Bless her heart - I feel so bad for them.

Here are some pictures from the damage (most of these were "drive by shootings" so some are a little blurry):




This is a corn crop that is completely blown down by the winds:This is a picture of my sister's house:
Also - there was an awesome ring around the moon on Saturday night that was caused by the Cirrus clouds coming in ahead of Ike. I couldn't get out of the trees and houses enough to show how enormous the ring was - but here are a couple of those pics:

Well - my Internet was down yesterday. So I didn't post. We primed the nursery this morning. Josh met with Dwayne at church this morning to practice music for in the morning. But we have to meet with Leanne at 1:30 for a separate practice for worship in the morning.

When Josh goes to work tonight I plan on trying to finish some pictures that need editing.

I have to work tomorrow in between church services & we are having a fellowship after the evening service - so I need to make something today to take to that tomorrow. Whew - so much for a day off! =o) God is good.

9/11

Seven years have gone by. It just doesn't seem possible! I couldn't imagine what was going on in the lives of those affected. So many ran to God for comfort. That comfort is always there and much more. I wish people would run to Jesus for Who He is all the time & not just when they are in need of something He has to offer.

Sharing secrets! I have a hard time keeping surprises bottled up...I don't spill the beans but I am always nearly falling apart at the seams with excitement. I can ramble about it on here all I want because it is a surprise birthday party for my Mother-in-law and she doesn't have the internet or even know what a blog is. So I am free on here! She is turning 50 & we are planning a surprise party for her on Oct. 13th. I started the invitations yesterday. I need to get them done so that I can work on the addresses & get them mailed before the end of September. I will take a picture of one and show you what they look like in the next couple of days.

Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Fix it! =o) Like I have said before...I have this mentality that it everything must be done right now! So - today I fixed a phone line upstairs, a piece to our cabinet in the kitchen. I organized my office and made the calendars that go on the fridge. They keep us informed on our different appointments, birthdays & events. I printed off October and even November! GO ME! I edited the baby registry that we have @ Babies "R" Us online. I even worked at the church until 3 PM today & it is just now 6:45 pm! I am walking out the door to head to youth group at church. I am fortunate for these energy bursts & thankful too!

What a day...I am exhausted. But I think I could do nothing & Isaiah would still use all of my energy! Josh had a dentist appointment this morning at 8:45. I cleaned on the house while he was gone - straightening is more the word. When he came home he made me breakfast - biscuits & chocolate gravy. I thought it would be disgusting - but it was actually very yummy. You make the cook & serve chocolate pudding as the gravy. Then we went to the bank to make a deposit, to Pet Smart to pick out couple of new toys for Kate, which she desperately needed! Then we went to Home Depot and picked out paint for the nursery. YEAH! We came home and cleaned & taped up the nursery & we will prime it first thing Saturday morning. I had to be at work at 2:30 & got off at 9:30. It is time to go to bed!

I love Mondays!

Most people don't like Mondays because it is the start of their work week after a couple of nice days off. BUT...one of our days off is Monday. So we usually try to enjoy ourselves or get some work done or a little bit of both. Today we are going to finish registering for Isaiah - work on the house a bit and then we are going over for dinner at our friends house & then we will come home and watch the Packer's play! So we will have a nice balance of work and play today. Hope you have a wonderful Monday.

Ring, Ring...

Josh's mom woke us up at 6:30 this morning with a phone call. She wanted to go garage sale shopping. There was a large sale that the "Mother's of Multiples" were having. We spent $27.50. We bought several outfits & clothes for Isaiah & a baby wipe warmer. Josh's mom went yesterday & bought a bouncy seat, several little toys & a few outfits & a pair of shoes. She also bought a formula dispenser even though she knows I am going to breast feed. She said told Josh, "Well...people have good intentions but then they change their mind". I told Josh this morning that I won't change my mind. If I tell myself that I might do it or I might not, then I probably will just give up when it hurts & is difficult. But if I say I am going to then I will hold myself to that. Crazy how it is only around 3 months away until little man will be here!

Yuck! Today is one of those days where you wake up tired because you know you are going to be exhausted once the day is done. You have a hard time just rolling out of bed because you dread the day so bad. Grrr.... I had to clean a house from 9 am - 2:30...run home, take a shower, eat a bowl of corn flakes with a banana, get ready to work at the bookstore & then leave. Worked at the bookstore from 3:30 - 9:30. So I had an hour long "break" between leaving one job & arriving at another. CRAZY. Made for a long 12 1/2 hour day! So - I am going to crash now. But I have been faithful in blogging everyday!

Another Adventure...

Josh and I took my dad fishing to one of our favorite fishing "holes" while he was in town. I caught a 4 lb bass & was super excited - can you tell? At the same time I caught mine my dad caught the little guy. Made for a fun pose. I put it on automatic but they still came out blurry. But the moment was captured just the same!

**NOTICE: These are my first pictures where you can see my pregnant belly! YEAH!