Baby Spencer…

Just a quick update to say that baby Spencer is HOME and is doing well Eating very well, and adjusting well to the increased volume of attention put forth by his very very excited big brother and big sister!!!

Thank you so much to everyone that has called, emailed, texted, facebooked, stopped by for a visit, sent flowers, brought flowers, brought food, gifts…etc, etc, etc!!! We are so so blessed to know SO many wonderful people! A VERY special thanks to my Mama who has been an overwhelming blessing to our family since she arrived a week ago! She goes home tomorrow and we will miss her for SURE!

I’ll update as I am able. Three kids are keeping me much busier than I thought, lol!!!

 

It’s a BOY!!

Well, it has been a whirlwind of a weekend but a wonderful one all the same!
Baby Spencer Nathan-Josiah has been added to the Hill roster and he is such a cutie!
He joined our clan on May 4, 2012 at 5:09 am, weighing 5lbs, 9oz and measured 18.5″ in length!
He had some prematurity issues after arrival and has been hanging out in his big sisters stomping grounds: the NICU, since delivery! (Born at 34 weeks)
He has however been making incredible progress and Mommy gets to sneak down this morning for kangaroo care

I’ll keep everyone updated!!
In the meantime, here are some pics!

 

Giving Thanks (continued…)

There are always SO many reasons to be thankful- even when your world seems turned upside down.

271. For palmolive dish soap, upholtsry cleaner, toothpaste and windex– all remedies that work to remove the MANY marks from a black sharpie marker made by our partners-in-crime: Benjamin & Sophia. 

272. For friends that show their love in the most practical and thoughtful ways! We feel so blessed to know so many wonderful, caring people!

273. For spring cleaning and a husband who has so diligently taken on this task! He is doing an amazing job.

274. For praying friends.

275. For great dr’s reports. For my own, and for others we have been praying for. Lot’s of reason to give God praise!

276. For so many babies that are due to arrive this summer or after! Lots of little friends for our newest member

277. For cool, breezy spring days that are perfect for playing outside as well as perfect for getting out the BBQ & patio furniture. (….don’t worry, I just watched!)

278. For small groups. Meeting new people, making new friendships- what could be better?!

279. For organized closets.

280. For all the fun that planning for a baby brings! So much excitement over the coming months!

 

I Give Thanks…

Today I’d like to continue my thankfulness list with 10 reasons as to why I’m feeling oh so grateful for my hubby!!

261. Because he’s my very best friend.

262. Because he is the most wonderful Daddy to Ben & Sophie!!

263. Because he is already SO in love with baby number three!

264. Because he works all day to “bring home the bread” and then he works equally as hard all night to “keep house”.

265. Because he is a man who follows hard after Christ.

266. Because he so diligently cares for our family’s finances with wisdom and great aspiration for the future!

267. Because he dreams BIG and chases those dreams without hesitation!

268. Because he loves me with his whole heart.

269. Because he sincerely values my opinions and wholeheartedly supports MY big dreams.

270. Because he’s very quick to forgive when it’s “my” fault… and because he’s so willing to say sorry when it’s “his”

I love you so much Nathan! Thanks for choosing me as your wife and best friend! <3

 

Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King…

251. For the gift of salvation. No truer way of demonstrating love than the way that Jesus Christ laid his own life down for each one of us.

252. For a family that truly makes us feel so loved- especially during the holidays when missing home becomes overwhelming. Thank you Cousinueau family!

253. For movie nights at home with my hubby.

254. For declarations of faith through water baptism and for new memberships at church. What a wonderful easter sunday morning! So encouraging!

255. For BIG smiles on easter sunday morning as two cutie pies find baskets filled with chocolate and that one thing they were hoping for

256. For long distance plans…because I have no idea what I would do if I could not at least ‘hear’ my Mom and Dad’s voices….

257. For afternoon naps.

258. For sunny days- where the kids can play their hearts out in the backyard! They have so much fun!

259. For tiny sleepers, booties and hats! Looking forward to the next coming months when I can snuggle our new little bundle of joy!

260. For little nudges and kicks…gentle reminders that all is well with my baby!

 

More thanks…

241. For sweet, sweet, peace.

242. For rainy days. If it weren’t for rainy days, we wouldn’t know how to appreciate the sunny ones

243. For snuggles with my baby girl.

244. For chats with my big boy!

245. For a husband that cares so deeply. I admire him so much for all he does to care for our family.

246. For a week of meals supplied by various friends. We did not have to cook one single meal (except breakfast of course!)

247. For friends who like family, jump in to care for our children when needed! Ben & Sophie are blessed to know such wonderful people- as are we!

248. For skype! I haven’t seen my parents in many months. While that can be very hard at times, being able to seem them at least for a bit this way is a huge blessing!

249. For a new book- just released this week! And more waiting to be read as gifts from special friends!

250. For music…sometimes putting some music on is just what you need to reunite with your smile.

 

Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!!

236. For the safe keeping of our little one.

237. For friends that have truly spoiled us with blessings!

238. For welcome home cuddles from my precious boy and sweet sweet girl!

239. For a tenderhearted puppy who camps outside of precious boy and sweet girls room while they are feeling sick.

240. For a hubby who has been so wonderful. My best friend, my support and never-ending supply of love.

 

Thankfulness Continues…

 226. For a peace that can only come from God about the decisions that accompany buying and selling a house!!

 227. For kicks and squiggles from a new little life! Can’t wait to meet you little one.

 228. For the advice and encouragement from our praying friends! Thanking God extra for all of you today!

 229. For the healthy delivery of two baby girls from two of our very special friends: baby Annabelle on January 29 (to Corey & Luisa Parish) and baby Addison on February 27 (to Andrew & Jemita Aucoin)!! Can’t wait to meet these little princesses!

 230. For the laughter that our little four-legged addition has brought to our two very excited babes!!

 231. For a husband that takes special care of providing for his family. Not only making the money but taking special care to budget well and properly plan for our future.

 232. For the promise of spring. I love winter- love the snow…but I love the new life and ‘freshness’ that comes with spring too!

 233. For phone calls from home and the distance that those calls seem to close… if even just for a small while.

 234. For mornings with my babes! Whether going for a walk on a sunny day, or cuddling on the couch watching ‘Rio’ on a rainy day… I love their chatter and their laughter! It’s an amazing opportunity I get to enjoy and I don’t wish to take it for granted.

 235. For McDonald’s fruit smoothies!! They are so delicious

 

 

10 Day YOU Challenge – Four Books!!

I haven’t been really keeping up with my blogging at ALL this year, so I thought that today would be a great day to work on catching up on some of my long overdue posts!!

 Remember my “10 Day You Challenge” ??

 Well, I seem to have left off way back in November at number 5!! So, please forgive me for leaving so much time lapse, and allow me to continue on that journey!

 Four Books:

 (4)  “Divine”- by: Karen Kingsbury// I love to bring this book out every Christmas! It’s about a young lady whose horrendous past only inspires her to speak into the lives of many young girls dealing with the same- many years later. Abused during her childhood in so many ways, ‘Mary’ determines to devote the rest of her life in sharing the wonderful story of Christ and how he saved her to the women that come to her facility feeling empty and looking for answers!

 (3) “Redeeming Love”- by: Francine Rivers// This book is not a book I ever thought that I would enjoy. I read it for the first time about 6 or 7 years ago because so many of my lady friends had recommended it to me. I very quickly fell in love with this story of unconditional true love and now I own my own copy and enjoy reading it over again!

 (2) “Heaven is For Real”- by: Todd Burpo// This book was very recently recommended to me by a sweet lady in my church. It is a wonderful book written about a very young boy who encountered heaven during a surgery he had. The boy recalls his experience while in heaven and his Pastor Dad writes down his story showing how it lines up with what scriptures tell us about heaven. I read this book cover to cover in just a day! It very quickly became one of my very favorite books!!

 (1) “The Bible”- Definitely a favorite! I don’t even know where I would start to explain how wonderful I know the bible to be…

 

These days….

My Grandmother always has this saying “All it takes is just one moment for your life to surely change!”

Well, truer words could not be spoken! Think of how many ‘moments’ brought drastic change to your life:

* the ‘moment’ your new baby entered the world

* the ‘moment’ you fell in love

* the ‘moment’ you’re told you have cancer

* the ‘moment’ you lost your job

Some moments are wonderful- some moments are scary and not-so-wonderful! But, whether you are dealing with the effects of a wonderful moment or a not-so-wonderful moment please know that God always remains in control, and that if he has brought you to that moment it is most certainly for a reason. We just simply need totrust him.

Sometimes that is difficult to do, but I believe that God will mold us as he gives us each moment.

There is a song that I have fallen in love with that can surely pick you up during your difficult moments. I thought that I would share it with you

Its called “These Days” by Mandisa

I never liked Mondays or bad news
Or breakin in new shoes
And mornings when I can’t find my phone
Nobody likes traffic or short nights
Or situps or long flights
But sometimes that’s just the way it goes
It’s funny what you use to help me grow…

So I’ll learn to love these days
Life along the way
In the middle of the crazy
God your love is so amazing
Through the ups and downs
You’re the only hope I’ve found
The Lord you meet me in the madness

I’ll learned to love these days
I’ll learned to love these days

I can see a silver linin
When the sun’s not shinin’
Even when you choose to bring the rain
Oh, but I’m trustin your leadin’
‘Cause your Lord of all my joy and all my pain

So I’ll learn to love these days
Life along the way
In the middle of the crazy
God, your love is so amazing
Through the ups and downs
You’re the only hope I’ve found
The Lord you meet me in the madness

I’ll learned to love these days
I’ll learned to love these days

I could wait the hundred years
You gave me here the days when you near
The days when I was out there
Lookin for what comes next
Oh, cause every minute,every hour, everyday
Is such a gift and I can say
I’m thankful for each day

So I’ll learn to love these days
Life along the way
In the middle of the crazy
God, your love is so amazing
Through the ups and downs
You’re the only hope I’ve found
The Lord you meet me in the madness

So I’ll learned to love these days
I’ll learned to love these days
I’ll learned to love these days
I’ll learned to love these days

I hope that everyone is having a very blessed day!