Scrap Mama of 3

Maingot Update

2009-07-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

Gosh I have been using FB that I have neglected my blog. Well the Maingot's have some excited news....we are having a baby in December. The story of how this came to be is so special. Gary was totally DONE with having children. I on the other hand just had the desire in my heart to have one more. I pryaed for two years that God would either change his heart or mine. In March Gary came to me and said that he felt God spoke tio his heart about not standing in the way of something that I really desired. So, we tried that month and got pregnant! The best part is that we found out on Levi's 4th birthday! I was convinced that this little baby had to be a boy! Well after the specialist scanning me and saying 80%-90% that it was a girl, I paid today for a private ultrasound tech today to tell me. She said I was the hardest person she has ever scanned....and gave me a 99% chance it was a GIRL!

I have to be honest, when the specialist told me I went home and cried my eyes out. I felt like I was grieving my little boy all over again. From all the signs I couldn't understand why God wouldn't give us a boy. I am then reminded that our ways are not God's ways. He is perfect and doesn't make mistakes. I am happy that I am able to get pregnant and experience this amazing thing of carrying life and giving birth. So I am rejoicing with having a little girl. God has a special plan for her. I have to have a scheduled C-section December 16. We picked out Sadie Grace for her name.

Here are some pics of my other girls!

Hannah and best buddy first day of Vacation Bible School

Well, I hope to be a better blogger! Have a blessed remainder of summer!

Brenda

Story of Levi

2009-04-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

This is the story written soon after the death of my son for his scrapbook.

Thursday, April 14, 2005 is a day that will be with me forever. I was 36 weeks pregnant with Levi. I had a regular doctor’s appt. scheduled at 2:15. In the examing room Dr. Dimmette could not detect a heartbeat. She said that it could be because he was breach. I had to wait about 15 minutes for the ultrasound room to open, so I called Gary to tell him what was happening. When we hung up Gary immediately put me on the prayer chain at church. As soon as Dr. Dimmette put the ultrasound camera on my belly I knew that my baby was gone. I saw the flat line at the bottom of the screen. Dr. Dimmette waited some time before telling me what I already suspected. I started to cry and so did she. She sent me to the hospital to confirm what we both already knew. I told her that I just wanted to go that I did not want to wait until Gary got there. I walked across the parking lot and entered the maternity ward of the hospital. The nurses met me and took me to a room where another ultrasound was performed. The results were the same. I did not have the heart to tell Gary on the phone when he called. I waited until he got there. He wouldn’t believe it. He began to pray over my belly for about 10 minutes. He then asked them to perform another ultrasound, unfortunately it was with the same results. Gary became so angry. The first person he thought to call was our beloved friend Pastor Ken. He spoke with Pastor Ken and shared his frustrations that he was feeling. Pastor Ken encouraged him by listening to him and giving him scripture verses. By this time people from church were coming to give support. I asked Dr. Dimmette if I could go home and have the C-section the next day. I didn't have an outfit for Levi, or a camera and my sister-n-law would not have time to get there from Orange County to get an imprint of Levi’s hand. Dr. Dimmette said okay, the C-section was scheduled for the next day at 4:00 p.m. On the way home from the hospital I called my buddy from work, Dawn Smith, to tell her what happened and to let Rob, my boss, and the others know. I called Olivia to set up babysitting for Hannah for the time I would be in the hospital. The next day I had to be at the hospital at 2:30 to be ready for surgery by 4:30. We were in the middle of moving to accomdate our growing family so my mother-n-law and I packed up some of the house. I called people to let them know what had happened. Things really did not hit me until I was getting prepped for the C-section. All the emotions hit me like a ton of bricks and I began to cry. Once I was in the operating room I calmed down. That was until I received my spinal. No one warned me that it would numb me to make me feel like I could not breathe. I screamed loud that I was going to die and I couldn’t breathe. The anesthesiologist gave me an amnesia drug called vercede to make me forget what was happening to me. Once I calmed down Gary was allowed in the room. Up until this point we did not know why Levi died. But we soon learned when Dr. Dimmette said, “a true knot”. Levi had the umbilical cord in a “true knot” and wrapped twice around his neck. When I was done and in the recovery room I was allowed to hold Baby Levi. The family came in to see us. My sister-n-law Heather took Levi’s hand print out of this molding clay. Since we knew why Levi died we decided not to have an autopsy performed. We immediately had to start planning our son’s funeral. The hospital gave us a list of funeral homes and told us to be careful because there were some who took advantage of the grief people were feeling. We called our church to find out who they recommended; they said “Miller Jones”. Two minutes later our Aunt Bonnie called with the same recommendation. Gary and I got to spend several hours holding our baby. I took a little nap with him lying in my arms. Around 10:30 that night a young girl from the funeral home came to pick up our Baby Levi. That was the last time we saw him. We look forward to the day when we will see him in heaven.

God Plans our steps

2009-01-23T22:50:00.000-08:00

My Auto Mechanic's wife called me yesterday to tell me a story. She has a friend that was just about due with a baby boy. The girl missed a playdate so Rochelle called her. The girl told her that she had to have an emergency C-section. She proceeded to tell Rochelle that she stopped feeling her baby move. She ate candy, drank orange juice, laid on her side, etc. She called the doctor (happened to be same Doctor as mine). They told her to do all the same things as she did. They didn't have any openings at the office so they told her to go to the hospital for some monitoring. She was hooked up to machines and they found the baby's heartbeat. But the strange thing was that when they moved her belly the heart rate went down rather than up. So, they performed an emergency C-section. What they found was the cord wrapped three times around his neck and a true knot in the cord. Had she waited any longer the baby would not have made it. After hearing this story Rochelle told her that that had happened to one of her friends but Baby Levi didn't make it. Her friend said that is his name! She proceeded to tell her that she remembered 3 years earlier sitting in Dr. Dimmette's office talking to a girl that was just pregnant after having lost her Baby Levi. The story of what happened stuck with her, she couldn't remember the mommy's name but just Baby Levi. The entire time she was contemplating on if she was really feeling the baby move, the still small voice was saying "Baby Levi, Baby Levi". Going with that she went in and it saved her baby.

The reason why I am telling you this is that it wasn't by chance that I sat next to this girl 3 years ago telling her my story. God, being all knowing, planned our steps to meet for a brief moment in time in which He used my grief and pain to save her baby's life. God wants to be intimately involved in our lives if we allow Him to be.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2008-12-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

I LOVE Christmas! I love the lights, the shopping, wrapping presents, receiving cards in the mail, the tree, the baking, but most of all... celebrating the birth of Jesus. After all it is all about Him. My church, Revival Christian Fellowship, had an amazing Christmas service. Pastor Gary is so annointed by God to send the message of the gospel in terms that a child could understand. Anyone can listen to the message on the church's wesite http://www.revial.tv/. The worship from Gabe still gives me goose bumps. I can hear in my head.. Emmanuel God with us. Jesus doesn't have to be with us on Christmas we can have Jesus with us every day. My prayer and gift to Jesus this coming year is to know Him more and to show others who He is through my life. These last couple of years have been hard and I feel as if my light for the Lord has had a dimmer switch on. But I do not want the trials and tears I have experienced to be in vain. I hope and pray that they could be used to help others going through the same situation. I know that it has been through His grace that Gary and I have gotten through the death of our son, the loss of our home, the death of his twin brother, moving twice, the loss of 75% of our income, and recently the death of our sister-n-law. God has provided everything we needed in His perfect timing.

Here are some pictures from our Christmas:

The girls were so excited to open their package from Aunt Nene.

The Maingot Cousins singing for Granny at the Maingot Family Christmas Party.Hannah and Hattie on their way to church Christmas Eve.We could not find the cat Hannah got from Gary's lifelong friend Lorne. After much searching I found him in the Christmas Tree.

Hannah waiting patiently to open her presents Christmas Morning.

Truman and Bailey were excited for Hattie to get a dog she could walk instead of them!

Remember... God Keeps His promises. A rainbow appeared on our ceiling when Gary and I made the painful decision to walk away from our home. On the way to Gary's parents' home Christmas morning I am again reminded to trust in God, He indeed keeps His promises.

Brenda

Time to Reflect

2008-11-28T23:29:00.000-08:00

I am writing this post with a heavy heart. My brother-n-law's ex wife passed away Wednesday evening of an aneurysm. It was very sudden and unexpected. In fact Gary and I talked to her a few hours before it happened. Susan is the mother of my beloved nephews Zack and Philip, and niece Amber. When I first met the Maingot family she was already married to Greg, Gary's older brother. She was one of the first people to reach out to me and make me feel welcome in the family. She absolutely loved her kids. It has broke my heart to see my niece and nephews hurting so bad. The only thing I know to do is pray. I pray that they feel the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. The same peace that was with Gary and I when Levi died and then two years later when Larry, Gary's twin brother, died.

Greg , Amber, and Susan at Amber's High School Graduation June 2007

For me, Thanksgiving this year was a time to reflect on what is important. So many times I tell my kids just one more minute mommy has to finish this or do that. Or, I can't right now because I have to get this or that done. I put off writing letters to my mom or sending emails out to family because "I just don't have enough time". I find myself so busy, busy with what? Am I making the ones I say I care about a priority on my list or do I take for granted that they will be there later when I get around to them? I challenge you blog readers to send out a card or e-mail, call, something, to that person that has been on your mind. You will be so thankful that you did!

On a lighter note here are pictures from Hannah's Thanksgiving Day Feast.

Lots of Love,

Brenda

Blog I love

2008-11-17T16:38:00.000-08:00

Below you will find a link to a blog that I love. Jessics is having a baby scrapbooking session starting in December. So, for all my new mommy friends take a look and she what she is up to.

The Life, Faith & Creativity of Jessica Turner

2008-11-17T16:35:00.000-08:00

The Life, Faith & Creativity of Jessica Turner

I am Back!

2008-10-30T20:15:00.001-07:00

I have not been a good blogger. I have had a lot going on. Few of the things I was dealing with were up in the air but now things seem to be settling down. I hope to be on some kind of schedule soon, i.e. cleaning on Monday, shopping on Tuesday and spending the day with friends on Wednesday.

I have 6 students. The learning curve has been HUGE! I really enjoy the job and the flexiability. I can still work in Hannah's class and take Hattie to the park. I pray for 5 more students so I can qualify for health insurance.

Gary's buisness has picked up slightly. The $700,000,000 bailout plan might be working. Pray for us through the holidays, that is when it is the slowest. But we know our Lord always provides for us.

So, during the past 7 weeks we have had Hattie's second birthday.

We have been to Disneyland twice to celebrate birthdays. It is so nice to have passes. We bring our lunch and drinks and if we spend any money it is less than $20.00!

Hannah has advanced two levels in gymnastics. She is now in Starfish 2 which is preteam level.

She received her first award at school. It was for showing "HEART". That is her school's motto. Each letter stands for something but I cannot remember what.

As for me I have been in the mood for fall. I have decorated the house and scrapped the pages hoping that if i do it the weather will come. It has not happened thus far.

We have gone to the Pumpkin Patch with both friends and cousins. Tomorrow is our Churches' Harvest Fest. It is an alternative to Halloween. We go and the kids get so much candy! Our church has collected over 30 garbage cans worth of candy.

Hannah and Hattie with cousins Hayden & Nolan and Baby Drake!

Well, I think I posted enought pictures for now. Have an awesome day!

Brenda

Look Where We Have Been!

2008-09-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

Last week our really good friends invited us to stay with them at a hotel near Disneyland. They already had the room and we have passes to The Magic Kingdom, so, it was FREE! Here are a few memorable photos from the Happiest Place of Earth!

I am reading a really good book, The Shack. It was recommended to me by two good friends. My friends and I started reading last weekend at My church's Women's Retreat. I am the only one not done with it. My friends are pushing me to get it done soon so we can discuss it. I love the book but I get so sleepy when I read. I hope to finish it tonight after Couples Bible Study.

I have gotten 4 students thus far. I have enjoyed meeting the families and getting them set up with homeschooling. I have yet to volunteer in Hannah's class. I hope to get in there this week or next. It is strange not being in the class everyday after being with my parent participation preschool. But I guess change is good.

In this picture Hattie is asking Mickey to come to her birthday party. The theme is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. That is as close as she would get to him.

This is as close as Hattie would come to Minnie. If Minnie came any closer she would say," I don't want to."

Hope your Labor Day Weekend was great!

Brenda, AKA ScrappyB

Hannah a Kindergartener

2008-08-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

Hannah started Kindergarten yesterday. She is attending Lisa J. Mails which is a public school that has a focus in the arts here in Murrieta, California. I learned tonight at Back to School Night that the last 30 minutes of the day they have a rotation in drama, music, art & singing. This is so up Hannah's ally. I thought I would be crying my head off the first day, but I didn't. Hannah was so excited to line and get into the classroom that I didn't want my emotions to ruin it for her. Now, the second day of class I started crying real tears. The growth in her amazes me. When she went to the 3's class two days a week 9:15-11:45 she cried almost the entire year every time I dropped her off. Last year in Preschool she didn't cry but still hung around me when I was dropping her off. This year she has such confidence. She wants to get in line and sends me away.

Okay another subject, my job... love it. I am amazed with how nice everyone is. I have had weeks worth of training, now I need a student. So, if you could please pray that I would get a least one so I can apply all that I have learned I would appreciate it. Also, I have an unspoken prayer request. It is personal and I really do not want to talk about it for multiple of reasons, so if you think about it pray for me.

I hope you enjoy the photos and hopefully video if I can get it uploaded.

God Bless,

Brenda

Sisters Wanna Have Fun!

2008-08-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

Today the girls really seem to play well together. Hannah received a Hannah Montana dress up kit along with 2 CD's of her music. The girls decided they wanted to sing her stuff. Hattie went and got the Hannah Montana Barbie doll and Hannah put on the get-up. I realized I can video tape from my camera. Notice the picture of Hannah before the video and then how everything is falling off and landing on the floor.
I am bummed that I wasn't able to post the video, the file was too big. I will have the girls do it again tomorrow and make it shorter. Until then, goodnight

Brenda

Happy Birthday Hannah

2008-08-04T08:42:00.001-07:00

Hannah had her 5th birthday party on Saturday. My Aunt Bonnie hosted the Luau pool party. Hannah had 25 of her closest friends, including her sisiter, come and swim with her. My Aunt Bonnie made the cake. It tasted as good as it looked. Hattie swam until she fell asleep sitting up on Hannah's former teacher's lap. We had hot dogs and chips for the kiddos and Hawaiian BBQ for the adults. It was so much fun! Hannah received everything and more than she could have ever wanted. I was overwhelmed with the love I felt from all of our friends and family. Most of the kids that were there have been to every one of Hannah's birthdays. It is so cool seeing these kids grow up together. Here are the pictures to capture the event.

What Fun!

2008-07-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

The Maingots are in full summer swing. Hannah had a Lemonade Stand and made $9.50 in just an hour of work.

We have been going swimming almost every week. Last week Hannah and Hattie went to their cousins house to play on their water slide. It was a blast seeing them together. Every time we visit over there I wish that we lived closer. (we live 1 1/2 hours away) I then realize that I just need to enjoy the moment and the now. Not seeing them everyday makes these times more special.

Hannah lost her first tooth! I can't believe it, she is not even 5 yet! We happen to be at her cousins house when she showed us her tooth was hanging by a thread. Daddy pulled it out for her. It was a great moment. She had to call her memaw, and other little friends. (on west coast time zone). Her Aunt Heather gave her a pillow to put the tooth in for the tooth fairy to get it, whcih also had a spot for the tooth fairy to leave a gift. She got $5.00! Boy, days have changed from when I only got .25.
Here is one last picture of the girls at the beach. It is was so much fun watching the girls play in the sand. We went with Hannah's friend, Mia, and her mom ans sisters. Mia's mom is a pro at it. She knew what time to go, where to park, and set up. I will definitely tag along with her again.

Until next time, enjoy your family and capture those moments in pictures.

Brenda

I Got the JOB!

2008-07-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

Here Everyone!

God is so good! I was offered the postion as Education Specialist with
River Springs Charter School. I start training at the end of the month!

Thanks for praying for God's Will in my life.
Brenda

New Addition to our Family

2008-07-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to introduce Drake Russell to everyone. Gary's sister gave birth to him June 30th. He is so cute! I can honestly say after holding him I want another baby bad! I pray that God will either take that desire from me or give Gary the desire for another child.

We had to best 4th of July! My best friend Jorgie had my family, another close friend's family and three of her sister's family over to swim at her in-law's pool. I couldn't believe how well Hattie and Hannah wer doing in the water after only 3 swim lessons! We swam for about 7 hours! We then headed off to watch the fireworks. It was a blast.

I went on my 2nd interview with the Charter School. I can honestly say I have no idea how I did. I prayed before I went in asking God to give me the words to say. I was honest and gave the best answers I could. The rest is up to God to give me favor or close the door.

I can't wait to get my camera back. Best Buy has it to fix it. This is the 2nd time mind you. I have made two cute acrylic albums I want to take pictures of . I hope to get those posted soon!

Have a blessed week!

Brenda

It is Summer Time!

2008-06-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

It is summer here at the Maingot's house. Hannah is out of school, the weather is hot, and we have no time schedules!

Yesterday my girlfriend and I took a little "field trip" to two other scrapbooks stores that are about an hour away. I made my first acrylic album and loved it. I plan on making a disney one. I will post when it is finished.

I got a second interview for the Homeschool Charter School. The interview is set for July 7. I pray that if it God's Will for my family that I will be offered the job. I LOVE being a stay home mom. The job seems perfect for our family situation at this time. But from past experiences I know that what seems right for us is not what God has for us. His ways are not our ways. I want nothing more than to be in His will for my life. Being out of His will is not a fun place to be.

At Hannah's preschool graduation, Miss Cheri called the students by name and said what they wanted to be when they grow up. I was especially blessed that Hannah said a mommy. That is the greatest job. It is so fulfilling and rewarding. I wish society valued it more.

Have a great day!

Brenda

Cristen

2008-06-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

I spoke with my very good friend Cristen on the phone yesterday. It was her birthday. She lives in Colorado. I met Cristen when I first moved to California when I was 11. So, we have been friends 26 Years! She was my best friend growing up. I remember her sharing her skates with me in the moblie home park where we lived. We would each would wear one skate and go all around. She got a pair of Nikes like mine. For us to both have a new shoe she gave me one of her new ones and I gave her one of my old ones. It is fun to remember all the fun and crazy things we did together. I have to admit that I was the most responsible and level headed out of our group. I am sure she wuld agree.

Anyway, she asked me to post a few of my scrapbook layouts. I have scrapbooked since we were in the 8th grade! Oh my that is a long time! I need to redo my old books because they are in non-photo save albums. Here are a couple layouts for you Cristen:

Have a wonderful day! Brenda's 8 week make-over is doing okay!

Love,

Brenda

Graduation and New Beginnings

2008-06-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for summer this year. This year has been a hard one to get into any type of routine for me. I have completely failed at weight watchers. I am afraid to get back on the scale. But to motivate myself and have a little fun I am going to have a "Brenda Summer Makeover". For the next 8 weeks, I am going to stick with weight watchers, work out, take my make-up off at night, drink my water, put Crest White strips on my teeth, do my daily devotions, and pray consistently! I know that sounds like I am setting myself to fail but I am going to give it a shot. I am starting tomorrow. I will keep everyone posted.

The last few months have been extremely busy. Hannah has had field trips and other school things. I have had deadlines at the Scrapbook store. I could go on and on. Here are a few images of what we have been up to:

Today is Father's Day. I know my hubby is thinking about Levi. I know I am. I wonder what he would have looked like as he got older. I wonder what kind of personality he would have had? Would he have been athletic? I could go on and on with all the ways and times I think of him. Still to this day I get choked up when I see a newborn baby boy. I know with time that will get easier. But to all the Dad's out there, Happy Father's Day.

Brenda

Weigh In Wednesday

2008-05-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I lost 3 lbs. this week! I can thank having the flu for half of it. I hope I am in the right direction now.

I am so looking forward to the summer. Having no time schedules, teaching Hattie to fall asleep on her own, (right now I give in because I am tired and want to sleep), those long and endless days. I really want to get on some type of routine. My friend Laura inspires me. She does house cleaning on Mondays, and shopping on Wednesdays and laundry on Friday. For my household I have to do a load a day to keep up with it. I do however feel as if I am always cleaning. So, if I could get in done in one day I will have more time to do her things in the day. But having my little Hattie there always seems to be a mess to clean up.

Have a great day!
Brenda

Cheese!

2008-05-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

My little Hattie and Hannah on their way to Hannah's Preschool Art Show. I am so blessed to be their mommy!

Happy Mother's Day

Brenda

Mother's Day

2008-05-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!
As I reflect on this special day I realize that here is no greater job than being a mom. I love teaching my girls about cooking and being creative. I love showing them God in our everyday life. I just love them! My girls and hubby bought me a Scotch ATG gun. It is adhesive to scrapbook. I plan on scrapping the entire day. That is after I attend church. I always get teary eyed when the church has the moms stand. At one point in my life I never thought I would be a mom. I am so glad God chose me to be one. I have two beautiful girls and a little boy waiting for me in heaven. It hit me today while I was driving that Gary and I could never move from this area. Our baby is buried here. I know that the grave is a place for his body but his soul is in heaven, but I can't inagine leaving him here alone. Ya see, hubby and I would love to move out of state. California is getting too expensive. We saw a show on Franklin, TN and I fell in love with it. We want to take a trip there, but that will have to wait until business gets a little busier.

Well anyway, I went on a job interview Thursday. I felt it went pretty well. I pray that if God wants me to work right now that I will get called for a second interview. I think I am going to start a "Weigh in Wednesday" report. I can't seem to head in the right direction. I want you to make me accountable. Last Wednesday I was up a pound. Still down 8.2lbs. from the start of the year. But lets be honest, I should have lost more than that by now. I did stop drinking sodas. I am 4 days "sober".

Well, my cyber friends have a blessed Sunday. Talk to you soon!
Brenda

Kids Scrapbook Classes

2008-04-28T07:42:00.001-07:00

I teach the monthly Kids Klub class at "The Loft" Scrapbooks in Menifee, California. The cost is $20.00 to make 2 8x8 spreads. Here is what we are doing this month. Call (951) 723-1200 to sign up. We met the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 4:30-6:30.

I went up 1.2 lbs last week. I have to get motivated again. I did go walking this morning. I know that will help. I have to stop drinking sodas AGAIN!

Brenda

Reflection

2008-04-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

Well, last week was tuff for me. Having a heart to heart talk with my hubby he shared that he really doesn't want to have anymore children. He is 43 and even if we got pregnant right away he would be 50 when the baby entered kindergarten. I pray that if we are suppose to have more children God would change his heart. I need to search my own heart to find if I want another child or do I want a baby boy. So, I have boxes of stuff of Levi's, mostly clothes. I have kept them over the last 3 years because I always believed that I would have another boy. God being all knowing has blessed me with 2 girls. I got pregnant with Hattie 9 months after Levi died. Anyways, back to the clothes. My heart experienced such a pain to finally realize that I should give Levi's clothes away. They were doing no good just sitting in the boxes. I cried looking at each adoreable outfit and thinking who got it for me. I had two baby showers for him, actually 3 if you count the party my students gave me at school. Facing that and reading the blog "Bring the Rain" stirred up grief that I still have. In Angie blog she explains that she wants to yell "My baby just died". I remember feeling that way exactly. I would see women pregnant and when they would tell me that they were 37 weeks pregnant I wanted to say' "That is how far I carried my son, I found out at my 37 week appt. that he died." When people ask me today how many children I have I always say 3 but one is in heaven. For those that read this blog and Angie's I encourage y0u to send a note to her in about a month. People, at least for me, stopped asking how I was doing 6 weeks after his memorial service. When life went back to normal is when I needed support. So please do that for her.

Onto lighter topics. I am now at the weight I was before Easter. So, pray for self-control for me. I am a emotional eater. It doesn't matter what kind of emotion either. My family finally made it to Disneyland at 2:00 for Levi's "Memorial Day". I registered my Hannah Banana for Kindergarten. She starts August 11. And finally I applied to be a Education Specialist with a Charter School. My family has really been affected by the economy. We are self-employed and could use the extra income and medical benefits. Well, I did not mean for this to be a long post. I was just so encouraged with the number of views on my blog. If my experience could help one person it was worth going through.

Letter to Levi

2008-04-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Levi,

I can't believe it has been three years since you went to be with Jesus in heaven. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about you. I often wonder what your personality would have been like. Would you be sweet like Hannah or spicy like Hattie? I can tell you that your life has touched many people. Our old neighbor Roni accepted Christ at your memorial service. Countless others have told me that your story inspired them. Daddy and I have been able to comfort other couples that have lost babies. Although your life here was short God used it in big and mighty ways. Today in memory of you we are going to Disneyland. Hannah asked some time ago how you were going to get down to go with us. I told her heaven with even better than Disneyland! We love you son and we will see you again in heaven.

Mommy

P.S. Tell Uncle Larry that we love and miss him

2008-04-12T11:54:00.001-07:00

Time Flies

2008-04-12T11:23:00.000-07:00

I can't beliee what I horriable blogger I am. I have been looking over my goals for this year and boy have I failed miserbly! I lost 11 lbs. but gained 3 back. I have yet to get back on the wagon. My devotional time has been nonexistent and the orgainztion of my house is not desirable. But God gives us new mercies every morning, so shouod I. It is a new day.

My girls and I went to the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, Ca. It was beautiful. You can get such a perspective of God and His creation. My pray is to blog more often so please bear with me!

Brenda

That time of Year

2008-03-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

I have been a terriable blogger. I have let life get in the way. I did finally lose 10 lbs. But I am sad to say that I think I put 2 lbs. back on. I get very sad this time of year. Three years ago, April 15, my baby Levi passed away. I was 37 weeks pregnat, went to my doctors appt. and he was gone. He ended up having a "true Knot" in the umbiblical cord. I gave birth via c-section and we buried him April 21. The last photo I have of me pregnant with him is from Easter. So, whenever Easter comes around my thoughts drift to how old Levi would be etc. So, if you could pray for God's strength and comfort during this time I would appreciate it. I need self control to get back on the Weight Watcher Wagon.

Back on the Wagon

2008-02-29T22:11:00.001-08:00

Well, I am back on the Weight Watcher Band Wagon. So far I have lost 8 Lbs! At 10 lbs. I will get my nails back on. I have learned that I am a mindless emotional eater. I have caught myself not being hungry and ending up in the pantry. I am trying to break that habit. This is the first time in 3years that I have been proud of myself. It is so funny. I love reading blogs but yet I am nervous to expose too much of myself in fear of being embarrassed. I have to get over that!

Where Did the Time Go?

2008-02-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

Okay, I can't believe that it is the beginning of February! I must admit I have done good on some of my goals, and others not so good. I wanted to lose just 5lbs. a month. At the end of the year that will be 60lbs. I was doing great. I had a week left and I lost 4.9 lbs. I don't know what happened I gained 3 lbs. back! I was talking to my friend and she sugguested that I had a deep root emotional problem that was causing me to sabotage myself. Hmmm... Any way I have had a tuff time getting back on track. So, just like God's mericies are new every morning, so is my weight watcher point tracker. I weigh myself on Wednesdays. I am going to log in my weight loss or gain each week on my blog. Maybe that will help me be accountable. I will NEVER share my starting weight until I reach my goal weight. That is it for now.

I Finally Did it!

2007-12-30T21:52:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to finally be up and running. I have wanted to start blogging for the longest time. I am a little nervous, but I love to read other blogs, so I thought what the heck! I wanted to start this in 2008 because 8 in the number of new beginnings and I am starting a new beginning. So, I invite you to share with me in this journey of weight loss and becoming a better wife and mother. Until next time...