Easter Weekend

Resting after the egg hunt Silly faces after the egg hunt
Helping Madelyn find eggs
Finding an egg
CHEESE!!
Papa helping Madelyn find an egg

Our Family Picture! (Don't worry, you can have one...we have plenty. Family, your pictures are coming soon!) An extra picture we took, but only got one of them.
Sister shot...again, only got a couple.

We went to the Farmer's Market downtown Wake Forest today (Saturday) to get the girls pictures taken with the Easter bunny. Madelyn LOVED the Easter bunny, and Catharine cried. Figures! This was right after the Easter bunny pics, Madelyn has a mouth full of chocolate and Catharine is sucking on a plastic egg! Papa is loving spending time with the girls.

I was so excited to see a live bunny and chicks for Madelyn to pet! She wanted to hold the bunny, but that was out of the question...anyone remember Elvira from Tiny Toons? "Here kitty kitty!" LOL. Sweet little chicks.
Catharine wasn't too sure about the bunny.
LOL. I was mean last night and blow dried Catharine's hair. Stood straight up!
I wonder if this bed has a weight limit??? Well, Madelyn made Papa read her several stories before bed last night.
What a cute bunny!
Each morning, Madelyn crawls up next to Papa to watch cartoons.
Oh sad day. Look at those crocodile tears in her eyes! I had just fussed at her for pulling her bow out and she was about to cry! I DID get the picture though ;)
More pictures to come...

HAPPY EASTER!

We pray your family truly celebrates Easter this year with sincere thankfulness and reverent hearts for the salvation God has given us through His only Son Jesus Christ.

"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation."

Romans 5:8-11

Getting dressed Sunday mornings...

Madelyn LOVES to get dressed. In fact, she loves to change clothes ALL day long. She rarely wears something longer than a couple of hours. My Dad and Grandma Gayle send her and Catharine a fun box with adorable clothes monthly, and this is her newest dress. She was SO excited to put it on this morning. She twirled around and around like all little girls should when they are wearing dresses. She wouldn't smile for me, too busy watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Oh sweet Catharine. She is pitiful on Sunday mornings. She normally takes a nap at 9:30-10 but since we leave for church at 10:30 she has to stay awake...she just crawls around whining and fussing until we go. When we get to church, I wear her in the Ergo and she falls asleep during praise and worship time. She wakes up usually right before the preaching is over and we head to the nursing room so she can talk and play. I love her being a part of the service with us. It is sweet. This dress was one my Dad and Grandma sent as well. This is the first time she has worn it, sooo sweet.
We are so glad to have a fixed camera in our hands again. I've been snapping pictures like crazy and will share more soon! Justin just finished mid-terms. Hard to believe that the semester is half over! Spring is on its way in Wake Forest. It is beautiful here in the spring. The girls are already loving being outside more.

Hope you have a wonderful Easter celebrating the resurrection of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ!

LiFe Is GoOd!

"If you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small."

Proverbs 24:10

"Those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for you Lord have not forsaken those who seek you."

Psalm 9:10

Our miscarriage has been a very strange trial. I've seen dear friends and precious family members experience miscarriages over the past year and never could relate until now. The truth is, I've done exceptionally well. I give God all the glory for that truth, because He has truly comforted us and given us unexplainable peace through this time. I truly believe that the purpose of that sweet baby's life was to change the course of our lives. We were very focused on our plan, that we thought was God's plan. Nothing was stopping us from going to Malawi. We were not even thinking about other things. I was packing my suitcase in my sleep. God knew we needed something drastic to change our plans. He knew we could handle it with His help. We had names picked out, yeah we tend to do that first thing :) Madelyn had predicted that it was a boy...we were somewhat convinced that she was right but now I'm not so sure.

Last night I had a dream and wanted to share it with you...

I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep with my hand on my belly like I normally did, thinking about the little baby growing in there. All of a sudden I could feel the baby moving strongly! I thought, "how strange...and why haven't I felt this before?" I realized I was 38 weeks pregnant and had not felt the baby move yet! I could feel the baby's body parts as mothers can sometimes do toward the end of their pregnancy, recognizing a back or feet and so on. I then saw a glimpse of her. She was beautiful. She had crystal blue eyes, not like Madelyn's, they were really light. She had her Daddy's brown hair and she was perfect. (You know how dreams are. Weird things happen that don't in real life. So in my dream is was normal to actually see her laying there next to me.) I then got up to go to the bathroom like a typical pregnant woman does in the middle of the night. When I sat on the toilet my water broke. I sat there and yelled for Justin to get up because it was time to go to the hospital. We scurried around packing a bag (I was kicking myself that I had not done that yet because I couldn't think straight to pack what I needed.) Justin ran next door to wake up Gina and then to Genny's. We sent the girls to Gina's house and Genny came over to help me. I was panicked because my kitchen was dirty and I hated that someone else was going to clean it up...I knew I should have cleaned it before bed. What was I thinking? Then we were in the car.

We arrived at the hospital and I was ushered into a labor and delivery room. My nurse seemed a little flighty and unsure of her ability to assist me. I knew that because my water was broken I needed to deliver soon or infection could set in. She informed me that it was her first day at work, so I then marched to the nurse manager station and demanded a new nurse. (I know you are laughing because this is SO something I would do!)

Dr. Mauro (a doctor I love at UNC) came in and informed me that they needed to do an emergency c-section because it had been a couple of hours since my water broke. I was fine with that...not nervous or anything.

Then I woke up.

Sorry I haven't been updating as much as normal. I'm camera less! We spent most of this week in Montgomery, AL with Katie (Justin's sister) and her son John David. We got to see Andrea and Keith and Mema (Justin's grandmother). It was a short visit, but so nice. It is always refreshing to get out of Wake Forest for a little bit. Alabama will always be home :)

Madelyn Update:

She is going potty in the big girl toilet and wearing pull ups and panties!!! She LOVES being a big girl. She has started using our phrases against us...like "no Daddy, I'm talking!" She keeps us laughing with her grown up ways. She loves Khaki so much and especially loves wearing Khaki's clothes. This will change in about 10 yrs when Catharine wants to wear Madelyn's clothes!!!

Catharine Update:

Catharine is spicier than we anticipated. She has some spunk in her. She is cruising but not walking on her own yet. Eating regular food and drinking regular milk. She is SO funny and has the best pouty face we've ever seen. She is such a joy.

Justin Update:

Justin is taking midterms right now. It will be a busy week. He is a ref for intramural basketball games at the Seminary on Tuesday nights which keeps him busy, and he still works out about 5 days a week. He will be done with classes May 22nd and we are looking at moving home after that until we leave the country in 2009. We'll see what God does :)

Chandra Update:

I'm itching to scrapbook! I'm also itching to spring clean my house! I've been working from home which is nice for some extra income. Basically my day is keeping up with two very energetic girls and an ever messy house! I wouldn't trade my worse days for anything, although sometimes I think I could :)

We are overall doing well. Looking at the next stage of our lives. Wondering where God will take us next and when! Life with Christ is so exciting and fabulous, even the tough times are worth it. What would we do without Him? We are so thankful for His purposes for our lives.

Until later...Much love from Wake Forest!