Well I should have posted this a month ago...

I had Ken take this when I was 6 months pregnant (10/28) when I was 27 weeks pregnant. I am now 31 weeks pregnant and I should have him take another picture. My belly had fully popped out and others (who live far away) were curious how I looked.

I am really looking forward to this little one's arrival. I have tormented Ken with my endless nesting and preparing. I think I have it all together now. I don't have a nursing chair yet but they are so expensive I may just use the couch.

Ken got a job with a neighboring county and we have loved the stability of the employment. It is less money that he made before and that has been a real challenge for us to adjust to. We are still trying to make it work. Through it all our Heavenly Father has shown us what to do. It seems that we gained the stability of having a job but lost the stability I felt in paying for all the things we need. I just traded one tight rope for another. We felt like this was the job for him so we took a leap of faith. We have yet to see how it will all work out. For now, I pray and wait.

I am trying hypnosis for my birth preparation. I have a home study class that I am taking and I listen to a CD track every day for a half an hour and another one at night when I am going to bed. I want a different experience than I had with my first child's birth. I would rather be in control of how things go at the hospital and I am learning that some of the things I did not like last time could have been avoided. I come more prepared this time - watch out nurse, if we don't see eye to eye, I will fire you.

Thanksgiving is over now and I just have a few last minute gifts to get from the store. One of our children has proclaimed hate for things that we thought they would love. We have to return and re-buy for that one. We found our tree on the 27th and it is in the garage soaking in a bucket. We plan to put it up for Family Night on Monday.

We had several family things this week and have something almost every night next week. The weeks really pass quickly when we are so busy. I have some holiday baking and candy making planned. I usually make dresses for the girls for Christmas but I don't know if I can do that this year. I have a few sewing projects between the baby and Christmas presents so the dresses might not happen. They do not need them anyway, we have well stocked closets.

We were the recipients of others generosity this week and Kayla (who needed new clothes) got just what she needed. We are grateful of others kindness that heed the promptings of the spirit to help is in ways we did not know to ask.

To the best big sister in the world

This is my older sister Julie. Today is her birthday and I meant to post this earlier in the day but my life has been in the way all day.

Julie has always been the best example of a sister. I remember when I was very young and I knew that she would never lie. She used to babysit us and (sure enough) we would do something wrong. We would beg her not to tell on us when the parents got home but she always said "I won't lie if they ask me." She has lived her life in a way that I wanted to emulate.

She wasn't the most popular girl in school but she had her group and always did well in her studies. She went on to college and the served a mission. She married in the temple and got her degree. Her doors have always been open to the children of her heart. She would take them however they came. Many came, only one has been able to stay, but I am sure many of them will be hers in the end.

She has always had the best advice for me, even when it is not what I want to hear. She knows the answers to things I haven't thought of yet. She is really smart. Julie doesn't get intimidated with little things like homeschooling and tons of children. I think she thrives on a challenge. Even in the midst of the trials of Job she has found the way, staying strong and choosing the right. She is happy for me when I get to have things that I know she would cut off her own arm to get to have. She is patient and kind and loving. If she doesn't know the answer she will look it up or mine her very rich field of friends for someone who has been there.

Julie lives far away from me and we don't get to see each other very often. She works during the day when I have the most time to talk on the phone and we have tried to make the most of time that we have to keep up on each others lives. She is a treasure and I love her so much. I hope that someday she gets all of her dreams to come true. She deserves it.

I don't have the money to buy her the presents that I would like to for her birthday. So this is what I have for her. A note to tell all of you (and her) how great she is and thank her for being my sister.

Love,

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