Losing my mind (a little)

I really want to post pics of the new house, but am going a little crazy (wanna come?). I thought I'd throw up a little update... Kevin is graduating on May 16th, so we are hanging in until then. I am sprouting lots of plants for my gardens and looking forward to spring! Kevin has been busy working, taking a class and interning at our church. We are excited to see what the future holds (I love change). I'm gonna plan a big graduation party on Sat. May 16th, and you are all invited! Pray for us as we head into uncharted territory...

Clare, the happiest baby ever...

Clare is now ten months old (soon to be eleven). Despite a rough summer, as I looked through my recent photos I was reminded of all I've been blessed with. A God who loves me, a wonderful husband, and four beautiful children! Baby Clare is number 4. No matter how hard a day is, I look at Clare and she is all smiles. I call it baby charisma! She brings out the best in everyone she comes in contact with, she's a people magnet. I think babies remind us all of the miracle of life. Despite the pain that bore her, all I remember is the joy of knowing her now. Likewise, the trouble in our lives makes the blessings that much sweeter, and our faith that much stronger. Clare reminds me that this world is not the end, it is only the beginning...

I Peter 1:3-7

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

I'm a delinquent blogger...Clare is almost 7 months!

So anyway... I survived a hospital delivery without intervention thanks to a fabulous nurse, and now I have a beautiful baby girl! She's actually much bigger now (she'll be 7 months old in a few days). Not only am I slow to blog, I'm also slow to upload new pics from my camera to the computer - you wouldn't think it would be that hard when the cable is already plugged into the computer right infront of me. New pictures will be uploaded... eventually.

Our newest adventure is moving! Where or when, we know not, but we're excited. After all, I do love change.

All of the little moons are growing like weeds. Speaking of weeds, I've been picking lots in my beautiful vegetable garden! I'll have to post pics of that too ;-) Kevin is working a new job at Trinity and enjoying it, and his twice daily bike rides to and from the train station. He may actually finish his MDiv in about a year. 10+ years for a Masters ain't that bad ;-) ! My massage therapy work is going well too, it's a great way for me to add to the downpayment account working only two days a week!

6 (or so) weeks to go...

I'm sitting in a dimly lit room at quarter to eleven at night thinking about the fact that my 4th baby is due in 6 weeks. (Those of you who know me well, though, know the baby will probably come a little later than that :-). Let's repeat that. I'm 29 and I'll have 4 kids. Since when did I get that old (or that responsible)? I tell people all the time, I still imagine I'm that 21 year old who just got married. In reality I've been married for 8 years and have endured unmedicated childbirth 3 times (almost 4). I don't say that pridefully, but more in amazement of the path I've been led down and the blessings I've been given.

I must admit, the last 8 years have been unbelievably difficult, and inexpressably wonderful. I'm still waiting for God to act. I still feel like we are in a bit of a holding pattern, but our situation is markedly improved from a few years ago. I've been the owner of two houses, and happily now own none. I've been the possessor of much debt, and am now unenslaved to the mortgage/credit card/student loan vultures. We have made progress on the path toward living simpler (and hopefully more God-honoring) lives than we did before, but we are still very much in process.

The other day at work (for those who don't know I'm now a Licensed Massage Therapist, and I started working 2 mornings a week at a salon) the 19 yr old girl who works reception said something about her parents being the same age as me. I looked at her like she was crazy and informed her that I was 10 when she was born. The sad reality is she's not that far off. Many of my friends are actually older than her 39 yr old parents.

As I head towards this dramatic life changing event once again, I can't help but remember where I've been. Here's a picture of the little boy who made me a mommy (a bit puffed up from excess fluid, but thankfully fine once they stabilized his breathing)...



















And here is a picture of my 3 little blessings just the other day (Elijah is now 6, Elita is almost 5, and Campbell recently turned 3)...



















And to all my friends and family who I've been pitifully inept at keeping in touch with, please forgive me. I've been thinking about so many of you lately and I hope to find some of you again.

God Bless!

Adventures in Babywearing Contest

So, I just ran across this contest and thought the new baby carrier (called a Podonbutai) from All Natural Mommies looked really cool! I'm all for free marketing, and helping other moms! I've been checking out the vast array of baby carriers on the market today. I only have one (a ring-sling), but I'm falling in love with the mei tai and wrap baby carriers out there. Why can't Christian women wear their babies more?

Technical Difficulties...

Okay, so I've been having trouble with my previous post. For some reason the text doesn't always show up unless you click the post title on the left. For anyone left wondering, our fourth little angel (due just after Thanksgiving) is a girl! Her older sister is thrilled and has been announcing to everyone that she got her wish! This is by far the most relaxed spacing I've had between kiddos. I like having three potty trained children. I'm enjoying being diaper bag-less for a few months! The pic on the left is the original Moon family princess - Elita - back in June at "the Bean" in downtown Chicago. Thank you Aunt Rebecca for the lovely photos!

It's a ????????

Well, yesterday was the ultrasound. The ultrasound tech asked us if we were doing any "gender peeking".

Me: Absolutely.
Tech: Anybody have a feeling either way?
Kevin: Everyone is thinking girl.
Tech: Well, do you see those 3 white lines? Tell everyone they're right!

We are thrilled to be expecting our second little princess! It's kind of fun that God's keeping the males and females evenly matched in our troop. We now have Boy - Girl - Boy - Girl !