A Legacy of Love

Through the Mouth of my Babes

2009-03-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

My son received his newest Lego magazine yesterday. I was happy for him because Legos are his most favorite toy to play with. It gives him hours of time to build and create something. The thing is...those darn pieces cost a bundle! $55.00 for 2 hours of building time...yep...he builds them in a matter of 2 hours (depending on how many pieces...but that is the basic time frame)

So he's been staring non-stop at what he would like me to put in his Easter basket. He has shown me everything he would like...3 times at least. He basically is eating/drinking/and sleeping his Lego book right now. To be honest...it's been starting to irritate me a bit. So I told him this morning that we needed to change the subject and that I knew what he wanted 3 times over already. I did have to put the Mommy threat "Bradley, if you don't stop talking about it, I will have to take the magazine away." That stopped it briefly.

So here I was browsing my computer while Bradley (of course) was gazing adoringly at his Lego book. Perhaps what happened next was an act of Mommy's influence of spiritual teaching, or just Bradley's intense personality shining bright...or just simply an act of the Holy Spirit speaking in His still, small voice to my son (I'm sure it is the latter) :

Bradley (staring into the amazing Lego book): "Mommy, is it bad if some people like Lego's more than God?"

Mommy - "Yes son, it says in the word of God that we are to love Him with ALL our strength, ALL our mind, and ALL our soul...so loving anything more than God is not good. But son, if you are ever feeling like you are loving Legos more than God, you can just ask Him to forgive you and ask Him to help you not to. We can't do anything without His help"

Bradley - (listening with his heart..I could tell) "Mommy...I feel like I don't like reading my bible anymore."

Mommy - (turning away from the computer looking into my sons eyes to take advantage of a teachable moment) "Son...you want to know the way to cure that feeling?"

Bradley - "How?"

Mommy - "Go ahead and read it anyway's...right away!"

Bradley - "OK...I'm going to go do that right now"

He set down his Lego book...and read 2 chapters of his bible!

Bradley - "I'm done, I read 2 chapters"

Mommy - "Do you feel like you like reading it again?"

Bradley - "Yes I do"

Mommy - "Good job..whenever you feel that way again...just go read your bible and pray"

I think I just learned some lessons myself through the mouth of my babe!

Ok...right after this another cute little diddly happened with my daughter Kelsie boo. We began writing in a journal together. She writes something to me, then I write back. I learned about it at a mommy conference I went to. It has been a very special thing between us....but I would like to share something sweet that brought tears to my eyes from our journal.

Mommy - Hey Kelsie girl, I want to thank you for working really hard today at your chores and your school work. I appreciate you and your obedience. You really show that you honor me. I know it must not be easy with your mommy being pregnant right now. I know I haven't been myself a whole lot. Sorry love, it won't be like this forever! I love you, Mommy

Kelsie - I know. It is kind of harder now that your pregnant. But I still love you. I was wondering if Nanny can come over and watch the Wild with us tonight. Pleeeeeease pretty please say YES. You know how much I love Nanny. Don't you? Well, anyway, please say yes. Love ya

Well, the first part made me sniffle...it just poured grace into my heart to hear that my little 9 year old was giving me understanding. Of course if blesses me to hear how much she loves my mom. I am so blessed by my children. They teach me so much by their inhibition to love, forgive and show grace. May I learn from my babies. I hope this touched your heart in a special way too.

Well, my tummy is expanding...and tonight I need to take a leap unto the Maternity side and buy some comfy clothes! I'm kind of excited...maybe I'll post some pictures of my new MOOMOO wardrobe:)

It's A BOY !!

2009-03-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't heard yet...I had an ultrasound and it is confirmed that Neil & I are expecting another little boy !!!

Kelsie and Bradley actually were hoping for a girl. Bradley didn't want to have to share his room...lol. Kelsie just...wanted a sister. The day we found out and I told them, Kelsie was a bit quiet for a little while. But I think she just needed to process her thoughts and feelings for a little while.
By the next day she seemed happier and more excited. I told her that this little boy is going to LOVE his big Sis and that there will come a day when she will walk in the room and his little face will light up and she will feel so in love with this child!
I'm feeling him move around in my belly now...just light little flickers of movement...soon to be replaced with jabs and kicks in the ribs...I KNOW! Bradley rearranged my rib cage. Every time I laugh something hooks on to my bottom right rib and I have to move a certain way to unhook it..lol The sacrifices we go through for our babies:) It's worth it all though.

I'm thinking of redoing the boys room into a STAR WARS theme....now how's that for a baby room..LOL I have to honor my older son who is giving up his precious space! Bradley is all about Star wars right now. I'm looking for a cheap artist who will paint some baby E-WOKS on the wall above where the crib will go...let me know if you know of anyone.

I gave all my baby stuff away a while ago. So here come the expenses again:) God WILL supply!

Today I feel like the Pillsbury dough girl...hee hee! I have gained 11 pounds or so in 18 weeks...YIKES! My friends tell me I'm too hard on myself. I usually agree while I'm eating half a bag of M & M's! And you know what...I am craving pickles so much that I'm tempted to drink the juice! The only thing that stops me is knowing that in the morning I'll look like I just injected my WHOLE BODY with collagen !!! I'm in that tween stage...where my skinny clothes are too skinny...and pregnancy clothes are swimming on me...so I was able to buy a Bella-band. It's sooo cool...it lightly wraps around your normal pants. You can unbutton them and wear them the whole time! But I think mine will be another story...because I don't just get pregnant in my belly...my booty has already grown 2 inches, and my thighs 1 1/2 inches. I'm sure it's just water retention ;0/

It's so funny going through this again when I didn't think I ever would again for sooo long. But I'm so happy I am. I already feel the love in my heart for this little baby boy. Every time I feel a little poke or flicker, I think of God's great mercy to think that I could possibly be qualified to raise another one of His precious ones. He has great plans for this baby boy. May he know Jesus and always know he was thought of before the beginning of time:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!

2009-03-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today is my Mom's (Mary Ellen's) BIRTHDAY! We had all our family together last night at her house and had a celebration time. My mom is a wonderful lady loved by the DROVES! She raised us 7 bra...I mean WONDERFUL chillins (as she calls us!)

For those of you who don't know her...well you're missin out! She has lived in California for the past ...going on 50 years...yet refuses to lose her Bostonian accent (she was born and raised in Massachusetts). But if she ever lost it, it wouldn't be fun making fun of her anymowa!

I am thankful for my mom...and for all she has done for me in my life...and continues to do. Even though I was the 7th...she still had lot's of mothering stored up in her heart to pour on me. I had a birthday party almost every year...Lot's of hot, cooked breakfasts before school. Treats in my lunch pail, MANY camping trips, piano lessons (to which are still paying off today!) , lot's of hugs, sacrifices made to make me happy, and some good life lessons (including the time I came into the high school office with a forged note to excuse my absence from school---the secretary was on the phone as I handed her the note---her eyes got a little big as she said "Oh, apparently Mrs. Moore, your daughter is right here and just handed me a note....(now looking at me)---your mom wants to talk to you!----I was shaking in my boots and said "H.h.h.ello?" ---to her reply --"You're CAUGHT!" Needless to say I got my car taken away and had to take the bus the rest of the school year! Thank GOD for MOMS!!!

Thanks for EVERYTHING Mom!

I speak for us 7 kids, and TWENTYSOMETHING grandkids...including 3 great grandchildren...we love you so much and look forward to MANY MANY more years of celebrating you!

Kelsie's Night Out !

2009-03-02T19:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's been a while. I thought I better put something up quick because I've had a few people ask me where I've been. Thank you so much for checking in on me! The main reason is that I've just been so sick with this pregnancy. It happens to be NIGHT sickness when I would most likely be sitting here writing and thinking of what to say. Well, I have been pretty much glued to the couch for about 7 weeks of pure agony (tiny violin playing now...)...I'm sure you feel sorry for me:) To put it bluntly I just was not motivated....but guess what??? I'm entering my 14th week and ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M GETTING SOME ENERGY BACK! As of yesterday I actually am starting to feel better. My poor hubby has had a lot to put up with...dirty house, cranky wife, mac and cheese for dinner (that Kelsie made!) ...must I say more?? He's been amazing. (I LOVE YOU NEIL!) But I'm slowly coming back and I am very happy about that! So here I am again for all you who missed me...my 2 FANS...I LOVE YOU!

Kelsie was invited to an unslumber party last Friday at my friend Bridgets house. She had sooo much fun. There were 15 girls there and lot's of girl power! They had crusty pizza (sorry Bridget, had to say it!..lol) Junk food...they also played freeze dance and sleeping beauty. I wasn't there...but after looking at all the fun pictures I'm kinda jealous I had to miss all the fun! I don't have too many pics of Kelsie...but there are some great pics here that Bridget gave to me that show how much fun they all had.

Crusty Pizza..lol
Kelsie (in purple robe) & the girls doing crafts
Root Beer Floats They played sleeping beauty...while a girl is sleeping, the others try to make her laugh. Looks like they laughed a lot!

Bridget telling the girls...this party is all about girls...so no talking about boys...cuz GIRLS RULE!

One of Kelsie's cutie pie homeschool friends Bridget said there were about 15 girls...I could hear the girly squeals a city away!!! Bridgets daughter...another of Kelsie's homeschool cutie pie friends! The girls who did it all! Bridget and her sister...Sorry Bridget, I know you're not thrilled with this picture...but I think you both look like two blonde princesses!
A BIG THANKS to you Bridget & Brianna for blessing our girls with such a wonderful Girl party! Kelsie can't wait to spend the night for REALS! Thank you for forwarding the pictures to me.

I thought I would add a few pictures of Kelsie having some fun...cuz that is what she likes to do!! Kelsie is my fun loving, silly, but sweet little Lou Lou. I wanted to show some pictures that made her true personality shine through!

This first one was during a photo shoot I was taking of her before we chopped off her long locks!
Silly in the kitchen!
Mommy & Me park day
Oh the silliness of it all!!

A Tribute to my Dad, Paul Moore....9/28/33 to 1/27/07

2009-01-29T15:27:00.000-08:00

Ok....I'm still figuring out how to label these pictures directly above...but havn't figured that out yet. So I will describe the pictures here. #1 Is Dad and Beckie (step mom) on Christmas eve (dad's last Christmas). #2 Is me and Dad...last Christmas together. #3 is just good ol pops. #4 is all the grand/ and great grand kids # 5 Is Dad roasting my mom (MaryEllen) at her 70th birthday party. #6 is me and my sis Renee at the funeral. # 7 is me and my sis Terry at the funeral. # 8 is a great photo of my mom who gave birth to their 7 kids together. #9 & 10 are pictures and memorabilia I put together for a tribute to my Dad's 73 years. #11 is Beckie, my bother Kevin, and his wife Chris at the burial site. # 12/13 & 14 are pictures of the tiny casket my Dad's remains were in. He was cremated...and it was so strange for me to see him in such a tiny replica of a casket. But those were his wishes. # 15 was all of us at the burial site. It was a lovely burial service. Sorry to all my other brothers and sisters that I didn't have pictures of you to post...LOVE YOU ALL!

So yeah, it's been 2 years...and since I've never blogged before, I wanted to do a tribute to my dad! He died from compications of Lung cancer. He smoked for 50 something years and it took it's tole. So sad to see him go like that. I prayed for my dad for 16 years to recieve Jesus in his heart...and 6 months before he died he made that decision right in my living room...HOW COOL IS THAT! Dad got neumonia in January 2007 and he lived for 1 more week after that. Mostly he was unconscious. I spent a lot of time with him in the hospital that week...along with all my family members. He was a crochity old guy (and I do say that respectfully and ..actually...comically...cuz my dad could be real funny...he was one STAND OUT character!) He was, and still is dearly loved.

My dad was married to my mom (MaryEllen ..love you mom!) for 35 years...and 7 children later. They divorced when I grew up and he remarried Beckie (love you Beckie). My dad did know how to pick amazing women! My Mom and Beckie became friends...and are still friends. We celebrated the Holidays and all kinds of other events together...YES...MOM AND BECKIE AND DAD...TOGETHER. For a divorced family, you couldn't ask for a better situation:) So at the funeral, mom and Beckie stood up at the front together and shared their sentiments of my Dad...then my mom said..(pointing to Beckie) "I gave him to her...chuckle chuckle" .....OH MY....thank goodness everybody laughed! It was a most wonderful memorial service. A video was made and the 7 of us kids all shared stories about him. It was a celebration of our Dad gone to be with Jesus.

Oh...I prayed that I would be able to be there with him WHILE he was passing from this life to the next. It was so important to me to hold his hand while he was passing. Well, God far surpassed my prayers. My WHOLE family was there. His kidney's failed and we all gathered together in a circle. Neil (my hubby) prayed and we were all there comforting one another. We took my dad off the blood pressure medicine. I stood by rubbing his legs and I looked at the heart machine...then it said ----------- no heartbeat. We all cried...but I looked up and waved and said..."Bye for now Dad....give Jesus a hug from me".

It was such a special time seeing my Dad pass peacefully. I had so much peace, joy, and pain...yes pain. It hurts to say goodbye and it hurts to see someone suffer. But I realized at that moment "how precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints". I see death so differently since I experienced this. It'll never be easy or painless...but it really is a celebration to go home with Jesus. It is another chapter of our life...the best one! I don't really want to go any time soon...but I know it'll be special when I do!!! SO HERE'S TO YOU DAD! ...SEE YOU WHEN I GET THERE!

It's Gonna Be Worth It All!

2009-01-26T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is my beautiful fam up in Big Bear...one of our favorite vacation spots! As you see...there are 4 of us. Well, Neil & I (with the inspiration of God's will I'm sure:) decided we weren't finished with 2 kids. We just felt like something was missing. So...as you probably noticed...number 3 is working hard growing in me. I am now about 9 weeks. And I say the baby is working hard because I FEEL the work. I started this blog...and I have intended every night to write inspiring things...but the only thing inspiring is my body on the couch! I am 37 and I can feel the difference from when I was pregnant at 27. Don't get me wrong...I was a bit sick then too...but it's a little more intensified this time. Most people get morning sickness...well I get 3:00 and beyond sickness. I actually feel great in the mornings. I'm really glad I didn't know it would be like this...or I may not have taken that leap of faith to have another baby. Just being brutely honest. ...But I AM extatic...every time I think about holding the little one in my arms I get teary eyed. I know my kids are going to love the baby...cuz they love little ones! The last 2 days ...everytime I sit...I'm sleeping. I was reading to Bradley today...and I fell asleep. He was like..MOMMY...WAKE UP! I kinda feel bad for my kids...they aren't used to seeing me sick often and a little crankier. I know God will get me through. And I know that through all of this " it's gonna be worth it all". That is how I'm looking at this. I have to remind myself that I'll go back to normal after the baby...OK OK...MAYBE NOT...but hopefully physically is all I mean!!! I'm so grateful to all my friends who have been praying for me...I have an awesome family, church family, friends, and most importantly...my hubby. Yesterday he cooked and let me sleep! How awesome is he! Tonight I was able to peel myself off the couch and actually make chocolate chip cookies with the kiddos...they were grateful. I've had to lean on the Lord with all that I have - He truly is EVERYTHING! I've been so sick some days that my faith has been shaken....but that is when I not only called on the Lord, I called on my friends to pray. I was lifted up and so encouraged. Whenever we are lacking in ANYTHING...we just need to pray and reach out...we're not in this life alone...I need you...and you need me. No matter what you are going through...I know that God is faithful and His love will supply ALL your needs. Let me know if I can pray for you...cuz I asked for faith...and He gave it to me...now I can use that faith to pray for you:)

What would you change?

2009-01-20T10:37:00.000-08:00

It all started with Kelsie and Bradley in the Mommavan...

Kelsie - "Bradley...if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?"

Bradley - PAUSE...THINK THINK

Mommy - (Hmmm...I wonder what he'll say?)

Bradley - PAUSE...THINK THINK

Mommy - (Is there anything going on in his little mind?)

Bradley - "Welllllll, I would change that I wouldn't have crushes on girls!!!"

Mommy - "Bradley...do you have a crush on someone?"

Bradley - big smile .."Yes" (in a disgusted tone)

Mommy - "who?"

Bradley - "So and so" ...come on, I have to give my boy SOME privacy you know!

Mommy - "That's ok....just be her friend...you'll have lot's of crushes...that's normal"

Mommy - (sorry son, that'll never change you little casanova you!...tee hee!)

It made me think...Kristie...what would you change about yourself? Well, the mental list started to get too long...starting from outer parts...to inner parts...to every part:) Then I realized..I have changed (quite a bit)...and will continue to change from glory to glory, right? Not because I've changed myself...but because He is changing me as I keep seeking Him. The only thing I want to turn into is a little bit more like my heavenly father day by day. I know He may never be done with me until the day I die. So I choose just to lay my life at His feet and take in the good times, the hard times, the hurting times, the exciting times, the lonely times, the 'I AM SO STUPID' times, the 'did I really just say that?' times, the 'yes you did just say that' times, the 'I am so humbled' times, the crying times, the encouraging times, the being challenged times, the laughing times, and the spending times with the ones I love most times. I guess I wouldn't change anything that God brings my way in a day...as long as it contributes to my growth and change. I except life and what it brings my way today. Ok, so that is my deep and philosophical thoughts for the day. I know I know...I am kinda wierd that way...but I guess that's part of who I am...wierd!

Our 3rd Edition

2009-01-19T13:47:00.000-08:00

My ultrasound was scheduled for Friday, Jan 16 2009. I was quite nervous because ...well...of the miscarraige I had on August 21 2008. My thoughts were hopeful, yet cautious. I found out I was pregnant again on December 19th. I was so happy...but so cautious. I had to wait on pins and needles for 3 more weeks until the ultrasound.

It was time. Neil came with me. As the tech was doing the ultrasound I was watching her face. She looked so stoic...it made me concerned...but I was trying to be patient and wait my turn to see the screen. She couldn't tell me if the heart was beating...but she could show me. What TORTURE! So I waited almost a half an hour watching a stranger look at my baby and type while I waited and waited...it seemed as if time stood still for a moment and I could hear the clock tick second by second. It was then time...but she told me to go to the restroom and then come back. MORE WAITING...I never (you know what) so quickly in my life. I raced back to the room and waited some more...tick tick tick:)

Finally the time came and she pulled the table down, and the screen around. BINGO...A HEARTBEAT. Such a tiny heart...and a little flicker...butterflies in my tummy:) I was amazed that this little human bean (litterally the size of a bean) had a little heart...probably the size of a pin head. And it was BEATING! That was the most beautiful thing I've seen lately..(except my kids faces). I am blessed...overwhelmed...and oh... sick:) I know that once I hold little one in my arms, all the nausea, tiredness, and jitters will be worth it all. God is so very faithful!!! YEAH BABY!!!

The red mark is where the heart is beating..and the blue is just more blood flow.

I've Finally Begun!

2009-01-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally did it...I made a blog. Seems I have a lot to learn with all the fun little things to add...but I am very excited! I am going to post this little note just to see how it works...and then I will begin the adventure:)