a crazy week~

**random pictures following body of blog**


Yup, it's just that kind of week around here.

Yesterday, Dean and I took our 4 little ones to the mall. To get glasses. For both of us. With eye exams.



In case anyone is really wondering, NO, we do *not*recommend this as a general practice!



See, the church has changed insurance this year, including their eye care stuff. Soooo, we were both able to get new glasses, plus I got a pair of prescription sunglasses (I'm a wimp about bright light - this is *so* nice for driving) - basically for free. We had to pay upfront, but our church's plan includes a reinbursement amount each year. Thing is, you have to use it by the end of the year. So obviously, that is coming up here. We were trying to squeeze it in......



Still....



Four children in the eye exam/glasses store? Not a great decision, especially for fairly experienced parents of little ones. It went...okay....even though the store workers told us they were good. Hmmm....not so much.


Anyways, my eyes have not changed a bit - my dh was teasing me about why I got new glasses then (my current glasses are not that old) - I told them a girl needed options! Am I right, ladies?!? My dh said my glasses are a bit more "spunky" - at least for a pastor's wife, I guess! I'll get some pics up here soon.


NOW....
This week is the week of our church's adult Christmas Musical. It's a big ol' affair, especially this year. Since we took on so much more this year, we are caught at the end wih a bunch of needed extra practices. So I'm headed off to an extra rehearsal tonight (Tues.), dress rehearsal on Wed. night, a "buffer" practice-if-needed on Thurs. night, then the performances are Fri/Sat/Sun evenings. Fun, but man, it's a LOT of time and a LOT of effort. Plus memorizing. I'm terrible at memorizing. I was terrible at it *before* being preggo 5 times......it's bad.




NEXT WEEK....
You know...the regular stuff. We have a staff party (which is providing babysitting for the little ones - from one of our regular babysitters, the senior pastor's daughter, whom I love!) on Monday. Then family arrives Tuesday...stays on 'till Friday....when the next family group arrives and stays on 'till Sunday. Luckily, my dh has some days off during this time for Christmas, plus the next week for New Year's. PTL!! I'm excited yet a bit nervous about having company for so long. It's easier than traveling all over with four little ones, but still....

UPCOMING MONTHS....

Well, except for the continued pregnancy, I have to start up my Kid's Choir at church with rehearsals for our Spring Musical. I'm trying to find a co-director, but it's turning out to be quite the challenge. It probably scares people that I'm going to have a baby right in the middle of this whole rehearsal process (baby due: beginning of March via c/s, spring musical: end of April). I think things will go just fine, but we'll see.

There's also some health concerns with both my mom and Dean's mom, so prayers are needed there.

SOOOOOOOOO.....

Hey, all is good! Did I mention dh & I are doing "The Love Dare"? From the movie "Fireproof"? It's going slowly, yet it's great! It is forcing us to get our eyes and our focus off ourselves and back onto God and HIS WILL for our lives, specifically our marriage. That's very helpful during a time such as this, when what I really want to do is say, "oh, poor me, I'm so busy, I've got lots of little ones, I'm pregnant, I'm tired, me, Me, ME!!!". Today, for instance, my dh took my spot at church, taking my girls to a Christmas Party, along with a snack and himself as a helper. I'm here, eating breakfast with my boys, starting some laundry and blogging. He's such a wonderful man!!

If you don't see me around here for a week or so, now you know why. I'll get on asap and post some more pics (that one's for family, of course). Then in January, we are back to hs'ing consistantly and diligently (since we'll have to take another break when this little one arrives) - so I want to share about what that looks like for our family, at this time.

For now, I need to attack some more laundry (even with my mil catching me up while she was here, it's a never-ending process. THANKS MARLENE!!), update the chore charts, and get my own shower in. Whew....is it nap time yet?

Here's praying we all have that extra bit of energy we're gonna need over the next few weeks - our Lord is faithful, right?! PTL!!

All my love~

"The Three Musketeers"

Elijah snuggling with Mema

My Michigan Man


my lil'est man, getting one of his first offical time outs - it was inevitable...