Lent and the forgiveness of sins

This year we are really trying to reflect on Lent. What does it mean? Why do we observe it? Here is an excellent post from one of my favorite people on Lent. And here is another one of her posts on Forgiveness, something which is raw and real to my heart right now. Oh the hurting, oh the reflection on my own sin, the thankfulness for God's ultimate forgiveness and how I MUST do the same. He blots out our sins, He remembers them no longer. I am empty, I am broken, I write the names in dust, I wipe them away and I forgive and sometimes I keep writing the same name and wiping it away. Forgiveness is a cycle, it needs to happen constantly, not just once: for we are fallen humans in need of a Savior. Jesus does it perfectly, once, and IT IS FINISHED. I am so thankful, and I am observing lent this season.

winding down, catching up, and breathing...

God gives us what we can handle at certain times in our lives and He gives us the grace to get through. For what seems like over a month of a teething, fussy, sleepless baby season, the molar finally broke through only to give way to a horrible diaper rash and the constant diapering needs that go with that. We've been busy, busy, busy full of people and places and ministering, but we are finding ourselves exhausted. And at the brink of all that, I had a family disaster take place that has rocked me to my core, made me cry and cry so much, that I am all cried out now, I am mentally and emotionally and spiritually exhausted. It's hard when a brother decides to try and throw everything God has given him away and revel in his own trash instead. It is frustrating to hear and see the pain on his family's voice and hear my own parents heartbroken and weary voices. And when his repentence comes you find your doubts but begging God that this whole thing be final and resolved and be different this time. Oh life can get to it's hardest point and when you think you're about to break, the Lord gives a brief reprieve and low and behold, the baby is sleeping through the night again. I find comfort in my husband's arms and his understanding, in the laughter of my children as we sit around the dinner table telling cheesy jokes. As my husband reads to our family the book of Job (which we've been going through for some time oddly enough) and having the words wash over me, strengthen me and I feel the Lord's arms around me hugging me tightly and soothing my soul and I finally take a deep breath...

In the midst of this, I also find comfort in the kitchen. I know, different things for different people. For me, I just need to bake up a storm or cook up a storm or something. Just to be doing, and not thinking over and over again and getting all caught up in my thoughts and how they can spiral.

made a year's worth of jam: blackberry, strawberry, and blueberry strawberry and some ginger mango granola.

Cooking tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes for two days and then canning them.

 Making sun-dried grape tomatoes

 Large quantities of zuchini muffins to freeze and have on hand for any occasion...

Stewing all the heirloom tomatoes I got at the market. I love them fresh, but there were just too many to be able to enjoy all at once.

And here I am at 21 weeks pregnant, so excited she's a girl, that I'm over half way there.

It's a GIRL!!!!

Here she is!

 Here's her very strong Spine..

 Her feet were tap dancing, it was amazingly precious!

and here's her little face peeking at you all! We've decided on the name Isabella Kathryn Lenore Moya. I really can't wait to meet this little person. Here is my latest preggo pick of 19 weeks...

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces (acutally the doc said she's 10 oz.) and measures 6 inches (again, doc said 8 inches), head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

It's time to boycott!

Here is the latest news on Susan G. Komen's decision to fund Planned Parenthood and give them even more funding than previously promised. So, here I am: pregnant with my sixth baby and making a declaration that I won't purchase anything pink EVER that supports Susan G. Komen as long as they proceed to fund the killing of innocent babies. PLEASE boycott this evil group of people! My husband and I have also decided to boycott the super bowl as the NFL has also funded Susan G. Komen. The color pink can now be associated with the image of an aborted child, where it should be the glorious pink of a newborn baby.

18 weeks

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

15 weeks

Rad shirt eh??? My friend sent me yet another really cute maternity shirt. Here I am at 15 weeks...
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam.

a month of celebrities

I know, that is an interesting title. Something you normally wouldn't find on my blog. But there it is... the topic of celebrities. I went to the library with my children yesterday, I love going to the cookbook section, getting interesting cookbooks to take home, pour over, try the recipes and add to my repertoire of daily cooking. I found a wonderful cookbook called "My Father's Daughter" by Gwyneth Paltrow. The recipes are really fabulous, lots of ones I will try. I read about her upbringing and the special bond she had with her father. It got me thinking about her and made me realize "I never pray for this woman". I know she is not a Christian, she has very mixed religious ideals including some Cabala. She is lovely, she is graceful, she is a great Mama, one of my favorite actresses, and a fabulous cook. But what does that amount to in the end? When we stand before God? How often do I pray for celebrities? How often do I just pass their salvation off as impossible? How often do we as Christians deliberately not pray for them because of their opulent lifestyle, ease of life and luxury or their political stances they take on hot topic subjects. This is simply evil on our parts. Who are we to judge who will become a saint and who will not. So here I am, asking all of you to pick a celebrity this month and pray for them. I am starting with Gwyneth. Start with whoever comes on your heart to pray for. These celebrities influence so much of our world, our culture, our worldview, the popular beliefs of any average person. So why aren't we praying that they come to the truth and influence others in that same way? Get on your knees and pray people!

14 weeks

I've really been enjoying this DVD as well as this DVD so far during this pregnancy. I'd like to try and stay in shape so that recovery after pregnancy isn't such a big deal. I feel so much better and more energetic when I've worked out and when I don't, that's when the sickies come back. So for now, it is really helping. Here's the baby growth update:

Welcome to the second trimester! This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him -- a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches -- about the size of a lemon -- and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

13 weeks and a miraculous Christmas

Wow! What a crazy week it's been. My brother was involved in a huge accident and we decided as a family to drive to California and be with him and his family. We drove on Christmas Eve, God kept us safe and the drive was pleasant. We visited my brother in the hospital and it is quite truley a miracle that he is alive. He shouldn't have been. Being T-boned by a large SUV, his head was horrible lacerated, so was the ring finger on his left hand. His liver was badly damaged as well as very bruised. But, he is with us, alive safe and sound and I'm so thankful to God. We came to Cali to bless my brother and in turn we were blessed. After taking my nephews and nieces to the park, we hiked home and Mike and Marj met us there. He just wanted to get out, breath the air and appreciate all that he might have lost. It was amazing.

Here he is, walking with his family, truley grateful.

We had an amazing evening as my other brother and his sweet wife met up with us. We got spontaneous and decided to go see a street who's lights were incredible. One of the houses even let us take a tour complete with amazing decorations. Incredibly beautiful!!!

I am so happy for our Christmas, unlike any other to be sure. The best gift: LIFE! Not only the life of my brother, but more importantly, the life of Christ Jesus who came so that we might have life and have it abundantly.

Here's my little update on the pregnancy: the energy is starting to come back and the sickness is slowly going away.

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head -- which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed and your odds of miscarriage drop considerably.

12 weeks

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.


Well, this would be why I am feeling so sick off and on this week. It hit so hard last night and this morning that it surprised me. Abigail thought it would be fun to take a picture of a lime since that is how big the baby is. It's been so much fun sharing this pregnancy with the children. They are so excited to find out who this little one is. We're all trying to be patient.