Happy 1st Sunday of Advent!

The Advent season has started... and I'm so excited! This year we have our own home, and are we have been decorating and I just feel so blessed and so ready to welcome Christ into our hearts and home at Christmas. All my Christmas cards are just about ready to go out (have to get stamps!) and the kids have put snowman and candy cane window decals on our windows and sliding glass door. Today Michael put up lights on the house, we set up the Christmas tree, lit the first candle on our Advent wreath, and started our magenetic Advent Calendar with Josiah! All in our GORGEOUS NEW living room... which my Mom and I painted yesterday. You'll just have to wait to see pictures though because our digital camera is being repaired/replaced under warantee... (yay!)

We are so excited to celebrate this Christmas season... and second to the excitement of Christ's birth... will be the excitement of celebrating new life with our newest little angel shortly after! May Christ fill your hearts and lives in a very special way this year!
Love,
The Walks

Crocheting...

Well, sitting around being huge and baking a baby (especially on bad pain days) does have its benefits... I actually managed to finish Josiah's hat and scarf weeks ago and so they are here to keep him warm in this cool weather.



Now I'm working on getting some hats done--as requested-- for my goddaughters in Texas... well, maybe by the time it actually gets cold in Texas they'll be done. Although I'm not convinced it ever gets cold in Texas.

And I'm still waiting on some head measurements so I'm sure they'll fit... Anytime Laura! ;o)

Tea Party...

Tea for two in the "Castle"...

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, and always, we have so much to be thankful for... I don't even know where to begin! We are blessed beyond what we deserve...and we thank God every day for all He has given us. We are thankful for our Savior Jesus, our new home and everything in it, for Michael's steady job, for our love and all our BEAUTIFUL and healthy children, and most especially for this new little life growing inside me. We're thankful for our amazing family and friends, and our sweet godchildren. Mostly we're thankful that we see all we have, and know who to thank for all these gifts... and that God keeps drawing us closer to Him.

We pray that this Thanksgiving all of you will experience the love and peace of Christ in a special way, and that He'll be drawing you and your family close in His love all year long.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
Lisa, Michael and
Our Little Turkey's....

UDI- Under Daddy Influence

So my little three year old was downstairs last night with his Daddy playing "Go Fish" when what did I hear?

Josiah: "Daddy, do you possess... a whale?"
Daddy: "Why Yes I do, here you go!"
Josiah: "Thank you my good Sir!"

ANNNDD my brain went, WHAT? Isn't he THREE? Why is he saying "possess" and "good sir"? Ohhhh yes... the things that happen when you have Michael for a father.

At first I rolled my eyes and thought, I should nag him about how our child's going to grow up too fast - and what's wrong with saying, "Do you HAVE any seahorses?" when you play go fish??
But then I thought, Wow... that couldn't have sounded ANY cuter and my child is getting so smart just by being silly and copying his Daddy's "big" words.

I really am so proud... of both of them. That's just what happens in this house when you're Under Daddy Influence.

FRIENDS

Josiah and some of his friends from our church playgroup. How cute is this?

My Girl and Me

Daddy and Josiah just left for the store- they are going to pick up a GET WELL balloon and flowers for my Mom. Today was her surgery to repair her knee and it all went well... now we're just praying for a quick and speedy recovery. We're going to be there to take care of her tomorrow.

But while the boys are out... Lydia and I are dancing to the FRIENDS theme and eating chocolate.

This is why I had a girl. She already gets it. :)

I hope she and I are best friends forever- just like my Mom and me!

Monday Monday...

Ugh. I'm so huge. Or atleast, that's how you start to feel when this pregnant, isn't it? I'm 27 weeks today... can you believe that? Phew, it went by fast. I'm (hopefully) going to spend the upcoming weeks enjoying it- because once they come out of the womb, they certainly don't go back in! I'm trying to focus on appreciating this miracle inside me... and I'm really getting SO EXCITED to meet this new baby! Is it a boy? Is it a girl? What will he/she look like? I'm just SO excited I actually have to not think about it!

Mondays... why are they always so hard? Maybe because my Daddy-obsessed baby girl woke up saying, "DA DA DA!... DA DA?... DA DA??" and was not happy to discover that as she crawled around every room in the house... he was not home. He went to work. I told her this of course, but, she had to check for herself. Then looking at me, arms raised by her shoulders in that "I don't know" pose... "DA DA?" she says. I told her, "I know you love him sweetie, me too... he's at work. You'll see him later"
Look of defeat.
Poor little girl :)

Anyway, now I'm just trying to figure out if we can make it to playgroup today, or to the grocery store which we REALLY need to do... or to both. I'm not sure. I am thinking since I don't have anything to even give the kids for breakfast (cereal... outta milk...) we might have to go get some breakfast out this morning and get to the grocery store.

More updates soon... but for now- Happy Monday!




Daddy and Josiah in a GIANT pile of leaves!

Goodbye Sweet Gavin

Today is Gavin's burial. Please say a prayer for peace and strength for his parents Karen and Adam (and his sister Madison) and all their family today.

May God be with them today and wrap them all in his tender arms of love!

Mmmmm cookies

Just waiting while the cookies bake!

WHOA...

I'm pregnant with my third... my THIRD child... holy cow.


I know, you'd think that this would have sunk in by now...but you know what? It hasn't! Sometimes it still hits me like... "WHOA!" And I can't even believe it myself!

And you know what else? It's awesome. I can't remember life before Michael... or Josiah... or Lydia... and I know the minute this baby is in my arms, I won't be able to remember what it was like without him/her. And I don't want to.

Life is just awesome like that.

Getting to know you...

I am really excited because I'm starting to get to know the personality of this new little baby inside me... I really am!

ONE- this baby is STRONG. Yes, this baby has some very very well-working muscles, that's for sure. Frankly, with a 26 week old child that can almost have me doubled over while walking out of the supermarket with a huge flip out to the side, I'm just scared to feel how strong this baby is at 40 weeks! or 35 for that matter!

TWO- This baby also LOVES touch. Although I have heard that a baby's sense of touch is developing now just like it's sight/hearing/taste, etc... I've never, ever had a baby in the womb respond so obviously to touch. I told Michael to REMIND ME to rub and massage the baby if it is ever upset or collicky. Right now, if you rub my belly for just 10 seconds, or a minute, the baby loves it... stays all calm and just soaks it in- and then if you rest your hand there afterwards it'll kick and flip and just go crazy with joy. It's so funny! It's a good thing it loves touch so much because I'm pretty sure this baby will live at least the first 6 months of it's life in a sling and nursing on me! That's the plan :)

In comparison, I still can't tell you if it's a boy or a girl (because I don't know!) but Josiah was strong and wiggly like this... so maybe it's a boy. My Dad is convinced it's a girl. I guess I should take bets, huh? ... Anyone? :)

We love you Three-Bee! We are so excited to meet you and hold you!

Rest In Peace

Gavin passed away last night, and I think despite the long hard road it will be, it is a breath of fresh air to know that he is finally in the arms of our Lord.
Please pray for his family!
Gavin Christopher Owens, rest in peace.

Please Pray...

I'm copying most of Laura's words today from her blog because they were just perfectly stated... (thanks Laura for your thoughts and prayers!)

Take some time today to pray for our sweet nephew-in-law Gavin, who is in his last hours here on Earth. As you spend today feeling frustrated with your own kids and wishing your significant other would just get home already, take a moment and hug your cranky kid, and thank God that they're being naughty and making a ruckus.
Gavin has been through so much and he and his family are such a light. So spend a little quiet time in prayer today and wish them nothing but peace and love as they send their little guy home.

Dear Jesus, please wrap your loving arms of peace and comfort around Karen and Adam as they say goodbye to their precious son and send him back into your arms. Please bless Madison, his sister, and give her peace and comfort during what is sure to be the most confusing time she has delt with in her four short years. Thank you for your love and all your blessings- hold Gavin close to you in heaven!
Amen



Gavin, several months ago, when he was well enough to smile and laugh- little boy, you have touched so many lives... Rest in Peace
www.gavinowens.com

The Bride is Coming!

On October 24th one of my best friends from high school, Emily, married my older brother... (in law!) Ken... it was so awesome and magical to see the way God brought us all together and used us to find our soul mates. Michael, of course, was his brother's best man and Josiah was the "town crier"- he came down the aisle just before Emily saying, "The bride is coming! the bride is coming!" and ringing a bell. He did wonderful! We were all so proud and happy that everything was just perfect for Ken and Em on their big day. Here are a couple pictures... enjoy :)
May God bless Ken and Emily's marriage now and forever, we love you guys!