The Time Has Come…

Our last soccer game of the season was very memorable…we had all of our players there, we played really well, we had great snacks (I made gluten-free Rice Krispie Treats and others brought freeze pops and fruit snacks), Grace scored TWO goals!!!, AND MY WATER BROKE DURING THE SECOND QUARTER!!  For those who know my family, it was quite poetic that I would have that happen on the soccer field and that I would finish the whole game out on the field as coach without telling anyone (except Danny).  This picture was taken right after the game… we socialized a little and then headed home to asses my health, get the kids to bed and call Sherri to come watch the kids while we headed to the hospital. 

And then SEVEN hours later…

Caleb Andrew Lightner was born.  8 pounds, 2 ounces, and 20.25 inches!  What a cutie!

His Apgar Scores were 7 and 9.

Right after delivery…my handsome Danny is now a FATHER OF FOUR!!!!

The relieved Momma with her son

Ready to be transferred to the Post Partum Rooms

It was a very eventful night… we didn’t get back to our real room until around 4.  We were very tired, but felt so blessed. We praised the Lord together for this little miracle and then tried to get some rest before Danny headed home to take care of the kids and then bring them all to meet Caleb! 

Mothers Day

Just thinking back to the days that were so special…. the days that I delivered my babies…

Looking forward to meeting this new one too!

Grace Elizabeth – 2/07

Hannah Joy – 3/09

Josiah James 10/10

It is SO special to be blessed to be a mommy!  I am thankful that God has blessed me so incredibly.  It is the hardest job that I could have but the rewards are endless! I am constantly trying to improve my skills, knowledge and Biblical discipline in order to be a better mommy…. I want to be used of the Lord in these children’s lives… they were given to ME for only a short time!  How will I spend those days… what will I try to add to their hearts and minds?

I am reminded of something a more experienced mother told me a few years ago… these preschool times have the longest days but the shortest years!  Make the most of those LONG days!

Last Field Official Trip of the School Year

Thursday was the last day of school in the classroom, but we wanted to end the year with a fun and educational field trip with the whole family.  Since it was National Public Gardens Day, we were able to download free tickets to the Botanical Center in Des Moines for a fun morning with the plants, fish and turtles.  It has both indoor and outdoor gardens which are BEAUTIFUL and so much fun to see the variety that God created!

 

Upon entering the front desk gave us a backpack with activities for kids ages 4-7 to do… we basically used it for the kid-friendly map that was inside as well as a few special coloring pages and a slide viewer. 

Josiah loved looking at all of the fish and turtles swimming in the ponds…”Look, daddy!”

Grace and Danny looking at the pond…

Hannah and me…

Taking a closer look at interesting plants with curly leaves

We found a BANANA TREE… maybe our monkeys could climb up and get those for us!

Hannah took a turn with the backpack!  Then we went to a special room that had Gnomes hidden… Grace was GREAT at finding them!

Water…all of the fountains were a big hit… we stayed relatively dry, though!

Coloring pictures at a special Kids Station….

Crown of Thorns… interesting for all of us!

More fish and turtles…

Josiah LOVED the turtles and waterfall

Yup… licking her lips at the thought of a chocolate tree… she IS her daddy’s and mommy’s daughter!

IVY… for some reason she NEEDED her picture with this wall of leaves!

More water…

We found someone to take our picture… it was really bright so we didn’t get a good one!

Relaxing in the Gazebo!

It was a fun, relaxing, and SLOW PACED morning which was really nice for all of us, especially me!  It is hard to believe that we are already done school for the year… Monday will seem really strange, but there will be enough life-change soon for our family!  :)  We are ALEADY planning for next year!!