An important announcement...

I have to admit it. I have been in a funk for the last little bit. When I tell you why, you'll be disappointed. You see, I (with a very large I,I,I,I) was DONE having children. I have four perfect little boys and felt that I had accomplished all that I needed to accomplish in giving birth to them. The rest of my life would be given to raising them to the very best of my capabilites, and it really is a FULL-time job. MY quiver was full. My body was sooooooooooo finished with that part of life, and it was even telling me LOUD and CLEAR that it just couldn't hack it!!

But....

my God had other plans for me! After some problems I was having at the first of last year, and then a series of visits to the doctor for the first time in YEARS (outside of being pregnant), I found myself......with child.....again.....

Oh boy, was I M-A-D!!!!! Joshua whimpered with his tail between his legs for several weeks while I angrily went head to head with a reality that I did NOT wish to accept. This is sad, but very true. Slowly, slowly, slowly, I did come to grips with the idea of another one. I just knew it was a girl. Nope, I wasn't excited. Oh, my heart was very hard.

Almost nine months later, we are approaching the Due Date. This year has been wrought with peaks and valleys, but we are making it. In February, just a few short weeks ago, we lost a precious Aunt, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, and Cousin, Betty Jean Moss Acree; and in just a week or so, we will WELCOME, Lord willing, Kathryn Naomi Steele into our family. In the time that has passed, God's spirit has softened my heart and helped me to see the real beauty of His plan for me, and to let go of MY plans. "Be joyful always;" the Scriptures say, "pray continually; give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in the Messiah, Yeshua (Christ Jesus)..."

I am learning to be content whatever the circumstances.

We are very keen on what name's mean, and have been very thoughtful when considering names for all the children. This one was a hard one. It took us a while to settle on one that we liked the sound of. We finally agreed that we liked "Kathryn Naomi", but I wanted to know what it meant!!

Kathryn (Greek) Naomi (Hebrew)...means:
Pure............Beautiful, Pleasant, Delightful

Wow.

Of added importance (to me), Kathryn is the name of my aunt, and the youngest of the Moss's (my mother's family). She lived here in the house where we now live. My grandmother gave birth to her when she was 33 years old, and unless my Kathryn decides to come before Tuesday next week, I will also be 33 years old when my baby, Kathryn, is born. And, as it turns out, Aunt Kathy's husband has informed me that his mother's name was 'Naomi', so it seems that somehow it was all meant to be!! It just amazes me how things work out sometimes.

So, the DUE DATE is officially March 13th, the same day that we gain another hour of daylight (thank you, time change!). God knows when the ACTUAL date is, so of that, we will inform you when WE know!!

@ 36 weeks...(Jack is wanting me to pick him up, but, obviously, I can't!)


The new window shade that Mom got us and the valance that my mom and Aunt Sharon made together. How unbelievably sweet is that?!! I LOVE my family!



The lamp that a co-worker of Joshua made for us. I love how the light shows through the little holes-don't know if you can see it in the picture.


The crib that my cousin, Gretchen, gave me, along with the crib set that my sister sent.


Her closet, with clothes given by my cousin Jennifer and my sister Jennifer, and my friend Heather!


It's special to me that so many people have already been so much a part of this baby's life, and she's not even here yet! We also had a Korean couple from Joshua work who had their parents send us two 'podegies' to carry Kate in. I thought that was so awesome of them! For those of you who don't know what a podegie is, here is a picture of a child in one:

...it just sort of wraps around the baby and you and holds them snugly to your body so you can be free to use your hands.

So, that's the end of my confession and official blog announcement of our baby girl. We will definately get pictures up after she's born and let everyone know how things went and how we're all doing! Pray for a safe and healthy delivery, and a safe and healthy baby!!