Praise God for the Cow!

The cow has been a blessing to the Hirsch family in many ways...Gary's dad raises them and it helps provide for them; Piece of a cow heart was used to patch the hole in Bekah's heart when she was only 15 months old during open heart surgery, healing her; and...last night...it was our DINNER!  mmmmm....We had our family Valentine's dinner last night, and it was SO very good.  Praise God for the cow!

Full House

So, we have had Brenna and Taylor Igo added to our Gang since Thursday night...they just left to go back home with their family...now the Igos can all adjust as a family of 5. It has been a busy past couple of days- much fun! We realized that now when the Hirsch/Igo families go anywhere, it will be 10 of us- 2 males, and 8 females! That's crazy! 

We've discussed that with many of our friends embracing children as blessings from God, and not hindrances, that has led to none of us being able to go anywhere together as families in one vehicle anymore! We're hoping someone will have a burden to create a "stylish" 15 passenger van. Ha. That would be funny. It was a big deal when we converted to a mini van- we found one that doesn't look so mini-van-ish- a chevy uplander. It's comfy, has all the pluses, like a build in dvd player and car seat...but most importantly, has room for our whole family!  :)

These are the things I NEVER thought about as a single person...who does?! Even me, who likes to plan ahead and get things all together...so funny. 

These are just ramblings of a mother of 3, with friends who have just as many children...which I need to go and attend to now...almost dinner time! Til later...

Happy Valentine's Day...a little late in the day, for good reason

Hello everyone! What a Valentine's Day!!! First, some pics of our little sweeties...

And the newest sweetie in the Igo household, Kara Elise, born TODAY at 3:36 pm, weighing 7 lbs, 2 1/2 oz and 20 1/2 inches long, with very little hair- more like peach fuzz. 

She is SO precious, the Valentine's baby has to be a sweetheart!

The babies are coming!!!

Our dear friends, Todd and Heather Wallace, welcomed their newest baby, Jude Ezra, this afternoon. He was 7 lbs, 3 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. Everyone is healthy. We only wish we could go see them...they do live in Springfield, so maybe soon!

Our other close friends, Tim and Melissa Igo will be (hopefully) welcoming Kara Elise tomorrow, as she will be induced in the morning. A Valentine's baby! She'll be sweet.  We're all anxious for tomorrow, looking forward to welcoming her! 

It's baby galore- our other good friends, Adam and Paige Madden, will be delivering the end of the month...

I did mention to Gary that I was feeling left out, not being in labor this month while some of our close friends are.  I really am okay with that...but it has got us thinking about another. Hmmm...we'll see. Right now we have our hands full with three beautiful girls.  What blessings babies are!

God is good...even when there are not so great things...

So, life here has been pretty good with the Hirsch gang...for being iced in (there's been ice storms that have cancelled the schools for the past few days and kept us inside due to not taking out three kids in freezing weather)...but I am getting stir crazy! I was talking with Melissa, and we're both ready to just run out for...milk? something? I was supposed to be hosting lunch here for some friends, but that got cancelled due to ice...so, we did school, more housework, and worked on Valentines...which, I've come to find out, has no real decisive origin. As a homeschool mom, I like to find out where these things originate from, and so after asking, talking with my friend Becky, looked it up on google...and yeah, lots of opinions. So the Hirsches will just use it as a day to express God's love to our family and friends. 

(this break in paragraphs is for my dad, who says it all running together is too much for his eyes and makes him lose interest...I do love you Dad!) So, as I was getting to the point here...there have been some things going on in the Hirsch home. Everything is wonderful as far as us, but the outside stressors are BIG. Gary and I are reading separately, but the through the same books of the Bible for our quiet times, and the other day as we were discussing all that's going on around us, I told him I was getting overwhelmed. You know, sometimes even good things can be stressful- like the family moving out of the house, etc. My wonderful husband reminded me to look to God and not on the things. His words- focus on God, not the long list, Lynette. What a good man! So as I'm feeling my shoulders inch closer to my ears and a stress induced headache coming on, I go for a moment of alone time (BIG DEAL as mother of 3! it's planned "mommy's time with Jesus" time) I grab my journal and Bible. I make it quick with the journal and manage a 1/2 page of- help me Jesus. It's looking like things are too big, and I need to be reminded of who you are, that you are MUCH bigger. So, I open to the next chapter in our reading...and, yes, it's Philippians 4! After telling God- I need a clear word from you to calm my anxious heart, about 2 minutes later I'm reading- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, with prayer and supplication... oh, THANK YOU GOD! Nothing like His pure, fresh rhema (personal Word) spoken to my heart at just THE right moment. I, of course, start crying and just sit there thanking Him and feeling stupid for being overwhelmed in the first place, cause He's so near. But then it turns to praise that He's so gracious to me. Well, that has helped these last few days to keep turning back to Him in the midst of things that seem like they're going to just swallow me up...or when I want them to just so I don't have to deal with anything else!  So much going on, from personal stuff to business stuff to outside stuff we watch...BUT- thanks to God who is so much bigger! He is our Rock. He wants to not just give us peace, but He Himself IS our peace. What a God! 

May you rest in God regardless of what's going on inside of your heart, or outside all around you. He is good.

Tag...I'm it!

I've been tagged by my friend Jennifer, so here it goes:

 TWO THINGS...

(I saved this as a draft and then finished it and posted it today, Monday, the 11th!)

Two Names You Go By:
1. Honey Bunny
2. Mommy

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. my camel color velour sweatsuit

2. my wedding ring

Two things You Expect in a Relationship:
1. Trust
2. Honesty/transparency

Two of Your Favorite Things to do:
1. spend alone time with my hubby
2. fellowship with family and friends

Two Things You Want Very Badly at the Moment:
1. God to give clear direction on some decisions
2. People to see God as He is

Two pets you had/have:
1. Darla- jack russell
2. Tannie- little terrier mutt

Two things you did last night:
1. do you want to know? :)  well, snuggled with my hubby
2. had our Sunday night family meeting

Two Things you ate last night:
1. thai noodles (homemade)
2. 100 calorie hersheys bar 

Two people you talked to last night:
1. my hubby
2. my parents

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. hosting lunch for some friends
2. the usual housework stuff

Two longest car rides:
1. Houston TX to Wisconsin Dells WI (talk about south to north!)
2. Nazareth PA to Houston TX 

Two of your Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Easter

Your favorite beverages:
1. h20
2. diet rite

I tag...Melissa, Heather, and Amy

SO MUCH!!!

Well, I'm not even sure where to begin, there has just been SO much that God is doing and continues to do in revealing Himself to us...

I'll start with this- I have THE MOST incredible husband in the ENTIRE world! (try to persuade me otherwise...you'll lose)  :)  He is by no means perfect, but is SO perfect for me. I am amazed at the goodness of God in getting to share in this life together, having a leader that so loves God and me. He is just a wonderful man of God- I know he loves me because He wants God more.

My children are beautiful. They continue to be used by God to show me just how much I need Him. Raising children is such a blessing...and so much work! It's so fun.

My family is such a blessing. They've lived with us for close to 1 1/2 years now, and it's been so good. Thankfully we have a huge house, so space isn't such an issue. However, it has been a good time of working through some things and it's been a blessing to see God "do His thing." Last night, my dad was voted on and approved as the Church Administrator. Today was his first day.  It has been an awesome process to see God at work, taking care of their every need and using His people in their life. The best thing about last night- Super Bowl Sunday is my Mom's spiritual birthday. We sang her favorite hymn, Majesty, during the meeting. When they called the family out during questioning time, we all got around in a circle and prayed. What was so sweet about it was the prayers were not that my dad would be hired. Of course, that was our desire, but more than that desire was the desire that no matter what the vote, God be glorified. The prayers were that God would be seen through either providing through this position, or seen in Him providing something different and trusting Him through it. What a wonderful thing to see lived out! My family wasn't worried, and the peace wasn't dependent on the job, but in God, the Prince of Peace. Praise Him!

And then our church family...our friends who we get to "do life" with. In just this past week there have been NUMEROUS people that we've watched God use in our life. Last Sunday we had lunch with a family from church that we wanted to get to know, and it was such kindred spirits, it was like we've known each other already. No weirdness, like we're family. Then Monday we had a family over that we've been wanting to hang out with, and it was such an amazing time of fellowship, truth and spirit just pouring out. Times on the phone with friends, encouraging and praying with us, sharing concerns...Even this morning, my friend Becky was over and I was so encouraged as we talked and prayed. To the point of being overwhelmed with the mercy and grace of God, to tears.  Our friends the Igos are going through some really hard things right now, concerning her Dad's health and her own pregnancy. She's 36 weeks and can only wait and trust in God through this, with her Dad in the hospital and not doing well. But we can see the hand of God in the midst of it, showing Himself through it. Just praying with and crying with them. Oh my word- and yesterday at church, from the lesson Gary taught, to the songs we sung, to the sermon preached...it was SO RICH, so sweet. Oh so good!  These are just bits and pieces of what we've been seeing and experiencing of God. There's just so much, it can't even all been written out...

Praise God with us in the gift of His church...those who continue to "do life" with us, as we laugh, cry, pray, struggle, get mad, sad...all of it. It's such a blessing to be real and see God show Himself through it. That in the end, it's all about Him. We struggle and toil and go through things just so that God is the most treasured in our life. That is our prayer... Philippians 1:20- Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. He is SO worthy!