http://josiahandkatiewinter.blogspot.com/

We got an adorable shot of the baby’s face, and if I was computer savvy at all I would scan it and upload it, but that sounds like too work.  After all, it is the third.  It’s just lucky to have a picture taken of it, right?

Thanks for all of your prayers!

Little Gymnasts

We went to Kings Avenue Baptist Church’s Clown Around again this year for Halloween fun and games.  The girls got a bunch of candy!  Hannah finally got comfortable with taking candy from the strangers (what a wonderful lesson for us to teach our children ) and was digging in by the handful.  It was pretty funny! 

Esther on the Beam

Esther had her first competative Gymnastics meet last Saturday and she did great!  She got a little rushed on her floor routine and forgot one move, but other than that she did awesome!  We are so proud of her!!  She had a huge, somewhat stinky, cheering section as everyone had to come straight from GCS’ state soccer game…which they won!!  Go daddy, and uncles Caleb and Isaiah!   Special thanks to Aunt Joy & Grace who took pictures so mommy could take video!

The invisible woman

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, “Can’t you see I’m on the phone?”

Obviously not. No one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I’m invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m a clock to ask, “What time is it?”

I’m a satellite guide to answer, “What number is the Disney Channel?”

I’m a car to order, “Right around 5:30, please.”

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude – but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She’s going …. she’s going … she’s gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean.

My unwashed hair was pulled up in a clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, “I brought you this.”

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription: “To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.”

In the days ahead I would read – no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

(1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals – we have no record of their names.

(2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

(3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

(4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.” And the workman replied, “Because God sees.”

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.”

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, “My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.” That would mean I’d built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, “You’re gonna love it there.”

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Also, Esther’s first competative gymnastics meet is on Saturday at 5:00 pm.  She (and mommy) have been practicing soooo hard and I am totally psyched for her! She will be participating in all four events (floor, beam, bar, and vault).  I will post pics as soon as possible.

Josiah’s team (if they win tonight) will be having their state Soccer game on Saturday afternoon as well. 

And don’t forget (Ladies), that the Fishhawk Garage Sale is Saturday morning.  We’re heading out before 7am and can’t wait!!!

On Wed, we leave to go to Orlando for daddy’s teacher conference and won’t return until Friday afternoon.  If you don’t hear from us this week, it’s because we’ve lost our sanity

I was going to completely re-decorate their room, but couldn’t find another theme that I like more, since I still think the yellow flowers are adorable.  (Not having to shell out a few hundred dollars to re-paint and everything was a bit of an incentive too!)  The girls are doing awesome sleeping in the same room.  I am sooo proud of them!  I think they are both really enjoying having a buddy to talk to at night, even though it means they go to sleep a little slower. 

Western Day

This past week at Josiah and Esther’s school was Spirit Week.  A crazy week with each day being a different theme and Friday being the Homecoming Game and Saturday, the Homecoming Gala.  I don’t have pics from each day, but here are a few from Western Day and Clash Day.

Clash Day

The baby is kicking with a ton force and is growing exponentially.  At least that’s what I’m blaming the weight gain on these days.

So, Charlie is close to 2 lbs now and a little over a foot long.  It can open and close its eyes and suck on its fingers.  

As for me, a little swelling is starting to set in.  I have been really trying to exercise several times a week and keep my feet up as much as possible.  I know the great swelling is yet to come (I get it really bad!!!).  It is totally awesome to get so fat and puffy!  We are extremely blessed!

We do have another prayer request as far as the baby.  At my 20 week ultrasound, they found a cyst on my placenta.  The midwife seems to not be very concerned since it was sooo small, however, I do have to have another ultrasound in December to make sure that it has not grown and possibly compromising the baby’s blood flow.  Thanks for your prayers!