Overwhelming Blessings....

or how one decision changed the course of my life and my family's life! When we decided to home school all those years ago I thought it was a decision about education. Who knew it would give us friends and family across the world? Seriously!

We went on vacation with friends (home schoolers - most of them) this week. They totally blew me away Monday night. We are 24 weeks pregnant this week with Henry and I didn't think anyone would do anything shower or gift wise this early so I was oblivious when I walked into the room FULL of people. 35 physically there and another 30 who sent love. God is so good in giving us family and friends all over the place.

My friend Holly pushed her comfort zone and made this for me:



She'd never made a cake like this before. It was as delicious as it was pretty.

And then they had all these wonderful things from friends far and wide:



The chocolate brown ergo (backpack carrier) that I wanted. The Sneaky Wife #1 (Jen) and Sneaky Wife #2 (Dana) conferred and said I should really have the chocolate one since it made me happy. I love sneaky wives. Everyone should have at least one and I've got TWO!

And then there was the pack and play - I really liked the one Babies R Us sold but I refused to register there for only that ONE thing when they had a second choice at Target/Amazon. Again my Sneaky Wife (that'd be Jen again) came to the rescue and got the one with the ELEPHANTS on it that I really liked it.



And then a beautiful babby blanket made by my friend Kelly:



And cloth wipes made by Jen to go with the cloth diapers I'm planning to use:




One of the cloth diapers:



And there were other gifts:

My friend Ashley had a whole bag full of goodies including several toys, a sunhat, flannel blankets, swaddle blankets and bath toys. McGinley didn't get pictures of those quick enough!

And the friends far and wide also gave me the car seat we needed:




And we even had poetry which totally makes this count as SCHOOL! My friend Bethany wrote a poem for me. I'm going to type it up but suffice to say it made me cry like a babby myself! Dana had to be the reading wife!

Written by Bethany Wethersby:
Roses are red
They brighten your mood
Like the pending arrival
Of a cool little dude

His hands will be small
His feet will be tiny
He'll wear manly cloth diapers
On his little hiney

Will he be born bald
Or be totally hairy?
Grow up to love ice cream
Or be allergic to dairy?

Will he be a punk
Or a total saint?
Prefer to play football
Or read books & paint?

When will he come?
The schedule says May
But it could be June
If in the womb he does stay

Surrounded by sisters
He'll be their live doll
He's destined to spend
Time with them at the mall

I'm sure Michael's happy
For some testosterone
In the sea of estrogen
He won't be alone

Peg will get snuggles
She will not feel crabby
When kissing the cheeks
Of her new little babby

I better stop
Before this gets sappy
But, honey, Peg's birthing Henry
And we're all *so* happy!!


The best thing about all of this is that I keep thinking if this is a slice of heaven here on earth I sure can't wait to get to heaven!

In the center of Christ's ABUNDANT and OVERFLOWING Love,
Peg

Lots of stuff going on here at La Geron.

We've been busy since Christmas. The babby is growing like he's supposed to and we're thrilled. Yep you read it right - HE. His name is Henry Thomas Geron. We expect to deliver near the middle of May. I love to feel his little kicks and movements. We are very blessed.

The girls are busy with school. They started a short art class with a friend of mine in January. They are having tons of fun with that. This week they start up sewing again after a Christmas Break. And dance resumed last week. So as you can imagine I'm in the car way more than I like.

Michael is busy all the time. We've had some breaks here and there. Praise the Lord! I love spending time wit my Beloved.

Michael's Grandma Geron fell the day after Christmas. She broke her leg, had a pin put in and is now at the Convalescent center doing rehab. The family has been loving on her well. We covet your prayers for her health. She will be 95 in April.

McGinley cut her hair last week. She looks so grown up it hurts my heart to look at her sometimes. I'm not ready for these girls to be grown. Isn't it cute?



I just realized how long it had been since I posted so even though it's a hodgepodge of information I still wanted to post something. ;)

In Christ's Love,
Peg

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I just want to say how thankful and blessed we are to know each and every one of you. I love all of our family and friends both near and far. May your Christmas be full of the Joy of our Lord and Savior.

In Christ's Abundant and Amazing Love,
Peg

Things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving Day...

1 - Family - those we're born into and those we are adopted into.
2 - A beautiful home to live in.
3 - A beloved who works so hard for all of us.
4 - A new babby coming in May.
5 - Friends who share and support.
6 - Chocolate (you know that had to make the list right?) I just found out Dark chocolate has NO sodium. I love it but now I REALLY love it. ;)
7 - Food in the cabinets and my belly.
8 - Jesus loving us enough to die on the cross for us.
9 - Down comforters - one of the best things ever!
10 - Camping - We love to camp.
11 - My beloved being home the entire day.
12 - Sunshine
13 - Tea
14 - Friends who are friends no matter the distance.
15 - The ability to have the lifestyle we do in a country that is free.
16 - The smell of good cooking.
17 - Yarn (you knew that would be here too)
18 - Friends to knit with.
19 - Family and friends who appreciate the art of knitting.
20 - A clean kitchen - never underestimate the power of a clean kitchen.

I pray your day is blessed and joy filled. May you look around and see with an open heart and clear eyes the many blessings you have this year.

In Christ's Abundant and Ever Gentle Embrace,
Peg

Lost and now found or our Amazing God...

And how he loves on us so. My beloved has been traveling more for work this year. He went to Atlanta a few weeks ago for the week. If you've never been through the Atlanta airport then you've missed a confusing overwhelming experience.


He likes to take small bags so he doesn't have to check stuff to save time. He's pretty careful of his things. This time he did great the whole week until the day he came home. He walked through security and put his laptop in one tray and his pocket contents and wedding ring in another.

When he came home I was sitting here telling him how I'd looked at wedding bands again for him but didn't buy one because they were lots more than I'd anticipated. He'd lost his last one somewhere in the mill so he's been wearing his grandfather's ring for the last year or so.

He jumped up and started patting his pockets then went downstairs and tore through all of his bags. I knew as soon as he'd started patting his pockets what had happened. He had lost the ring. It's a fairly big ring - Michael's hands are quite big and he wears a 13 ring. I guess he took it off automatically and dropped it with the keys and change in the tray then he forgot to pick it up. Now least you thing "HOW did he forget his ring?" He doesn't wear it on a daily basis. Where he works it is detrimental to his hands if he were to get it caught on a piece of equipment. So he wears it when he is home and not in the mill.

I calmed him down - he was very upset about it. And we called Atlanta. They have a voicemail thing telling you to register a lost complaint on their "Foundit" sight. We did this fully thinking the ring was gone for good. I started watching Ebay. We found one that looked very similar but was in California so we were fairly certain it was not the same ring.

Flash forward well over a week and he gets a call from the airport. They FOUND THE RING! Amazingly enough they found it. They shipped it back to us. I picked it up at the post office this morning and the envelope didn't seem to have anything in it. I tore it open and PRAISE THE LORD there it was!



I had friends everywhere praying for this ring. I know it's a material thing but it truly cannot be replaced. It has been in his family for many years and as I found in my searching there really aren't any exactly like this ring out there. Even if it were exactly the same it wouldn't be THE same.

I know the Lord cares enough about us to know the number of the hairs on our heads. I'm so thankful he cares enough to bring this ring back to us because it was so important to us. I love how he searched for it and brought it back. I love how He continues to search and bring us back to him again and again. Amazing love that is!

In Christ's Amazing Embrace,

Peg

Back to school...

Just kidding. We started school two weeks ago. And so today when nearly everyone else in our neighborhood/town is going back to school - in the rain no less - we slept in. I still have one in the bed. You get to guess who that might be.

We have enjoyed not having to get up and be at the mercy of others schedules. Well, except for my beloved Michael's. ;) So today while everyone else is learning the new drill at school we get to do fun stuff. My girls will read until they decide to move on to the next thing or figure out they probably should eat breakfast before it's lunch time. And I'm sorting the clothes out of the attic and getting ready for West End's huge consignment sale. Fun stuff I tell you.

We'll do school tomorrow unless Charlotte wanders in and wants/insists on doing her school. She likes school very much. I'm glad she has a love for it. I'm glad my big girls still have a love for it.

So how was your first day of school? Or are you already midway through the year? The beauty and blessing of homeschooling! WHOOHOO.

In Christ's love,
Peg

It's my girl's 13th Birthday.

We had a great day shopping and lunching just the two of us today. We ate too much at Panera and stayed in budget in Old Navy. Great sales in Old Navy too.

McGinley wanted "skinny" jeans after wearing a friend's at camp this week. Interestingly enough she is skinny enough to wear "skinny" jeans and look good. Wench. ;)

And the evidence:



Here are a few more pictures from her birthday party tonight with family:



This is a dress she picked out today while we were shopping. I was amazed at the fact that she actually picked a dress. She is so not my girly girl. But it is a good choice and I think she'll enjoy wearing it.


And her birthday cake she requested:



And the final great birthday present from Mimi and Pop Pop:



Each girl in our family receives a birthstone ring from their Mimi and Pop Pop on their 13th birthday. Each one has been unique to the girl so far. McGinley was excited to see she did indeed have a ring box in that big bag!

We have so enjoyed and been blessed by the creation that is our McGinley. God surely makes some unique and awesome people. We're just thrilled she is one of our people.

In the midst of Christ's abundant blessings,

Peg