The Beginning of a Rainbow....

Okay I'll make this short and sweet...

Bobby and I are expecting again :)

We are calling this one our Rainbow Baby :)
-The sign of hope after a storm.

If you want to join Bobby and I in praying, we would love it.  We are praying for a strong, normal, smart, beautiful, lively healthy baby.

p.s.  Do you have a rainbow quote you would like to share?  A special Bible verse, or quote?  We would love to hear them :)

Back in April I was asked if I would come up to Missouri and help out at a Rodeo Bible Camp.  Without even thinking twice about it I jumped on the opportunity.  Later on I wondered if I should have prayed first, so I did, but I never felt like I shouldn't go.... so away I went.  :)

Early Tuesday morning my inlaws, 3 teens from their youth group, and I headed out to the camp in northern Missouri.  On the way there we stopped off through Joplin, MO to see the devesation of that massive tornado that went through there.  It was aweful, but very humbling and thankful for what we have. 

Trees stripped of all there branches... where houses once were, they were no more.  There was no end in sight it seemed like.

In the middle of all the mess was this church with it's cross still standing.  It was so powerful in all it's massiveness (if that's even a word).  Some people may think, "who cares, why would God let this happen anyways."  You know, I don't know, but I do know that He is there in every situation and He always shows Himself one way or another.  So I thought this was pretty cool.


So on to the camp... One of the main reasons why I was so excited about this camp is that I've never gone out and been on the giving end of God's work.  Most of what I do is from behind the computer screen and so being face to face dealing with what needed to be delt with right then and there was something I had always wanted to experience.

I was also looking forward to all the neat things I was going to experience... after all this was a RODEO Bible Camp I was going to. 

On Wednesday I met my girls.  I had a group of 7 ranging from 11 to 13 year olds.  Some brought horses... some didn't.  The first day I was thinking,"What have I got myself into... there is a lot of okward silence... am I not cool enough to these girls?  Surely I am, I have an 11 year old sister for crying out loud... and these adults... They must think I'm some crazy girl from Texas not knowing what I'm doing."  We played games, had chapel, started coming out of our shells some, and I slowly became really impressed by the young group of girls I had.  They were all from different backgrounds and all had really good attributes.

During the rest of the week we became pretty close relying on eachother.  For several hours of the day each girl would go to what they called Even Instruction.  One girl came to learn Horsemanship, another Trick Roping, another Team Roping, Trick Riding, and 3 of them were in Goat Tying.  I would go around watching each girl and all of them strived to be the best at what they did, but was always willing to help out a fellow camper.  I was so blessed with my group of girls.  I never had to worry about them. 

I was so blessed.  I got to minister to several different people... some in my team, some not, some were even people on staff with me that I became good friends with.  We had lots of laughs and memories.  I wish I could write about everything that happened because it was all so great, but of corse I can't think of it all right now. 

Some pictures from the camp...

Team roping instructor and his dog during Chapel

My father-in-law preaching

Chapel Service

My cousin, Whitney, Trick Riding

My cousin, Libby, in Horsemanship

There was even some bull and bronco riding...

I really enjoyed this trip and I'm so thankful to even be thought of for something like this.  I think I got ministered to way more than I actually ministerd to other people.  The whole Rodeo Bible Camp experience is something I will never forget. :-)

So many thoughts

There are a lot of thoughts bouncing aroud my head right now.  Lots of prayer for sure.  Mainly for one particular young lady and the decisions that she is having to make.  I pray that she is at peace with whatever she decides to do.  I wish I could speak more about it at this time, but it's just not time to.  If you want to join me in prayer for this special lady and for her family that they will be there for her no matter what she chooses, I'm sure it will be greatly appriciated by many people. 

Thank you so much!

Rosemary

He loves us because He loves us because He loves us....

Today was Valentine's Day.  It also marks 2 months to the day when I got to see my beautiful baby girl.  It was also the day that Bobby and I finally had our genetic appointment.  It couldn't have gone any better.  There is nothing wrong with Bobby and I!! We can have perfectly healthy babies, it is possible!  We were told that Enoch, and Mary Alice's reasons for their outcomes were totally random.  We just happen to have 2 random things happen to 2 of our babies.

We also found out the main cause for Mary Alice's conditions.  She had Amniotic Banding happen to her.  If you do the research you will see that it's an aweful thing.  When you do, you may think, well there were sooo many things that went on, how could this be what she had.   :( Well, the banding wraped around her cord just days after her life begain inside me that it cut off most of the nutrients she needed to grow. 




Also, I just wanted to say that Jesus loves you, because He loves you, because He loves you, because that's what He is... Love. Happy Valentine's Day.

Butterfly

A few months ago a little 3 year old girl said to her daddy and mommy, "Mary Alice is like a butterfly and when she comes out she is going to fly home to Trey (Bobby) and Rosie."  This is from the daughter of one of my very closests friends.  I didn't take what this little girl said lightly because I knew this girl had spoken some very profound things before and I knew that an average 3 year old wouldn't think of something like that on her own.  She spoke truth.  Now I didn't know if Mary Alice was actually going to come home with Bobby and I or if she was going to fly home to heaven and be in our hearts for ever.  Either way, it was truth and I clung to it as a hope, knowing everything is going to be just fine no matter what happened. 

Also, even before I became pregnant with little Mary Alice I knew that I wanted a nursery decorated in a cowboys and indians theme.  Boy or girl I didn't care.  Since that was the case I found myself drawn to horses.

About a week after Mary Alice was born I went to one of my favorite stores, Mardels.  While I was there, I came across a book about a child prodigy name, Akiane.  She is a famous artist that painted things she saw in her Dreams.  Her most famous painting is probably one she did of Jesus when she was 8 years old. 

As I looked through the book I came across a painting that I will never forget. 

"Butterfly Passion"

...Whether in his dream or for real, a horse is running after his love downstream, while the love butterflies surround him. The bubbles represent womb and beginning. I painted this scene to express the search for love and its meaning... - Akiane

 
 
So there is not much to say after looking at the painting and reading what Akiane had to say about it.... All I could say is, "Thank You Jesus!"
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: I c&p from Akiane's website, that's why there's a big copyright sign on the picture. lol

The Broken Hearted

While I was carrying Mary Alice, Bobby said to me one night,"There's always someone whose got it worse."  I just starred at him from across the table like what could be any worse then carrying a baby that isn't physically fit to live.  Ofcourse, he new what I was thinking.  He said, "I know that sounds crazy, but think about it.  We are going to be alright,  we will make it through this."  (well I can't remember what he said, but that is what I remember when I think back on that night).

Bobby's words stuck with me, "There's always someone whose got it worse."  I would think, do they really? Lord, how so? cause I'm so not feeling it.  Soon enough, I started to realize...

There is a song by Brandon Heath called "Give Me Your Eyes".  It's about a person who wants to know what God is thinking, feeling, and just seeing things the way He sees them.  I began to pray about those things for me.  My heart became so compassionate for other people.  I would cry for them and my heart would break for them.

Over the past few weeks a friend of mine, Kristin Buchert, has been going through some pretty tough stuff herself.  She is expecting her 2nd child and has been overcoming complications with one of her kidneys.  She has been in a lot of pain and needs constant medication for it.  Because of this, she is stuck laying in a bed at the hospital.  Tonight I recieved a text from her saying that her house caught on fire.  This took my breath away and yup, my eyes were watering.  This is crazy, this shouldn't be happening, but it is.  Don't worry, her family is all safe.

Although it's not the same situation, I know what it feels like to be living a  nightmare that you can't just wake up and stop it at anytime.  Her hands are tied and there's not a thing she can do about it right now.  Thank you Jesus, because, my hands are not tied.  I can help and it's not "far beyond my reach."  (lol sorry it's a line from the song). 

I wanted to ask, if you believe, to pray for Kristin and her family.  That she is able to relax and be at peace knowing that everything is being taken care of.  That she is healed.  That her little boy brings light to everyone he's surrounded by and to keep him healthy.  For her husband, that he would just have the Lord's way in everything concerning his family, home, health, and job.  In Jesus' name..



Okay, so I've been contemplating doing this, but then I thought why not...  I want to give you the opportunity to reach your hand out and help. (If you feel you want or need to).  If you want to send them something to help out, (household items, money, food, or even a card to brighten their day) send me an email here and we will work out the details.  They lost a lot of things in the fire. The new baby girl to be's things, kitchen appliances, and stuff from their garage.



Thank ya'll for your love and support,

Rosemary

Pictures

One of the things I wanted at Mary Alice's birth was a photographer.  This was something I dreamed about way before I became pregnant with her.  You see, I had a photographer from Now I lay me down to sleep come out and take pictures of Enoch's birth.  I love those pictures and they are so precious to me.  So, naturally I wanted professional pictures done for my 2nd baby.  When we started finding out all the things going on with Mary Alice  I didn't know if I should contact NILMDTS again or to hire an actual birth photographer.

Well as you know, Mary Alice came earlier than expected so I didn't have time for neither... or so I thought.  When I got to the hospital I was on the phone with my mother-in-law asking her if she would bring her camera.  My midwife Tina over heard me talking about a camera so she asked me if I wanted her to call a friend of hers to come take pictures.  I imediately jumped on the opportunity. 

She had a photographer named, Melissa, come in.  She was amazing!!  Half the time I never knew she was there and she captured some very beautiful pictures.  I am so blessed by her time and dedication she put into everything. 

So here it is... I decided to share some of the memories of Mary Alice's birthday that Melissa ever so beautifully captured for us...  but first, press play on this video.  It's the song "Beautiful" By MercyMe that I played for my baby girl numerous times.  Then scroll to look at the pictures :-)

http://www.melissafarnsworthphotography.com/