Opposites.

These two opposite girl cousins reunited has been precious...

One is a beautiful brown.

The other is a pretty peach.

One has curves and shape.

The other is lanky and long.

One is outgoing and goofy.

The other is shy and silly.

Both love playing babies together.

Both love clothes, shoes and dresses.

Both are daily reminders that grace comes in friendships.

It is sweet to see both together again, enjoying being opposites.

Notice their shoes? This is how I found them the other morning playing on the porch. Felicity had on the set of purple crocs and Elyse the set of pink jellies. Then they decided one shoe on each of them would fit just right. They thought this up on their own and doesn't it just go with all their other opposite ways? Their opposites couldn't fit more perfectly in cousins, I love it.

Belly update.

I can't believe my baby is the size a sweet potato already! I obviously haven't even had time to post belly pics but I had to and let me tell you, this baby is growing! And I want to remember what was happening when with this pregnancy. Of course, we know little about this sweet babe yet but are hoping to see this little one and find out more in the next month. I had only had one ob appointment in Thailand at 7 weeks. I am 18 weeks and feeling pretty good. I am really tired but I think thats just from moving across the world and readjusting to life! I have also had more nausea with this pregnancy than the others. That has mostly tapered off and since we've been back I haven't seemed to have any problems eating Bojangles :) I would say I've just had cravings for foods with intense flavors like hot sauce on lots of things, cheese and olives and vinegar potato chips. Felicity saw my belly the other day and said "wow mom! I can see your baby sticking out there!" and I overhear the boys telling their cousins that mom's baby is as big as a orange now. It's so sweet that they are so excited too. I am truly blessed to be pregnant with this little life and as things get more normal for us here I anticipate planning and preparing more for baby #4. I have already started a cloth diaper stash from craigslist and can't wait to see if we are looking out for a boy name or a girls this go around - naming is one of the funnest parts of pregnancy for me.

Here's the belly shots...

14 weeks and a few days. Taken before we came back home:

17 weeks:
Decreasing lap picture:

18 weeks:

Odd blogger problems.

I had created a long update on our lives since we've been back entitled "hanging on and looking up". I posted it two days ago but for some reason it's gotten swallowed up in the blogsphere. It's missing. Hopefully it will return sometime soon as I always write to bare my soul and my journey on here! But for those of you who missed it, the tall and short of it was that God has been exceedingly kind to draw us near and encourage our hearts in our return. We have felt so much affirmation upon coming back that this is indeed where the Lord has us and where we can honor His priorities for family life. I feel the life being breathed back into my weary heart and anticipate true transformation as I keep processing the last year of my life at the feet of my Savior. We look forward to lots of growing and refreshment in the days ahead even amidst the difficulties that come with starting over.

My other post revealed that I don't know how often I'll post on here and plan to close it sometime soon. For those who want to stay in touch my email is: redlanternfamily@gmx.com.

Like I said - hopefully my post will reappear! Thanks for lifting us up and loving on our family through this season...