Hello All, 

I know I have been a stranger, but for good reason I assure you. I'm excited to be back on here to update on how my life has been changing.

 Easter has come and gone, but let us not forget the indescribable, matchless love the Lord has for us. Speaking of indescribable, lets just say this joy I feel is just that. The lord has blessed me so much, and has given me another chance at being a mommy! We have our baby in heaven, and another little one growing inside me. This little one is growing so fast, it's the size of a large plum at the moment and is on it's way to a peach soon! Such happiness, such excitement, such love, such gratefulness is BURSTING from my heart! My husband is just as excited!!! It all began when I started to feel a bit nauseous. I thought I was catching a cold or coming down with something. I told my friend about it and she insisted that I take a pregnancy test. I only had one and I really did not want to waste it! I got home and the thought kept inching it's way to the front of my mind. (At this point of trying for what seems forever for a baby, I had given it all to the Lord. I stopped tracking ovulation and stopped worrying about it all together, I knew the Lord had HIS plan and HIS time) Boy did he!! I took the test when I got home from picking out Jared's Valentine's Day card (The day before Valentine's Day...I know, I know, procrastination...). I waited anxiously for the results. Even though I had already prepared myself for disappointment, the Lord brought me to my knees with tears of joy streaming from my face. I thanked him over and over and couldn't contain myself. I thought "How should I tell Jared?" Then it hit me, I would write it in his card. I'll spare you all the mushy parts before I said "You are the best husband in the entire universe, and in 8 months you will be the best daddy too!" It was hard for him to believe at first just as it was for me. He said "really? really?" in an excited tone, and then I showed him the big positive on the pregnancy test. Don't tell him I told you, but yes we both cried and held each other tight...it was one of the most beautiful moments. Although our miscarriage was one of the hardest things we have faced, it has certainly helped us to not take one moment of this pregnancy for granted. 

The devil has been trying to sneak worry into me, but we are trusting the Lord completely! We were so excited to go to our first doctors appointment. It was so wonderful, we saw the baby moving like CRAZY and heard the strong heartbeat. I cried of course! This new journey has me on cloud 9, I'm looking forward to all the new things to learn and to those tiny toes and baby kisses. The Lord always full-fills his promises, and we are forever thankful! 

As for the adoption, it is on pause at the moment. We are still taking that path, just at a different time. We figured it wouldn't be fair to the adopted child to have a newborn at the same time who needs a lot of attention and care. Luckily, we won't have to redo any of the process we have already completed. We know the Lord has his time for our adoption journey and we are looking forward to that day. For now, we are taking it day by day. I have been really sick and nauseous with this little one I haven't been able to do much, but I wouldn't change it! I know it is a great sign of a healthy pregnancy and I'm enjoying keeping track of my growing belly. Right now it just looks like I have been eating too many doughnuts, but I know that will change quickly. I will be in my second trimester on Friday :) Well this is getting a bit too long so I'll stop, but I hope you enjoyed the update! 

lots of love, Manda

P.S. I need to catch up with my belly pictures, but this is what I have so far :) Ohhh and we have 5 puppies who have been keeping us real busy too. I sneaked one into my picture because they are just too cute!

Hello All, 

I know I have been a stranger, but for good reason I assure you. I'm excited to be back on here to update on how my life has been changing.

 Easter has come and gone, but let us not forget the indescribable, matchless love the Lord has for us. Speaking of indescribable, lets just say this joy I feel is just that. The lord has blessed me so much, and has given me another chance at being a mommy! We have our baby in heaven, and another little one growing inside me. This little one is growing so fast, it's the size of a large plum at the moment and is on it's way to a peach soon! Such happiness, such excitement, such love, such gratefulness is BURSTING from my heart! My husband is just as excited!!! It all began when I started to feel a bit nauseous. I thought I was catching a cold or coming down with something. I told my friend about it and she insisted that I take a pregnancy test. I only had one and I really did not want to waste it! I got home and the thought kept inching it's way to the front of my mind. (At this point of trying for what seems forever for a baby, I had given it all to the Lord. I stopped tracking ovulation and stopped worrying about it all together, I knew the Lord had HIS plan and HIS time) Boy did he!! I took the test when I got home from picking out Jared's Valentine's Day card (The day before Valentine's Day...I know, I know, procrastination...). I waited anxiously for the results. Even though I had already prepared myself for disappointment, the Lord brought me to my knees with tears of joy streaming from my face. I thanked him over and over and couldn't contain myself. I thought "How should I tell Jared?" Then it hit me, I would write it in his card. I'll spare you all the mushy parts before I said "You are the best husband in the entire universe, and in 8 months you will be the best daddy too!" It was hard for him to believe at first just as it was for me. He said "really? really?" in an excited tone, and then I showed him the big positive on the pregnancy test. Don't tell him I told you, but yes we both cried and held each other tight...it was one of the most beautiful moments. Although our miscarriage was one of the hardest things we have faced, it has certainly helped us to not take one moment of this pregnancy for granted. 

The devil has been trying to sneak worry into me, but we are trusting the Lord completely! We were so excited to go to our first doctors appointment. It was so wonderful, we saw the baby moving like CRAZY and heard the strong heartbeat. I cried of course! This new journey has me on cloud 9, I'm looking forward to all the new things to learn and to those tiny toes and baby kisses. The Lord always full-fills his promises, and we are forever thankful! 

As for the adoption, it is on pause at the moment. We are still taking that path, just at a different time. We figured it wouldn't be fair to the adopted child to have a newborn at the same time who needs a lot of attention and care. Luckily, we won't have to redo any of the process we have already completed. We know the Lord has his time for our adoption journey and we are looking forward to that day. For now, we are taking it day by day. I have been really sick and nauseous with this little one I haven't been able to do much, but I wouldn't change it! I know it is a great sign of a healthy pregnancy and I'm enjoying keeping track of my growing belly. Right now it just looks like I have been eating too many doughnuts, but I know that will change quickly. I will be in my second trimester on Friday :) Well this is getting a bit too long so I'll stop, but I hope you enjoyed the update! 

lots of love, Manda

P.S. I need to catch up with my belly pictures, but this is what I have so far :) Ohhh and we have 5 puppies who have been keeping us real busy too. I sneaked one into my picture because they are just too cute!