Thank you thank you thank you for all the well-wishes for our new baby. I read through all the comments from you sweet people and I was so encouraged! I can’t even express how grateful I am for all of you who have formed a friendship with me here and leave me so many sweet words. One of my favorite Proverbs reads “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb. . .” and it is so true. My spirit is often refreshed when I come here ~ I do enjoy blogging and it has been such a rewarding experience. I get to keep up with my long-distance friends and family ~ and also meet new friends along the way. May God bless you all. You show me His love with your care.
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I had some problems with xanga this weekend but things seem to be working now, so here are the pictures that I wanted to share from yesterday.
I took this first one in the morning. Rich and I drank our coffee out on the porch and after a while, the children woke up and joined us. We love Saturday mornings, Rich told me that it’s his favorite time of the whole week. He was gone for three days this week, traveling, so I know he felt good to be HOME.
This weekend was extra special because my mom and dad came. We had such a nice time talking and showing them the changes that we have made around our place. We had a nice lunch~we grilled meat and made a nice fresh potato salad (my Aunt Colleen’s recipe ~ which is the best).
8 medium potatoes
4 eggs
1/2 package Italian dressing mix
1-2 cups mayonnaise
1 tsp onion flakes
salt and pepper to taste
~Peel and cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes, place in large pot. Add eggs and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes until potatoes are tender. Drain, remove eggs and peel them. Cool potatoes and eggs. Once cool add in 1/2 of the package of Italian dressing mix, 1 cup of mayo, onion and salt and pepper. Mix together, add more mayo and/or seasoning to taste.
My Mom and Dad: ~Cindy and Greg~
My dad took this picture of Rich and me. I still can’t believe I have a new baby growing in my tummy. I’ve been a little misty eyed about it today. . . .especially when Grace came downstairs holding a couple of her baby dresses. “If it’s a girl, we can let her wear these”. *sigh* Sometimes 8 months seems so long, but I know I need them all to get ready! My emotions are up and down ~ up in the mornings, down at night. My husband needs prayer! LOL
By the way, we are naming her Lydia May if she’s a girl. (we have the right to change our minds, though!) 
Still not sure of a boy’s name. . . . . . .
This is what our garage looks like. It’s still not done, but it’s coming along so nicely!
I sat in my hammock with Grace while Rich mowed the yard. He always always has Caleb with him when he mows. Caleb loves it~hopefully it will remain as a special memory for him always~
Waving to mama~
~That was our Saturday. Full and sweet and I went to bed early.~
Good to be Home 
Love the name!! You look so cute–i’m already outgrowing my regular clothes 😦 I have been so nervous that I haven’t let myself think of names–hopefully once we see that baby is okay i’ll let myself!
Have a great week!!!!
What a great day! Lydia is a beautiful name. I have a friend with that name and she is a beautiful person in love with God and her family. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
sounds like you had a fabulous weekend! Such lovely pictures….as always…
Lydia May is a very sweet name for a girl! My middle name is May, so I think I’m a bit partial 😉
Thanks for sharing the pics…great progress on your garage!
I want to be part of your family!So much love…I do realize you show us the best times…but how wonderful that you focus yourself on the blessings of each day!I see God when I look at your family.And that is an awesome garage…what every man needs
p.s. did you pose your parents? that is such a great, relaxed shot and composistion
Hi Cindy and Greg!!!! Congratulations on the new grandbaby that is on the way…Grands are the best…Amen?S:Some of my kids sweet memories are of their dad driving them round the yard on the mower on Saturdays. I’m sure yours will remember….Lydia May fits just fine…I could think of boy names with five letters, but was stumped for girls names with that criteria. Good choice. Goes with Grace, I think.The garage looks fabulous! I can only imagine that it meets a huge need for you and your family.Have a good week!D xo
You are such a wonderful friend to have! I love reading your posts. After reading your posts I feel more energized:) It sounds like you had a great Saturday with your loving family. I think Lydia is a good name:) Wow your garage is really coming along!
I love these pictures, and I love the name Lydia May! BEAUTIFUL!Hey, when I saw that picture of your parents, my first thought was how much Caleb looks like your dad! Has anyone ever said that before? Your parents look so sweet, Shanda!I’m so glad Rich is back home with you all and that you had such a nice family weekend together! You look a little tired in that last picture – glad you also got to bed early (a treat)!
Lydia!!! That was one of my grandmother’s sister’s names and next on our list if we had another girl. But I think we’ll stop at five girls!!! We are preparing to open our home up again to foster elementary school age children (asking for all girls, but we’ll see). But I have no intention of adopting any – guess it all depends on God’s plan – but, who knows?
Lydia May is absolutely beautiful and precious. And if you change the name – I’ll love that one too!!! Praying for you and your baby and your HUBBY! 🙂
Congratulations! What a wonderful time this will be to share with the children. You are all so blessed!
wow, your garage is really coming along! Looks nice, and enjoyed your pictures~
Congrats!
I do love the name Lydia, and it would fit in so well with the others. (I’m not even pregnant yet, and we’ve already picked out names… never let it be said we’re not prepared!)
Hi Shanda….Thats a real pretty name Lydia May. Enjoyed the pictures too. Your garage too is looking great too. Your mom and dad look so young!! Take care and enjoy your family on this beautiful Sunday.
I love Lydia May. It’s gorgeous and would be a perfect fit for your family. I won’t even try to come up with a boy name to fit your criteria. I’m not sure there are any more. You used them all up. :)I’m glad you had a good time with your parents this weekend. The garage looks like it won’t take to much longer.
I love the name Lydia May, it reminds me of my moms maiden name Linda Leone May…..I am still so excited for your new life, it is such a special (and exhausting) time. Mike still wants to have more children biologically, he loves the entire experience. I think I will too—-not quite yet though!!!—-but you never know what God has in mind. You inspire me, if you can have 6 kids and love them like you do, I think there is hope for me too! Have a great evening. Sherry
Missed seeing you today…I’m glad to hear you guys had a nice weekend with your parents. The garage is looking great, I’m sure it’ll be done in no time. Lydia May is a lovely name, I’ll keep praying girl vibes for you. Love, Trish
It seems like the garage went up so quickly! I like how big it is! Very glad that Rich is home and all feels normal once again!
I think Caleb will remember it!
Lydia it is!!!! You know that is my vote I was talking to Steve about it the other night!
You are really going to enjoy that garage. The name is cute ~
WOW, the garage is coming along nicely. Love the name of your new little lady, very cute. That would be so wonderful if the Lord blessed Grace with a sister. A brother is a blessing as well, don’t get me wrong but a sister would be extra special.
Congrats on your baby news! How exciting!!!!!
I can’t believe how much progress you have on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is too cool. It just seems like yesterday we were looking at pictures of them digging the dirt!
I love you pictures as always too!
Congratulations on the wonderful blessing! How exciting. I’m excited to read all about it over the next several months. You are truly a beautiful inspiration of peace, love and joy within a family. The child you are growing couldn’t be luckier or more blessed!
My goodness that garage is going up quickly — soon you’ll be able to put the cars inside — and that’s a wonderful picture, with the reflection of both the house and the garage in the pond! And you’ll find that the next 8 months go just as quickly! I love the name — Lydia May. And I’m sure that, if it turns out to be a boy, you’ll find just as good a name.
Congrats on the new blessing! Lydia May is a beautiful name.
wow you guys are FAST at coming up with names. We’ve only recently agreed on names!!
Congratulations Shanda! Your garage looks huge! I remember when I was in the States, I was amazed by the size of garages (and the cars too!) in the States, garages in France are so small! dede1982 from France.
Oh WOW…… I’m a little behind on things… CONGRATS!!! How exciting! I agree with broncomom – I want to be part of your family!
I love all these pictures; you can just feel the warmth and love and joy fillintg them. I really like the one of your home and garage!
Love the name. . .I used to fantasize that my name was Lydia because it was soooo much easier to say than my real name, Lelia. Enjoy your day and all it brings, tears and laughter. . .riding the waves of emotions can be trying, but feeling them to their fullest can be okay too.
What wonderful pictures! What a special time for you and your husband to sit out on the porch! and how special that that is his favorite time of the week! Isn’t it always amazing those first months thinking of the little miracle growing inside you before there is any outward physical evidence of it…it always just amazed me!!! I love the name Lydia May! It is such a pretty name! The picture of your parents is a very nice one as well as the one of you and your husband! What a special time for your parents to be there! The garage is looking wonderful!!! What an added blessing that is going to be!!! It looks great how you situated it as well with the house and the little pond! Beautiful home Shanda!!!
I love the looks on all of those faces. Each one has a sweetness that is as rare as can be. What love and joy, what beauty. I love the look on Caleby’s face as he waves to his momma. What a lovely Saturday. Thank you for sharing it with us. hugs from SC
the garage looks wonderful ~ I do think men especially like ‘their’ garage 🙂 we don’t have one presently, but our barn makes up for it and I am always amused how my husband likes the storage and to organize it… and find things to put in it ~ praising God with you on the life you are carrying ~ there is truly nothing like it. ~looks so green and lush where you are ~ the pictures are lovely and the one of you is beautiful~ blessings on this day and your little sweet ones you love onlys
Beautiful weekend. Potato salad is on the menu here for the weekend BBQ and I can’t wait! I can eat it year round, not just in the summer. Wait…that’s carbs in general, lol. I am glad you went to bed early. You need to take care of yourself!
Tell Rich that I am “like sooooo jealeous” of that garage!!
We considered the name Lydia for our 3rd daughter. Such a beautiful, feminine name…
Love the name!
I love the name Lydia. Sweet, simple, and beautiful! I love all your kids names. The garage looks great! How’s the basement? I enjoyed all these pictures and I am for you and the visit you had with your parents! LOVE YOU
I just love your property, it is so gorgeous.
Lydia May is a wonderful name I especially like the MAY part(my middle name also)!
I still can’t believe your going to have 6 kids…I don’t know how you do it!
Love ya and thinking of you,