Our first meeting

Today Mal and I finally got to meet my cousins little baby, Clay. My cousin is 8 years younger then I am. I can remember taking care of her when she was a baby and how she looked then. When I first saw him he was sleeping and it was like a flash back in time. She looked just the same. It was weird; in a very neat way of course. He's got the best little personality and they seem to be getting along pretty well. All the best to her family and a special blessing for Clay who was born almost 3 months early. What a miracle...Oh and by the way...it's 99.5% positive that we're having another little girl! We can't hardly wait to see you Brianna Cay!

The results are in

kinda?



HA! so we went for the ultrasound bright and early this morning, and the lady doing it told us that it was really too early for her to say for sure(I'm probably around 16 weeks or so instead of 18 because my cycle is 35 days instead of 28), but that if she had to make a guess...


"No wee wee, I would say it was a girl."


So, we think we've got another baby girl in the oven! Joe's first response was a smile, and second was "I'm all alone!" in the donkey voice off Shrek:P

Anyway, everything seemed to be going well in there and that's what I was most concerned about.

We love you, baby!

It's almost that time again!

No, not Christmas or Easter or birthdays....but ultrasound time!! Okay, hopefully that wasn't way too cheesy, but we're excited:P I've got an appointment for the 6th of February, and hopefully the mystery of "boy, or girl?" will be solved...any guesses?

The Early Pregnancy Blues

I, of course, made up this name for my current reality, but I think it fits! I feel bad for feeling sorry for myself really, but I have been in a "funk" as seems fit to call it. Being sick to my stomach most of the day has gotten me thoroughly annoyed. Yes, I know it could be worse, and tell myself this all the time...I know I am very blessed and I am so thankful for all that I have and for my health past this small (I am hopeful) space of time for which I have all-day sickness:P Just like other times when I am sick with viruses or colds, I find that during the duration of time while I am not feeling well, I am thinking of brighter days...days when I have felt better, been energetic, fun, with lots of laughter...I hope for these days to come, sometimes faster than they actually do. I believe this is all part of the plan, though. Everyone's trials are different, but through them all we are supposed to learn. Some things you just can't learn except through experience. This Sunday at church, a man from the stake came, and that was his message, and it spoke to me. Of course the message was for everyone, but Heavenly Father was speaking to me individually and I felt it. I did hear the still small voice loud and clear. Life and how everything connects together is amazing. Just like the speaker said that he wasn't going to say particularly what we wanted to hear, he was going to say the truth. Our experience is for our own good. Yes, that means I too must endure...but hopefully in 6 months or so I'll end up with another sweet baby and my now "funk" will turn to spunk!

Lately the simple things in life have been so much sweeter.

*a cool breeze*

*a nice country song that takes me back*

*a beautiful starry night*

*snuggling with Mallorie*

*holding a cuddly husband*

*nice warm baths with sweet-smelling bath soak*

*my mom cooking for me and washing the dishes*

and many many more...

Maybe that's my lesson for now...

Hmmm...

It may be too early to annouce this, I don't really know how long you're "supposed" to wait....but anyhow....

Surprise! Pregnancy hormones and tiredness and nausea have officially kicked in:P

On a lighter note...

pictures!! (I've not been a diligent blogger lately, so here's a collage)

At the Thomasville air show, near the runway:

Scary!!:

Got my har did:

Mal amidst the puh-kins:

All of us crazy Stansels:

Random, I know, but pictures nonetheless!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

There surely is sunshine in my soul

Today after my last post I've been thinking a lot about what to do now...now that a chapter essentially has been closed, a new road chosen for our country. I've had a prayer in my heart. As I was washing my hair, this song came into my head, and I began singing. This reminded me that through Jesus Christ, my savior, there will always be sunshine in my soul. A new chapter is beginning and we as Americans are writing it. May there be sunshine in everyone's soul.

1. There is sunshine in my soul today,More glorious and brightThan glows in any earthly sky,For Jesus is my light.
[Chorus]Oh, there’s sunshine, blessed sunshineWhen the peaceful happy moments roll.When Jesus shows his smiling face,There is sunshine in the soul.
2. There is music in my soul today,A carol to my King,And Jesus listening can hearThe songs I cannot sing.
3. There is springtime in my soul today,For when the Lord is near,The dove of peace sings in my heart,The flow’rs of grace appear.
4. There is gladness in my soul today,And hope and praise and love,For blessings which he gives me now,For joys “laid up” above.