I dont think I ever shared this picture.
It was taken this summer, on a 90+ degree day, in our backyard. The wonderful Yvette of Dilly Art Photography came over and did her best to capture some candid moments in our lives. Which is never easy with four hyper kids!
It just occurred to me that this picture will be sorely incomplete in a few months, as we will be adding a new addition to our family.
And this time around, we are not finding out the gender! At least thats the plan. I am not so good at “patience” and “waiting” and the “unknown”. Yesterday I shared this on my baking blog and so many folks shared that they also waited to find out… and that it was completely worth it! I am resting heavily on that knowledge now.
This pregnancy has not been easy, but nothing worth having ever is right? 
A beautiful friend shared this quote with me yesterday and it instantly brought tears to my eyes.
“I know the Lord does not give me anything I cant handle… I just wish He didnt trust me so much!”
-Mother Theresa
Thank you for that Jen!
Beautiful family! Take care of yourself and your new baby.
Thank you so much Susie!
YAY AMANDA!!!!!! I’m so happy for you and your family!!! I’ll lift you up in prayer and hope that you will overcome the difficulties that you’re facing and that you will find joy in the anticipation of the surprise!!
Thank you so much sweet friend!!! You seem to know EXACTLY what I need most right now… prayer!
Be blessed girl!
Congratulations Amanda!! I’m so happy for you!!
Thanks sweety!
Congratulations and blessings Amanda! Your family is beautiful!
Congrats! Braden said you were expecting! Very exciting and best of luck! Prayers for a healthy pregnancy and baby!
I’m so happy for you!!!! What’s your EDD? Praying for this you through the rest of your pregnancy. Love to you!
I’m so insanely happy for you guys! I’m sorry about the pregnancy (nausea) issues.. I had them too, with all 4 of mine, so I know what you’re going through. With my 2nd, I didn’t know what we were having, but it wasn’t from a lack of trying.. I wanted to know so bad but the Dr never gave me the ultrasound. (pout). LOL. It was pretty fun on delivery day with the big surprise though. Just make sure someone tells you the gender. No one announced it right away when she came out and I had to ask! LOL.
Congrats!!
Angie
Beautiful family!! You know, I heard recently (from a Mom of a terminally ill child) that it’s not scriptural to say “God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle” and she challenged anyone to show her a scripture otherwise. She instead asserted that God absolutely allows us to endure things we can’t handle so we have to lean on Him. I honestly haven’t studied to try and contradict her, but it certainly gave me something to think about – I had never looked at it that way!!
Either way – congrats on the new baby (from a Mommy of 6 who had hard pregnancies)… and even more congrats on waiting to find out boy/girl! I absolutely LOVE surprises and didn’t find out the sex with 4 of my 6 – we only found out with the other 2 because the doctor thought one had a chromosomal defect and we wanted to know everything (the doc was wrong!) and my hubby couldn’t stand to wait and he peeked on one of the other boys!!
Sorry… didn’t mean to be so long-winded!
I have heard that as well! Although there is the verse “1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” but that speaks to temptation specifically, not trials. I think either way… whether it is a specific Bible verse or not, it can force us to rely on and trust God!
And I love it when you are “long winded”… its always a joy getting to know you better!
Warmest congratulations to you and your hubby Amanda! I’m so happy for you and your family! I just wonder how you do it all? You are the master of multi-mommy-tasking not to mention baker extraordinaire!!! XO Best wishes!!!
Thats wonderful news Amanda, Congratulations!!
CONGRATULATIONS to you! So happy for you!
You all look really lovely
Congratulations Amanda on your new little bundle of joy! You have such a beautiful family. It will be so exciting to see the new baby!
Squeeeeee! Congrats!! How exciting!
Oh my gosh, I love your family, congratulations! We currently have three and hoping for another two in the future. Good luck!
Congratulations!
Beautiful picture. Congrats and hugs and prayers from Ireland.
Thank you sweet Jan!
Wow…….you have a gorgeous family!
Such a beautiful family.
Oh, how I miss you.
You have a pretty beautiful family yourself.
Hi – think your email has been hacked! Got an odd message from you – same happened me a while back. Just wanted to let you know.
hi amanda, i’ve gotten a couple of spam emails from your account lately. something about being stuck in malaysia and needing money…i figured there might be something up.
Amanda, I am so happy for you! I love the scripture you posted,very encouraging. I have been praying about adding to our 3 girl only family,my husband really wants to try one more time,I just wish God would take away my fears so I could. God bless you and your little one.
Praying with you friend!
Hi Amanda,
I think your email has been hacked into because I just received an email from your ID saying you are in Malaysia and that you lost a whole bunch of documents and money and that you need me to wire you some money!!!! I know this is not true. I tried emailing you but it wouldn’t go through. So here I am! You might want to change your password & report the hack !!
-Deepa
Oops!! I just read the blogpost!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!
God bless you abundantly more!!!
Congratulations! You are a strong and brave woman!
Hang in there.
I am a bit belated in catching up on your blog- but what a beautiful picture and what a beautiful family!!