Abandoned Prayers

Where to begin with this book, I am unsure. I got this book from a friend from book club when she was getting rid of some of her books. Since I enjoy a good mystery I thought I'd give it a go.

The difference: this story actually happened.

Criminal Minds and CSI are some of my favorite shows, so I suppose I expected it to be similar to one of those. Because it's a true story it was far from being like a show. Instead it was a very long newspaper article, like an episode of Dateline in written form.

It was will written and interesting because of the complexity of the story. Many people are also intrigued by the Amish, and this gives a little insight into their world. The downside of this book is unnecessary and overly graphic details into the life of the man this book was written about. There is some harsh language, but given the lifestyle and nature of the crimes I'm surprised there was not more.

Unlike my favorite criminal shows, there was not a satisfactory ending. This gives a much more realistic view of how the legal system works and getting evidence for conviction. While in some respects there is no guessing in others it leaves you wondering what really happened.

I can't say if I recommend this book or not. It depends on you really. If you enjoy criminal non-fiction you'd probably enjoy it. But if not, leave it be.

On the whole I'd give it 3 stars for being written in a compelling manner and thorough clear writing.

For my Reading Challenges I'm using this book for:
A Biography in Challies Challenge in the Light section
A Book You've Been Meaning to Read in Modern Mrs. Darcy's

Our 9-Year-Old Lillian

What can I say about our lone girl? For nine years Lillian has brought life, energy, spunk and laughter to our family and home! Anyone who knows her knows she is not shy and doesn't know a stranger. She's a determined young woman with a bit of a perfectionist side and an amazing memory for dates, schedule and detail.

Lillian is an amazing cook and baker! She knows how to run a kitchen and make delicious food. We all love partaking in her creations. Recently she has been owning dinners and everything has been right on and often better than when one of us make it! Good has given her an amazing talent. She would live to have a bakery out of her home as soon as she is able.

Recently, Lillian has said she wants to be a homemaker and teach her children at home. This is a major shift and shows how the Lord has been working in her as she learns what Biblical womanhood looks like. Along with kitchen duties she also is learning laundry and cleaning in her homemaking skills. She is growing in caring for the babies and is getting good at changing diapers and teaching little ones. We're so excited to see what the Lord does with her!

This has been a transition year for Lillian as she is learning to take on all subjects in her homeschool book work. It's been amazing to watch her grow and really begin to own her learning. Her favorite subject is Christian studies because it teaches her more Bible. She also does well in math and Latin.

Lillian is so lovable and excitable. She loves to laugh and has a quirky sense of humor. She's always on the go and runs everywhere. She brings energy and life everywhere she goes and her smile lights up the room.

We are so thankful for our precious baby girl, who isn't so much a baby anymore.

Father, thank You for the gift of Lillian, our only daughter. She is such a blessing and I know You are growing her into a wonderful young lady. Continue to grow her and save her by Your grace. Show her what true life is in You, through the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, putting all her hope in His finished work. Thank You due what You are going to do in her life. In Jesus Name, amen.

Thank You, Nichole Begerow for these beautiful pictures!

Our 5-Year-Old Sam

Five years ago, Sam joined the Manor family. My mind still cannot comprehend it. This boy has added so much to our life and family and I cannot imagine life without him. In spite of his mischievous nature, he brings so much laughter and silliness and I'm so thankful God gave him to us.

Sam has grown so much in five years! Physically, he had grown a lot. He is our biggest so far, and being physically big sometimes fools him into thinking he is older than he is. He wants to do everything that everyone else is doing. He doesn't want to miss anything. Sam loves life!

But as with most kids his age it's really about what he wants to do and Sam is a very determined little boy. How we pray God will use that determined spirit to bring God glory!

Right now Sam loves movies and playing outside. He loves to quote movies and act them out. He loves to explore outside, especially in our bamboo forest. Sam began a junior kindergarten homeschool curriculum this year and loves doing his "school work". He is learning letters, phonics, numbers, shapes, cutting and eye hand coordination skills. Every day he asks if he has school work to do and gets so excited. Sam also enjoys building with Legos with his brothers as well as just spending time with his siblings.

We're excited to see how Sam will grow this year as he is in a huge growing stage right now. We trust and pray God will use Sam for His glory advancing His Kingdom.

Father, thank You so much for the gift of Sam! We know You have a plan for his life and You have already used him so much to teach us about Your goodness, Your faithfulness and Your Grace. Please save Sam by Your amazing grace that he may live completely for Your Kingdom and Your glory. Thank You for how You will use him for Your glory. We pray all of this is the powerful Name of Jesus! Amen!

Timothy Uriah

All day on the baby's due date I prayed for labor to start. With an induction scheduled for the next morning, I prayed that the contractions I had daily would push on over. But alas, as with the previous two, my body failed me and having dealt with gestational diabetes, induction was recommended sooner rather than later.

Monday, March 11 I awoke at 5 am to read, pray and prepare for the day. I cried out for grace and endurance for the day. Especially with having to have an IV, which is always the worst part for me, I was struggling with being forced into labor yet again. But God's way is best, and in spite of the struggle I was at peace with what needed to be done. I cleared out my email and facebook while Jim put our bags in the car. Around 6 am we headed out, stopping at Chick-fil-A for breakfast. I enjoyed a delicious chicken biscuit and a few hash browns to start me for the day.

We arrived at Piedmont and found a great parking spot! We headed to labor and delivery and arrived right on time at 7:30 am. No one else was there, so we were able to check in immediately and went straight to a room. My nurse, Azra,  came fairly quickly after I changed to get me admitted and hooked up to the monitor. We enjoyed chatting as she got the baby on the monitor and started my IV. Baby looked excellent and thankfully she did an amazing job with my IV! Still the hardest part for me, but better than any other I've had with little residual pain afterward!

Around 8:30 am pitocin was started to get the few contractions I had stronger so I would actually go into labor. Dr. Vanoyan came in soon after it started to check my starting dilation. I was around 2 cm and still pretty thick, but she could not feel a presenting part. They brought in an ultrasound machine to confirm the baby was head down. It was slightly transverse, but the head was down near the pelvic opening as it should be. I told her I needed to stand up and let the contractions put the baby into position. (This happened with my last two!) I could tell she was doubtful and said several times that if anything came down other than a head I would be going for a c-section! I told her I knew that and stood up to let the baby move down.

Around 9:30 they got a monitor for me so I could walk around the room and not just stand by the bed. This was a God-send as  I really wanted to walk the halls but couldn't because of the pitocin. During this time Jim got the diffuser going with my Ground Blend and Joyful Blend and turned on my labor playlist which allowed me to focus on God more than the labor. Once I was able to move around the room I walked, sang praises to my God, prayed, enjoyed some chicken stock with Integral Collegen, and played Othello/Reversi with Jim. I even talked the nurse into bringing me some jello! It was SO GOOD! (How I knew I needed sustenance! I hate jello!)

Contractions increased as they turned up the pitocin. They grew in strength but they were all bearable and moved the baby down where it needed to be. It was such a wonderful time of fellowship with God and Jim as we waited and sang and talked. Time was non-existent. Before I knew it, it was 2 pm and Dr. Vanoyan wanted to check my progress. I was 4 cm and mostly thinned, and she could feel the head!!! Praise the LORD! We decided to break my water and get things moving even more. There was meconium in the fluid, so it was definitely the best decision to make! And in spite of my ultrasound a few weeks earlier there was still a decent amount of fluid.

After she got as much fluid out as she could, I got up to the bathroom and got comfortable in bed, sitting in a high fowlers position to keep baby in the right place. God graciously let me sleep during this time. I listened to music that praised Him while I slept. At 4:30 pm I woke up refreshed and ready for the next phase. One more trip to the bathroom and transition came. While the contractionswere more intense they were still not unbearable. Jim held my hips and applied pressure to provide added relief. We worked together as transition progressed with each contraction. I got on the bed to kneel after a few minutes so my knees would not give way.

Around 5:00pm Dr. Vanoyan came to check progress and said, "You're ready to have a baby! I only feel a lip." I was shocked because I did not yet feel the need to push! But by the time they got my bed ready I pushed one time with all the strength God gave me and the baby was born!

I looked at Jim and asked, "What do we have?" Laughing, Jim looked at me as they put the baby on my chest and said, "Another boy!" I started laughing too. "Another boy!" I said and looked at this precious gift God has given us, yet again! And I marveled at His amazing grace and goodness.

Because of the meconium, they took him after a minute to clear him out and make sure he did not breathe in any of the meconium. Dr. Vanoyan finished getting me cleaned up while they worked on him, so by the time she finished I got him back. Very quickly after delivery, he latched on the breast and began nursing well! Another great act of grace from God!

Once everything settled down, Jim and I began the task of naming this new babe. What name would fit such an amazing blessing and the call God has for him? We went through our lists and books, looking at meaning, spellings and sound. Jim held the baby for a bit while I got up to go to the bathroom and got a good look at him. I got back in bed and began nursing again while we talked. Jim said, "What about Timothy?" This name had not been on our radar but in the books it said it meant honored of God. I said, "Timothy," and he looked. We talked a little more and revistited other names, but God made it clear his name should be Timothy and Uriah his middle name, which means God is my light. (Since coming home we looked up Timothy in Bible commentary that says it means One Who Honors God and our prayer is that he will be a man who honors God!)

We are so grateful for this precious gift from God!

Our 10-Year-Old James

A decade has passed since we welcomed James Marshall Manor Jr! How is that even possible?

Our precious first born in 10-years-old today and I could not be more surprised or amazed by it. Since the beginning, James has brought so much life and fun to our family. He is puny and is always cracking jokes, just like his daddy! His smile is contagious and he wants everyone around him to be laughing and having fun.

The best part of year ten with James has been watching him grow spiritually. Watching a child grow is amazing in and of itself. But there is something about knowing they have been saved and seeing God growing them in their faith that makes that growth even more incredible. It shows you even more of the depth of God's grace.

And James has grown so much in his faith in the last year. He has such a deep love for the Word of God and is growing in prayer. He studies the Word almost everyday and asks great questions. He wants to know all he can about God and the Bible. He doesn't know a stranger and will talk to anyone about anything, but is still learning how to share his faith. He wants so much out of life, but does desire to do what God wants him to do and not what he wants as he prays daily.

We marvel at how God has made James. He loves astronomy, Latin, drawing, origami, writing, building and baking. He is extremely creative and loves to learn anything and everything and he want to tell everyone what he has learned. Talk to James for ten minutes and you'll likely learn what constellations are out right now and how to say all their names in English and Latin. He is enthralled with what God has made!

Not only does he love to learn, James has really taken to his big brother role and is "fatherly" towards the babies in our home. He often will teach Isaac while I work with the middle boys. He changes diapers, reads to them and teaches them letters and reading, numbers, shapes, colors and Scripture. How God is preparing his heart for manhood! What an amazing gift!

James also loves going outside and has started pulling up kudzu to hopefully make space for the garden we all want. He also wants chickens, goats and sheep! He probably wants a goat more than anything else. How we see God raising up to be a hard worker as unto the Lord and we know it's not our own doing.

We are so thankful for James! We are always amazed at him and what God is teaching him. We are so excited to see what God will do with this boy's life!

Father, thank You for the gift of James! Thank You for saving him by your grace. Thank You for the work You are doing in his heart and growing him in Christlikeness. Please continue to grow his faith and trust in You. Guide us as we teach James Your ways and help him discern what You have for his life. Thank You that You are always working and that You use everything to guide Your people and bring You glory. May James glorify You and You only in his life. In Jesus's Name, Amen

Year 35

How do I describe year 35?

It's been a whirlwind of a year. This year we have bought a house, spent weeks getting settled and accustomed to a new place, I've school 4 children officially and started 6 recently, I've found out I am a mom to 9 children, I've learned how to really make real food as Jim transitioned to a full time job that has him gone until 7:30 pm four days a week, I've grown in the knowledge of the goodness of the Lord and watched as He has answered prayers in so many areas of life. And that's just a brief overview.

Normally I have so much to say, but this year words seem to escape me!

God continues to change and mold me into His image as I constantly fail to be the woman I desire to be. But every failure leads to more growth and more knowing the deep love of the Savior! By His grace I'm becoming more like Jesus as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and worker. By His grace I'm learning to own my sin and seek to live in His strength and power through the Holy Spirit living in me.

I'm learning what is important and how to evaluate each moment according to the priorities that God has given to me. I'm seeking what it means to be a worer at home both in my home and using my home for work. He is really reminding me about my call to write and working towards getting my other blogs going and getting my book published. But not at the expense of my family. How much I have to learn in all of it, but I'm learning one step at a time.

This year my birthday was full of life. And by life I mean everyday things: sick babies, a quick grocery store run, a doctor's appointment, Jim needing to go to a meeting. But it was a beautiful and wonderful day as I got to snuggle with my babies and do what was needed to care for my family to the glory of God, because that is what life is about! Even on your birthday.

What a blessing to have another year and I pray I have many more in this amazing life God has given me in part of His story! Father, thank You for making me a part of Your story and Kingdom. Continue to teach me how to live my part in it to Your glory!

Even in the chaos, Jim and Lillian made some delicious THM lemon cupcakes for my birthday!

Tales of Robin Hood

Book two for the Tim Challies Reading Challenge is Tales of Robin Hood from the Uborn Library of Fantasy and Adventure, illustrated by Ron Tiner. I'm using this book for the 13 book section as a book for children or teens.

I absoluetly loved Tales of Robin Hood! I was laughing, crying and in the midst of this intense story! I now want to read the original book. I have been familiar with the story of Robin Hood, but reading it was completely different. I loved the intrigue, intense battles and the clear fight of good vs evil. While I don't agree with everything that Robin and his men do, it is a brilliently writen story and I would love to read it again.

The kids seem to enjoy it as well and it was great for talking through truths of Scripture and life.

5 stars for this book!