Tea Time

Grandy hosted a tea party for all her little granddaughters and I'll let the pictures show how much they enjoyed it.  Grandy didn't forget any details and made it a special time during which sweet memories were made. 

Perhaps my favorite pic...

Eventhough they are all 5 and under, Grandy brought out her fine china and had about a dozen different treats to sample.

Afterwards she led them in a story time and had all of them participating and retelling the story by the end of it.

The celebration was bittersweet because on the same day we found out that there is a good chance Robert and Sandy's family will be moving.  We have enjoyed such unique season of having and raising our babies together and the Bruce cousins being so close.  We don't take moments like this for granted!

Celebrating Baby Boy Bruce

 Some friends from church threw me a fun girl's night baby sprinkle at Fireside Pies.  I loved the woodland theme that goes with the nursery. 

My friend, Nancy, made this amazing leaf garland with 19 scriptures to speak and pray over our little boy.  One morning I took some time to journal and pray them over my son.  It was really special to be able to focus on him like that since I have not done that as much with two little ones always with me.  The garland is now hanging in his room and I imagine I'll be using these scriptures to get us through some sleepless nights.  This was truly one of the most special baby gifts anyone has given to me.

 Ashley is known for her cakes and cupcakes and they were as beautiful and delicious as always.

 

Julia and I

 

Lauren coordinated everything and made the adorable diaper wreath (and took all these pics!) and Carmen made everyone salt scrub favors to take home.

 

My sisters!  Sandy, Courtney and Karri

Ashley and JoAnne

Camille and Marci

Carmen and Nancy

Lori and I

Thanks to all these girls, I got just what I needed - lots of boy clothes.  I have to admit, the boy stuff is growing on me.  I'm looking forward to dressing him in little converse with jeans and plaid button downs.

Belly Shots

I don't want to forget this special time of my baby boy growing inside me, so I have had Brad take some pictures of me before church a few times.  These shots were at 34 weeks.

Both girls talk about their brother and hug and kiss my belly all the time.  Anna makes a point to give him a hug and kiss every night.  Haven also likes to try to playfully hit it.  She is not trying to hurt me or baby brother, but I think in a way that is how she is wanting interact with him.  Should be interesting to watch those two as they grow up together!

Here I am again at 37 weeks.
(On a side note...these girls...how precious are they?.  I often ask them "are you really mine?".  Four years of being a mom and sometimes I still can't believe what gifts I have been given.)

The other day I there was a very pregnant lady in the line next to me telling her cashier that this was her third pregnancy and she was immune to any comments people make to her.  That same day I had one person tell me that I looked so small for being 37 weeks and a different person ask if I was carrying twins!  I don't mind the comments - good or bad - because I realize it is not everyday that you see a woman who is 9 months pregnant.  It is special sight to see because it is a sign of new life and it is worth talking about!

Since I am hoping to be able to do a VBAC, it is important that I go into labor at or before my due date.  Anna was just a day late and Haven was 6 days late, so this pregnancy I started taking evening primrose at 36 weeks.  If anything, pshycologically I feel like I am helping the baby come by my due date.  :) At my 37 week check up, I was already 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced so who knows! 

Home Away from Home

In July, we went to Austin for a weekend and were so refreshed by time with old friends and family.  As content as I am to live in Fort Worth and grow deeper roots with each passing season, Austin just still feels like home when we go there.  I don't know if that feeling will ever go away and I think that is o.k.  I'm glad we live close and have plenty of reasons to visit!

We hung out with my college roommate Rachel and her family the first day, but I failed to get pictures.  I wish I had because she has the most smiley little boy I have ever seen.  The girls loved Henry!

The next day we saw our friends who we were in a church homegroup with nine years ago!  At that time, none of us had kids and we all lived in Austin with no extended family around so we really bonded.  These are still some of our closest friends and our group has been through a lot together - infertility, premature babies in the hospital, moves and job changes, and even a heart transplant.  God has been good through all of it and now we have added 7 (soon to be 8) kids to the mix.

They wanted to celebrate our baby boy and had a little baby sprinkle for us.  

Frank made the creative cake - the Garcia's are know for their cakes. :)

Watching some Wildkrats so the adults could have a few mostly uninterrupted minutes to talk.

Jean got these stick on moustaches for all the kids and they lasted long enough for a couple pics.

Are these babies really four now?

 

The main reason we went to Austin was to celebrate my niece, Jeri Anne, turning one!

I tried taking pictures of her, but she is hard to keep up with.  She started taking steps around 9 months and has not slowed down!  She is such a curious and confident little thing.   

Helen had a cute balloon theme and her friend made this adorable cake.

Sweet little Jeri brought our whole family together which doesn't happen very often.

Jeri, you are so full of LIFE and we are thankful for you!

Lucy Merle Bruce

On the morning of July 25, 2013, Brad's grandma passed away, just one week after her 98th birthday.  Thankfully, Brad was able to visit her a few months ago in Missouri.  She was recovering from a broken pelvis and was very weak and tired.  Brad had a moment alone with her and in his words "asked her what she had learned about life and just generally gave her an opportunity to share words of wisdom with me".  He said that in that moment she had great clarity and energy and this is what she chose to say:

1).  Appreciate your friends more.  They are so important.
2).  People are so important, [so invest your time and energy in them].
3).  If you move around a lot, you really miss out on some deeper relationships that you could have had.  I don't like to move much because I don't want to move away from my friends and miss out on those deeper relationships.
4).  But, of course if you're a Christian, you always have friends no matter where you move to because the church is everywhere and you'll always be welcome in church.  I really don't know how people live without the church.
5). At times you might feel neglected and passed over, but that's because we're naturally selfish and spoiled.  :)
6). We hardly ever live like we're claiming the promises of God...first you have to spend some time learning what the promises of God are, and then you have to memorize them...and really that's one and the same.  [Then, claim them and live like it!]
7). I like to think about Live and Let Live, and there is some truth to that, but more and more I think about Helping others to have a good time living.  Other people will mostly accept help ... in fact they normally accept help...Sometimes they won't like it because they think you are trying to control their lives, but ...[do it the right way, and they'll accept and really appreciate your help].

Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding. ~ Job 12:12

 Four generations of Bruces photographed in May 2009, just after Anna was born.

I will let her words speak for themselves to tell you of the woman that she was.  

We can only imagine what she is experiencing right now and look forward to the day when we will be with her again!