Don't walk past the free box..

..because that is where you find treasures. Especially books. I looove going to Second Chance, our local thrift store, on Wednesday mornings while Jessica and Jacob are at piano lessons. Daniel, Emma and Micah watch a Veggie Tale movie right where I can watch them and Elijah and Gracie ride in the cart. Every week. A peaceful slot of time in the midst of my busy week.

Second Chance cycles through their color coded re-runs until finally, they end up outside the store in boxes labeled "free". Sadly I have found solid, scriptural teaching books placed in those boxes. I've found the older the book, the better as a rule. This was on one of those days. As we walked past the free boxes I saw an old book with the picture of a pregnant mother on it. Glancing at the title, it piqued my interest so I grabbed it and through it in the cart.

On the way home I asked Jessica to dig it out and read something to me. It was beaUTIful. It is called Meditations for the Expectant Mother by Helen Good Brenneman. Even though I am not expecting at this time, it's a wonderful read through for any mother. It is just a sweet book of 30 encouraging devotions that include poems, scriptures, quotes and motherly advice from a sweet mother herself. Here is the first one Jessica read to me in the truck and it made me tear up! (It sounds familiar)

Song for a Fifth Child

Mother, O mother, come shake out your cloth!

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hand out the washing and butter the bread,

Sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother wholes house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!

Oh I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue

(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo)

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs, Dust, go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby, Babies don't keep.

-Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

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May I type down two more? I know a couple of my blog readers are pregnant

- so all the more special!

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Boy or Girl?

Some folks pray for a boy, and some

For a golden-haired little girl to come.

Some to claim to think there is more of a joy

Wrapped up in the smile of a little boy,

While others pretend that the silky curls

And plump, pink cheeks of the little girls

Bring more of bliss to the old homeplace

Than a small boys queer little freckled face.

Now which is better, I couldn't say

If the Lord should ask me to choose today;

If He should put in a call for me

And say: "Now what shall your order be,

A boy or a girl? I have both in store--

Which of the two are you waiting for?"

I'd say with one of my broadest grins;

"Send either one, if it can't be twins."

I've heard it said to some peoples shame,

They've cried with grief when a small boy came.

For they wanted a girl. And some folks I know

Who wanted a boy, just took on so

When a girl was sent. But it seems to me

That mothers and fathers should happy be

to think, when the stork has come and gone,

that the Lord should trust them with either one.

Boy or girl? There can be no choice;

There's something lovely in either voice.

And all that I ask of the Lord to do

is to see that the mother comes safely through.

And guard the baby and have it well,

with a perfect form and a healthy yell,

And a pair of eyes and a shock of hair.

Then, boy or girl--and its dad won't care.

--Edgar A. Guest

"Thus says the Lord who made you,
Who formed you from the womb and will help you...
I will pour my Spirit upon your descendants,
And my blessing on your offspring." -Is 44:2,3b

Below is my favorite..

"Mother, I'm Coming!"

I hear you, Sweet! And I'll prepare

So lovingly your dainty wear.

Oh, I will dream and scheme each day;

And, planning, put the pennies away.

Then, too, not only will I make

Soft woolly comforts for your sake;

But I will fashion if I can,

Fine raiment for your inner man.

I will not think on evil things

Lest I should clip my darling's wings.

I'll set me heart to understand

The great salvation God has planned.

Yes, every atom of my being,

All feeling, tasting, hearing, seeing,

He shall refine, and garnish, too.

I'll be God's woman through and through.

Lord, take me; and, if this may be,

Possess my little child through me."

-unknown