On the 18th, we had our 4th annual community hay ride (which the Mission we work with puts on and together. So basically, our whole family. 
). It was a beautiful day, a bit windy, but very comfortable compared to the snow we had for the hay ride last year! We didn’t have as many people show up as we have had before, but it was still enjoyable for those who did come. It was an all day affair, so I was quite tired when we finally got home late in the evening.
Last Saturday my father-in-law butchered his turkeys that he has been raising for Thanksgiving. He did them this early since the closer we get to the actual day of Thanksgiving, the colder it gets. And, if you have even butchered an animal before, it’s….. messy. You really want that mess outside. 
He had 6 turkeys, 2 toms and 4 hens. The 2 toms weighed in at 30 lbs and 27.5 lbs, with the ladies ranging from 22 to 17 lbs. Not too bad for being only 19 weeks old!
We are s.l.o.w.l.y getting our house ready to sell in the Spring (Lord willing). I am so grateful that 2 Summers ago (2013) my mother and I repainted the majority of the upstairs and our porch. I had no idea why it was so important to me that we get it done, but it really was. Samuel was due in early August and there was something within me pushing to get things done before his birth. The hallway and stairs were the only things that didn’t get finished, but it was done soon after wards. And the washroom and the downstairs bedroom (where my sewing room is) was done last November/December (the dinning room, living room, kitchen, and downstairs bathroom has already been done recently). Now I understand! I think the Lord knew that this move was/is coming, He knew my mother was going to be living with us for that Summer and was available to help, He knew that this last Summer was so crazy with business that there was no way any painting and/or remodeling was going to happen, and He knew that this pregnancy was going to tax my energy levels, leaving me nothing extra to do all of that now, so He gave me that internal “push” to get things done. I am so grateful for His leading!! Since all of those things have been done within the last 3 years or so, there’s not much to do except for the touching up of walls, replacing small things here and there, and the general up-keep of a home. Some of that won’t be done until we are all moved out, but 5 or 6 months is plenty of time for the other things. 
I have been praying that the Lord keeps sending us business through our slow season (Winter) so that we can save even more money for purchasing this other property (the required 20% down), the well and septic work that will need to be done, and the remodeling of the shop into a commercial kitchen. And He has been! People are calling each week and our schedule is filling up. Praise God!!
I am finally feeling so much better! I am still tired, as to be expected with a Mama of 8, but I’m sleeping better. The cold symptoms have all but disappeared and I am beginning to feel some-what “normal” again (keeping in mind that normal is relative! ). I am still fighting my blood sugar a lot, which is fairly common for me during pregnancy ( I am hypoglycemic, meaning my blood sugar is always on the low side.), yet I’m having more problems with this then I have before. There is nothing I can do about it, just keep eating right and on time. The good new is, I always pass the glucose test!
I have been feeling baby more and more. I always have liked that feeling. That is, until they get under my ribs. Then, not so much. 
I have moments in my days that I almost forget that I’m pregnant, then it hits me that I’m less than 3 weeks away from the half way point. Whoa!! The first 12 weeks just crawled by, now it’s going faster and faster. It’s a good thing, I suppose. With regular life as a family of 10, with a business that keeps getting business (thank you Lord!!), school each week, and a impending move on the horizon (with the remodeling of the shop into a commercial kitchen along with it), and with the holidays so quickly approaching …. it’s going to be the end of March before I know it!
Never fear, I’m not complaining!!