2 Baby updates

My baby at about 18 to 20 inches and 5 to 6 pounds, is looking plump and less wrinkly now as fat deposits fill out it's adorable form. Creases have formed around the baby's wrists and neck, and the dimples I'll soon be kissing have started to appear on the elbows and knees. With the uterine home now increasingly cramped, baby has little room for gymnastics, so I feel less vigorous kicking and more twisting and wiggling. Just like a newborn, my baby has regular periods of active sleep, deep sleep, active wakefulness and quiet wakefulness. Brain growth continues at a fantastic clip. Baby's lungs are approaching full maturity.

Am looking more and more forward to no longer being 'pregnant', and becoming a 'mommy' to this little one my husband and I have been blessed to create together. God continues to prepare me with the faith and trust that I will need to mother this child. The more I seek His perfect grace, the more I know my husband and I will be great parents. His faithfulness is enough to sustain my hopes and dreams, and His peace is enough to cover my fears and doubts.

A big congratulations to my daughter's dad and step-mom, who just had their new baby girl last night! My little girl is officially a big sister. If you feel lead, please keep them in your prayers. May God's blessing be on this new family, and may His love be revealed and received.

~Peace~

the house is still here, and I'm still in it

Am still looking around wondering how all my stuff found it's way into this house. I go to the bathroom and think, yep, that's my bath mat, that's my shower curtain, but who's bathroom is this? Yep that's my bed, my sheets, my dresser, and look, there's my clothes in that there closet, but who the hecks room is this? It's obviously still sinking in, that this is MY house. I'm not borrowing it, I'm not viewing it or testing it out, I'm not even renting it, it's mine. And there will be no strange person popping in at any time, asking us to please exit the premises, and give them back their house.
And it feels very weird, just knowing that my parents are around the corner, and my sister is down the street. They were both over today, for our first, neighborly visit. What a blessing it's going to bring to me and my family having them so close. I'm looking forward to all that God has in store.

First night

I'm about to spend my first night in my new house.
The move went so smoothly, and didn't take long at all. An hour to load up the truck, and only 45 minutes to unload. We were very blessed to have good help this morning, and they were all done before noon. Then the big pregnant and sore wife got to have a nice hour long nap, while my hubby worked hard at unpacking bits and pieces of our room, our bathroom, and the basement. Then through out the rest of the day and evening, we have had family members coming and going helping out with anything that was left. Thank you so much guys! My hubby cut and watered the front and back lawn already, as well and pulled all the weeds in the sidewalk, washed the whole outside of the house and pruned the heck out of the big pine tree in the front yard, not to mention all that he's been doing inside. He's been going hard, non-stop since 7 am this morning. I tried napping with his this afternoon but he wouldn't be quiet. He kept babbling on about all that he wants to do next. So I told him he might as well just get up and do it all, since he sure as heck wasn't capable of napping, or shutting up so that I could! I sure hope he sleeps tonight! Last night he was so excited that he didn't sleep at all. He kept poking me asking if I was awake. When the alarm went off at 6:50 I opened my eyes to see him grinning from ear to ear, so excited to start the day. So cute, of course I was not quite so enthused myself. It's been so awesome to watch him take everything on and get so much done, and to still have his complete blessing to take it easy and rest. I love him so much! But I'm off to bed, hopefully my hubby can join me, but he's still going hard upstairs. Hehe, "upstairs".....so weird.
Blessings!

So thankful for my hubby.....

I've been inspired by my sis to broadcast how amazing my hubby is, so here I go....

As many of you know, I am 35 weeks pregnant, and we're moving in one more sleep into our first home. People keep telling me that I'd better be taking it easy, and that I shouldn't be working too hard with this move. It's such a good reminder everytime I hear this, of how hard my hubby has been working to make it all easy on me. He's set up an amazingly organized packing system, so that when I'm at home ready to unpack, I won't have to search through any boxes to find something. He hasn't allowed me to lift a finger in regards to packing anything. All I've had to do is supervise, and let him know what he can throw out and what to pack. Everything is basically done, and he's done it all by himself! (minus the day that my brother-in-law and sis came to help us out, thank you so much!!) He works day and night, and has still managed to pack up our whole apartment, and keep his pregnant wife feeling loved and secure, babied and pampered. By the grace of God he's proven himself to be the most amazing husband I could ever ask for. His qualities are something to be admired, his hard work something that I look up to. It has been such a blessing to walk this out with him, and to have his blessing to take it easy on the sidelines. I can remember the day that I let go of the control of this move, and gave it over to my hubby, since that day the peace of God that passes all understanding has been filling me. It has been that peace that has brought us to the day before our move. We pray that His peace continues to be in the center of our hearts, as we watch the real work begin!

~peace~

3 sleeps!

Three more sleeps until my family and I pick up and move into our own house. I'm so amazed that God has brought us to this place, where we can experience the blessing of this new adventure together. Our apartment is no longer resembling any sort of home anymore. Boxes are lined up against all the walls, my daughter's loft bed is all disassembled, and there's one face cloth in the linen closet. Slowly but surely everything is finding it's way into a compact space to make it's way to the new house. My hubby and I are getting very excited, and can't stop talking about all the neat things we want to do as soon as we arrive. We plan to paint right away, and I can't wait! Having grown up in rental properties all my life, I've never seen anything but a white wall. Let me tell you, 22 years of built up and unused painting energy is going to make quite the statement. Stay tuned, I'll take lots of before and after pics!
Be blessed as you are, God is good, He is faithful and He is our provider.

3 things

3 things that scare me:

1. Heights
2. My daughter being lost or stolen
3. My hubby almost everytime he enters a room (I get scared very easily)

3 people that make me laugh:

1. My husband and daughter when they play together
2. My hubby, My sister, her hubby, and my mom and dad, when we get into a goofy mood, and feed off making fun of eachother
3. Jerry Seinfeld

3 things I love:

1. My new house!
2. That this pregnancy is almost over
3. That fall is coming and the heat is leaving

3 things that I hate:

1. Seeing my little girl get treated with pure disrespect, and seeing her little feelings get hurt (yes, call me a mother hen)
2. Horror movies, and the lie that many believe that it's ok to glorify satan for 2 hours through a movie that pumps your sub-conscience full of horrible images
3. Being interupted and having to repeat myself

3 things I don't understand:

1. Why I still categorize sin
2. How people can be experts on pregnancy, pregnancy weight gain, and all the many changes your body goes through and why, when they haven't ever been pregnant themselves
3. Why I was one of the few in many women who have extreme pain in their SI joint during pregnancy (although God is still teaching me lots on this one, and I'm learning very slowly but surely)

3 things on my floor:

1. A bunch of library books and movies
2. A plush chair, and a little girl sitting in it
3. Various miscellaneous items that need to be organized and packed

3 things I am doing right now:

1. Blogging when I should be showering
2. Listening to a fan and Zaboomafoo in the backround
3. Thinking of all the fun things I get to do in my new house

3 things I want to do before I die:

1. See my children grow up to love and fear the Lord
2. Travel to all the wonderful places my husband wants to take me
3. Grow to love my husbands feet (not quite there yet)

3 things I can do:

1. Waste an entire morning on this stinkin blog
2. Make a water drop noise with my mouth
3. Play the guitar sing and write music for the Lord

3 things that describe my personality:

1. Introverted
2. Likes things in order
3. Am re-energized by just being quiet and still (something my daughter and hubby can not handle)

3 things I think you should listen to:

1. The convictions of the Holy Spirit
2. The authorities placed over you, your hubby, the law, the leaders in your church
3. Anyone who by the power and wisdom of the holy spirit is correcting you in love, and holding you accountable to the truth so that you can continue to walk in the freedom of Christ

3 things I don't think you should listen to:

1. Satan's lies, that say you're not worthy of God's unconditional love, that you have no purpose, or that the God in you is not big enough to overcome your latest trial
2. Someone who's so negative all the time, that you start walking away feeling drained and heavy, someone who can complain about all that's wrong in their life, but will not make any of the changes or sacrifices God asks them to
3. The fads of our society, that say it's cool to get tattooed and pierced, and that women should dress to draw sexual attention to their bodies

3 Favorite foods:

1. Saskatoon Asian stir-fry vegetables on rice and vietemese rolls dipped in fish sauce and spicy oil
2. Crisp meat burritos and mexi fries dipped in loads of taco time hot sauce mmmmm.....
3. Steak, brushetta, and crab and artichoke dip

3 beverages I drink regularly:

1. Coffee, usually decaf
2. Water
3. Chocolate milk (my new craving)

3 shows I watch:

1. CSI
2. Seinfeld
3. Canadian Idol (my favorite gal got booted off last night) :(

Many are my plans....

Thoughts for today...

"Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails"

Proverbs 19:21

Have I been consulting the Lord in my everyday plans? Do I wake up eager to find out what His heart is for my day? Am I seeking out His wisdom in His word moment by moment? Am I continuously asking Him for the answer when I find myself in a situation that needs a decision?

Or, am I quick to make decision based on what I want? Do I roll out of bed and grab my breakfast, my morning coffee, check my email, read some flyers and gab on the phone for a bit before I go to God in prayer and thanksgiving? Would I rather lay in bed reading a magazine, or doing a crossword puzzle than read the word?

Unfortunately my life generally speaks the latter, fortunately, the holy spirit has been faithful in convicting me in my selfish ways. I pray that today I'd be able to commune with God throughout the day, instead of only going to Him when chaos arises or doubt hits. When I'm shaken I want to stand firm in my relationship with my Father. I want these desires to be more than good intentions. And He is faithful, His grace is sufficient. He has the almighty power to change me on the inside.

Just like King David I cry out to You

create in me a clean heart

I've greived you again

I need your release

from patterns that keep me in sin

there's only one way I can finally break free

Change me on the inside

Change me on the inside

Change me on the inside

pics to enjoy

La La La La...

My parental figures

Star Gazing...

The turtle from The NeverEnding Story

My hubby and I at Taste of Saskatchewan

The 'children' playing King of the Hill

It's all fun and games until someone break his hip....Go Dad!

My quote for the day:

"Having a child doesn't make you any more of a parent than having a piano makes you a pianist"

It takes selfless sacrifice without resentment or condition to be a real mommy and daddy.

The heat is on

It seems that as soon as my core body temperature gets too hot, there's no turning back. I've tried everything, but I still get nauseous, headaches, and ask my poor hubby, reeeeally grumpy. Cold showers just weren't doing the trick anymore, so I've shifted to cold baths. Like sitting in a paddling pool before the sun has warmed up the water, aaahhhhh. I'm thinking this will be routine until the weather starts telling me otherwise. A low of only 18 overnight. Oh my goodness, the Lord be with me..... (and also with you) ;)

He is patient, and He is faithful

My husband was ready to make babies on our wedding night. I on the other hand, pumped my body full of Depo-Provera in fear of getting pregnant. The thought of starting a family did not appeal to me at all, so I made up my mind that we were not going to have kids for at least five years into our marriage. If God or my hubby had a problem with that, they would have to suck it up. Nin, had spoken.
So a year went by and I started to notice God chipping away at my heart, softening it to the idea. Reminding me that He would never give me anything I couldn't handle, reminding me that His way was far more glorious than walking my own way, and reminding me that walking the road of being un-wed and pregnant at 16 was not His desire for me, He had given me a new beginning, to experience it His way this time. So I got to thinking, and concluded that I would submit, if we bought a house first. I knew that this was in the very near future for us, so I figured, ok God, we'll compromise. Once again, Nin, had spoken.
So we started shopping for a house. This was a very exciting time for me, as buying a house was not even a thought that entered my mind, I never thought that we would be able to be in a house that soon. I had grown up in rental properties all my life, and it wasn't until 4 years ago that my parents bought their first house. The thought of actually moving forward in that direction baffled my mind, and I was quite excited to see what God had in store for us. Finally, just before Christmas, we found a house we loved. We walked away from it with a lot to talk and pray about. When we aproached God about it, He made His answer very clear. "Stop looking for a house." Huh? He was gracious enough to repeat Himself a couple of times, to make sure we really got it, "Stop looking for a house, and stop walking in this direction." Whoa, we were stunned. But for whatever reason, and bless His name that He was so patient with us, we submitted. We layed down that house, let it go, and stop walking in the direction of buying a house. God then led us to a time of teaching us, about finances, responsibity, obedience, and building a storehouse. We walked this out with Him, and knew that His plans were greater than ours. We knew that He did in fact have a house for us, and that He would give it to us in His timing, not ours. God, had spoken.
Right after all this happened, God made it very clear that He wanted us to have a baby, now. This terrified me, because deep down, I knew that we were going to obey. So, we followed His lead, and got pregnant. I thought in the back of my mind that we would start trying, but of course, because God said now, it only took one egg. God, had spoken.
So here I am, pregnant, in a two bedroom apartment, wondering what God is doing up there. He faithfully brought me to a place of being content with staying in this apartment. He made it clear to us that He had works He wanted us to complete while we were here, people He wanted us to minister to. He led me to this post, Why do they call them apartments?, and I found much encouragement, hope and reassurance that we weren't alone. I was alright if He asked us to stay here, and since He hadn't directed us to pursue a house yet, we assumed that's what He was asking us. Then one day we got a card in the mail from my sister-in-law. She told us about this program called "Home First". It's a government program for first time home buyers, who's income falls under a certain level. We met all the requirements and qualified right away. We now had our down payment covered, and all we needed to do was find a house. God gave us the ok to start looking again, so we did.
We weren't in a big rush like before, and since I was into my second trimester already, we figured we'd take our time. We kept looking for a nice character home in the same area we were looking in before. The program we had qualified for mentioned to us that they had three properties vaccant already, but they were all on the same street, the same street as my parents, and sister and brother-in-law. My hubby and I laughed at the idea, and closed that door right away. There was no way I was living that close to my family. I love them, but that was just not in my plan. Once again, Nin had spoken.
So we shut the door on God's face, and didn't completely realize how arrogant we were being until a couple of months ago. We realized that God wasn't able to move and work if we weren't allowing Him to, so we said we would at least take a look at the properties. We viewed one, and walked out completely forgetting what street it was on. This was our house, we knew it. In the weeks to come God sealed the deal, opened all the doors that needed to be opened, dotted all our i's and crossed all our t's. We bought a house!!! Ahhhh, on my parents and sisters street! God is so unbelievable. He has shown His faithfulness is ways that I had never imagined. He gave me a house, one month before this baby will be born. Our posession date is exactly one month before my due date. Our God is not limited by time! He doesn't need to do things the way we think they should be done. He gave me the desire of my heart, because He's my daddy and He wants to bless me, and bless me and bless me. I'm so glad that God has spoken in our lives. I'm so thankful that I submitted to His plans and not my own, that He was patient with me through my disobedience, that He has greater plans for us than we do, which He has made very evident by placing us on the same street as my family. When I allow God to minister to my spirit about His heart for that street, and His heart for my family, I'm floored. I'm so excited to see what God has in store. I look over all the human plans that I made, and God prevailed over them all. I've tasted and seen that His plans are to prosper me and not to harm me. He is good, He is faithful, and He is God.
God, has spoken. Over and out.

pregnancy sighs...

Don't remember the last time I experienced a full nights uninterupted sleep. I seem to wake every hour, for either toilet callings, back pain, general physical uncomforatableness, and more back pain. I know it's normal to get a lot less sleep as the time gets closer, you're big you're heavy and baby is taking up and using everything you need to sleep well, but since my back pain started back when we concieved, I've been having poor sleeps for a lot longer than the average pregnancy brings on. Sometimes my back cramps up real bad, to the point where I can't even roll over to my other side, so I get out of bed and walk it off. Yes, I wander around the apartment at odd hours, walking back and forth, up and down, from room to room. Finally when it's feeling a little better I get back into bed and lay there with my eyes wide open, wide awake. It's bringing back memories of when I had insomnia, and I would lay in bed and look at my husband, feeling tremendous jealousy of him laying there so peacefully. At times feeling impish and wanting to wake him up, so he can share in your misery. Although, my hubby has his share of complaints. Since I move around and get up so much, he doesn't rememeber the last time he has a good nights sleep either. Not to mention all the times he has to get up to get me something. He's become enemies with my body pillow, as it takes up most of his room. Add a large growing wife to that body pillow and hubby is left with negative sleeping room. Sigh....
People say the silliest things when you're pregnant. "Wow you're getting BIG!" is always a good one, but my personal favorite is,
"So when are you due?"
"September"
"Oh.....so you still have a ways to go yet."
"yeah".......................SMACK! Like I forgot. Thank you for bringing me back to reality, there would be nothing worse than me believing the lie that I'm almost there...... -lol ahhh!
Anyways, this is my life. Be blessed, God is good!

Love is not about finding the right person, but creating a right relationship with another

Baby seems we never ever agree

You like the movies

And I like T.V.

I take things serious

And you take 'em light

I go to bed early

And you party all night

Our friends are sayin'

We ain't gonna last

Cuz I move slowly

And baby I'm fast

I like it quiet

And I love to shout

But when we get together

It just all works out

who'd a thought we could be lovers

She makes the bed

And he steals the covers

She likes it neat

And he makes a mess

I take it easy

Baby I get obsessed

She's got the money

And he's always broke

I don't like cigarettes

And I like to smoke

Things in common

there just ain't a one

But when we get together

We have nothin' but fun

Baby ain't it somethin' How we lasted this long

You and me Provin' everyone wrong

Don't think we'll ever Get our differences patched

Don't really matter Cuz we're perfectly matched

We come together cuz opposites attract

~Paula Abdul~

It seems that more and more everyday, I'm learning that my husband and I probably couldn't be more different from eachother if we tried. We serve the same amazing God, we share the same love for one another, we share the same love for our wonderful daughter, and we share in the miracle of the creation of the new life inside me. But take all those things away and you're left with nothing but one black and one white. I find it so amazing how God has placed us together, He knew all the things that I lack and need, I would find in my husband. And He knew that all the things my husband lacks and needs, he would find in me. Taking it one step further, He knew the needs and lacks of my family, and that my husband would bring a new balance to them. Just as I bring a new balance to the lacks and needs in his family. My husband has tightened my screws so I wouldn't fall apart, and I've loosened him up, that that he won't crack or break under pressure. We've both grown so much in what it means and looks like to be a servant of the Lord to one another. I look back at the way things looked like when we first got married, and thank God everyday that He brought us through those hard times. We used our differences against eachother, instead of building eachother up, or using them to move forward in ways we were unable to before we had one another. I came across this quote this morning.

"Opposites attract, but after marriage, opposites attack. Most of the time, we are attracted to people who don't have the things that we have. Incompatibility is why we get married in the first place, but it's also used as a reason to divorce. "

~ by Dr. Charles Lowery ~

I can't help but have an aching heart for those struggling in their marriages because they've been blinded by the enemy to think that our differences with our spouses are a bad thing, something to be defensive against or in opposition to. Dr. Lowery goes on to say,

"Incompatibility is just a lack of communication. If we just try to love our spouse the way we want to be loved, we are in trouble. Unless you communicate, it's difficult to know how to love another person."

Our society has become so selfish when it comes to love. It is no longer about serving one another, but about self gratification. Roaming around this world, trying to find the 'right' person that will make 'me' happy, that will be all that I want them to be, so that I can be fulfilled and satisfied, so that my dreams and goals can be fulfilled. It's ok if they want to have their own dreams and goals, just as long as they don't conflict with mine, in which case I'd have to go and find someone better suited for my needs.

I know, this sounds awful, but this is exactly how most people in our world are taught to think. "There is always a way out if it's not meant to be." Heaven forbid we pour ourselves into working hard, into doing whatever it takes, nah.....that requires something of me, commitment.

I've been aching for the marriage of someone close to me. Without the knowledge of the love and grace of God in their lives, I wonder how they will press through, when the advice they're receiving is that if worse comes to worse, there is a way out. And really, if it wasn't "meant to be", you don't want to go against 'fate' as it would be waste of time.

So sad....

I need your prayers. My husband and I want to be a light in this dark time, but there's been a wall built up, and these loved ones have pulled away. I find it very difficult to have a relationship with someone who hides themselves, who keeps their trials in secret, and doesn't reveal their true heart. We've not been placed in a position where we feel we can speak into their lives, and it hurts to see them hurting so much when I know there is so much more for them.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ~

How could one even try to walk these things out without the power of God behind them? It's not possible. These things go against our very nature as human beings. We are not programmed this way, we are selfish and sinful. Please pray for us as we seek the Lord on what our role should look like in this time, and that we walk obediently to His will and not ours. Blessings, and may God be with you in your marriage today, and pour down His love and mercy.

There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path...

Wise words...
It's always neat to get a big dose of solid biblical truth from a multi-million dollar blockbuster hit movie. I'm sure it puts a smile on God's face when He watches many walk away from a Hollywood film more in tune to His heart without even knowing it.
I've been pondering on this truth the last little bit. I've been feeling a little off balance in my relationships lately. Back around Christmas time, God led me and my husband into a season of rest. He directed us to remove many of the things on our plates at the time, and concentrate a lot more on our marriage and family. In this time we've grown closer together than we ever have before, and have been very blessed to see the Spirit of God move in different areas of our lives, sometimes in ways we least suspected. Through it all, we've grown closer to Him.
These days, God is making it loud and clear that our season of rest is coming very quickly to an end, and that it's time to move forward, whatever that may look like. In stepping back, we not only stepped back from the busyness and chaos of everything, but also the importance of getting together with others in the body of Christ. I believe that we walked this out as God has led us to, and that He's using this to teach us about balance. In the relationships we've kept in contact with, we've found we've been starting to leave feeling a little drained. At first I thought nothing of it, and knew that there were specific relationships that God has placed in my life right now that have high needs, and that I need to seed into. After a while, we found ourselves constantly helping others in the areas they need help in that both of us started asking the questions, where are we at? What do we need to change? Where do we need encouragement? What is wrong in our marriage or walk with God that God needs to convict us in? We looked around, and suddenly realized that we've not put anyone in a place to speak correction into our lives. As we've been seeding into others, no one has been seeding into us, and in the end, we've found ourselves mal-nourished, and unbalanced.
I love how God has a balanced plan for every area of our lives, and when we fall outside of that balance, we feel a lack inside our spirits, telling us that we're low in fuel somewhere. When we walk in obedience to God's will for our lives, we're ready, willing and quick to refuel when needed. Ironically, I've been finding myself excited for someone older and wiser to come along and tell me what to change and where to grow. I'm actually craving correction! God has placed a few people in our hearts to start walking with on a regular basis, and I'm very excited to see what God has in store. Some prophetic words have been spoken over us, and there are some amazing servants of the Lord who are willing to walk this road out with us. I'm so blessed that there are others who love me too much to leave me where I am, and who fear the Lord too much to watch us stay stagnant, when I know that God has big plans for us. My mind is blown every time I take a step back and look at the church family God has blessed me with. I would not be where I am today without their support and love. Don't get me wrong, I'm no super human who has no pride or ego. There definately are times when correction is the last thing I want, where I've turned away and done my own thing anyway against the wisdom of others. But I'm choosing to believe that God has now brought my heart to a place of knowing what's good for me, and knowing what's not. Doesn't mean I'll always make the right choice, doesn't mean I'll always receive correction with a smile.
There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path. I could sit here and not grow, and no one would know. I could fake my walk, and pretend that I'm mature in all the areas I need to be. I could very easily remain stagnant, idle, lazy. I can seem and feel "holy" when no one else is around to frustrate my preferences. I can fool myself into thinking that I'm mature when there is no one around to challenge me. But isolation like this breeds nothing but deceitfulness. I want others to challenge me, to teach me and mold me. I do not want to live a lie, that everyone needs to change but me. I know I will grow faster and stronger when I have someone wiser to learn from and be accountable to.
I'm really looking forward to embarking on this new season with God and my husband. I hope and pray that we keep our focus on Him and His plan, and walk accordingly and obediently. I've been so encouraged by all those who God has placed in my life to seed into. I've been so blessed to watch them grow and serve God in new ways, to pick up their cross and keep walking. I've come to learn that growth can not take place without sacrifice, and to be able to watch someone walk in sacrifice to their King, is and has been an amazing privelledge. God is good.......all the time.
~Peace~

Little one update

My baby's home now reaches 4 1/2 inches above my belly button. Baby is gaining weight rapidly, and by the end of next week he or she will weigh in at about 3 pounds and measure about 16 inches long. Head hair is starting to grow, and baby now has eyebrows and eyelashes. Baby also has nails reaching the tips of his or her fingers and toes. Baby's skin is pink and smooth. Brain growth over the next two months will be dramatic. Baby's lungs, though still immature, are now beginning to function.

The making of a human life is nothing short of a miracle. What a blessing it is to be able to produce another human being into this world in love and obedience to my heavenly father. Each day I'm becoming less nervous and more and more excited. I can't wait to meet this new little one, and see who it is that God had destined to add to my family in two short months.

Hope

My light at the end of my tunnel, is getting brighter and brighter as I read more and more in His word about the hope found only in my heavenly Father. God has been leading me to endless scriptures that speak of an indescribable hope, something our world is far too busy worrying and freting to have.

The Bible says in Ps. 25:3 that those who hope will never be put to shame, Lam. 3:21 says that we can hope in His great love and that His compassions never fail, Pr. 23:18 says that our hope will never be cut off, and Rom. 5:4 says that hope will never disappoint us.

We are blessed (Ps. 146:5), we find rest and confidence (Ps. 62:5-6), we find patience (Ps. 130:5), we find strength and endurance (Isa. 40:31), we find encouragement (Ro. 15:4) and our longings are fulfilled (Pr. 13:12) when we hope in the Lord our God.

God puts much emphasis on the fact that we find this hope when we read His word. Ps.130:5 talks about waiting in His word. Ro.15:4 talks about finding our encouragement and endurance in the scriptures, and Ps.119:74 talks about ministering and witnessing to others when we hope in His word.

"But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:24
It's funny how I ask God to clearly show me the answers, or remove the obstacles in my way, so that I can know what it is I'm hoping for. When all the while those questions and obstacles are there so that I can find hope. I'm always trying to find out whats on the other side of that door, or whats around that bend, but in not knowing and not seeing, I am able to find hope and wait patiently. God is always calling us to exercise our faith muscles. If He didn't, we wouldn't grow any stronger, in fact, our muscles would actually get weaker and smaller, and we'd find ourselves asking "why am I finding this whole Christian walk so darn hard??" (Ever asked this one before?).

I for one am sick of turning to the things of this world to put my hope in. I'm so tired of worrying and freting over the what ifs and the what abouts. If this is how I walk then why would I bother following a God who promises all the things He speaks of in His word? I'm finished resembling just another someone of this world, who has no hope, who hopes in herself. Pr. 13:12 says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. Deferred means shelved, put off, postponed or set aside. I've found my heart sick far too often, and am picking up that hope that has been set on the shelf for far too long.

My soul will find rest in God alone, I will hope in Him, for He alone is my rock and my salvation, He is my fortress, and I will not be shaken. (Ps. 62:5)
My fears and questions have been laid at the foot of His cross, it doesn't matter to me what's on the other side of that door, I know where my hope lies.

~Peace~

My getaway with my hubby

Feeling pretty good leaving the city.......for now

Get me outta this car man!

"Do we look cool now?" (notice my glasses have teeth)

My hubby's aunt booked me in for a pedicure! I never had one before, it was awesome. Did you know that they shave the dead skin off your heels with a razor blade? Gross....

Us infront of West Ed mall. If there was a thought bubble popping out of my head it would say "heh heh heh....."

See? heh heh heh.....

A few shopping bags later, sore feet and a sore back, the wife think she's got it out of her system

Our anniversary dinner at the Keg

My hubby decided to impress me by going savage and devouring a lobster

My facial expression at the end of every evening.....owweeee.......very sore.

Was so nice to come home. I missed my little one, and I missed my own bed. But it was such a blessing to be able to take off for a few days and spend some time with my husband. We've been so blessed in our marriage in the last two years. It's mind blowing to think of all the miracles we have yet to see. I'm so thankful that God has made a home in our marriage, and I pray that He will use it to minister the love of Christ to others.

Hope everyone is surviving the heat. (I know I'm not)

Chao.

cool and comfy.....well, cool anyway

My hubby and I have packed our bags, slipped our child under our arm and trucked over to my mother-in-laws central air conditioned home. Last night was the best sleep I've had in a while. I actually used a blanket, and didn't need a fan blowing full blast 2 inches away from my body.

I officially enter into my third trimester tomorrow. I went in for my prenatal appointment yesterday, and I now need to go in every two weeks. I forgot that you did that in the third trimester. Fun! I definately put on weight this last month, and my feet sure feel it. I'm in the process of searching around for some better sandals that will give my feet the support they need. I have no idea what I'm looking for, or what supportive shoes even feel like. I've never cared about what's good for my feet. I've always chalked up blisters, scratches and sore arches and heels as just part of being a female. No pain no gain sister.

My hubby and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary in Edmonton this last weekend. Of course the picture queen has many stilled memories to share, so stay tuned. We had an awesome time, I love my hubby so much. Tonight my little neice is over here for a sleepover, and tomorrow night we embark on yet another family adventure at Defienbaker park for the fireworks. Hope you guys have an awesome Canada day weekend. :)

Wonderful is what I perceived this life would be

pain and problem free

but over time I found reality

and through it all I see

that You're the only one who gets me

I may be misunderstood cuz I would never fake it

You're the only one who understands my pain

cuz You get me

doesn't matter what they do, what they think, what they say

at the end of the day I'm okay anyway

cuz Lord You get me

No more tears it's a silent night

You've broken down all fear

cuz You've invaded all of me

You know me better than I know myself

the key to my security

there is no one else who gets me

I may be misunderstood cuz I would never fake it

You're the only one who understands my pain

cuz You get me

doesn't matter what they do, what they think, what they say

at the end of the day I'm okay anyway

cuz Lord You get me

I don't care what the world may say

I hear You call me by name

and I reach for You

there's nothing that I'd rather do

than worship You

(~Zoegirl~)

Psalm 139:1-3

"O Lord You have searched me and know me, You know when I sit and when I rise, You perceieve my thoughts from afar, You discern my going out and my lying down, You are familiar with all my ways."

Went for a long ride on the pregnancy emotional roller-coaster yesterday. Seemed that no matter what I had to say about it, my body was going into cry-over-everything-mode, and there was nothing that anyone could do to stop it. Everything has been feeling just a little more physically strenuous these days, and yesterday I just couldn't seem to do anything without feeling completely exhausted. At the end of it all I snapped and had a melt down.

Hubby: "are you upset with me?"

I shook my head.

Hubby: "are you upset with your sister?"

I shook my head.

Hubby: "are you.......pregnant?"

Me: "yes........wahh!!!!!......."

Sigh. I went over to my moms, and walked in the door still drying my many tears.

My mom: "so how did your hubby hurt your feelings?"

Me: "he didn't."

Mom: "well who hurt your feelings?"

Me: "no one"

Mom: ".......then why are you crying?"

Me: "I don't know.......wahhhhh!!!!!

LOL, I'm so thankful that I'm able to recognize when my hormones are having a hay day, so that I can at least get through the roller-coaster rides. I know that this is exactly how God created my body to respond to the many miracles taking place inside of it. God is with me through it, He "gets me" and I don't even have to say anything, and His peace is still a gift for me to receive. My husband has been amazingly supportive, and I couldn't ask for a better man to walk this with. Thank God that those days only come and go sometimes, and that today is a new day. Blessings :)

I've witnessed a miracle

Today I saw my little one off into her mission field, carrying with her the love and mercy of Christ and her God given heart of a lion. Without fear, I am blessed to see all that God has redeemed, and excited to witness more miracles. His heart for my child is more than I can fathom, and I feel so priveledged to be in the front row to watch Him move through my child to bring His love into fallen places. I am absolutely floored when I look at where He has brought me, and the work He has done in my heart. To look back at all the bitterness and resentment I carried with me in my heart, I wonder how I ever had the strength to carry myself out of bed in the morning. The load I carried was so heavy that I would drop it continuously and spill it all over whoever was in my path. I knew I was walking in sin, but refused to let it go, I refused to let God in, because I knew deep down, that He would take away my anger. That anger was all I knew for 4 years, I was afraid of what would be left of me without it, and I was afraid to admit to myself that I was wrong, regardless of what had been done to me. To see the life that God has brought to the dead places, the forgiveness He has showered on the rotten soil, and the fruit He has given in place of dark black muck, is nothing short of amazing. There is nothing I have done to deserve all that He has given me, and there is nothing I can do to deserve all that He continues to do, but He does it anyways, because His love for me is greater than my sin. I don't need to "get it" to reap the fruit of righteousness. All I have to do is choose Him, choose to walk towards the light of the Son, and He will bring me to greater places than I've ever known. I am walking and living proof that miracles do exist, that the dead can be revived and the sinner redeemed. I love walking this road, because I know He is in control of it. Things aren't perfect, and never will be, I still shed some tears when I see her go, I am still a mother with a loud roar. But my heart is submitted to His will, not my own. I can now walk freely in knowing that my God will take care of my little one, and knowing that He doesn't need me meddling messing things up to get His work done. All He wants me to do is pray, soak and praise.

You spoke and made the sun rise

To light up the very first day

You breathed across the water

And started the very first wave

It was You

You introduced Your glory

To every living creature on earth

And they started singing

The first song to ever be heard

They sang for You

You make all things new!

You make all things new!

You redeem and You tranform You renew and You restore

You make all things new!

You make all things new!

And forever we will watch and worship You

You turn the winter into spring

You take every living thing

And you breathe the breath of life into it over and over again

You made the sunrise

day after day after day

But there's a morning coming

When old things will all pass away

And everyone will see!!!!

You make all things new!

You make all things new!

You redeem and You transform You renew and You restore

You make all things new!

You make all things new!

And forever we will watch and worship You

(~Steven Curtis Chapman~)