And let the praying begin!

We have one more week until our next doctor's appointment, and we have only 5+ weeks until our due date. Little baby Paul is growing by the minute, or so it seems. Annabelle is becoming all the more inquisitive as to when he will come out so she can hold him. Daily I am brought to tears thinking how my girls will never be able to play with him. I am not looking forward to recovering from labor and delivery, without the joy of a newborn to distract me. I am slowly feeling a joy and excitement for the day of delivery, but I am still getting nervous. What should I expect? How will I feel? Will it truly be the worst day of my life? I know God will grant me strength on that day that I never knew possible, and I know the Holy Spirit will give me a joy only He can give, but I am still tempted to be anxious.

So, friends....pray. Daily, Weekly or just once, but I know that prayers of those who trust God and follow Christ are not ignored. God hears the cries of His children and He is near to us always. He wants us to bring every burden at His feet. I want this experience and the day of my delivery to glorify God and bring others to a loving relationship with Him. As I read Exodus, I relate to Moses. He didn't think he could be used by God. How can God use me?

Pray that God WILL use Nate and me in the next few weeks and on the day of delivery. Pray that we don't doubt God's goodness or His sovereignty. Pray that we can rest in His arms, knowing that He loves us. Thank you for you love and friendship!

Who am I?

Recently, I began reading the Bible using the One Year Chronological plan that I just downloaded from my church's website. I decided to double it up, so I could be done in six months. I did the 90 day Bible a couple of years ago, and it ended up being the 180 day Bible plan, so I think 6 months works for me:) I love getting the big picture in God's word from reading it beginning to end, and I think it will be even more interesting reading it chronologically. The hard part in reading the Bible so quickly is that there are many parts I already have questions on, so I need to be diligent in finding answers before I move on, which means more self-discipline:)



I just finished reading Job, which I consider to be quite timely. I have always been confused and overwhelmed by how lengthy it is and how it is worded, but thanks to the Bible Knowledge Commentary, I was able to grasp an overall summary of the book. There is so much I have learned from this book, but here is an excerpt from the commentary that I just love:

Rather than explaining the theory of evil or the role of suffering, God rebuked Job for presuming to challenge His ways. In more than 70 questions—none of which Job could answer—God interrogated Job regarding numerous aspects of inanimate and animate nature. These two science examinations ranged in subject matter from
the constellations to the clouds, from the beasts to the birds. The wonders of God’s creation are dazzlingly displayed in outer space, in the sky, and on the earth. Though Job was dumbfounded by this barrage of questions, flunking both lengthy quizzes, he did meet God face to face. This reassured the complainer that God had not abandoned him after all.

What was the purpose of God’s rebuking response? By displaying His power and wisdom, God showed Job his ignorance and impatience. How could Job comprehend or control God’s ways with man, when he could not comprehend or control God’s government in nature? Since Job could not answer God on these matters how could he hope to debate with God? Since God has His own ways and designs in the sky and with animals, does He not also have His own purposes in His dealings with people? Though people cannot understand God’s doings, they can trust Him. Worship should stem from an appreciation of God Himself, not a comprehension of all God’s ways. Though puzzled, people should still praise.

God did not explain His ways to Job; He exhibited them, thus showing that the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe does not owe puny man an explanation. Man is to report to Him, not vice versa. Yet, though God did not explain His design in man’s difficulties, His purpose in pain, He did reveal Himself.

So, wherever we are at, we must remain humble. Joyfully humble. Joyfully without all the answers. Joyfully living in praise. It took Job 42 long chapters to learn this. Let's pray it doesn't take us that long!

Yum!

Well, my good friend Kendra at Preschoolers and Peace recommended this recipe from Alton Brown for Soft Pretzels. They are soooo tasty, fun and easy to do with the kids, that I had to second her recommendation. We made some with kosher salt and some with cinnamon and sugar, but I bet you could do parmesan, garlic salt and much more. Hope you find them as fun as I did, especially when you don't know what to do to spice up the day with little ones. Everyone loves to get messy, roll some dough, and of course, eat!!!

Week of Encouragement

Last Weekend

This last weekend, Nate and I were privileged to go to Menlo College to see his brother play football. While we were up there, we drove a couple hours east to see some blogger friends that I have been getting to know. Kendra and Andy are a wonderful homeschooling family of 8 kids, and this summer they had opened up their house every Saturday night for whomever wanted to come over for a bbq. The Fletchers and their friends were such an encouragement...thank you, thank you, thank you! It is great how God's people can experience unity, even when they have never met. Nate and I are seriously considering homeschooling our children, and we have been seeking out wise counsel in how to train up our children and be intentional in every way of life. It was great to see it lived out in the Fletcher's life and to see the fruit of their labor in their respectful and sweet children.

On Monday, we headed for Rosemond, where we celebrated Labor Day with some old and new friends at Nate's fire station. We FINALLY got a semi-ok family pic, so here you go!


Baby Boy Update

Yesterday, Nate and I took the kids to another doctor appointment for our son. We are now 32 weeks along, and it was a blessing to have Annabelle see our son in the ultrasound. It wasn't as stressful as you would think, having both of them with us. It was actually encouraging and uplifting to have them there. We went to lunch first, and after the appointment, we got ice cream and cookies. Being a family really helped us cope with the reality.

Everything is still progressing the same way, and we are still looking at going full term and waiting for spontaneous labor. I am grateful I still only have to go back in another 4 weeks and not sooner. We are slowly grieving the coming death of our son, and it is still super hard to go to those appointments. On our trip up to San Jose this weekend, we listened to a sermon that reminded us of God's providence. He makes us all the way we are....He is still intimately involved in creating each one of us, and we are all created to bring glory to His name.

Exodus 4:10-11, "Then Moses said to the Lord, "Please Lord, I hav enever been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servan; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." The Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?"

John 9:1-4, "As He passed by, He was a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his paretns; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in Him."

Not that I am convinced God will choose to heal my baby boy, but I am convinced that God created my boy with this defect, and that God will be glorified through this. What a great reminder!!! Thank you again for all your prayers. Oh by the way, we have decided to name our little boy Paul Perkins. Nate's middle name is Paul, and we would love for our little boy to be named after him in some way. He will be buried in a baby plot in Burbank, and we still don't know about what we will be doing as far as a memorial goes, but we will keep you updated!