|
| Hello Everyone- We would like to petition your prayers for Katie and Baby Peace. On Thursday when Katie went to the doctor she was having some signs of early labor- she is dilated to a 1, her cervix is soft, and the baby's head is down (but thankfully not engaged yet). She is 33 and a half weeks along, so we need this little one to stay put for atleast 3-4 more weeks. She is taking it easy (which is a challenge for her task-oriented side), praying a lot, and trying to do what she can to slow things down. Thank you for your prayers. She has her next appointment of June 12th. The journey of faith continues.... Psalm 22:3-5 "Yet You are enthroned as the Holy One; You are the praise of Israel. In You our fathers trusted and you delivered them. They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed." | | |
| Watching our four year daughter see the Pacific Ocean for the first time, squealing with delight at the sand and the waves....Priceless. Hearing our 1 1/2 year old son cry and say "wa wa", wanting to wade in the chilly water yet again....Priceless. Viewing special moments through my camera lens with Papa, Grandma, Adam and the kids, playing together on the shore....Priceless. Catching a glimpse of my ever-growing "baby" waistline in a car window as I waddle by....Priceless. Special time with family away on the west coast; palm trees, stunning flowers, swimming, togetherness....Priceless. | | |
| Hi Everyone- Sorry I haven't written in awhile. Here is an update: Adam is thrilled to be a part of our church men's softball team. He has been called, "Mr. Amazing" already and that was just at practice.:) He is glad to be back in the "swing" of one of his favorite pastimes. He is looking forward to building relationships with some guys from our church. Camp's busy season is about to start. Please pray for a successful, fun, and productive summer and for God's will to be done here at Camp Pinerock. I just finished an online grad class, "Transforming Students into Writers", the family graciously gave ,e the time and space to finish my class and now I'm done, yeah! I have 13 more weeks of my pregnancy with Baby #3, another yeah! Two weekends ago I hosted the "Scrapbook Escape" weekend at camp. It was a wonderful time of ministry, scarpbooking, and fellowship for all. Brooke turned 4 yesterday, we celebrated last Wed. at Peter Piper Pizza and yesterday has cake, ice cream, Wal-mart shopping for new shoes and Kidsong's DVD's.:) She enjoyed the birthday calls and messages- I think she got sung to about 8 times or so.:) Kale is TOTALLY into trucks, cars, tractors, etc. He calls them "blub blubs"...which he goes around saying constantly. He freaked when Adam drove the camp tractor up to the house the other day- so exciting. Well, as usual I have been nesting throughout this pregnancy, but today was one of the best nesting days yet....we have the guest bathroom decluttered and organized, our nightstands cleaned out, Kale's closet reorganized...tons of toddler plastic hangers tossed (my liberating moment today: "I am only going to use the sturdy hangers for the kids clothes from now on, no more filmsy hangers, no more hassle)!...two bags to take to Goodwill- so satisfying! We enjoyed having Laura Traverse and Rachael Marcano, my dad and brother out for March visits. We are looking forward to Adam's parents coming in May, as well as Laura T. again and possibly my brother. Now all of you who haven't been out yet, don't you think you should try and come since my brother is smoking everyone with his potential 5th and 6th visit (this May and July)?! We appreciate your continued prayers for us as we "settle in" and truly make Prescott home, for the upcoming arrival of Baby Cutie, for wisdom and direction at Camp, and for us to be right in the center of God's will each day- living with purpose, in His grace. Love, Kates | | |
| So this morning this was the verse God gave me to strengthen me before the ultrasound
Deut. 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." You would think that would force me not to worry at all, but I still was a little nervous.
The four of us went to the ultrasound..the technician was so nice. I don't know why I was a little surprised when there was a baby there on the screen- I just don't feel that pregnant, but there it was to dispell my fears...with a good heartbeat. It was a really neat time. We almost caved and asked what it was, but just couldn't bring ourselves too- sorry.:) The coolest part of the whole thing was as she zoomed in on one of Baby Cutie's hands, it's little thumb was moving up and down and its hand too, like it was grabbing for something- kind of like it was waving. We all thought is was so neat, the technician stopped for a moment and said, "I just need to let you know how rare that is for a baby this young to be making a grabbing motion like that, and for us to be able to see them do that, I don't see that very often." Wow!
She said she didn't see anything alarming or glaring...and that it looked like a happy baby. She did say that I am not as far a long as they thought. My new due date is July 15, so I am a little over 16 weeks. Oh hot July hear we come!:)
Thank you for your prayers thus far, and all those that will continue to be lifted up too. Thanks for taking this journey of faith with us and supporting us too. | | |
| Baby Peace The journey continues…Last Thursday I went in for my monthly OB appointment. I mentioned to the doctor that I felt like I was a little bit small for being almost 17 weeks pregnant. She said that she was thinking the same thing (not exactly what I expected or what I wanted to hear). She said I could just be carrying really low or might not be quite as far along as we thought…but, she wanted me to get the next available ultrasound appointment so they could check the baby’s size and due date. She was calm and collected, yet wanted to check things out just to be safe. As I have shared with many of you, through this pregnancy, God has been leading me on a journey of learning to trust Him more and experience His peace as I do that. Things had been going well in that area, until I was thrown this curve ball. I would like to say that I remained perfectly calm and collected myself, but I didn’t. At first, I called several prayer warriors and asked them to pray for this little one and me. However, in the middle of the night Thursday night I woke up feeling pretty scared. This situation, of the baby maybe being small or something not being quite right, was nothing I could control and I was pretty freaked. I was frustrated with myself for getting to this point of fear again, but it drew me to pray and “get real” before God. I told him how scared I really was and that yes, I knew He was loving, but that didn’t mean things were going to work out how I wanted them too. I reiterated how He was forming this little one and would He please protect and grow this little one healthy and strong. I admitted how weak I was and that I needed Him to fight this battle of fear and insecurity for me- to be strong for me. I didn’t want to be feeling this nervousness and anxiety for the whole week (since the ultrasound isn’t scheduled until this coming Thursday). I thought about the song, “His Banner over me is Love”, and how I needed His banner to cover me and bring me peace- because I could not muster it up myself. Not very long after I had prayed, I began to feel a flutter. At first I thought it was the baby, but then I quickly dismissed it, sure it had to be in my head- that I just wanted to feel the baby so I would feel better. I hadn’t felt the baby before this- and it was still a little early to be feeling it anyway. But then, this little baby began to move- dance and kick almost- there was NO mistaking that the baby was moving. It was like God had breathed fresh life into it- strength and growth. It felt like it was dancing for joy. I was in awe- I couldn’t believe it. What better way for me to feel God’s peace and comfort than to feel this little one moving so strongly. This verse came to mind, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to whom who knocks the door will be opened” (Luke 11:8b-13). I felt like God was just waiting for me to ask for His help…and when I did He opened the door, answered me, and gave me the gift of His peace. Wow, why didn’t I admit my weakness sooner and run to Him immediately? I learned a valuable lesson, again-- it is more noble to “be real” than to pretend I have it together. I don’t! But I know One who does. I am so grateful that He lovingly teaches me and helps me in my need and weakness. I feel pretty confident about how the ultrasound appointment will go on Thursday, but even if it doesn’t go as I anticipate, I know the One who hold this little one and the one who holds me and blesses me with His peace. Through this experience God has increased my faith and the faith of others and He has reminded me once again how He longs for me to come to Him in my weakness, so He can be strong for me. “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you for (My) power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). “My flesh and my heart my fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26). | | |
|
