38 weeks

We took some updated pictures of me at 38 weeks in Abigail's room. I only uploaded a few, but you are able to see how much I have grown in the past couple weeks. She is definately putting a lot of strain on my back. We are almost one week away from our due date, that seems impossible.
I went to the doctor on Friday the 25th but I had no news that was exciting...I have not dilated at all. So, I am doing all the remedies that everyone says to help bring about labor. So far all I have had is cramps, which are no fun. The heat has really started to bother me, I become nauseated if I am outside too long. I would say this last month has been the hardest throughout the whole pregnancy. Hopefully the next post I will be bragging about our daughter that has arrived!
Please be praying for the delivery process...I am a bit nervous about the pain. Which I know is normal. Thank-you for all your prayers thus far.

I Promise....To Provide

Yesterday my pastor challenged me with how we spend our money. Justin and I live pretty simple, but I was challenged with the reminder to be content, knowing that God provides my everyday needs for life and GODLINESS. Godliness, how often do we stop and think God is providing for our Godliness. We are always so wrapped up in how God is providing for our material needs.

I have below some of the main points from his sermon, I added some questions for readers to chew on and then at the end I put questions that Justin and I can ask eachother each month.

I would recommend reading over the points more than once, let them sink in.

“I PROMISE…TO PROVIDE”
Hebrews 13:5-6

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” Hebrews 13:5

Our having never catches up with our wanting.
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

This is a call to live without covetousness (the love of money), and to live with contentment (enough).

Our fear is not if we think we are going to have enough to buy gas or get by in life....
Our fear is that we think we are not going to have enough to have a nicer house, car, clothes…

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3

This is all demonstrated in …
Joyful simplicity-- how is God dealing with you when it comes to living simple?
Sacrificial generosity-- what are you sacrificing?

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” Acts 4:32

Increasing desire, decreasing satisfaction. Possessions will never fulfill our needs as God can fulfill them. We will be in a constant state of decreasing satisfaction, we will always want more.

The more stuff we have the more it robs us of our time with family.

These are questions that I want for our family to be aware of....

Pociask Challenge

Where does the majority of our paycheck go a month?

Where or who could we give to each month?

How often do we remember that God provides what we need for life and godliness?

What challenge will you take away from this?

Weekly visit

I don't have much news....but Abigail's head has dropped! The cervix is still closed. The Dr. is still predicting her to come on the due date or a little after, but she said anything could happen. :)

Life

Friday the 11th my doctor checked to see if there was any progress of Abigail coming anytime soon. She said everything is on schedule and it does not look like she will be coming early. I have mixed feelings on this. I want her to come early, but I know that I need to finish up my hours for counseling. I still have 19 hours of client contact to get before August 6th. I am definately in the last stage of the pregnancy where I am just READY. I want to work out again and I am tired of worrying about if I have eaten or drank something I should not have that could harm Abigail. I just want her safe in my arms.
I have been doing a little research on vaccines. If you are a mother and know much on vaccinations, would you mind sharing with me your fears and not fears on vaccinations? I am nervous about them, not because I dont want my baby girl pricked by a needle, but I know there could be side effects to some vaccines. A childhood family friend was given to much of a certain vaccination and now he mentally disabled. I think vaccines are good to have, but I just don't know which ones are necessary and which ones are not.

Today I am working on my last assignment for my summer classes. It will be such a relief when I am done. I then only have to focus on preparing for counseling sessions. Justin and I have been enjoying our time alone before Abigail gets here. Just last night he said, it been nice just relaxing with one another, its kinda like the stillness of the ocean before the storm hits. :) We know that once Abigail gets here everything will change. We are aware that our quality time will have to be worked at. The other night we talked about fears once Abigail gets here for our marriage. Some that we mentioned were,

1. We will lose our intimacy.
2. Be more irritable with one another due to lack of sleep.
3. Not as much quality time with one another.
4. Putting Abigail first.

Since we are aware of these fears, we are going to work at not falling into the temptation of slipping apart emotionally, physically, and spiritually-- but to take this journey of parenthood to grow in our sanctification process. Dinner time is some of our best discussion time, it is usually when we ask one another questions-- like, how we can better our marriage or make sure there is no unsaid things that have been bothering one of us. I pray we will be able to secure our quality time and still evaluate our marriage. I know as time goes by with more children, evaluation for our marriage will be very important. It is so easy for marriages to get caught up in their children,and forget to take time to grow in their marriages. Being a woman that is worthy to be praised by my children and husband is something I desire to pursue the rest of my life. My family will always come first. I want to be able to reach out to broken families and give hope to them.

Most importantly I want to model to our children how a family should function-- I know that our children will have a lot of friends that will come from blended families. I want our children to know that marriage is a hard thing to work at-- but it is worth it.

Sacrifice comes in many different avenues, and family is where you will be tested the most.

I want our children to see that you have to work hard for the things and people you love. I know our society teaches do what feels good-- you should not have to be unhappy.

Well, a family principle in our family will be to not give in when times are rough-- but to persevere.

This ended up being longer than I intended...but it is all truth and I pray to be a faithful and loving mother that raises my children in a home that fears the Lord.

Revelation and Relationship

I have been taking an OT class this summer as an online course. I wanted to share a little bit of what I have been learning or thinking on revelation and relationship.

Revelation and relationship have much importance to the Christian life. However, I think a lot of Christians miss the mark when they only apply revelation to the end times. Revelation to Christians today has become a self-seeking, self-assurance concept. Christians believe they are safe from the gates of hell, and they no longer seek out a relationship with God. Your relationship with God does not end once you become saved; the richness of the relationship is just beginning.
The concept relationship has even lost its significance to Christians. You always hear so many believers talking about strengthening their walk with God, but there is never a lasting impact that is evident. If Christians took the same time they do for all the activities they are involved in throughout the week as they did with their time with the Lord we would have a changed society.
There are so many hungry people wanting to ‘see’ God reveal Himself to them. If only believers would realize God reveals Himself to us each day through nature, relationships, miracles, provision, and the very breath of life. We as Christians are greedy and want more than these simple but yet astounding gifts of the Lord. I look at revelation as a gift from God. He does not have to give us any information on who He is, but He desires to have relationship with us.
By God being in relationship with us reveals to us His character of mercy. He could have left us in our sinful nature from the time of Adam and Eve. But, from the very beginning His purpose for salvation began to unfold. God used ordinary people to reveal His ultimate goal for humankind. Christians need to see that God still works the same today as He did thousands of years ago. God is still revealing Himself to us through relationships. But, I believe Satan has blinded Christians by the business of the world to see this truth.

The last big items!

My younger brother bought us our big items-- the stroller and car seat! Last night Justin put the stroller together and is going to have the carseat in my car ready to go. This weekend we plan to have them inspected. I highly recommend the Chicco Cortina Travel System!

The room is complete...I think

There will be many sleepless nights that I will be in this glider. It is so comfortable, I do a lot of my reading for school in it. However, I get distracted when I study in her room. Can you imagine why? :) My mom is making a curtain still, so once that is up I will take a picture. See, I knew the room was not complete yet.

The finished touch of the letters Justin and I painted. The colors turned out great.

We got the lamp at target, it is perfect lighting for when we have to change or feed during the night. It also has little shelves to put cute things on.

I have officially nested, no, what am I talking about...I nested about 2 months ago. They say once you have nested it is a sign for labor. Well, I am still waiting...

There have been some changes to my body though. I can barely walk due to the pressure on my sciatic nerve on my lower left side of my back. When I 'try' to sleep at night, my hips hurt from the pressure too. Needless to say I am in the official last month of being ready to have my baby girl here in my arms. I keep telling her I am ready, but she just is not listening. :)

We are under the one month mark, she seriously could come anytime now. I just have to wait patiently....which is so hard to do.

Until next time...