I'm craving what???????

They always say that pregnant women will crave strange things. I have come to think it's only strange to that particular woman because I think we crave (or don't crave) things that are only odd to us. For instance, it wasn't until a couple weeks ago that I could truly stomach the idea/taste of sweet things. Even some fruits were too sweet! This is odd for me because I LOVE sweets--cake, brownies, ICE CREAM--but for 4 months of my pregnancy I didn't even like looking at them. Now that I'm in my 2nd trimester/18th week/5th month, however you want to say it, I have found a new love for...MCDONALDS!!!!!!!!! WHAT IN THE WORLD????? Now, some of you might not think this is strange at all, seeing as how you may just love McDonald's. It's VERY strange for me because as a general rule I pretty much hate fast food and McDonald's is at the top of that list! So, my husband is certainly excited for this craving! :) He loves fast food! I told him to enjoy it while it lasts because post pregnancy is coming and I'm guessing so is the passing of this strange craving. What do I want when I go to McDonald's? Well, I started with their snack wraps and have now been in love with the hamburgers and I can't eat unless I have a big cup of SWEET ICED TEA!!! I have always loved sweet tea, but I have a new found love for it now! :) Anyway, both David and I find it hilarious and strange all at the same time that I am craving, of all things, McDonald's. Thankfully, we do practice restraint and don't go everyday, but maybe a couple times a week...

I have found that though there are lots of wonderful things about being pregnant there are just so many strange things that go on with your body. My nose has been dripping like a faucet for a month now. I have woken up many nights with drool seeming to be POURING out my mouth. I'm a waddler already and don't even realize I'm doing it, but my hips and back have never been so tender/sore. My face is nice and clear--this is a huge positive! :) One day I want to eat something and the next day it's as though I'm being offered worms (although I have learned this week that some pregnant women actually crave eating DIRT!). One moment I'm gleefully happy, laughing hysterically, only to be sobbing the next and not knowing WHY on EARTH I'm doing it. I go from being VERY excited to have this baby to being VERY terrified at the thought of pushing a human out of me. The level of forgetfulness that has come upon me is literally mind-numbing! David has marveled at how forgetful I have become. We've been a mess because I'm usually the one who has to remember everything, and well, now we're both forgetful. Who are you? Why am I in the bathroom (yes, I have gone to the bathroom to pee and have forgotten WHY I was there...). I laugh and tell David that when the baby comes out I'll look at him and remember all the things I forgot over the last 9 months! :)

But, despite all these crazy changes I marvel at the thought that I get to grow a human being inside of me and be a part of one of the greatest miracles that can happen in one's life. I have always hoped I could be pregnant around Christmas time so I could have a better understanding of what Mary was going through. I won't be "great with child" in 2 months, but I will have a child inside and wow! To be able to connect with her on this level is amazing! I can now understand her joy, fear, trust in God that carrying a child brings (granted, I'm not carrying the son of GOD, but still, I think you get the point! And, carrying the son/daughter of DAVID is pretty fabulous too! :) :) ). Last night David and I were saying how amazing it will be to HOLD our baby and meet him/her for the very first time. To look into his/her face and know that he/she is truly OURS, we did this (with a lot of help from God, obviously). I get down often, thinking of all the housework that needs to get done and David always says, "Stop worrying. You're growing our child. What more do you need to do?" Wow. I have a wonderful husband, a man I have grown to love EVEN more through this whole process.

Pressing On

The song below, by Selah, is a good one, to say the least! I'm so glad God has gifted others to write such beautiful songs so as to minister to the rest of us! I would say this song puts into words David and I can't seem to find in regards to how things have been for us the last several months. I hope this song can be an encouragement to you too! If you have this CD, get it out and listen to it. Let the words and music minister to your soul. All we can often do is press on in Jesus' name. I hope you're able to find the strength to press on today.

Press On

Selah

When the mountain is steep

when the valley is deep

when the body is weary

when we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard

when we're battered and scarred

when we've spent our resource

when we've given our all

In Jesus name we press on

In Jesus name we press on

Dear Lord, with the prize

Clear before our eyes

We find the strength to press on

Lemons to lemonade?

I hate cliches! They're a bit ridiculous if you ask me. They're not overly comforting when you're hurting or grieving and they always make me feel like I'm not creative enough to come up with something better. So, I guess I could say something like cocoa powder to chocolate cake! :) I like that much better, but really, it's just a variation on a theme. Alas...I suppose we have to use the dreaded cliche every now and again.

It's no hidden thing that David and I have been dealing with a lot lately. We still are and though we're still very much in the valley it appears God is beginning to give us a glimmer of hope and is starting to show us the door he has opened for us. It's just cracked right now, we can't really see where it's leading, but we are so glad that God is starting to reveal his plan to us.

We spent Friday and Saturdy in South Haven, MI. What a beautiful, little town. It sits on Lake Michigan and they've done a good job downtown to make it welcoming and appealing to visitors. We enjoyed our time, walking in the crisp, autumn air and going into shops that we weren't interested in purchasing anything from. It was nice to get away and be away from the craziness that has been our life for what seems way too long! It's always good to get away.

I am so thankful for my husband. He's a good man, a man who desires to follow his Lord, a man who cares for me and our baby. I can trust him with anything and though he knows all my horrible weaknesses he loves me inspite of them. I only hope I'm able to show him the same lind of love! I have decided that trials can pull people apart or bring them together. Thankfully, through all the ups and downs we have learned to rely on Christ and also each other. We've learned alot about ourselves and each other--how to care for each other and encourage each other. Of course, this will be a life-long thing, but I am so thankful that what we have been through has only served to bring us closer to Christ and each other.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

We have felt for a while now that we have been in battle, but it hasn't been until the last week or so that we felt we were on the front line!! We are so thankful for a God who works miraculously and takes care of his children. We have felt the presence of the Lord so much these past few weeks. It's been amazing!

I have finally been able to start wearing maternity clothes!!!! Woohoo!!! :) I know, all you experienced moms probably don't think it's so exciting, but I do! :) People say I'm starting to show now, which is also fun. I need to take a 4 month photo and post it. Each week I feel better. I'm so thankful for that!!! I've been eating more and cooking more (much to my husband's excitment!). The vitamins are going and staying down. All these things I know are helping me feel so much better. Today we had a little birthday celebration for someone in the office and I was even able to eat cake! WOW!! :) It's been a long time since I've had sweets. I'm sure my body is going into sugar shock! :) :) :) This week the baby is about 4 1/2 inches long, the size of an avacado. I'm supposed to be starting to feel it move soon. I think I have been...it's hard to tell.

Fall is upon us. The weather is cooling down, the trees are doing their thing. I do love fall. It's so pretty out. I hope your fall season is a good one as we prepare to hunker down for winter! :)

Praises!!!!

It would appear that I have definitely come over the hump of feeling sick!!! I am on day 3 of feeling good, even when I wake up in the morning! I had been told at my last dr appointment that I needed to start taking my prenatal vitamins this week. I have to say, I was scared!!! The last attempts had not been successful, so I wasn't sure what to think. However, I have come home each day from work, eaten a good meal (lovingly prepared by my mom-in-law), taken my vitamin and have had NO ill effects from the food or pill!!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! I am so thankful for that! I can't praise him enough! I seem to be getting some energy back too (I'm sure eating more and taking the vitamins are certainly helping in that area) for which I'm so glad. Maybe this pregnancy thing won't be so horrible afterall! :) I would like to enjoy at least some of it!

The baby is currently about 4 1/2 inches long now and weighs about as much as an apple or orange. Funny to think about comparing my child to fruit! :) He/she is sensitive to light. Apparently, if I were to shine a flashlight to my belly the baby would move away from it! How fascinating!! He/she is also able to move it's joints and though I think I have already felt him/her move I will begin to feel it very soon on a regular basis. This whole pregnancy thing is so amazing. If you set aside how awful you can feel the 1st trimester it's truly miraculous to think about all that is going on in there. What a mighty and powerful God we have! He created giant animals like elephants, but he's also delicately creating a human being inside of me. A human who right now is so fragile but growing daily. I really can't find the words to describe how amazing I find all of this. It's beyond words, really.

I trust today is one filled with HIS love for you! I hope you have a very blessed day today!

Amazing Grace, My Chains are GONE!

Good morning Readers! As you know, we have been going through a lot recently--both good and bad. The good being the baby and all that entails. The bad, well, other things. I'm not particularly discouraged today, but I must have needed an extra boost from the Lord this morning. As I was driving to work I decided to listen to my Chris Tomlin CD rather than the Christian radio station yak about their sharathon! I'm glad I did. David and I have LOVED Chris' rendition of "Amazing Grace." It has spoken to us many a time and this morning was no exception for me. I've heard it numerous times and I thought, well, this morning I'll sing along. With tears coming to my eyes I was unable to utter a word. I was so engrossed in the amazing grace that my Father has for me, you, anyone who will accept it. I've copied the words here. It's an old familiar hymn with a few new words. Let them soak in, let the Lord bathe you in his unending mercy and grace this morning. It doesn't matter how long you've known the Lord or maybe you're not a Christian yet, but the words are powerful, and I dare you to read them and leave unchanged today!

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Chris Tomlin

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

My chains are gone

I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy reigns

Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine

But God, Who called me here below

Will be forever mine

Will be forever mine

You are forever mine