Some encouragement

Well, I've noticed that my blogs have been rather depressing as of late. I apologize, to you, my readers! I guess it shows you how down, sick, discouraged, etc. I've been feeling. But! Time for some better news!!!!

I think I am out of the "weeks of death" as I have come to call my 1st trimester. My husband thinks I'm being melodramatic, but that's only because he's never been pregnant! :) There were days I truly did feel at death's door. Phew!!! Glad that seems to be over! I don't feel perfect, but I do feel much better and am able to eat more, which is a HUGE improvement! I was even able to dust and vacuum this weekend!!!!! I feel very proud of myself for that accomplishment! I should be about 15 weeks this week. It's amazing to me the development that has happened so far in this little person's life. He/she has fingerprints, can frown, is moving around (I felt it move yesterday!!!), has a gender and is about the size of a lemon! WOW!! A lot has happened in it's short 15-week life. I go for my next appt today, which David and I are both very much excited for. We'll have another ultrasound, which will be so cool!!

Church was very encouraging yesterday. David did a different thing during our usual praise/prayer time. We were to find someone we didn't know too well, share a prayer request and pray for each other. It wasn't but a few minutes, but it was a special time and he only heard good comments about it! After church we had a prayer time FOR the church led by one of our deacons. We weren't expecting many to participate but had 20 people there!!!! Truly amazing! God wants to do big things in this church if they'll just let him. No hand grenades from the trouble-makers, which always makes for a much better Sunday. Thank you Jesus for that!!!

Today we get a dishwasher put in the house (parsonage)!!!!!!! I couldn't be more excited about that! Woohoo!!! Someone in the church asked what we would like to have and I immediately said a dishwasher, she took it to the trustees and well, they approved it and we're getting it installed today. I'm so happy!! This will be such a huge help! No more dishpan hands! :) :)

I hope you are feeling encouraged in the Lord today. He is a great God, even when life is throwing us lemons. I'm so thankful for his faithfulness.

God will make a way

God will make a way,

When there seems to be no way.

He works in ways we cannot see.

He will make a way for me.

He will be my guide, hold me closely to his side,

With love and strength for each new day.

He will make a way.

This has always been one of my favorite choruses. There is so much truth in it, simple truth. Truth, I think, we often forget. Sometimes life throws a lot of things at you at once, and you just don't know what to do with them. Right now that is happening in our life. As a wife I ache for my husband and the injustice that is being sent his way. I have to take off my pastor's wife hat right now and concentrate on simply being a wife. I want to go to the people who are making my husband's life miserable right now and give them a HUGE piece of my mind. I want to rant and rave and yell and say nasty things to them just as they have my husband. To be honest I don't want to be a Christian to them. I want to unleash my humaness on them and then see what they say. Sigh...alas, I can't do that. I won't do that. Why? Because I'm a Christian first, then a wife, then a pastor's wife. We all know it never does any good to through gas on a fire. We know that all our lives we've told to be kind to others, don't answer in anger, do unto others...Why are we told those things? Because that's what Christ tells us to do. A gentle answer turns away wrath. Our Lord didn't go human on those that treated him injustly. Rather, he took the abuse and persecution silently, only speaking the truth back when he had to. Aren't we to follow his example? Yes, we are. But! They're being so mean and nasty to David, doesn't that count for something? I suppose, in this world it does, but as a Christian I'm to look to CHRIST'S example and follow that. It's not easy, though, is it? Why is it that doing the right thing can be so hard?

So, as a Christian, a wife, a pastor's wife, what do I do? I hold my husband as he collapses in tears and bewilderment. I hold him close and tell him it's all going to be OK. I tell him how proud I am that he is standing up for what's right and not letting these bullies push him around. I pray for him to have wisdom--God promises to give generously to all who ask for it. I pray that this experience doesn't destroy my husband but that it'll only make him stronger. I pray.

Right now things are cloudy, they don't make sense, we feel our world is spiraling out of control. But, I have to remember that it's all crystal clear in God's eyes. It makes sense to him, he has everything under control. I have to remember that He's a faithful God and has never left me (us) or forsaken us. He's always been there for us. And, He WILL guide us and direct us and make our path known to us. If you think about it, please pray with us today. We would sure appreciate it.

Getting Better?

I have been doing much better this week. It seems I may be taking a turn for the BETTER!!!! I'm very happy about that. I don't feel great, but I don't feel overwhelmingly sick either--praise the Lord!!!!!!! I am really hoping and praying that all continues on in this vein and that this next trimester will be much better. That's right, can you believe I'm about to start my 2nd trimester???? WOW!! The individual days went slowly, but looking back, it seems time has just sped on by!

This week David has been in WI at his bi-yearly conference at Greenlake Conference Center. I'm so glad he's been able to go. It came at a good time for him. Things have been so stressful at church, I've been sick, I think it's good he's having a chance to get 3 good meals a day AND be encouraged! :) I do miss him, though. It's been a long week with him gone. I know, I'm such a sap, but isn't that the way marriage is supposed to be? I mean my better half is gone!! I think it's perfectly natural to feel lost w/out your spouse around. On a lighter note, though, my parents came up yesterday to help me with cleaning and cooking. My wonderful mom is scouring my house today. Only a mother could do that! :) She's also going to make up some meals for freezing so David and I will have stuff to eat, and I won't have to cook a ton. This will especially be good for David since I'm still eating like a bird. My dad doesn't like to just sit around so he's going to paint our dining room chairs for us! :) Thanks Mom and Dad! You're the best!!!!!

I am SO looking forward to the weekend. I'm always EXHAUSTED by Friday, though I think this is the 1st week I've worked my full hours and didn't go home early. YEAH!!!

I hope you have a very restful and blessed weekend!

Long time, no write

I know I haven't written in quite some time. I apologize for that. My life has consisted of finding the strength to do anything and praying that God will just get me through the day. Eating has proven to be a HUGE chore, something I dread to do, but know I must. The only thing that has been consistently good to me are mashed potatoes. Don't know why, but that's the way it is! Cereal, my favorite food, has become not so favorite as I've rid myself of it on several occasions now. Sigh...will it ever end? I know it will, but right now, it seems that I'm destined to live this way forever! Even taking communion at church yesterday was a ginormous chore. Thankfully, the Lord knows and knows I wasn't trying to be disrespectful. 

On a much happier note...I had my first appointment last week on Wednesday! Everything is as it should be and I've even lost 14 lbs!!  Who knew--although I DON'T recommend this diet...We had our first ultrasound and got to hear the HEART BEAT!!!!!!!!!!!  It was so amazing!!!!!! We were both crying!  We also learned that I'm a week ahead of what we thought--which is FINE with me! As of Wed. I was 10 weeks 3 days. Maybe I AM nearing the end of the yuckies? 

I hope this finds you doing well. 

He's Here!

Our dear little nephew, Riley James, was born August 28, 2008 a little after 2 a.m. He weighed 9 lbs and was 20 inches long! Mom and baby are doing great! We are dying to see him (even some photos!!!!) and won't get to see him until Sunday! He'll practically be grown by then! :) :) :) We are so excited and happy for this newest addition to our family!

Thank you Jesus for little Riley!

A Good Norm?

Is it ever a good thing when puking becomes a routine and expected part of your day? I don't think so, but that has become my life. I am into week 8 now and am PRAYING daily that when I get to the end of this trimester I'll be feeling better. I'm ready to start feeling some of those good things about being pregnant! :) The baby is the size of a kidney bean this week, about 5/8 of an inch. It's remarkable to me how it is developing and changing and growing so much just in a week's time! The eyelids are formed, the fingers are more defined and not just little webs. It's just so miraculous to me, and I can't even fathom how someone can think we just happened. Or, to think that this little miracle isn't worth anything and can be easily discarded like a dirty kleenex. (OK, opinion alert!!) Birth truly is a miracle! Though I've been sick, miserable, losing weight (this is a positive if you ask me!!), being grossed out by the simplest of smells, I have been trying (operative word here...) to see the miracle that is taking place inside of me. I'm trying to focus on that and not the constant nausea. God is good. I have made it through 2/3 of this trimester w/out incident. I go in for my 1st appointment next Wed and am so excited to hear what the doctor has to say. I'm praying for a good report and that everything is going along as it's supposed to! :) It'll also be nice to get a better due date than just "early April," though I don't think it'll change much from that.

Well, I will close for now, praying you find the "little" miracles to be astounding to you today!

The Steadfast Love of the Lord

The steadfast love of the Lord never changes.

His mercies never come to an end.

They are new every morning,

New every morning.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

I love this song. The tune is soothing to the ears and heart, the words are soothing to the soul. Though I'm having another bad day physically, I am reminded of His steadfast love, and that He is FAITHFUL and his mercies never end. I have to remind myself of these things often. I couldn't keep breakfast down today. But, I have managed to get a few crackers and yogurt down. I find that merciful from our Father.

I am missing 2 wonderful ladies today. First, my grandma, Barbara Jean Russell. She is my Grandpa's first wife of over 50 years. She and I were so much alike. Not liking to show our true emotions and preferring to hide behind a tough exterior then to appear vulnerable. But, having lots of love to give. She was a woman who loved a good joke and laughed easily at things she found delightful. The other woman is Hanna Rork Russell, my Grandpa's 2nd wife of almost 2 yrs. She is in heaven with Barbara and I want more than anything to tell them in person that they will have another great-grandbaby. I know they would both be ecstatic and so proud and joyful! They would also be able to comiserate on feeling so yucky and would offer HELPFUL information and above all would keep me and this little one in their prayers. Both of these women taught me that God is FAITHFUL!!!! There's no questioning that. Life may not always be sunshine and roses and our health may not always be what we would like, but GOD IS FAITHFUL! This is a promise we MUST hold onto.

These beautiful women will never hold my babies this side of heaven, but, I somehow can't help but wonder if they know anyway and are jumping for joy in heaven and praising our Father for this little blessing.

The steadfast love of the Lord never changes...