Showered With Prayer

This past weekend the ladies from the church we attend threw a baby shower for the baby and me.  I have had many a baby shower thrown for me and my newborns but this was by far the biggest blessing of them all.  I love these ladies so much!

Everything was perfect!  There was a cute little safari theme with little monkeys,  a dessert made especially for me with my favorite ingredients, and an amazing group of loving ladies to share conversation with!  These ladies are there to share joys and struggles and to offer encouragement.  There were even the adorable little baby gifts!

BUT…….

What I loved most…..

about the day was that this baby shower was not filled with the typical baby shower games.  Those can be fun but that is really all they are.  My friend who organized the shower suggested something completely different.  Instead of playing the usual baby shower games we had a time of group prayer.  I had several prayer requests that I sent to my friend and she shared them with the ladies who attended.  It was so amazing to have such a godly group of ladies praying over me, my newborn son, and the rest of my family!

They prayed for our little Nathan, that he would grow into a strong, godly, young man.  That he would come to know the Lord at an early age and live a life honoring the Lord.  That he would be healthy.  That God would be preparing a godly wife for him even now.  They prayed for me and for my husband as we teach and train him.  That I would be patient even amidst sleepless nights.  That I would have compassion.  That I would not grow weary and that I would rely upon the Lord in the great task of being a parent.  They prayed the same things for my husband as he leads our household.  They prayed for our family with our upcoming move. They prayed for our other children, for our schooling, and for there to be a good relationship cultivated between our newest son and our oldest who has already moved out.

It was such an unbelievably sweet time of prayer!  I do not ever recall people praying for our family in such a way!  It is an amazing blessing that I will always cherish!

I think of all the gifts that we received that day the time of prayer was by far the most special, most desired, and most needed of them all!

As I thank the Lord for my new son and my entire family, I will be thanking him for the church family he has blessed us with.

Thank you Lord for each of those ladies!  Thank you Lord, that we can come before your throne in prayer!

Thank you ladies of Faith PCA Anchorage!  Thank you for showering us with prayer!!!

A New Baby & Another Birthday

It has been a busy few days around here.  I had my 38 week appointment on Wednesday and our son was born on Thursday afternoon.  All went well and both baby and I are doing great.  I am glad that he was NOT born this past Saturday.  Our last baby turned two years old on Saturday and I wanted so much for each of the children to have their very own birthday.  Thank the Lord for granting that request.

So, the baby was born on Thursday the 11th at 3:14 pm.  He weighed in at a tiny little 7 pounds and 8 ounces and was 19 inches long.  He is beautiful and just perfect.  He is so laid back and is just as sweet as can be.

We came home from the hospital on the 13th ( my 2 year olds birthday) at about 4:30pm.  She is sick and was running a fever and had been waiting so patiently for her birthday party.  It was just a short family birthday and she felt pretty miserable.  A few hours later my hubby ended up taking her to the ER.  She has pneumonia AGAIN and an ear infection.  What a way to celebrate your birthday, huh?  She is starting to feel better.  A lady at church this morning gave her a big batch of helium balloons for her birthday.  I think that was wonderful.  It extended her birthday a bit and she was feeling better and able to enjoy it more.

As you can see it has been a bit crazy around here.

So here are a couple of photos to share with you………………….

First, here is our new son, Nathan Asher.  He’s a handsome one if I do say so myself!!!

Here is one of the birthday girl!

And a shot of them together………

I am abundantly blessed!!

You Know It’s Time When

I am soooo ready to have this little bundle!  I am used to delivering early by a week or two and I am hoping that will be the case this time.  I am more than ready to pop!  I wonder if after reading the list below you will agree with me.

You know it is time to have your baby when:

• You notice that people no longer look at you but at your belly.
• You have practically outgrown every maternity outfit you own.
• It takes either help or five full minutes to roll over in bed.
• You notice 80 year olds walking better and at a faster pace than yourself.
• People have been asking for two months if the baby is due any day.
• People comment about HOW big you are and that you definitely LOOK ready.
• Walking up the stairs makes you as winded as running a marathon normally would.
• After only being home  for 12 days (from a seven month deployment) your hubby says it is time for you have that baby because it seems like you have been pregnant forever!
• You use your belly not only as a table but it is a very stable table.
• You begin to believe that getting out of the bathtub should be considered an Olympic event!
• When you step on the scale you wonder why your husband’s weight is registering!
• You have at least one moment a day when you cry because you just don’t think you can carry this heavy weight even two steps longer.
• You start having the recurrent pregnancy nightmare of delivering in the car and ruining the interior of the nice vehicle.
• You begin to think you could breath fire because the heartburn is winning out over that bottle of Tums you carry everywhere with you.

MOST OF ALL:

• Because it would be so much better to hold that sweet baby in your arms, see what he looks like, caress the soft baby skin, and be able to breath once again!

Seven Month Shot

Just so hubs isn’t too shocked when he gets home.  Here is how the belly *uh hum* I mean baby has grown.  This is my seven month shot.  Well, actually 32 weeks 5 days to be exact.

Baby Shower Via the USPS

I am not sure about the exact details of how this all came about.  But there is a lady that my hubby has conversed with while over in Afghanistan.  She runs a support the troops group.  Most of the ladies in her circle are from Washington State plus a few others.  This is a wonderful group of Christian ladies!

She has sent my hubby several things that he has needed over in Afghanistan including a projector screen to be used in worship services.  During one of the many conversations this lady found out that we were expecting a baby and the idea of a baby shower via USPS was born.  My hubby never told me about this conversation.  He just waited until I mentioned what was going on.

One day a couple of months ago I received a package in the mail from someone that I do not know.  The package was full of handmade crocheted baby items in boy colors.  There was also a letter from the leader of this group.  She explained how she and her friends were supporting the troops at FOB Wright (where hubby is) with care packages and prayer.  She was excited to hear about the baby boy we are expecting and that she was thrilled to be able to put together this baby shower. Then she thanked me for sacrificing so much by having my hubby off to war and holding down the home front for our family.

I was stunned.  I simply could not believe it!  There were so many sweet little things in that package and I was very thankful for the generosity of the ladies in this group.   I was even more thankful that they took the time to acknowledge the sacrifice of each member of our family!  Little did I realize that everything in that package was from just that one lady!  For the last month or so I have received two or three packages a week in the mail containing cards, words of encouragement, prayers and support, blessings for our new little one, and a cute little baby gift!  All from people who do not even know us!

What an outpouring of love and gratitude!  Though it really shouldn’t, it often amazes me when people display the love of Christ so vividly especially to those they do not even know.  I will be ever grateful for the support of these dear ladies who care so very much for others!

Though the baby gifts are fun to receive I think the love and support is the greatest gift they gave!  Lord, thank you for these sweet ladies!  Bless their ministry to our troops and their families!

A Not So Little Preemie

I remember my little preemie girl. She was born 33 weeks gestational age and weighed in at 4 pounds and 8 ounces and 17 1/2 inches long. Her little head would fit in my hubby’s hand with his fingers wrapping around her head. She seemed so small especially compared to her older brother who weighed in over 9 pounds when he was born.

Today, she is far from that tiny little one she once was. She turns 18 years old today. She has been such a blessing to us and God has grown her into a godly young woman and I am so very proud of her!

Happy birthday! We love you!!