Poll is closed

Thank you to everyon e who took the time to vote on the statistics on our soon-to-be-here baby. As soon as we can we will post her statistics and pictures!

Please pray for a safe and speedy delivery.

image provided by Snapshots of Joy

"Unemployed"

Yesterday was Daniel's last day at DeVry. Last night he came home without a cell phone or laptop. He said it felt so strange. For me it is wonderful! So until Monday morning, my husband remains "unemployed". We are continuing to be so excited with all the changes that our family is going through.

With Sadness....

I am part of The Patriarch's Wives email group. Today one of the dear women, Heather, that I have come to know through that group lost her husband and six beautiful children lost their father. (To the left is a picture of the family.) We are comforted to know that Eric no longer suffers from health problems, but has a perfect body and is in the presence of his Lord.

Please pray for Heather, the children and the rest of the Davis family as they deal with their loss. To read more about their family, visit their blog at Lazy D Ranch.

37 weeks and counting...

We have now reached the 37 week mark! YEAH! My Dr. appointment was uneventful and I was pretty much in and out. Weight gain was practically nothing, BP was fine, swelling in my legs was fine, the baby's heart rate was 150. So here we sit trying to be patient for the day to come. Keep watching this blog and we'll post when something exciting happens!

Upcoming week

This week is going to be a hard and busy week for all of us. Thankfully we do not have many outside commitments.

Wednesday is Daniel's last day at DeVry. He has been employed there over 7 1/2 years and has many friends there. On Thursday he will be driving to Bloomington to attend a meeting and meet some of the people he will be interfacing with at State Farm. Friday he will be home taking care of a few things that need to be finished on the house before we can sell it.

While Daniel is saying "Good-bye" to DeVry, The children and I are going to take the week off of school work and pack up some of the house. Prospective buyers like to visit a uncluttered and depersonalized home. That way they can visualize their possessions in it. So that is our goal for the week. I also have my 37 week appointment and that usually takes a whole morning.

This coming weekend we are heading to the Peoria again. We are hoping to look at another house and see the house we are really interested in again. This may be the last time we are down there before our baby arrives.

Prayer requests for the week:

• Daniel ending his employment at DeVry
• Sheri and the pregnancy - especially the discomfort and not being able to sleep at night. An early delivery would also be good :)
• The Children's adjustment as we go through all the changes.
• Packing would go smoothly and efficiently
• Safe travels as we go back and forth between here and the Peoria area.
• That God would lead us to just the right home.

Thought for the day

Image provided by Source of Joy

My Beloved

Last night Daniel and I had a date. He took me out to dinner at Wildfire. This restaurant has probably the best prime rib I have ever had. Last night was no exception. For dessert we had chocolate molten cake ala mode. Prime rib and chocolate. Can life be better?

After dinner we went shopping. The baby is due in about 3 weeks and during that time we have 2 birthdays - Jesica is turning 13 next weekend and Josiah turns 8 on the 17th. We were able to find almost everything for Jesica and a few things for Josiah. It feels good to have that almost finished and not hanging over our heads. Next year at this time we will have 3 to shop for. :)

I just love going out with my Beloved. Especially on snowy nights when he is so protective of me not slipping on the snow/ice. I feel so loved and cared for. He also held my hand through all the painful Braxton Hicks contractions that I had from all the walking. I feel so blessed.

"Yes Sir!"

Daniel and I have been working on teaching Mathias to say "Yes Sir" and "Yes Ma'am". He's getting really good at answering, but for some reason can't remember the "Yes Ma'am". So all day I have been hearing "Yes Sir". Looks like we have some more work to do...

Our weekend and week 36 update

Saturday morning we got on the road nice and early to begin our house hunting adventure. We were to meet the realtor, Mary Ann, at 10 am in Congerville at the first house. This was the first time we had met or spoken to Mary Ann and she is such a delightful person. She has been working very hard to find us just the perfect home. Unfortunately the houses we looked at Saturday were disappointing. On the Internet a couple of them looked at though they might work. Not the case.

Wearily we went to check in to the hotel, only to find out that the pool wasn't open yet. However.....they did have a deal with the local fitness club. So we changed and drove over to the club. We were not disappointed here! They had a pool for the older ones to practice their diving and a smaller pool, with a small water park, where I was able to watch over the little ones without them hanging all over me. The water in this pool also felt like a nice bath, so baby and I were very comfortable. Back at the hotel we feasted on pizza and relaxed.

Sunday we worshipped with the members of Providence Church. This will be the church we will join once our move is complete. We enjoyed a nice fellowship meal and time of catechism training. The older girls also were able to learn parts of the Virginia Reel. They really have enjoyed that! Now they just need to convince Justin to learn it with them!

Monday brought another day of looking through listings and walking through houses. One of the houses we have had our eye on for quite a while. We were very disappointed, but glad that we we saw it. The other house was very nice and is our short list for now. We are going to keep looking, but this may be the one. God knows for sure and we are trusting Him to be our guide.

Today I had my 36 week check up. 1 more week and I will be cleared for homebirth. Once I hit 37 weeks I can deliver her here at home. If I were to go into labor before then, we would need to go to the hospital. Everything is going well. Just the usual complaints of swelling and not sleeping. The receptionist says that I am moving slower than normal, so she thinks the time is coming soon. That is music to my ears. Our biggest concern now is that Daniel will be working in Bloomington when I go into labor. We will trust in the Lord to plan that all out.

So, things are moving along. We have started decluttering and depersonalizing the house. We don't know when the move will take place, but we'll be ready when it does.

The Stick-Together Families
Edgar Guest

The stick-together families are happier by far
Than the brothers and the sisters who take

separate highways are.
The gladdest people living are the

wholesome folks who make
A circle at the fireside that no power

but death can break.
And the finest of conventions

ever held beneath the sun
Are the little family gatherings

when the busy day is done.

There are rich folk, there are poor folk,

who imagine they are wise,
And they're very quick to shatter

all the little family ties.
Each goes searching after pleasure

in his own selected way,
Each with strangers likes to wander,

and with strangers likes to play.
But it's bitterness they harvest,

and it's empty joy they find,
For the children that are wisest

are the stick-together kind.

There are some who seem to fancy

that for gladness they must roam,
That for smiles that are the brightest

they must wander far from home.
That the strange friend is the true friend,

and they travel far astray
And they waste their lives in striving

for a joy that's far away,
But the gladdest sort of people,

when the busy day is done,
Are the brothers and the sisters

who together share their fun.

It's the stick-together family

that wins the joys of earth,
That hears the sweetest music

and that finds the finest mirth;
It's the old home roof that shelters

all the charm that life can give;
There you find the gladdest play-ground,

there the happiest spot to live.
And, O weary, wandering brother,

if contentment you would win,
Come you back unto the fireside

and be comrade with your kin.

From "Just Folks", The Reilly & Lee Co., (c) 1917

Vision Forum Affiliate

Over the years we have enjoyed the ministry and products of Vision Forum. We have been blessed by them so much that we have become a Vision Forum Affiliate. This means that if you go to the very bottom of our blog and click on the Vision Forum banner, you will be taken to Vision Forum. If you make a purchase at that time, we will earn a small commission.

Also, on the side bar is another banner for passionate Housewives. This will also take you to Vision Forum. Mrs Stacy McDonald and Mrs Jennie Chancy have written an excellent book for the average housewife. Here is a description of the book:

"Have you struggled to reconcile God’s vision of virtuous womanhood with worldly myths that marginalize and mock the role of the homemaker? Do you wrestle with cultural messages that demean the homemaker’s calling and exalt instead the emotionally androgynous power-woman—the wife whose worth is measured only by the degree of her ambition, the shape of her body, or her money-making skills? Such is the image of the “desperate housewife” that the modern media, portrays."

We appreciate your support of Vision Forum and our family.

Pregnancy update and home births

Yesterday was our week 34 check up. Cara and Mathias went with and enjoyed meeting the Dr and hearing our baby's heartbeat. They were both surprised that it made a whooshing sound instead of a thumping sound. The heart rate was alot faster than Cara thought - around 150 beats a minute.

Overall the appointment went well. I gained only 1 pound, which was shocking! I was very pleased though. I have gained the least amount of weight with this baby, only 26 pounds so far. The swelling in my legs and ankles is still an issue. Thankfully my blood pressure isn't. So now I need to up my water and protein intake along with making sure that I salt my food enough - but not too much.

My 3 hour glucose results officially came back. According to the scale the lab uses, I failed the test for hours 2 and 3. Using the scale that Home First uses, I only failed hour 2. A person needs to fail 2 of the 3 hours to be considered diabetic. So according to my Dr's scale I only failed 1 hour. So I will not need to be on a special diet. He did say I need to be careful with my sugar intake just to be on the safe side. That usually isn't a big problem - chocolate is my only weakness.

Things here at home are pretty much ready for the baby. The clothes are hanging in the closet, car seat is ready, most of the birthing supplies are ready or ordered, the diapers are in the drawer...We are using cloth diapers with this baby. Do you realize that parents spend a minimum of $3000 per child on disposables that just end up in a landfill?

Many people have been curious about a home birth, and rightly so. Just like people assume you have to send your children to a brick and mortar school to be educated, people also believe that babies have to be born at hospitals. Since i haven't yet experienced a home birth, I can only tell you what I have learned from other and from our Dr. We happen to be having a Dr from HomeFirst attending our birth. Midwives are usually more common. Each state though has it's own rules on how midwives can practice. HomeFirst provides us with a box that has all the usual supplies needed during birth. They also arrive in a vehicle fully stocked with other supplies. So if there is an emergency, they are prepared. I did have to order/provide some of my own supplies such as towels and other items usually found in the home.

Several people have asked about the mess. When the water breaks there is a lot of it. There also is a lot of blood. The recommendation is to make the bed with normal sheets and then put a plastic barrier such as a plastic backed sheet or shower curtain on the bed and then make the bed with older sheets. Plastic backed tablecloths or similar material are good for covering the floor.

The question asked the most is about pain relief. No epidurals, no IVs or IV drugs. Home births are medication free. That sounds very painful doesn't it. From the women I have spoken to,who have done both hospital and home births, home births are less painful. Not painless, but less painful. This results in no need to have the pain medication. Being at home allows you to relax in you own surroundings, get up and walk around when you want, shower or have a water birth, and basically manage your own laboring. Recovery is also much easier and can be quicker. No nurses taking you baby in and out of the room or waking you up and ungodly hours of the night to take your blood pressure and sleeping in your own bed with your own surroundings, pampered by family. Bonding with the baby also is quicker.

So that is what i have learned about home births so far. I am very excited to be having this baby at home. We all are! Lord willing we will have any future babies at home also.

Chopsticks

Anticipation of what's to come in 2008

2007 is now gone and we are 2 days into 2008. The past year was one of the most difficult our family has experienced. Despite all the trials we faced, we look forward in anticipation to what our great God has in store for us in the coming year.

After the difficulties of the past year, we are praying for a "calmer" year. With the events that we have planned, I'm not sure that is going to happen. We pray that God's hand will be on everything we do and that He will guide us through whatever may come.

We don't know God's exact timing in some of these events, but these are a few of the things we are looking forward to in 2008:

• In August, Daniel and I will celebrate 17 years of marriage (I love you, dear!)
• Our children will turn, 15, 13, 12, 8, 7, and 4. Daniel and I will also turn a year older, but we aren't going to share our ages!
• February will bring the birth of our fourth daughter. Plus we look forward to our first home birth.
• At some point early this year (all in God's timing), we anticipate Daniel starting a new job, a move to the Peoria area, making new friends, joining a new church and finding a new home school group to possibly be involved in.
• Continued spiritual growth

Proverbs 16:1, 9 "The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD...
A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."

Here are some prayer requests for the coming year:

• Safe delivery and a healthy baby.
• Wisdom and discernment in regards to Daniel's new job and our move and that the transition would go smoothly.
• Daniel would be encouraged and supported in his role as the head of our family.
• Sheri would also be encouraged and supported in her role as helpmate to Daniel.
• As parents, we would make biblical decisions in regard to the training and raising of our children. Also that we would keep the hearts of our children turned to our family.
• Our children would continue to grow spiritually and in godly character.
• As a family we would be a light to those around us.
• Sheri's health would not be an issue and that the whole family would remain free from colds and other illnesses.
• The education of our children would continue to be God centered and that we won't feel the pressure of comparing them to other families.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love
Another year of training for holier work above
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

Words: Fran­ces R. Hav­er­gal, 1874. She wrote these words as a po­em for her New Year’s greet­ing cards. The hymn was sub­se­quent­ly in­clud­ed in her Un­der the Sur­face, 1874, and Life Chords, 1880.

Music: Aurelia, Sam­u­el S. Wes­ley, in a Se­lect­ion of Psalms and Hymns, by C. Kem­ble, 1864 (MI­DI, score).

The Closing of 2007

Yesterday we received a newsletter from Vision Forum that really inspired Daniel and I. The whole newsletter can be read here.

In the newsletter, Doug Philips challenges families to do 3 important things before the end of the year:

· Outline and Chronicle the Many Providences of God
· Say ‘Thank You’ to Those Who Have Invested in Your Life
· Forgive Those Who Have Wronged You

In the first part, Doug calls us to chronicle the past year. He gives a list of 20 questions for the family to answer and record in a journal, so that future generations can see the hand of God working in your family:

· Where did I/we travel?
· What were the titles and key texts of sermons I preached?
· What books/articles did I write?
· What significant household projects did we accomplish in 2007?
· What were the most important meetings of the year?
· What special friendships were made this year?
· Which children lost teeth, and how many?
· Who grew in physical stature, and how much did they grow?
· Who learned to read this year?
· What diet and physical exercise regimen did I maintain to honor “my temple”?
· What books did I read? Did we read as a family? Did my children read?
· What Scriptures did my family memorize?
· What loved ones died this year?
· What were the great personal/ministry/national tragedies and losses of the year?
· What were the great personal/ministry/national blessings of the year?
· What were my most significant failures/sins for the year 2007?
· What unresolved conflicts/issues am I bringing into 2008?
· What significant spiritual and practical victories did I experience?
· In what tangible ways did I communicate gratitude to those who have blessed me and invested in my life?
· What are the top ten themes of 2007 for my family?

The second thing he challenges families to do is to say “thank you” to those who have invested in your life. Sometimes this can be very difficult for people to do. It exposes our inner feelings and can make us very vulnerable. However, I do believe that this part will be a blessing to everyone. It will also show to the children that we, as parents, are also grateful. A powerful lesson for our children to learn.

[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. (Eph. 1:16)

The third thing we are challenged to do is to make a list of those whom you have offended and those whom have offended you. Pray through that list and seek forgiveness. This is probably the hardest one of all. It is hard to admit that we have wronged others. We don’t like to look that deeply into ourselves. It’s easy though to think of all the things people have done against us. But…can you forgive these wrong doings? Here is a excerpt from the newsletter:

“Before 2008 begins, adopt a spirit of forgiveness towards your insensitive friends as well as your hateful enemies. Forgive your imperfect father for whatever it is you need to forgive him for (and pray to the Lord that your own children someday forgive you for your failures). Quit devoting untold precious hours to commiseration, mental replay of the wrongs done, and thoughts about just how badly you were wronged. Stop blaming everybody but you for your problems. Look to yourself. Once you start chronicling your own sinful attitudes and crimes against God and man, you simply won’t have time to worry about the wrongs done to you. You will stop being bitter, and you will start being thankful.”

May each of you have a blessed New Year

32 week checkup

Today I went for my 32 week checkup. For the most part everything is going well. Our dear daughter is head down and will hopefully stay that way for the next 8 or so weeks. She is growing well and kicking alot. If you haven't voted on her statistics, please take some time to do so! We enjoy watching the numbers change!

The dr was able to give me some digestive enzymes that will hopefully combat the nausea I feel, expecially after eating. This should also help me get rid of the general "not feeling well" that I have been experiencing.

My 3 hour glucose test came back with good numbers. I am thankful that I do not have to worry about this. Hopefully failing the 1 hour won't become routine with future children the Lord may bless us with.

My blood pressure was back up to the normal range today. However, the swelling in my legs is not any better. So I need to keep drinking plenty of water and putting my feet up whenever I can. That will be easier said than done in this household, but it will give my a reason to take a few breaks throughout the day.

The end is coming near! I now have visits every 2 weeks instead of every 4! After a couple more visits we will be down to weekly visits. Then the end will be very close! We are all looking forward with great anticipation to the day when we get to hold her in our arms.

“The Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols”

On Christmas Eve we usually attend a candle light service. This year we decided to do things a bit different. We stayed home and went through "The Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols" as a family. The Children that are able to read took turns reading the scripture. Daniel then closed in prayer.

To make it more memorable for the younger children (those who can't read yet), we did some substituting on the carols, and sang the ones the children knew the first verse of by memory.

"The Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols"

First Lesson: Genesis 3:1-15
The Fall of Man, and the First Promise of the Gospel
Hymn - "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

Second Lesson: Genesis 22:15-18
God's Promises Concerning the Seed of Abraham
Hymn - "Of the Father's Love Begotten"

Third Lesson: Isaiah 7:10-14; 9:2, 6-7
Christ's Birth and Kingdom are Foretold
Hymn - "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Fourth Lesson: Micah 5:2-5
The Glory of Little Bethlehem
Hymn - O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:26-38, 46-56
The Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary
Hymn - "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent"

Sixth Lesson: Matt 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7
The Birth of Jesus
Hymn - "What Child Is This?"

Seventh Lesson: Luke 2:8-16
The Shepherds Told the Joyous News
Hymn - "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks"

Eighth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-11
The Wise Men Are Led by the Star to Jesus
Hymn – "Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates!"

Ninth Lesson: John 1:1-14
The Great Mystery of the Incarnation
Hymn - "O Come All Ye Faithful"

Sweet Fellowship and Last Minute Hospitality

HOSPITALITY, The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.

FELLOWSHIP, Companionship; society; consort; mutual association of persons on equal and friendly terms; familiar intercourse.

Last night we had the blessing of hosting the Crawford family in our home. I know Trish only in the Internet world. We both belong to a Yahoo group called "Patriarch's Wives". This isn't the first family we've met from this group. Every time we have met a "PW" family, we have been so blessed. Last night was no exception.

The Crawford's are traveling from CO to NY to be with family over the holidays. Trish and I had communicated through email about having them possibly stay a night with us. Their plans didn't go exactly as planned. Something about snow and rain! Anyways, they ended up calling us around 8:30 last night looking for a place to stop for the night. We were celebrating Christmas with Daniel's family, so we weren't home when they called. Thankfully they still had a bit of driving before they came to our place. So we were able to return their call and let them know our door was open for them.

They pulled in at about 11pm. Remember, we had never met in real life. However, it felt as though we were welcoming old friends into our home. It was such a blessing to our family to have them (and Rosie and Kokoi, their dog and fish) here and have time (albeit short) to fellowship with them.

So many people these days are so afraid to have people into their homes let alone host them overnight. They think the meal had to be perfect and the house spotless. Or they think that their house is too small or the family seeking hospitality to large! However, that is not true. We have been hosted in homes where the meal was simple and the accommodations small. But the fellowship was oh so sweet. That is what will be remembered.

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love,
in honor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality." ~ Romans 12:10-13

For more articles and audio recordings on hospitality, click here.

Mary, a Spirit-Filled Woman

When an angel visited Mary and told her she would carry God's Son, she responded, "How can this be?" God had chosen her for a task that was humanly impossible.

Do you ever feel that way? I know I often feel totally inadequate for the things God has called me to do. That's why I love the angel's response to Mary. He said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:35).

That's the power we need. You can't raise that child, love that husband, care for that elderly parent, submit to that boss, or lead that Bible study apart from the power of God's Spirit working through you.

Have you been called to do something and you just don't know how to pull it off? When we're willing to acknowledge our weakness, get out of the way, and let God take over, our lives will be overshadowed with the power of the Most High.

This devotional and others like it can be found at Seeking Him with Nancy Leigh DeMoss

John 3:16

I took down the story that was here. if you would like to read about "The Christmas Truce" click here.

John 3:16
I don't understand it, but In the city of Chicago, one cold, dark night, a blizzard was setting in. A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner; the people were in and out of the cold.

The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers. He walked up to a policeman and said, "Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there, of a night. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16 and they will let you in."

Then he did; he walked up the steps to the door, and knocked on the door and a lady answered.

He looked up and said, "John 3:16."

The lady said "Come on in, Son." She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace and she went off.

He sat there for awhile, and thought to himself "John 3:16. I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm."

Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?"

He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days and I guess I could stand a little bit of food." The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat anymore. Then he thought to himself "John 3:16 ... Boy, I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy full."

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water and he sat there and soaked for awhile. As he soaked, he thought to himself, "John 3:16 ... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out."

The lady came in and got him, and took him to a room and tucked him into a big old feather bed and pulled the covers up around his neck and kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he laid in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night he thought to himself, "John 3:16 ... I don't understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy rested."

The next morning she came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fire place. She took a big old Bible and sat down in front of him and she looked up at and she asked, "Do you understand John 3:16?"

He said, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it." She opened the Bible to John 3:16, and she began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there in front of that big old fireplace he gave his heart and life to Jesus.
He sat there and thought, "John 3:16. I don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe."

You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God would be willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand it either, but it sure does make life worth living. ~Author Unknown

John 3:16 - 18 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned:

but he that believeth not is condemned already,

because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."