Missing puzzle pieces

Our lives have been like a puzzle that was dropped on the floor and some of the pieces were missing. We still had the top of the box so could see that the end result would be beautiful but those missing pieces were a mystery. Now that some of those pieces have been recovered I wanted to share what has been going on in the past few months.

In March, Mike was approached by a pastor in Jacksonville, FL to consider a position to be the senior high and college pastor at his church. He ended his email saying not to laugh but that he was serious. Of course we both laughed and didn't think too much about it. But then next thing I knew, Mike was spiffing up his resume and talking about doing a phone interview! What????

Praise God for a prepared heart. I had a feeling that change was in the air. Mind you I thought that change would be in Columbia, SC since we had just bought a house and there are plenty of opportunities to minister in SC.

Mike went through the interview process and was being highly considered. We made a couple trips to  the church to check it out. We have been familiar with this church for a long time and Mike has taught there several times since he went to CIU with the pastor and middle school pastor. During one of the sessions where Mike was teaching, several years ago, I remember thinking how I would want our kids to be a part of a church like this.

God answered that desire of my heart because now our kids are growing up in this church! Christian Family Chapel. Mike was hired and started June 16th to be the senior high and college pastor. What???? Someone introduced Mike as the youth pastor a few weeks ago and I did a double take because it is just so crazy and that means that I am a youth pastor's wife! Wow! God sure has a sense of humor!

Changes Ahead

It may seem strange but I am still shocked when I look in the mirror and see that I am pregnant. We waited for a long time to have another baby and during that time it was hard to see other people pregnant. Then when we were pursuing adoption I was able to remind myself that it is okay to not be pregnant because I would soon have a baby in my arms. In fact I was kind of liking the idea of someone else going through the pregnancy and labor part and just having a baby to bring home. God has His purposes and plans!

Mike and I have been talking a lot about the big change that Anna Elizabeth will make in our family. We have been a threesome for almost 5 years and this is what we are used to. We had Luke a little over a year into marriage so we were still getting used to each other by the time he came. I am so thankful for the 9 months of pregnancy to think through things like this. It would have been much more shocking to have someone hand us a baby and then realize how life was turned upside down.

In the end, we are really looking forward to these changes and can't wait to meet our Anna Elizabeth!!!

What About Adoption?

Often I am thinking about what to write on our blog. This morning I realized how often I think about it and then don't act on it because it has been well over a month since I last wrote.

So what about adoption?

As of today we have put our file at Lifetime Adoption on hold. Our home study expired this week so it seemed a logical time do this. Will we ever open the file again? That is a question for the future when life with Anna Elizabeth settles down into some kind of normal. We will then seek God's wisdom and direction with what will be best for our family.

The adoption is already paid for and non-refundable but I definitely don't want that to be a deciding factor. Thankfully God knows all our needs and will take care of us regardless of how much money has come and gone. It is so comforting knowing that God is in control of it all!

As of today I am 35 weeks pregnant. At 20 weeks my doctor's office had me schedule the rest of my appointments and it seemed like May 9th was so far in the future. Now May is right around the corner! All is going well so far.

Today my Dad would have been 71. Wish he was here for this!

Thanks for your prayers for us through this journey of life.

Hard to Believe!

It is hard to believe that in about 12 weeks we will, Lord willing, have Anna Elizabeth in our arms. I remember when we were waiting for the first 12 weeks to be finished so that the morning sickness would end. Now there are 12 weeks left before she will arrive!

We live our lives in semesters and this spring semester always goes by very quickly. Part of the reason for this is that Mike and this year's team interview students for next year's team. It is a long process because Mike really values the opinions of his students and wants them to be involved in the decision making.

In the midst of interviewing students, Mike is needing to find a new administrative assistant. His latest Admin got a different job on campus. Looking for an Admin seems to be a recurring theme in Mike's life so please pray he can find one that will be a great fit and will be able to stay for a while!

Anna Elizabeth is due before the end of the semester so I know May 9th will be here before we know it because of all that is going on.

Our days our numbered

2013 ended with a funeral and 2014 will begin with a funeral. In between I have had the worst cold I have had in my life and now it looks like Luke is getting it too. Our Christmas break sure didn't turn out the way we had planned!

My Aunt passed away in Ontario December 20th. My Mom and I headed up there last Friday and returned on Monday. We had a wonderful time with family and were able to help my uncle start cleaning out his basement. Her memorial service was so personal and special. She taught kindergarten for more than 30 years in the same town and some of her students were in attendance. 10 people had prepared short stories to share with us and they covered a large gamut of her life full of love, encouragement and fun. It was only really cold the last day we were there, so one afternoon we were able to go out for a walk in the snow. It was so beautiful, nice to visit but I was very happy to come home to SC!

December 24th I got a message that my 99 year old grandmother was not doing too well. Mom and my family decided to go for our Christmas visit a couple days early. Grammy was worse than we had ever seen her. She responded a little bit to us so we aren't sure if she knew who we were. She was unable to talk because her lungs were so filled up. Mike asked if there was anything she needed and he could understand her whispered answer, "Heaven". She did attempt a smile when Luke gave her a kiss and said he loved her so perhaps she did know who we were. She got her heart's desire and went home to heaven on Christmas day. Her memorial service is tomorrow at 10:30. If you would like to attend it is at 2nd Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC or you can stay where you are and watch online: www.spcgreenville.org.

Please pray that Luke and I will wake up feeling better so we will be able to attend the service. I have been in bed most of the past few days and simple tasks are wearing me out. I have an amazing husband who watched Luke for four days while I was in Canada and then had to continue once I came back since I was down and out! I am blessed!

We are so thankful that God is in control of all our days and are continuing to rejoice despite the circumstances.

Good news

Last night we received a call telling us that Anna Elizabeth tested negative for Down's Syndrome. We are very thankful and praising God. We had peace knowing that God was in control and whatever the outcome we would praise Him.

This week we have been talking about patience using the story of Joseph being patient in prison. Luke drew a picture of Joseph being patient and then one of himself being patient waiting for Anna Elizabeth. So sweet!

Thanks for praying with us through this!

It's a….

GIRL!

Introducing Anna Elizabeth! We are still getting used to the idea of having a girl. Mike and I were thinking that we already know what to do with a boy so were leaning that way. Luke wanted a brother but is very happy to have a little sister on the way.

Her name is a combination of our mother's names. We don't know what we will call her yet because there are so many options with those two names. She may come out a southern bell and we will call her by her full name or she may be Lizzy or Beth or Annie or...

We were scheduled for an ultrasound on the 16th to find out how the baby was doing. We ended up with an early ultrasound at a specialist because we got a shocking call saying that she may have Down's Syndrome and we had an appointment the next day for genetic counseling. Not the kind of call you want to have! The bright spot was that I realized we would find out if we were having a boy or a girl early!

Our ultrasound came out clear for down syndrome which is 50% correct. We took another blood test which is 99% accurate and will find out the results next week. It turns out that the blood work we had in the regular doctor's office always comes out positive when you plug my age into the equation. Had we known that we would not have gone through with the blood test and waited to discover anything at her birth.

In the end we are thankful for our little girl and are glad that she is growing well. Thanks so much for your prayers through this adventure God has us on!