Ten Weeks and Ten Months

How did I forget to post a 10 month photo? We'll blame it on hormones.

Jonathan just keeps getting sweeter with every passing day.

I love watching his personality develop...

like the little tilt of his head when I tell him "no touch."

Or the smiles he flashes when he sees the camera.

And... we're already hitting the ten week mark. There's something special about that first trimester. Here's what's happening with the baby.

• About the size of a prune,
• Has small indentations on its legs that will become knees!
• Tiny little arms with elbows that bend....
• Tiny buds of baby teeth have formed and
• Its stomach and kidneys are starting to function.

Week Number Nine

I just love to read about what is happening in a baby's development all through pregnancy. And to think .... some people refuse to believe it's a person... "just a embryo"! So if you're like me here's what's happening this week:

1. The baby is nearly an inch long -- about the size of a grape -- and weighs just a fraction of an ounce.
2. The essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months.
3. Our baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form -- as do tiny teeth! (Teeth? Wow!)
4. The baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear.

A Heritage Unto the Lord

I put off opening my eyes and sitting up this morning.... knowing that the "morning sickness" was waiting to welcome me to a new day. While I stayed curled up in my nice warm bed, my mind still can hardly believe that we really are going to have another child in our home. This morning sickness stuff is a blessing in a sense- letting me know that my body is doing just what it was created to do for the little life being formed.

For You formed {controlled or possessed, held as a possession} my inward parts; You wove { covered, guarded, incubated or hid} me in my mother's womb. Psalm 139: 13

Maybe it's because Eddie and I just celebrated our 18th anniversary. But I remember so well when we were first married and I did not want children! What happened? Eddie started praying. One morning at the breakfast table he ask me one of his probing questions: if I thought we might be missing one of God's blessings for us by choosing not to have children. Nope! I thought I loved charts and file folders more than I could a kid! But then we agreed to pray about it. Our prayer became, "Do you want us to have children?"

I will never forget a weekend that we spent praying and fasting. By Monday morning, we both had heard the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts. It was simple. God ask, "What does MY word say about children?" Children are a heritage {a blessing or gift} of the Lord. "Do you want my blessing, or not?" It was only eight weeks later we learned that God was creating Isaac. And how could I love anyone more than I love that guy? I can't image life without him. To think I almost chose not to have children! My friend Ms. Susan told me not long ago that yes- man can prevent children. However, God is the Giver of Life. Even with all the wonderful scientific and medical discovers, life is a gift from our Creator!
During the next ten year- yep, ten years- we have continued to trust the Giver of Life. Isaac and I have wondered- How many arrows does it take to fill a quiver?

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them {children}:

they shall not be ashamed.... Psalm 27:5

Isaac longed to be a big brother- but we had all settled in our minds and hearts that for whatever reason, God knew better than we ... and maybe it was best that our family be a family of three. But Isaac is a wonderful brother to our sweet little gift: Jonathan. As a matter of fact, wonderful doesn't seem an ample description. I couldn't help but wonder how a 10 year old only child would handle suddenly sharing his entire world. "As for God, his way is perfect..." 2 Samuel 22:31

That's why just ten months- yep, ten months- into our journey, we continue to trust the Giver of Life. Every day, I hear negative remarks about having children that are close in age. I'm certain it is tiring and difficult. But my Father (who is the Giver of Life, by the way) loves me... enough that He sent His only Son to die in my place. He doesn't play dirty tricks on me or give me mean gifts. Every Word He has promised me is true... and I have found Him to be Faithful. So, I choose. I choose to trust the Giver of Life to once again be Faithful to this growing family.

Every Word He's Promised Is True

What I Thought Was Impossible I've Seen My God Do

He's Been Faithful
Faithful To Me
Looking Back His Love And Mercy I See

Though In My Heart I Have Questioned

Even Failed To Believe

He's Been Faithful, Faithful To Me
When My Heart Looked Away
The Many Times I Could Not Pray

Still My God Was Faithful To Me

The Days I Spent So Selfishly

Reaching Out For What Pleased Me

Even Then My God Was Faithful To Me

Every Time I Come Back To Him

He Is Waiting With Open Arms

And I See Once Again

He's Been Faithful, Faithful To Me

Looking Back His Love And Mercy I See

Though In My Heart I Have Questioned

Even Failed To Believe

Yet He's Been Faithful, Faithful To Me

Lonesome

I sure am missing Papaw. I keep wanting to pick up the phone and call the number that I think I had memorized before I knew how to count! But he's not there.

I want to tell him about the new little one that is on the way. And how Jonathan loves to eat spinach and blueberries. I want to talk about tilling the garden whenever the ground dries out and what I'm planning to plant. I want him to hear Isaac's new song on the guitar. There's so much I want to talk about. So much has happened since he went away last month. Has it really only been a month?

I had never heard the song that Papaw Monk chose for his funeral. But now it is "music to my ears." Because I know one day I will spend eternity with my Savior Jesus.... and my Papaw.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved,

we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens!

2 Corinthians 5:1

Big Brothers

As small as our little guy is....

It looks like

He's going to be joining Isaac

in the ranks of

Big Brother later this year!

Resemblances

See any resemblances?

Look what we found in the snow....

There are still greens growing in my winter garden! I just knew the cold snowy weather had gotten the last of them. Guess what's for supper....

Happy Groundhog's Day

Phil's official forecast as read February 2nd, 2010 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob:

Hear Ye Hear Ye Hear Ye
On Gobbler's Knob on this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2010, Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators awoke to the call of President Bill Deeley and greeted his handlers, John Griffiths and Ben Hughes.
After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers, Phil proclaimed, "If you want to know next, you must read my text. As the sky shines bright above me, my shadow I see beside me. So six more weeks of winter it will be."

Does anyone remember what Phil said the weather would be like on February 2, 1979?
I do remember what happened to me on that particular Groundhog's Day.

I had gone to visit my friend Robin Harris. Her mother and I were sitting in Robin's room when Ms. Anne began to ask me some very probing questions. At 1:40 that afternoon, I realized I was a sinner and in need of a Savior.

It was some time later that I was ready to be baptized in obedience to scripture. And even several years later before I allowed Jesus to become Lord of my life and be in control of it. After my sweet Granny Ann left this world, I came to understand that I was "saved" but not spirit-controlled like the life I had seen my godly grandmother live.

Today, I can't image... nor would I ever want to.... what life would be like without a relationship with Jesus Christ. My walk with the Lord has not been about a list of do's and don't or religion. Instead, I am loved and cared for by the God of the Universe. He gives me peace, a purpose, joy, security, and the desires of my heart! Who could ask for more?