Alive and well and in love...

11-09

Been a while, but we've been having fun keeping ourselves busy with the farm, going to the fair to our first goat show http://weloveyoujoel.blogspot.com/2009/09/dairy-show-wrapped-up.html, our new emus, new fencing, a semi-secret trip to Arkansas with the Barnes, looking at land with friends, avoiding public crowds to avoid any sickness, midwife visits, cutting and stacking wood for the winter, and getting ready for little "Mavie's" arrival!

I say "little" but (s)he doesn't feel so small anymore! :) We have so much fun (99.9% of the time) feeling the kicks and watching the little feet roll around and seeing what sticks up when we lie down. For a while, I had quite a hard time concentrating on someone teaching because it was so awesome and distracting to feel and watch our baby move! Staying in one spot for a long time listening didn't help me focus either, but I prayed about it and the Lord's helped me be able to concentrate much much better now! The baby starts moving around particularly when it's been quiet for a while and David starts talking or if David has been outside and then comes back in and starts talking! :) Maybe some of it's just in my head because I like to hear him talk so I think oue baby does too! <3

Someone asked if we had our baby registry on our blog, and we didn't, but now here it is: http://www.myregistry.com/Visitors/Welcome.aspx?sid=dada5acf-a394-44b6-a0a7-af9d1d8b0cb0. If that link doesn't take you straight to it than go to: http://www.myregistry.com/ and type one of our names in the boxes on the left side of the screen.

My David is such a wonderful husband!!! I AM IMMEASURABLY BLESSED!!!!! He is so patient when I am slow, understanding when I am tired or frustrated, thoughtful to remember everything I forget, selfless to work hard, mindful of the baby's and my wellbeing, thorough and tireless when rubbing my back, loving to stop and hold me for a while in the middle of our rush to get out the door, good to encourage me in righteousness and love, amazing to always be here, wonderful to be my bridegroom, perfect to be my man! I love being with him every single second that I can! We are so thankful to God Almighty for bringing us together 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days ago (when we met), for binding us together 2 years, 6 months, and 6 days ago (betrothed), and for blessing our lives with the bliss of each other's daily presence for the past 1 year, 1 month, and 6 days! "Praise GOD from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!"

We'll put a recent belly picture on this post soon, but not right now! ;) I guess we're around 36 weeks, and "around 36 weeks" means we're in the 9th month and in the 3rd trimester. Full term is considered 40 weeks, but the midwife said that when guessing a date you can easily be up to two weeks off. So, the baby will come in it's Creator's perfect timing!

If you think of it you might pray for us to have wisdom and creativity in narrowing down a few names! We're not following any pattern or category in our naming so that's left the options a wee bit broad! We want to choose well, cause the kid's stuck with it for life, and we want to choose a name that has a good meaning and purpose to it, something to be an encouragement or inspiration.

Here's a pic from September.

At a later time we'll post a few picture of the emus, our jaunt up to Arkansas, the wood pile, etc. so be sure to check back if you're interested!

Psalm 139:11-18

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.

For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise Thee; foe I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in Thy book all my members (days) were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake I am

still

with Thee.

This was taken almost exactly one year ago!