White-Knuckled Faith

Jonny’s orders did get renewed! We are very thankful to hear this even though we know it does mean a deployment in the spring. This news takes off the immediate financial pressure and we are very thankful for that. I have dear friends who have been without income for more than a year, and they are just living each day totally relying on God’s provision. I am small of faith because I feel like I’ve just had about enough of situations that cause me to cling to Christ. Doesn’t that sound terrible? Wanting ease and control over just clinging to Christ? But I am so there right now.

My pastor at my home church in Florida used to say faith was not abstract, but literally picturing Christ holding us in His hands, with us hanging on to Him with white knuckles from grasping so tightly! My knuckles hurt tonight. But there is hope and peace in our hearts.

The doctors did stop Jennifer’s contractions. I should be relieved. But I am terribly disappointed. I so thought that by this time I’d be just hours away from seeing her and maybe holding her. But God’s timing says, no, not yet. My heart says, how long, Lord?

Need More Prayers

As it turns out, we do need your prayers for Jennifer and Elizabeth. We got a call 2 hours ago saying Jennifer was being wheeled into surgery for Elizabeth to be delivered by c-section. We were told to head to Tampa! Within the next 30 minutes we got another call saying the doctors are doing all they can to stop labor, and we should pack our bags, but hold off from coming down. (Our bags have been pretty much packed for the last month). Jennifer is 4 cm dilated and contracting. The doctors would love for Elizabeth not to come for as long as possible. She is 34 ½ weeks. So, we are on a holding pattern, pretty disappointed I must say. Of course we want what is absolutely best for Elizabeth, but to be told we’d be seeing her within a few hours and now we aren’t is kind of hard. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, for peace for Jennifer, and for protection for Elizabeth. Our agency says not to come down just yet, so we are waiting. Just for the record, WAITING STINKS.

Need Your Prayers

It is time to pray again! This time, not so much for Elizabeth, although by all means keep praying for her and Jennifer. We have not heard anything since the weekend. No news is always good news! This prayer request is for Jonny’s employment. He has been on full time orders with the Georgia National Guard since January. This has been a huge blessing and has allowed him to concentrate on finishing seminary. Due to some issues with the allocation of funds in his battalion, his orders expired September 15 and so far have not been re-issued. So, we are currently without salary and expecting a baby any day. Jonny is trying to get in touch with his commander to ask him if we can expect new orders. If his commander can’t totally assure us of new orders, he will have to start looking for employment elsewhere. This means school will stop for now and he will miss the deployment in May to Afghanistan. The commander really wants Jonny to stay on track with school and deploy with this battalion, but he does not control the financial situation and allocation of funds.

Please pray for God to move on our behalf and provide the funds for Jonny to receive new orders. Please also pray for clarity about pursuing other employment. And prayers for our peace of mind at this time are also greatly appreciated!

Beside Still Waters

Yesterday after Jonathan’s nap, we went for a walk in our neighborhood. We stopped by a neighbor’s house to chat and he shared how he was taking his 3 girls for a hike in the woods just down the street from us. We joined them and after a 10 minute walk, we found ourselves staring at a tranquil view of Lake Allatoona. All this just minutes from our house! We’ve been here over 3 years and have never been hiking to the lake. We sat around a fire and roasted marshmallows. Jonathan had a blast running by the water. Our souls felt so refreshed. We can’t wait to make the hike again.

After dinner, we got a call from our social worker. Jennifer began having contractions on Thursday so she was taken to the hospital. She is 3½ cm dilated. Once she reaches 4 cm, the doctors won’t be able to keep her labor from progressing. Once her contractions subsided, they sent her back home where she is to remain on bed rest. Hopefully, she will not dilate any further for just a few more weeks. I am back to keeping my cell phone with me at all times just in case! Please pray for Jennifer’s water not to break and for God to work out all the details of when she goes into labor and to help us to be there when she does.

We’ve had gorgeous weather all week. Yesterday we were outside for most of the day. Thanks to my father in law and Delta sky miles, I have a new camera! I am having all kinds of fun playing with it. I am very amateur at this, but I am having a blast taking pictures of Jonathan. I just wanted to share a few of my favorites so far.

Monday Update

Jennifer’s appointment went very well today. Elizabeth now weighs 5 pounds, 4 ounces! Her heart rate is still elevated, so they did a stress test, and she passed it with no problem. Jennifer also had another sonogram, so we will have more pictures of Elizabeth forthcoming! Everything looks perfect with Elizabeth. Jennifer is in good spirits. She is still only 2 centimeters dilated. The doctors are now thinking this is going to be a full term pregnancy! What a huge answer to all our prayers! Jennifer will be checked now every Monday until she delivers.

On the home front, Jonathan had spaghetti for dinner, which made him happy. He is getting ready to have a bath with daddy in the second picture.

Other than Tuesday’s events, we enjoyed a quiet, although full, week! The weather is turning cooler and the crispness of the coming autumn has made going to the park this week a joy. Tomorrow Jennifer has a doctor’s appointment. I’ll update when I hear any news. We made it to the 34th week!!!! I can’t believe it. God is certainly answering our prayers.

I love this quote by Tullian Tchividjian in his book, Do I know God?

“I love the word adoption. It describes perfectly what our relationship to God really means. Adoption isn’t simply a concept or a big theological word; it’s a family word, a loving parent-child word. It promises belonging, closeness, and a brand-new and highly favored identity. And it says much about the heart of a loving, determined, all-powerful Father who goes looking for children who will forever bear his name.”