Friday, February 24, 2006

Update

Five more weeks and we'll be through!

I am beginning to tire of being called "round one" by my beloved. And, Lord willing, I will become much less round about March 27th. All of my babies have been born right on time :-), and I hope that this one will be too.

This week has truly been a rush. From one emergency to the next, it seems.

On Monday, you wouldn't have wanted to be male in our house. Nathan "broke" his toe at 5:00 am, Joshua bit his tongue (gushing blood for a long time) as he leapt from the blanket covered coffee-table-house, and David took the gold with his "graceful" slide down the side of his bunkbed. He reportedly forgot to turn his head, as was his custom, and his chin was the unfortunate victim. After my primitive ministrations of blood-mopping and anti-bacterial scrub, I observed that it hung open (not his mouth, mind you), and became very woozy. Then I began barking orders to the children to get their shoes on and get in the van. I was sure he needed stitches, and so we zipped to the emergency room with David holding his chin together with an ice-pack. I now I realize that while I have been busy changing diapers and drilling math tables, super-glue has morphed into something called "Durabond" which many times is able to take the place of stitches. David had his owie glued shut. Imagine that. While the rest of us watched Sesame Street and ate cheeseburgers ;-).

On Tuesday, I had the great privilege of attending a wonderful bridal shower for my good friend Jeana. Deborah and Rebekah accompanied me, with pony tails and beautiful modest dresses. I was the only one who didn't wear a dress, because I lack maternity tights.

On Wednesday, it was a beautiful day outside, so I parked my folding chair in the garage and watched the kids ride their tricycles around the driveway. I was being so good :-). Truly taking it easy.

It wasn't long before the older ones began to eye their bicycles, which were hanging neatly (thanks to Uncle Benjamin) from the ceiling of the garage. They wanted to get them down themselves and were insisting they could, but I knew they would need help. This was when I should have prayed for wisdom. And the obedience to heed it. But when do I ever listen? I rationalized...it's only a little kids bike....it can't weigh more than Joshua...I lift him up to the drinking fountain all the time. And of course it was a cinch to get them down from the ceiling once I had the kitchen step stool. But when the bleeding started soon thereafter, it became aparent that there may have been a reason that all of the doctors I have seen have given the same advice: "take it easy, and no heavy lifting!" Reluctantly, and with a red face, I heeded my doctor's instructions to go in and be monitored, even though I was sure everything was ok. So, once again I rounded the troops and we zipped off down to the hospital.

On Thursday, I would have preferred to stay home (I never could get the hang of Thursdays ;-)), but this was my regular weekly ultrasound/monitoring appointment and the doctor encouraged me to keep it. So we made a day trip out of it and went to the library, the park and finally the appointment. This baby boy is continually showing signs of being a text-book baby, so sometimes I wonder what all of this is for. Yet I am thankful to be in a position to be able to monitor him so closely in light of the complications.

Tonight was our family movie night, and we watched Popeye together. It was very good and we all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly :-). Even Joshua. Though Rebekah did get a little scared of the octopus at the end. I am so thankful that there is good, wholesome entertainment out there that I can watch with my family.

Tomorrow morning I get to drive out and visit my dear friend Jenny for breakfast. I have to leave at 6:30am so I had better hit the sack. G'night all!


Monday, February 13, 2006

20 Questions Tag

1. Best memory? (I must share two)
Meeting Nathan at an IVCF pizza icebreaker. He had just returned from a mission trip to Jamaica. He was tan, fit and O-so-good-looking! I remember also being very pleased that we could actually have an intelligent conversation (unlike what occurred with some of the other young men who were present at the time). I eventually learned that I was a very direct and specific answer to prayer for him. He had prayed that he would know his future wife by her major of Computer Science (like him, of course ;-)). How it delights my heart to know that I was his answer to prayer!

&

Being used by God to disciple a neighbor in back in Iowa. I remember thinking... "this is truly what makes life worth living!" She eventually asked me to pray with her in a prayer which expressed her faith in Christ... it was on Valentines Day! If my memory serves me right, that's tomorrow:-) That must have been 5 years ago.

2. Most terrible day?
We lived in King Lake, Nebraska, on an acreage. My sister and I walked several miles up a gravel road to catch the bus every morning. She was in Kindergarden; I in preschool. Everyday about halfway up the road we walked very fast, fearful that the mean Dobermin Pinchers which reared up and pawed their tall fence, barking ferociously, would escape and attack us. One day our fears were realized. I remember being terrified! The larger dog bit my sister in the thigh and the smaller dog bit me on the thigh. I don't remember how we managed to escape death, but it was a most terrible experience.

3. Birth City?
Los Angeles, California

4. Favorite thing to do?
Lately it seems to be eating. I wake up in the middle of the night ravenously hungry! But hey, 6 more weeks and we'll be through! Normally? Reading & writing.

5. Hollywood Crush? and why?
Christopher Atkins...because I loved the Pirate Movie he was in and attached my juvenile affection to him....quite ignorantly, of course ;-)

6. Favorite food?
Home cooked: Tacos with fresh guacamole. Yum!
Out to Eat: Does dessert count? Bennigan's Death by Chocolate manages to overshadow the Spinach and Mushroom Quesadillas I always ordered from Carlos O'Kelleys.

7. City you want to visit most and why?
I don't have the same travel bug that Nathan does, but I would love to visit Jerusalem in order to walk the same ground that Jesus trod upon.

8. Fantasy/dream that you want to come true?
Fantasy: Everything in order, all at the same time! I really believe this one will come true :-)
Dream: I don't remember any dream except the dream of flying. I sure hope we can fly in heaven!

9. Favorite sport?
Volleyball? Gymnastics? it's hard to decide, so I guess I don't have a favorite.

10. How long have you been married?
nearly 13 years

11. Favorite song and why?
Wonderful Words of Life...because it speaks so clearly of the Words of God which bring about faith. And without faith, it is impossible to please God.

12. Someone you most admire?
The Hunts, who have gone to China to share the Gospel and raise their family, despite the risks.

13. Someone you hate and why?
Lord, you know my heart. I don't think I hate anyone, but I have found that it is easy for me to develop negative emotions toward someone who serves others with a sense of obligation instead of a loving spirit.

14. Secret crush?
Hmmm. Do I go here? I did have a crush on a boy named Kevin in the first grade. I'm sure I tried to keep it a secret, but if you look at my first grade class pics, you'll find our pictures connected with hearts :-)

15. One rule you live by?
Hold onto Jesus Christ with all of your might, and don't ever let go.

16. Do you believe in God?
When I consider life without God, the hopelessness is so overwhelming that I literally cannot live in such a state! I believe in God; indeed I feel that I have made every effort to make my calling and election sure. At the moment, this is my favorite verse: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." - Romans 15:13

17. A dark secret (we won???t tell)
I ran away from home when I was 11 and hitchhiked to Hutchinson, Minnesota with my older sister and a friend. I remember leaving one of our bags in the back of a truck. I was devastated that my new pair of jeans was gone forever! How ugly.

18. Most treasured item and why?
My lamb. I bought it at Toys R Us because it was so fuzzy and cute and when you set it on it's bottom it's head tilts back, looking up at heaven, and it's little arms lift up to God. I bought it to remind me to always have a right, joyful attitude toward God and others. I think I need to wear it around my neck.

Gee, I answered so quickly and now when I think about it, maybe I should have said my wedding ring or something like that! Sorry honey. I bet I would be more upset if I lost my wedding ring than if I lost the lamb.

19. If you could turn back time, what would you do and why?
I would go back to my childhood and make better decisions in my home. I would seek to honor and obey my parents and seek more wholesome relationships.

20. Last but certainly not least, what kind of ???work??? do you do and do you enjoy it?
My work is simple. Train my children to "take over the world"! (We have definitely been watching too much "Pinky and the Brain" lately - wouldn't you agree?) But really, I believe that the more capable they are of withstanding my loss, and running their little world efficiently, the better job I have done. I'm a long way from success here, but I have great hopes :-)

I am tagging:
Nathan
Samantha
Kristin
Patty