Hope and Life

This past week I have been pondering how fragile and amazing life is. The fact that there is a life growing inside of me right now (33 weeks old) and the fact that life can end at any moment. I was reminded of this when a dear friend of Dave and I, Mitch Thomas, entered eternity this last Tuesday from his battle with Luekemia. It is hard to put to words what the loss of a friend brings, but exciting to think about where he is now. Mitch was such a light and inspiration to so many. I got a letter over email today that talked about how many peoples lives were changed due to Mitch's life. I only hope I can have that same impact on the people I come in contact with. He had over 700 people at his memorial service on Saturday! Mitch's life and ministry will continue on through this tragedy.
Dave and I got to know Mitch about 2 years ago when we went to Spokane, WA on a church leadership retreat. We talked Mitch into moving to LA to join the team of people starting Corridors church in Pasadena. About a year after living here Mitch got sick. He and I went to a clinic in El Sereno to get things checked out. That is where Mitch's battle began. We watched him for the last year fight the fight. At one point we thought he had counqured it by going into remission, but that was temporary, as is life. He stood strong on the words in 1 Thes. 5:16-18 "Always be joyful. Never stop praying, Be thankful in all circumstances for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." He spread hope and joy to so many, including me. That is why during this time I am not angry or bitter about why God did not heal Mitch here on earth. Mitch's life was about hope and God is faithful. Mitch's life leaves me thinking about the hope I have in Christ and the fact that he has given each of us a gift...eternal life.
I think about the life of our son. I hope he will choose to be a man of God, like Mitch. One who never gives up hope and one that will run after the cross, take hold of it and not turn back. I hope he doesn't take for-granted the breathe that God has given him and I hope I don't either. I hope I don't forget that Jesus conquered the grave and that is where my hope lies. No matter what happens in this life, I will worship Him forever in eternity. That is what makes life amazing!!

Picture of us in Washington when we first met Mitch! He had such a great sense of humor.

Picture of Dave(chipmunk) and Mitch(superman) cheering on their friends in a basketball tournement. Those guys:)

We will miss you Mitch!

Week 32

Friday marks week 32 for us. In other words that is about 8 months!! He could come anytime but ideally he would come around 40 weeks. That is what we are praying for at least. I have had a chance to work in the nursery this week and get things ready. Dave has been carrying and lifting things for me. He is so sweet and helpful. I have been putting things together and washing clothes and blankets. We are doing a lot of reading to prepare. Some of the things we are reading include: What to Expect when Expecting, Babywise, Health Sleep Habits for a Happy Baby, Lamaze Magazine, Dr. Spock, Bradley Workbook, and Dr. Sears parenting book.




Resources we have used:
www.babycenter.com
www.drfeder.com

Pregnancy week 31

I am finally doing it...starting a blog for our family. I have been trying to get it up and going for a while now. You can read as often as you want. We thought this would be a good ways for those of you that are far away to feel close and see what is going on. So here goes...

Doctors Visit
We had our 31 week check up with the little guy this last Friday. Everything is progressing well as far as we know. He is growing and so am I. In the ultrasound we saw his mouth moving. It was sweet! Some of you know that we have been praying for the placenta move up and it appears to be doing so. Yeaahhh!

This ultra-sound is of his face. Can you see his eye sockets and mouth? I feel him moving all the time now. Little kicks and jabs in the side. As a matter of fact he woke me up last night. I guess I better get used to that:) According to the books, the baby weighs about 3.5 pounds and could survive just fine if born right now. He is between 16-18 inches long!!!

Babies Room
We have moved Dave's office out of the babies room (sorry Dave) and into our bedroom, so it is officially a nursery. It doesn't quite look like one yet, but it is coming along. Thanks to so many people that have been so generous and giving to us through this pregnancy we have a crib, changing table/dresser, glider chair, clothes, blankets, and many other things to get started. We are so thankful. You can start to see that we are going with a surf theme. We live in California and thought it was fitting. If he takes after his dad, he will love the water.


Natural Childbirth
We have really come to appreciate the philosophy of natural childbirth. I have heard many people talk about it in a negative aspect, as if the only way to do things now is to do what your doctor says. Oh...you mean you are not going to have pain medication..good luck...just wait until you are in labor. Although, I have never had a child before and have no idea what the pain is like I have been given the tools and a very supportive and loving husband that I want to try. Debra Reinstra says it best in her book Great with Child "Suffering is pain that can be redeemed toward growth...coming to this birth crisis with luxury of expert care and meditative reflection, birth pain represents simple suffering-pain that is deliberately prepared for and accepted because it has evident meaning and purpose. " The absence of pain is not always a good thing I am learning and am excited to see what else I learn through this process of childbirth, because that is what it is, not a medical procedure.
We have chosen to do a Bradley birth. You can read a lot more about it here on the Bradley website.

Taken from Wikipedia..."Teachers of The Bradley Method® believe that with adequate preparation and education along with help from a loving, supportive coach, most women can give birth naturally - without drugs or surgery. The Bradley Method® emphasizes measures that can be taken to stay healthy and low-risk to help avoidcomplications that may lead to medical intervention. The primary goal of The Bradley Method® is healthy mothers and healthy babies. The method holds that in most circumstances, a natural childbirth (drug free) is the best way to achieve that goal. Over 87% of Bradley® moms having vaginal births do so without drugs. The classes teach nutrition and relaxation and natural abdominal breathing as pain management techniques, and active participation of the husband as coach. Parents-to-be are taught to be consumers of birth services and to take responsibility to make informed decisions regarding procedures, attendants and the birth place."

Dave and I have been in these classes for about 8 weeks now. We have really learned a lot and feel empowered to have a natural birth. We hope that with the support of the people around us and at the hospital we will bring a happy and healthy baby boy into the world naturally. We know things do not always go as you want them too, but we are excited about trying. Our instructor has been great and if you live in the LA area you should consider taking it from Kathy Killebrew.

Baby Showers

When Dave and went to Michigan in August my sister, my mom and my aunt Amy threw a shower for us for friends and family from the mid-west. I was so special to see everyone. My grandparents came up from Florida. Here is a picture from the shower of some of my good friends in Michigan, whom I miss a ton.

We have also had a shower in Colorado with the Jackson family and one in Azusa put on by Adam and Becca Carpenter.

Here are a few from the one in Colorado. We were there for my cousin Kevin's wedding and they all surprised me with a shower.