God knows!

Psalm 127 

Unless the Lord builds the house

its builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches 

over the city,

the watchmen stand guard

in vain.

In vain you rise early

and stay up late,

toiling for food to eat-

for he grants sleep to 

those he loves.

Sons are a heritage from the 

Lord,

children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a 

warrior

are sons born in one's 

youth.

Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to 

shame

when they contend with 

their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128

Blessed are all who fear the 

Lord,

Who walk in his ways.

You will eat the fruit of  your 

labor;

blessings and prosperity will

be yours.

Your wife will be like a fruitful

vine

within your house;

your sons will be like olive 

shoots

around your table.

Thus is the man blessed 

who fears the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion

all the days of your life;

may you see the prosperity 

of Jerusalem, 

and may you live to see 

your children's children.

Peace be upon Israel.

I'm blown away at God's goodness in creating a miracle inside my very womb. A child that God whispered to Andrew about years before he even knew of me. As I feel wiggles and kicks inside I wonder what day we'll meet and I remind myself that God has every day of this baby marked out already. God is the great revealer of secrets!

God has made Psalm 127 and 128 special to Andrew and I through the finding out about this baby. Pastor Michael Willemse visit yesterday prompted me to recall his last visit. Shortly after our return from the States last year Michael came for a chat over an afternoon cup of tea. At the end of his visit he said he'd like to read a psalm and close in prayer. He read Ps. 127 & 128 and then apologized about it being all about children. Andrew and I exchanged a smile having just taken a positive pregnancy test only hours before. ;)

Featuring babies arrival marathon...35 down! 5 to go!

They have a saying here in New Zealand. Something about being barefoot, pregnant and tied to the kitchen sink. I'm featuring just such a life. ;) Baby says 'hi!' to all his wonderful Maryland family and a special 'hello' to Kelly whose been patiently pestering to get a good look for quite some time. :)

A Shower for the Baby!

When I look at the precious pile of baby gear on our living-room floor I can't help but feel like I'm about to play dolls. Just as Heidi, Em, Kirstie and I would plop arm fulls of blankets, dolls and stuffed animals onto the living-room floor, each on our section of blanket and play rafts or house. When I was six I got to use my long awaited buddy -Seth as one of my babies. He quickly outgrew the rest but he kept me the busiest and the happiest. Emily looked on enviously until Joseph came along to fill her arms and love tank. Now I await another little boy to fill Andrew's and my home and hearts.

quilt from Paula! 

 Lubby found a friend whose'almost as 'special' as hisself  ;)

 

Surrounded by wonderful (and all pregnant;) friends: Talia, Jess, me, and Janine! 

Yesterday I was showered upon with love and gifts from my Kiwi relatives, neighbors, and womens bible-study friends. It was overwhelming and special to sit in a room filled with ladies whom a year ago I didn't know and yet each one has taken me in as friend or family and are rejoicing with me over the little life God has formed inside me. I opened up a pile of presents, among them were many beautifully hand-made baby blankets, colorfully designed burping clothes, and darling hand-knit little hats. I feel so very blessed! I'm looking forward to busying myself in the next few weeks with cleaning, organizing, and setting all in place to welcome a third into our cozy home.

Rugby

Out Saturday night to watch the Waikato Chiefs play the Stormers from South Africa. It was a beautiful breezy evening, not too cold. Andrew and I were bundled up with a couple coats and blankets along. Thankfully we had Joli's chewy granola bars, some nuts and chocolate to console us at half time with the Stormers holding an impressive 20 points while the Chiefs lagged at 3. ;-(

The second half was thrilling, Andrew spouted out the rules of Rugby and I struggled to follow along as the Chiefs sprinted past the Stormers, ending with a whoppin 30 points! ;)

The flash stadium with new seats was barely a forth full, reflecting the Chiefs low scores this season. When I look at a stadium and feel the rush from a roaring excited crowd, my secret hope and desire is that we will one day see more shameless enthusiasm over the King of Kings then we do over a team of chaps skillfully pursuing a ball.    

Food for inspiring thought!

A couple random inspirational thoughts recently traveling through the head:

• this wee babe inside me will most likely one day be taller than me ;) 

• I was motivated to search God's word on the issue of the sabbath a couple years ago when my Sunday's rest was threatened by a rigid class load. Ever since then I have been fascinated by how the gospel is embodied in the Sabbath. God brought the Israelites out of slavery, slaves are never given a day off. God gave his people rest, not earned but given. Every seven days God gave rest and renewal and every cycle of seven years God gave the year of  Jubilee. Debts were canceled! Slaves set free!...Through Christ God has canceled our debts and set us free! I'm wowed by the thorough and absoluteness of this cleansing and freedom God has brought His people as I've been reflecting on 1 and 2 Corinthians as well as some secular science: "Most of us have heard the old saying that every cell in the body is changed over a period of seven years but recent investigation has uncovered facts of far more significance to us as human beings. This concerns the emotional, physical, and mental changes that seem to occur in approximately seven-year intervals."   (~Tony Crisp) Neat eh? An Israelite slave being set free must have felt like a new being but they probably had no idea that they were given a fresh start with every cell renewed from the hair on the tip of their head to the last toe nail. ;)