We Love Lucy

Well, we officially have a Halloween baby! God granted our wish and snuck her in on the last day of October. Mommy did GREAT! Everything worked out just the way we hoped. We labored at home all night long in the comfort of our own bedroom and then drove to the hospital first thing in the morning. We planned on leaving for the hospital after her contractions were 5 minutes apart for a while… the only problem was that they went from 7 minutes apart to 2 minutes apart! When we got into the hospital at 5 til 7:00, she was at 8 centimeters! Lucy came at 7:51! Whew! It was so fast, we didn’t get to use any of the laboring gadgets that we had bought to help. There’s probably a lot more to tell, and Denise can tell about her experience – I’ve got to get back to the hospital for a wonderful night on the recliner.

Denise was amazing though – a natural birth – DRUG FREE – after two c-sections…. and she didn’t cuss at me one time!

Here’s a few pics taken with Grandmommy’s camera phone. We’ll get some clearer pics up  here soon. Thank you for all the prayers!

Stephen Colbert for President!

Ok, maybe not. But I am tempted. I mean, imagine the Presidential speeches!

Anyways, I’ve been enjoying Colbert’s comedy for a while now – ever since he was on a short lived comedy series called Exit 57. Most of you are probably familiar with his current Colbert Report comedy, but I figured I’d post a few of his hilarious older stuff. On some of these he’s barely recognizable… but the man is a comic genius! Enjoy!

 

This last one is even funnier when you know that Colbert is a professing Christian and is a Sunday School teacher.

Yes, No baby yet.

Here we are past all ‘due dates’ and still waiting. Just thought you may want an update. This was a busy weekend as I had contractions about 10 min apart for 3 days.  That was a first.  We keep seeing signs of our impending delivery, but no final product yet.  I am encouraged in the fact that she can’t stay in there forever!!    Our next appt is on Tues.  My mom is here and camped out with us watching and waiting – nothing like Mom hugs to get you through this kind of anticipation.  I am a bit emotional as you can imagine and I find it silly too since you know she has to come out eventually   Hope you are well!

Postmillenialism in Action

This is pretty interesting. I’m not sure how accurate it is, given the large number of professing Christians in Korea and China, but it is encouraging.

BTW, I found this on mapsofwar.com. Unfortunately, WordPress wouldn’t let me embed it from that site, so I had to get it from youtube - which is why its so blurry.

Romans 5:15-18

15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (ESV)

When Adam fell in the garden, all humanity fell with him. In fact, we are just like our father Adam – sinners who are deservedly separated from God…. dead in our trespasses. But then the Second Adam – the Greater Adam – came along. He accomplished what the first Adam couldn’t. Through Him we are no longer dead in our trespasses… we are reconciled to God. This is truly glorious news because God is gracious, but even more glorious because our “aliveness” is greater than our “deadness” ever was. Only one sin brought death, but despite innumeral sins, God gives life.

The other night I was listening to Grace to You and John MacArthur was preaching through this text. I believe it was part of a sermon series on election, so he was celebrating how wonderfully gracious God is in His election and how we can live that much more fully in the knowledge that God not only gave us life, but life more abundant. As I listened to the sermon, though, I began thinking how this text doesn’t square with MacArthur’s baptist beliefs.

Death entered the world through one man – Adam – and all who are in Adam are dead. As the Bible teaches, we are born dead in our trespasses. We are alienated from God because of our sin nature and we need to be cleansed if we are to have access to God. The verses above say that while the trespass is bad, the free gift of God – Christ’s righteousness – is that much greater…. unless you’re a child, of course. Or mentally handicapped. Or senile. The point is, baptist doctrine states that the only “proof” of salvation is a mature profession of faith. This is why they only baptize after public professions of faith. This runs counter, though, to what this passage teaches us.

It doesn’t make sense – theoretically or biblically – that all would be sons and daughters of the first Adam, but only some could be sons and daughters of the second Adam. And a baptistic view of this passage certainly doesn’t make the free gift of salvation sound that much greater.  I mean, if infants are included in the first “many” of verse 15, why would they not be included in the second? And since salvation is of God alone, does He only choose to give it to those who can make a mature response? Of course not, because the church is not made up of some people, but of all people!

Going, going, going

Here we are.  Still nothing. Oh, except for that long night of contractions last night!! Started during church yesterday and went to about 2am.  Yeah- that was fun.  Good thing these start out slow because how are you really supposed to relax through pulsating pain I ask??  Visited Dr. D today and no change in the nether regions.  However, I will not be discouraged.  Yesterday was our calendar due date and according to her measurements it is 10/25.  With Molly I didn’t even have contractions at this point so I do feel encouraged.  It gave me an opportunity to make sure all was packed that I was going to need.  Please pray for me though…I really want to persevere through the pain and I am a bit nervous.  As far as the waiting game??  I have found comfort in Psalms – love those guys!  Here is one for you Ps 27:14- Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!  He has Lucy’s birthday already worked out and this is where I get to put into practice being patience and gracious.  I am walking regularly and am loving our Y membership for that right now.  The girls can play their little hearts out and I can walk, and walk, and walk, and then walk some more!

On another note, I got to take Molly & Katie to an Indian Festival this past Friday with the help of the ole in-laws! You know- these are great people- treading in all that…poop and all.  Lot’s of horse stuff around and they were such troopers .  Molly and Katie got to ride the hohos (horse for Katie) and feed multiple animals in the, compact as it was, feeding/petting zoo.  We saw some native dancing and singing and smelled some other funky stuff too – I’m going to stay convinced it was white sage and not what the ole Grandpa was suggesting .  Molly got to shoot her first bow and arrow and actually hit the hay bales twice- I was so proud!  I will get some pics posted soon I hope.  Goal was to walk, walk, and more walk and we did do that.  Overall was a fun, dusty day since it is staying nice here now during the day in the high 70s.

Hodgepodge

Well, it’s been awhile. Partly because I’ve been working an extra job and trying to exercise more when I have free time, and partly because Denise’s posts have been so good that I felt like I could take a blog break – I’m so glad she’s joined me in the blogosphere.

Anyways, I have a number of things I want to get out of the way in my return post. First, piggy-backing off of Denise’s previous post, I wanted to link a very good article by Lauren Winner about being a Christian homemaker. I’m going to link Winner’s website on our blogroll – I highly recommend taking a look at some of her work – she has a fresh perspective on many cultural issues.

Second, I wanted to draw attention to our new t.v. addiction: Dexter.

We just finished up the first season and loved it! Unfortunately, it’s a Showtime series and we don’t have Showtime, so we’ll have to wait till season 2 comes out on dvd. In case you’ve never heard of it, it’s about a guy who’s a forensics expert by day, serial killer by night – who only kills the bad guys who got away.

Finally, also piggy-backing off of Denise’s last post, we have a praise report: Our doctor said he would be happy to be our on-call doctor. What a relief! He is going on vacation the first of November, though, so please continue praying that Lucy comes before then… our doctor seems to think this is a sure thing… I wish he wouldn’t have said that out loud

Mothers take note!

Okay, I have been loving a series our pastor has been working on.  I’ve been sitting there thinking he had written this encouragement just for me and lo and behold a dear fellow blogger and friend has captured what he has said so well.  Mothers, prepare your self to be encouraged in your most important job!  Savor this post.  If the link doesn’t work try this one: http://thesift.atlblogs.com/  Read the blog entitled “The Vine” on 10/7. 

Dr’s appt tomorrow- please be praying that our doctor has not scheduled a vacation in the next 30 days and that he will be willing to be our on call person since since not all in the practice are in favor of what we are trying to accomplish.  Many thanks.

And we are off!

Good morning troopers! How’d you sleep last night?  Me? doing alright.  Tomorrow we are officially full term and I can now respond ‘anytime’ when someone asks me when I am due What excitement!  I really have plenty to do.  There is a consignment sale coming up on 10/8 that I have been waiting for to get a few things so that will be fun and I would like to wait until after that, however it would not be the end of the world. 

This past Monday there was no change at the dr ofc. Tonight we meet with our Doula in our home and she will be going over the plan and some hands on stuff to do in early labor.  We met her on Saturday at a child-birthing class and she seems very nice.  She has been doing this for over 10 years. You can be praying that my doctor will agree to be the on-call doctor no matter when I go into labor as that would be most beneficial for us since he is the senior partner in the practice and would be the best experienced to handle our situation.  The doula, Valerie, seems to have a good rapport with our doctor and so success seems to be likely- we shall see.

To help with some of the financial changes coming, Brian has begun delivering pizzas on the weekend. May I mention how much I love this man in uniform?? 

Had a baby shower last night with some friends from church.  It was such an encouraging time of prayer, song, and of course presents! I was so surprised at the creativity of these friends.  We really don’t need a whole lotta things since it is another girl and in the right season for the clothes we have.  We received a homemade blanket that is so adorable and soft, some personalized burp cloths with Lucy’s name on them, a special prayer for Lucy, diapers, wipes, a SLING – whoohoo and then there was a check- oh my – it was just what we needed to complete our payment to the doula for her services.  How amazing is that!? No surprise since we all know how God works things out for good.  But still! WOW! is all I can say.  I am so grateful and if you recall how the Lord kept pointing us back to Valerie during our search for a coach.  It seems that the Lord has a specific purpose to have her involved with us.  I thank God for His provision. 

The food was so yummy as well! We shall keep you posted on how things progress.