Thankful - Part 2

I was reading the daily devotional at The Upper Room and it reminded me of the post that I wrote a couple of weeks ago. While reading today's scripture and devotion I realized, once again, just how important it is to always be thankful.

I'm thankful for so much this morning. He has sustained us through this emotional roller coaster of a pregnancy for 22 weeks and we're still doing well. I'm thankful that He has given me amazing family and friends. I'm thankful for this blog and those of you who have kept up with our little family and prayed for us when we've needed it most. Thank you.

Here's the copy from today's devotion:

Thank You!

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
-1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NRSV)

AT first it appeared to be just another magazine subscription offer, in a standard white envelope. However, when I ripped it open I found a surprise.


"You have made history" began the note from a man who searches for the correct addresses of subscribers whose magazines have been returned to the publisher. He went on to say that he had never before received a thank-you letter from someone he had located. He was sending me a "thank you" for the thank-you card that I had sent in appreciation for their hard work in getting my magazines to the correct address.


Each of us has a different set of gifts that we can use to serve others. It is easy to forget the value of saying "thank you" to people who have used their gifts and skills to help us. We even forget to say thank you to God.


Expressing thanks for the life that God has given me feeds my soul. Giving thanks also helps me to remember that I am not alone. Offering a prayer of thanks connects me to the One who has created this beauty-filled earth. God and God's people help me through every day.

Allan Baker (Ontario, Canada)


Thank you, God, for the life you are breathing into this world. Help us to thank others for the kindness they show us. Amen.

It's That Time Again

I believe most of you that read our blog know our story and that it only makes sense for us to do all we can to support the charity nearest to our hearts, the March of Dimes. For the third year in a row our families and friends will walk in Olivia's memory with our team Olivia's Butterflies in the March for Babies on April 24th. Now it's pretty obvious that I won't be walking the 4 miles since I'm on bed rest, but that won't stop me from doing all that I can to raise awareness and funds for the organization.

Prematurity or birth defects aren't really things one thinks about until it happens to them or someone they love. I had no clue about the reality of preterm birth until it happened to me. Our story isn't an easy one to read. It isn't an easy one to talk about, but it MUST be shared in order to save lives. Please click here if you don't know the story of our precious Olivia.

So once again, I'm asking for your support if you can offer it. If you live in the Birmingham area it would mean so much to us if you were able to join our friends and family this year to walk with our team in April. It is bitter sweet knowing that I won't be there, bitter because I want to be there and sweet because I know I'm doing everything in my power to ensure this baby girl gets a full 9 months. To learn more about the walk, donate or join the team you can click here or click that cute little button in the right-hand corner of the page.

Thank you for supporting us through our journey,
Lurenda

JK Sings His ABC's

As promised, here's a sampling of the fun we've been having with the new Flip camera. JK loves to sing his ABC's. Try to ignore my horrid back-up singing. :)

Blog Candy @ Hello Gorgeous!

Before I forget, you must go check out the Blog Candy Giveaway at Hello Gorgeous! She's giving away a bunch of supplies to make homemade cards, which would be an awesome way for me to pass time while hanging out on the couch. Not only does she have a great giveaway, but she also has some great handmade jewelry that you'll want to check out while you're there.

Thankful

Baby girl and I are still doing well. We had another visit to the OB yesterday and received another fantastic report. The placental bleed is 2 cm smaller from three weeks ago, which means it seems to be healing and our baby girl looked great. She was even sucking her thumb. The doctor is so pleased with our progress and we are thrilled. It's obvious that bed rest is working, so I'll just keep hanging out on my couch until baby girl decides to grace us with her presence. For those who are keeping up we are officially half-way there. I'll be 21 weeks tomorrow!

I know that every pregnancy is different, but the difference between this one and my 9 months with J.K. are like night and day. While I have had my moments of fear and anxiety I've been at peace for the majority of this one. I know that this peace comes from Him, but I also know that I need to be thanking Him more than I have been. It's so easy to pray for healing, peace and strength when we're unsure of what may happen next and sadly it's just as easy to forget to say thank you when things are going well. I thank God for each new day, but I'm not as focused on my faith as I would like to be. Why is that we are so desperate for His guidance when we think we need it most and are so certain that we can handle things when life is easy? I guess it's because we're human.

When I was pregnant with J.K. I kept a prayer journal asking for strength and thanking God for each new day. I need to get back into my routine of journaling and thanking Him for the peace and strength my experience has given me. I know I can do this, but I know I can't do it without Him.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

I created this collage for our March for Babies Family Team page, which I'll post more about later. I think it perfectly describes our journey over the last three years.

Busy Bedrester

I have been one busy bedrester! I know that's quite the oxymoron, but it's true. I'm very blessed to have a fantastic job that allows me to work from home. For those who don't know, I work for the local home builders association. One of my main responsibilities is our Parade of Homes, which will be held in April and I'm on bedrest...until at least May. My boss wasn't exactly excited when he found out about bedrest because this would be the biggest event we do all year. However, he's been very supportive and understands that I have no choice. With a huge event like this coming up my phone hasn't stopped ringing, the emails are flooding in and I'm just excited that the everything is coming together. Thanks to all of the work distractions I have no time to worry about the pregnancy, and that my friends is a huge blessing!

In pregnancy news, I'm officially half way there! I'm 20 weeks and our baby girl is moving more and more each day. I have had a break from doctors appointments for the last couple of weeks, but we'll head in for an appointment with my OB on Thursday. I'm looking forward to seeing our baby girl and getting an update on my condition. My prayer and gut feeling is that things are improving, but I'm giving it all to Him regardless.

So enough about me and the pregnancy, I haven't shared pictures of JK in ages!! I only have a couple because, well I never leave my couch! However, my sweet Daddy gave Mr. Mom a Flip Ultra HD Video Camera for his b'day, so you better bet I'll be posting videos in the near future.


JK is practicing for a future as a vet with Sadie.


Silly play time on the couch with Mommy.


Giving baby sister kisses.