Fun Times

This picture of Dominic and I was taken last week at a Stampede Hockey game. My coworker won free tickets and we were able to all bring our families to see the game! We have never been to a hockey game before so it was fun for everyone. And the picture below is of my 2 coworkers. Scott is the one who took the cute photo of my husband and I and Angie was the ticket winner! I am fortunate to work with a great group of people!

Temptation

I was listening to a Christian radio station on the way into work the other morning and the radio announcers were talking about temptation. It is obvious that we face temptation in today’s society. Things like affairs and addictions are destroying marriages and families every day and we need to fight against those things of this world.

One of the DJ’s made a comment about how we need to avoid those places that might tempt us the most. So his example was that if someone has a problem with alcohol they should avoid places that serve alcohol. If someone has a problem with gambling they should avoid places that encourage gambling etc.

While this is a nice thought at the outset in reality it is impractical. I agree that we are surrounded by temptation and it is WELL within our reach - each and every day. But to set our minds to just avoiding those places that could be tempting is not enough. Someone that truly suffers from alcoholism can do their best to avoid bars etc, but at some point they are going to find themselves in a place that alcohol is served. What then? If they don’t have the necessary “resolve” alone to keep them from drinking they will be in trouble. And of course Satan is going to be working overtime in a situation such as that.

A better way, in my opinion, to approach the things that tempt us is to be earnestly seeking God’s will for our lives at ALL times. If my heart and mind is focused on the good and perfect will of God and if I am seeking His guidance and help in all things, then I will be able to be faced with those temptations and hold fast to the truth of His Word. Jesus didn’t avoid temptations - He was surrounded by them and at one point for 40 days straight. But because of His relationship with His Father he was able to walk through that fire. We can do the same.

But I also need to remember that it isn’t what I do in these situations but what God does through me that is important. The minute that I believe that I have cleared the hurdle, that I have taken control of the situation is the moment that I am at my weakest. I must at all times remember that my life is God’s life, my successes are His successes, my accomplishments are His accomplishments. He deserves the glory when I prevail in a situation of temptation - it isn’t what I do but what He does. When I have that mindset, allowing God to take the credit in all things that I am drawn in a closer relationship with the one true God. Isn’t that what we are seeking as followers - to be in that right relationship with Him? But to do that I must completly surrender ALL and that includes my right to take credit for things that I do well!

For some of us it might seem easier to put ourselves in a bubble to keep out the influence of wordly sin in our lives. But as I heard another say – we are all sinners and we would just be stuck in a bubble with our sinful selves. How do we then protect ourselves?

Taking up a path of righteousness and walking in the light of the Spirit is not always an “easy” thing to do. But it has become evident to me that it is the ONLY thing to do. If I want to become more like Christ I can’t spend my life trying to avoid temptations. I must instead develop a relationship with the Father, always seeking for the knowledge of His will in my life and asking that He give me the power to carry out that will.

Then when I see results, and if I follow this path I most surley will, I MUST give the credit where credit is due. Praise God that He loves me enough to forgive me when I fail, and desires to guide me down the right path and is with me along the way.

31 weeks

Just another quick update to share. I am now at 31 weeks and the countdown is on, officially I have 62 days left until my due date. We are all getting very excited about seeing who this little guy will look like. He is still a little mover and was punching and rolling all over the place late last night and very early this morning. I am afraid we are going to have to have a talk with this “little meatball” about working on sleeping through the night at a very early age!

I know….I am dreaming!!

I had another doctor’s appointment today and all is well. I am still measuring a week in advance but she remains unconcerned at this point. His heart rate was 132 and my blood pressure is still low! I have fully recovered from my bout with the stomach flu from last week and the contractions that I had during that time have slowed way down. I did have a contraction while she was listening to the heart rate this morning – but they aren’t too frequent so they don’t pose much of a problem.

Last night when I was awake at 3:30am my mind started racing about all of the things that we have left to do before the big day. Everything from finishing up some details in the baby’s room to packing a diaper bag – which I still need to purchase – with things for coming home from the hospital. I don’t think this is nesting in its true form because I am just mentally obsessing over it at this point, but I am starting to feel the pressure of the countdown nonetheless!

We have this “understanding” that our lives are going to change again in a big way…but it is starting to set in how much it will be changing! Everything will take more time, and what has become my finely tuned schedule will now revolve around feedings and diaper changes and hopefully lots of naps! But despite the little bit of nervousness that I am feeling, I am so very excited about the gift we have been given in our long awaited 3rd son. Although the growing “meatball” within me frightens Gabriel, it is a miracle for me to watch the changes I am experiencing and to know that not too long ago I believed that it wasn’t going to be possible for me.

Proof that God’s plan is WAY better than mine and I need to have faith that He has my best interests at heart. How quickly I forget at times!

Finally I want to close by sharing another blog that I would ask you to read and pray about http://mckayfamilylife.blogspot.com. This precious woman is also pregnant and due just a few days before I am. Last month her husband was sick, ended up in the hospital and died a short 10 days after discovering he had non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. They also have another young son and I can’t imagine her grief right now. When I first was linked to her blog I felt such a strong desire to pray for her. Maybe it is the fact that I know where I am in my pregnancy and I can’t imagine going through it without Dominic by my side. Please pray for her and ask that God will continue to make Himself real to her during this time.

And if you don’t have that assurance of a God that will walk with you through all things please contact me. It is a simple prayer to ask Him into your heart, and needs to be followed with a willingness to seek Him in all things, turning towards His ways and away from our own selfish motives. He desires that we come to a fellowship with Him and the comfort of knowing I have a God who will be with me is well worth any earthly sacrifice that I might have to make.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

29 weeks

At times I really can’t believe that I am already at 29 weeks and other days I am ready to be done. Partly because I can’t wait to see our little man, but also because I feel that I am running out of space to grow him anymore! He seems to be filling every inch of my belly – thus the continued fear of my becoming a big meatball from Gabriel! :)

I saw my doctor today and everything looks good. I am measuring at 30 weeks instead of 29 – but she didn’t seem concerned about that at this point. Makes me wonder though if he is going to make an appearance sooner than expected??

So I will pose that question to you – my due date is May 18th – but does anyone have a guess as to what it will actually be?! Regardless of when he finally makes his grand appearance I am feeling so very blessed to be able to have this journey - aches, pains, kicks, giant meatball scares and all. God is good!!

Surprise Revealed!

So for over a month now I have been planning this big surprise. My best friend Karlena lives in Colorado. We only get to see eachother a few times a year - not often enough. She was in SD for a visit after Christmas but I only got to spend about 2 hours with her. She has plans to come and see me in May when the baby is born but a few days before my birthday in January I really felt like I needed to go and see her again.

I called Dominic and asked him what he thought. Of course, as always, he totally supported me and was willing to let me check into the flight costs!! I love my man - he is so good to me. I happened to find a GREAT deal on a flight out of Omaha to Denver and the only catch was that I had to fly on a Monday - Thursday. No problem!

So I called Karlena's MIL who also lives in Loveland and asked if she knew if Kar had any plans for the last weekend in February. I told her that I wanted to come for a long weekend but wanted to keep it a surprise if at all possible from Karlena. She said they didn't have anything planned and she would help make sure that I was picked up from the airport!

So for a month now I have been planning this surprise trip and Karlena had NO IDEA that I was going to be there! Melynda (MIL) arranged to pick me up from the airport with a bogus story about meeting a friend with a layover. We get to Karlena's house and I go in the door and needless to say - she was surprised!! :)

So far we have had so much fun together. This has been a very relaxing vacation for me and we have enjoyed just hanging out and talking and laughing together!! So there you have it - my surprise. I was totally excited about it and Karlena has been pumped too!

I just have to say that this wouldn't have been possible with out the support of my very gracious family who was willing to let me go away to play while "life" still happens at home. And also the support of Karlena's whole family who helped make this trip possible in many ways! I really am so very lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life - God is good!

So until Monday morning I will be enjoying my time with Karlena and for all of those who support me and continue to support me in numerous ways - I love you all!

A Big Meatball

As this pregnancy progress I continue to have “growth” as well. Gabriel has never been very happy about the fact that my belly is getting bigger. Last night the baby was very active – to the point that you could watch my stomach move around. So I lifted up my shirt a little to show Gabriel and he started to whimper, said that he didn’t like my tummy to get big and asked me to cover “it” up.

Then this morning I was telling my mom about last night and she e-mailed back that last Friday (I was in Pierre), Beth asked Gabriel if his mommy’s tummy was getting big and he frowned and said “I don’t want my mommy to be a big meatball”.

So there you have it – I am starting to look like a big meatball and it is making Gabriel uncomfortable! I laughed and laughed when I read my mom’s e-mail. He has been talking a lot lately about a big meatball and we aren’t entirely sure where that came from. But we do know for sure that he does not want his mommy to be one! And I for one second that!

Super Surprise

Whenever I bring something home that is "special" for Gabriel he always says that it is his "Super Surprise". It is the cutest thing ever - except when he asks over and over again when I am going to bring him another "super surprise"! :)

So several weeks ago I mentioned that I had a really cool surprise to share. And boy do I ever! At least I think it is super and for today it will will have to remain a surprise! :( I know...I am still terrible!

But never fear - I PROMISE that I will be able to reveal this "super surprise" at the end of this week.

For now just know that I am having just as hard of a time waiting to share this surprise with you and am counting the days until the end of the week when it will be revealed!

Have a wonderful week!