28 Weeks

Amazing how time has gone by and we are already at the beginning of the third trimester. 

Your baby's the size of an eggplant!

Putting on layers of fat, your baby now weighs in around 1.5 to 2.5 pounds and measures about 13.6 to 14.8 inches.

your baby at 28 weeks

• She's starting to develop more fat, so her wrinkly skin will start to get smoother.
• Her lungs are mature enough that she'd probably survive if she was born now. Wow!

We are very thankful for progress we have seen and heard from the Doctors at our regular checkups. The baby is still on target with size and weight, he/she may even be a little bigger! 

We have our ideas of what the gender will be but in the end we will be happy with what ever God has given us. 

26 Weeks

26 weeks have already come and gone. 

We were able to have another ultrasound done this past Monday and everything still looks great!! The Doctor was very encouraging and we were thankful to hear that the baby is still growing according to plan.. they can even calculate the baby being 5 days bigger than anticipated so we thank the Lord for such blessings!

Here is the progress report on the estimated size the baby is at this time..

Your baby's the size of a head of lettuce!

She's still growing in the 13.6- to 14.8-inch and 1.5- to 2.5-pound range, and developing her senses, features and talents!

your baby at 26 weeks

• Her eyes are forming, and his eyes will soon start to open.
• And her eyelashes are now grown, too.
• She's getting her immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies.
• She's taking breaths, too. They're of amniotic fluid, not air, but it's still good practice.

the weather....

Just thought I would share the temperatures we had this past summer... now that we are in the middle of winter with snow all around us! :)

Doesn't 95 degree weather just sound great?!?!?!?! :)

This is our weather for the next week... 

Wed 11 Thu 12 Fri 13 Sat 14 Sun 15 Mon 16 Tue 17 Wed 18 Snow Showers 4-7" GR to the So Mostly Cloudy, Snow Showers Mostly Cloudy, Snow Showers Cloudy, Snow Cloudy, Snow Showers Mostly Cloudy, Flurries Cloudy, Snow Snow Showers Hi: 19°F Hi: 20°F Hi: 26°F Hi: 26°F Hi: 24°F Hi: 21°F Hi: 27°F Hi: 25°F Lo: 13°F Lo: 8°F Lo: 13°F Lo: 19°F Lo: 15°F Lo: 6°F Lo: 14°F Lo: 12°F precip: 90% precip: 60% precip: 60% precip: 90% precip: 70% precip: 70% precip: 60% precip: 0%

http://www.woodtv.com/weather

It is pretty cold with strong winds at times.. our puppy (I have forgotten to tell you about.. next time..) barks at every noise he hears from the wind!

24 Weeks!

Already 5 months along! It has been an amazing few weeks feeling the baby move and kick. At 22 weeks when I posted they said the baby sleeps about 12-14 hour incriments... I am not sure where they have gotten that from because this baby is awake every time I sit down! :)

your baby's the size of a cantaloupe!

Your 10.5-to-11.8-inch fetus weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces and every week she gets closer and closer to being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world.

your baby at 24 weeks

• Her see-through skin is gradually becoming more opaque.
• And it's got a new pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed.

Week 22

22 weeks already!! Time has seemed to go by so fast! The semester is almost done and with that comes the busyness of the winter holidays amongst those are preaching engagements that were not able to be accepted during the school year. 

Had a doctor's appt this morning and all is going well, the baby is growing according to schedule so the visit was short. We are feeling the baby move constantly.. I say we... Ian has had the privilege of esperiencing the amazing feeling of the baby moving as well. What a privilege to be able to experience!

your baby's the size of a papaya!

During month five, the average fetus measures about 10.5 to 11.8 inches and weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces.

your baby at 22 weeks

• Now that he's got more developed eyes and lips, he's looking even more like a newborn.
• He's sleeping in cycles -- about 12 to 14 hours per day (hint: they're probably those times you're not feeling any kicks!).

10 Encouragements for the Journey

An article I came across the other day that I felt is really helpful to women in the ministry, about to be apart of or even just contemplating the calling with their husbands. I think it is also a good reminder for wives and mothers trying to run a God centered home and family...

My husband and I have enjoyed the privilege of ministering to seminary students for the past 12 years at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's an honor to watch the Lord train up church leaders and to be involved in their lives for this special season. In particular, my heart is always concerned for the wives, knowing the sacrifices they bear and the quiet yet powerful service they give behind the scenes as they support their husbands. Of course, many women attend seminary as well, and that's a wonderful thing! But if you're a seminary wife who isn't a student, here are some words of the encouragement as you partner with your husband in the seminary journey.

1. Be in the Word and prayer every day.

There is no greater gift you can give to your husband or to the kingdom than to continually seek to know the Lord. Be a prayerful wife. Take your burdens to the Lord before you take them to your husband. Drink deeply from the sweet waters of time spent in fellowship with Jesus. Come to him and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. This is true for any wife, but especially true for wives called into the spiritual battle that accompanies life in full-time ministry.

2. Encourage your husband in his studies.

It's easy to view seminary simply as something to endure until "real" ministry begins. What exactly do all those strange-sounding theological terms and Greek vocab words have to do with ministry? Your husband's knowledge and understanding of the Bible will be the foundation for the practical wisdom he will give as a pastor. Most likely, he'll never again have such an opportunity to learn. So encourage him in his studies, realizing it's just the beginning of his education, not the end. A minister who knows and delights in God's Word is a blessing to those he pastors. Understanding the heresies and spiritual battles that have plagued the church in the past will help him spot these same assaults on the church in our day.

3. Take a seminary class (or at least sit in on one).

Many wives at RTS take classes at some point during their husbands' years in seminary. While the courses can intimidate at times, getting introduced to the theological concepts he's learning is a practical way to enter into the journey with him. It also affords you the opportunity to get to know his fellow students and professors in a way that will allow you to understand his world in a more meaningful way.

4. Build friendships with other seminary wives.

I encourage every wife I meet with at RTS to build a strong friendship with at least one other seminary wife. Ministry is a long road, full of twists and turns. Prayerfully seek for one trusted woman in your life with whom you can speak frankly. If she's also a member of your church, that's even better. Whether you're bearing the burdens or sharing the blessings, this kind of relationship is invaluable.

5. Trust God is working in your life during this season.

It's tempting to believe seminary is all about your husband's career. When I moved overseas for my husband's PhD at the University of Edinburgh, I selfishly thought my life had been put on hold for his education. However, as I remember our time there and consider the lessons the Lord taught me, I realize that while my husband earned the degree, our move to Scotland was perhaps chiefly for my education. The Lord worked on my heart in new and profound ways that may have been missed if not for my husband's degree. It was just as much a time for my spiritual growth as for his intellectual growth. This, of course, should come as no surprise: wherever the Lord has called your husband, he's also called you. Go joyfully. Go expectantly. Go faithfully. God will be with you.

6. Encourage his friendships with other students.

Your husband will need friends who share his ministry calling. He needs accountability with other men whom he trusts to confront him. Encourage these friendships in every way you can. They will be a blessing and support for your husband in the years to come.

7. Understand your importance.

Here's the reality: you affect your husband's ministry. He needs you. You will counsel him, support him, rebuke him, and encourage him in ways no one else can. ByFaith magazine recently reported on the topic of resilient ministry. One finding stated: "In general the most significant human factor in the sustainability of pastors in ministry is their spouses. A pastor's wife can be the only confidante a pastor has." Use seminary as a time to seek out and meet with ministry wives whom you respect. Ask for advice, encouragement, and prayer as you support your husband.

8. Expect and embrace the struggles.

Seminary will bring struggles. These may be financial burdens, illnesses, spiritual attacks, familial discord, loneliness, or other unforeseen trials. But rather than viewing these circumstances as sufferings to endure, see them as God-ordained preparations for ministry. As adversity beckons you and your husband to depend on Christ in new ways, you will be forced to blend theological understanding with active experience of walking with Jesus. The resulting wisdom will bless those you minister to in future years. 

9. Consider yourself blessed.

It's easy as a seminary wife to compare your life to other women and feel like you're missing out. The comparison game is never helpful, but it can be especially damaging in ministry. Choose what you set your mind on each day. As Paul exhorts, "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4:8). The battle for the joyful heart often begins with a thankful mind. Having a believing husband who wants to spend his life in ministry is a gift. You will both have opportunities for prayer, Bible study, and fellowship that will deepen your relationship with the Lord and bless your family. Rejoice in these blessings and meditate on them often.

10. Your labor is not in vain.

Seminary and vocational ministry may not have been your original plan. You may have to take a different job or live in a city you wouldn't have chosen. You may have to work outside the home when you'd have preferred to be home full-time. You may attend a church that isn't the best fit for your family, but gives your husband the opportunity for an internship. These are realities for the seminary wife.

However, just as Paul reminded the Corinthians, there's a deeper reality we must remember during our labors: Christ was raised from the dead. The resurrection is true! This changes everything. Our gospel-grounded security allows us to be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord [our] labor is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58).

In short, sister, your labors matter. Your often unseen and unrecognized service for Christ is never worthless. There are many ways to waste a life, but laboring in gospel ministry with your husband isn't one of them.

article taken from this website. 

20 weeks!!

We are half way already!! No words can describe how excited we are with the progress of this pregnancy and how successful our ultrasound visit was.

your baby's the size of a banana!

Baby weighs about 10.2 ounces and measures about 6.5 inches. She's still got a lot of growing to do though. 

your baby at 20 weeks

• She's got working taste buds.
• Now, she's gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid each day -- that's significantly more than before.

Here are some pictures taken at our ultrasound visit...

 
 3-D pictures: 

"10 Reasons I Kissed Halloween Goodbye"

An interesting article I read about Halloween, I think she really hits points that are important, so important that we really need to make sure we pass this onto to our kids.

I used to have a love affair with Halloween. In fact, you might have called it an obsession. Even several years after I gave my heart to Jesus, I still harbored a pretty decent crush on costume shops, individually wrapped miniature candies, and “good” spookiness, all in the name of fun.Even when I started to feel a little uncomfortable with it, I purposed that I would simply tone it down a little and not let it consume too big a part of my heart. Just a little flirting once a year, because surely my one true Love knew my heart belonged to Him. Just like my husband wouldn’t mind at all if I spent a little time with old boyfriends once a year — you know, just for old times’ sake. After all, he wants me to be happy and would never want me to miss out on any fun.You know I’m kidding, of course. My husband would have nothing to do with that sort of thinking. And neither did the Holy Spirit. After a few years of ignoring His gentle tugging on my heart, I finally decided to prayerfully consider giving up Halloween.The more I learned, the more I became convinced that this “holiday” (a word that means “holy day,” by the way) was not honoring to God in any way. I began to see that my refusal to give up Halloween was evidence of a divided heart — but Jesus wants my whole heart.Ever since deciding to “just say no” to Halloween, I can honestly tell you that the blessings and joy of obedience are far greater than any fun I ever had “celebrating.”And since many people, even Christians, think my decision is odd or even legalistic, I finally decided to put together a list of the top ten reasons I kissed Halloween goodbye.1. Halloween glorifies evil, not God.It’s no secret that Halloween is all about witches and ghosts and fear and death. Haunted houses, Hollywood movies, even neighborhood patios are graced with blood and dead bodies and axe murderers … giant replicas of poisonous spider and cobwebs … scary organ music, skeletons, and gravestones. Can anyone deny that this holiday glorifies Satan and every evil thing?“Oh, but our family only dresses in good costumes,” we are quick to point out, as if somehow sugarcoating the evil with smiling pumpkins and sparkly Disney princess costumes somehow changes the meaning of the celebration.I too continued to dress up for several years, but no matter what creative spin I put on it, eventually I could no longer justify that anything I was doing in respect to this holiday was honoring to God. Sure, my costumes were cute. Sometimes they were even sophisticated, clever, funny, or smart. But none of those things changed the fact that the holiday itself glorified evil, and I could no longer lend my talents and attention to remain part of it.Most of us know that Halloween is one of the highest, most holy days for witches and Satanists. Even though we ourselves may not be involved in the practice of witchcraft, we give credence to the holiday by celebrating it. If we abhor evil, should we not also abhor any day designated to celebrate it? The Bible says to avoid even the appearance of evil.“Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” —1 Thessalonians 5:21-22It also doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discern that the Halloween is all about fear. Scary costumes, haunted houses, and horror movies are designed for no other purpose than to frighten us. Seeking out opportunities to be scared is, on this day at least, the highest form of entertainment. If we do not have a spirit of fear, should we even acknowledge a day whose purpose is to invoke a spirit of fear in us?“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, and of power, and of a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:72. If the seed is bad, the fruit will be bad.Halloween has never been a Christian holiday. The foundations of Halloween are occultic, and the symbols and traditions we continue today all have roots in pagan practices. God tells His people over and over again to avoid all pagan rituals and traditions.Halloween derives in part from the occult traditions of the Druids, the pagan priests of the Celts, whose fall festival was the precursor to Halloween as we know it. “To ancient Druids, the end of October commemorated the festival of the waning year, when the sun began his downward course and ripened grain was garnered from the fields. Samhain … was celebrated with human sacrifice, augury and prayers; for at this season spirits walked, and evil had power over souls of men.”¹When the first Christians came to America, they knew of Halloween’s occult beginnings and banned its celebration.²“[B]ecause of Christianity among so many of the settlers, Halloween celebrations were not celebrated until the 1800’s when several immigrants from Ireland and Scotland introduced their Halloween customs. They brought various beliefs about ghosts and witches with them. Other groups added their own cultural influences to Halloween customs. German immigrants brought a vivid witchcraft lore, and Haitian and African peoples brought their native voodoo beliefs about black cats, fire, and witchcraft.”³Today, we have become so accustomed to the traditions of men that we refuse to question them. Even Christian families have been honoring this holiday for generations. But doing so ignores the fact that this festival in no way honors God, and in fact celebrates the very practices God abhors:“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer [pharmakeia], or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.” —Deuteronomy 18:9-11Putting a Christian label over the top of a pagan practice does not make it pleasing to God. In fact, we are to get rid of all pagan practices and have no part of them:“These are the statutes and judgments which you shall be careful to observe in the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place. You shall not worship the Lord your God with such things.” —Deuteronomy 12:1-4God doesn't want us to keep the ways of the world and sprinkle Christianity on top. He wants us to elevate Him alone: His ways, His philosophies, His deliverance, His celebrations. Any other practice is sin and eventually bears bad fruit.3. Don’t dine with demons.Samhain was the one day of the year when the dead were allowed to come back into the world and commune with the living. People traditionally set a spot for the dead at their table, inviting them in. Since there was also the possibility that evil spirits would come looking for them, people took to “guising” themselves for protection. In other words, it’s okay to dine with demons — as long as you wear a costume to protect yourself.“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” —1 Corinthians 10:21So are we really supping with demons? Sharing food with someone represents a sacred connection. Adam and Eve first ate with God in the garden, but then chose to share an apple without God in the presence of Satan. Jesus spent much of his time on earth dining with sinners, because that is who He came to save. The last thing Jesus did before He was crucified was to share a meal with His disciples, and He commands us to continue remembering Him in that way until He comes again. When we see Him in heaven, it will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” — Revelation 3:20Satan is the world’s greatest counterfeiter, so he tempts us to sit at his table and join his feast (festival, festivity) by making it as attractive as he can. He knows we won’t say no if his festival looks like pure evil, so he’s let us create our own G-rated version that we aren’t as likely to resist.But God says, “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? … And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.” —2 Corinthians 6:14-164. Halloween is an excuse to flaunt sexuality.It’s true. Halloween is becoming more risqué every year. In fact, sometimes I think its real name is “Dress Like a Porn Star” Day. Girls dress more provocatively, and at much younger ages, on this day than any other. There seems to be an unwritten competition to have the raciest costume. For those passing on ghoul or gore, the only other worthy goals seem to be shock and immodesty.“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” —Ephesians 5:3-8 I can vouch from personal experience that when we put on a costume, we often detach ourselves, sometimes ever so slightly, from our inhibitions. After all, it is much easier to act a tad bit naughty when our real identity is hidden. It’s almost as if bad behavior is somehow excused when we are in costume — and it’s much easier to explain in the morning: “I wasn’t actually sinning; I was just staying in character.”Even though we are not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, we prefer to emulate them and parade them on our Facebook pages as if they are somehow deserving of honor.“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.” —Ephesians 5:11-125. We play how we practice.This is one of my husband’s favorite sayings. He is usually referring to table manners with our sons: If you use a knife and fork correctly at the kitchen table, then you won’t have any problems when it counts — when you’re at a nice restaurant with your employer or meeting your future wife’s parents for the first time. How we practice spills over into real life.The same applies to Halloween. We think we can entertain the macabre, erect gravestones in our front yards, and prop dead “bodies” on our front porches. “Oh, but they’re not real,” we demur. Then we are appalled when a 17-year-old has a fascination with dead bodies and decides to act on his morbid desires.Do we really have any right to be shocked or even surprised when some among us decide to act out in real life the fascination with evil we insist on holding dear? We can't have it both ways: if we choose to be entertained by evil, we should be prepared for the time when it becomes reality.“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this work, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” —Ephesians 6:12Let us not drop our guard for a moment, or even camp out one night a year “for fun” on the side of the enemy.6. Are we causing others to stumble?Even if we don’t believe it’s dangerous to dabble in the ancient pagan practices of Druid priests, have we given any thought to the impact our actions might have on others?The Bible tells us just how important it is that we not lead His children astray (Matthew 18:6) or cause them to stumble (Mark 9:42). If we present witchcraft, promiscuity, and the occult in a fun and seductive manner now, are we opening the door to involvement in those practices in the future?Will our children learn values we want them to learn by participating in this “holy day,” or would they learn better values, perhaps even courage, from seeing us stand up against evil even when our culture says it’s fine? It probably goes without saying, but what values are we impressing on our children when we send them trick-or-treating? Is the lie “give me your candy or I’ll play a trick” really becoming of anyone?If we forego Halloween but give our children a substitute celebration instead, are we sending the message that “I am trying to compensate because I think you’re missing out on something really amazing”? I want my children to believe what I myself believe: that we have been given something so much better than this! No more bobbing for apples in the church basement (a pagan fertility ritual, by the way) when I have true joy in knowing God’s true Son!7. Be faithful in the small things.For many Christians, the thought of whether to celebrate Halloween is a small issue, maybe even a non-issue. After all, it’s only one day a year. And what harm is there really in a handful of Snickers miniatures and a pillowy pumpkin costume?Let me answer that this way:First, our character, integrity, and devotion to God is evident in the small things. If we can't be faithful in the small things, how will our hearts be faithful in the big things?“He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.” —Luke 16:10So, yes, even something as seemingly small as how we handle Halloween is important.Second, God has told us to focus on what is pure, noble, right, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8). Is Halloween any of these things? No, and therefore it is unworthy of any of our time or thoughts.Third, “the Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” —1 John 3:8If God came for the purpose of destroying the works of Satan, why do we then try remember, imitate, and even elevate those very things?How do we expect we will be able to keep ourselves faithful when the big temptations come alone when we can't even say no to glorifying evil in what we do for fun?“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” —James 1:27But we've joined forces with the world. In fact, instead of keeping ourselves unspotted, we have become one giant spot with it — we are so much alike no one can tell where the world ends and the Church begins.We need to start keeping ourselves pure in the small things, so that we will be able to stay pure and undefiled in the big things.8. God wants to bless us — but not in the way the world blesses.For those of us who love Jesus, why is it so important to entertain the macabre and flirt with the dark side for one day, one week, or one month out of the year, instead of delighting in the joy the Lord Himself has set before us?“Thus says the Lord, ‘Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile....’” —Jeremiah 10:2We often say we don't want to deprive our children of candy, of dressing up, of the "fun" they have by participating in this holiday. But God has already told us the customs of the world are futile!Is this is the kind of happiness we want for our children, we are clearly setting our standards too low. Seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness, and He will provide all of the other things we need.“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” —Psalm 37:3-4God in His divine sovereignty did not give us Halloween for our entertainment. Instead, we thought we were missing something and we hijacked it! Just like Eve in the garden, we believed Satan’s lie that God was withholding something good from us. God, however, has far better things in store for us than candy corn and parlor games. Why do we continue to grovel in the plastic sandbox when God has given us the entire beach?⁴We continue pouring time and money into what is overall something that has no lasting fruit and does not in any way glorify God. Would our time be better spent in prayer, teaching our children about the real dangers their friends face by dabbling in the occult? As a Christian, I don't want to spend even a penny of my money on a $7-billion-a-year event that is so dishonoring to God. As a nation, it is painfully evident where our hearts are.“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Luke 12:349. There is sin in the camp.Even if we think our costumes are not sinful (as if it’s the costume that’s the problem and not the fact that we are still giving reverence to the holiday itself), what about others who have decided that there is nothing wrong with their costumes either? After all, they aren’t really practicing witchcraft, just dressing up as witches. So do we excuse the dressing up but draw the line at Ouija boards? What about pretending to cast spells? We have made ourselves the judges of what is good and evil instead of following God’s command to avoid even the spoils of the enemy.I have two words to say to that kind of thinking: Remember Achan.In Joshua 7, Israel was accursed and could not even stand before its enemies because just one man, Achan, had taken the spoils of Jericho, when God had said no one was to touch them. By the sin of one man, the entire nation was judged.“Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.” —Joshua 7:8-12It's just a holiday — what’s the big deal? The darkness of Halloween is devoted to destruction and is in no way honoring to our Father of lights (James 1:17) — and no orange and black sugar coating will make it so. God is a jealous God, and all pagan beliefs are sinful in God’s eyes. We can’t choose how much or even how nicely we want to celebrate.And we need to help hold each other accountable because we may all bear the judgment for sin in the camp.At this time in history more than ever, we are in great need of God’s mercy on our land:“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” —2 Chronicles 7:14Yet how many of us are truly humbling ourselves and turning from wickedness? We say we are followers of Christ, but we refuse to surrender in complete obedience to His Word in even the simple act of turning from a holiday that glorifies evil.If still we refuse to repent and seek God’s wisdom in every aspect of our lives, we should not be surprised when God further removes His hand of blessing and protection from this great land.10. Come out from them and be separate.Perhaps the reason I finally let go of Halloween was precisely because I didn’t want to.If that sounds like a contradiction, let me explain. You see, the very fact that I kept coming up with reasons and excuses so I could continue celebrating eventually led me to question my motives. Why was I hanging on so tightly? Was it possible that my celebration of Halloween had become an idol to me? Certainly it appeared so, because still I embraced the traditions of men even when I knew God’s heart on the matter.“Therefore come out from them and be separate from them, says the Lord.” —2 Corinthians 6:17God wants His people to be holy, which means to be set apart. If everyone else is doing something, and I’m doing it too, that is a good time to examine myself to see if I’m really in the faith. If people don’t look at me and think I am peculiar (1 Peter 2:9) — if I fit right in with our culture and no one can tell I am any different — then I am probably doing something wrong.The Bible doesn’t say that we should have less up do with darkness than other people do; it says have nothing to do with evil. By even acknowledging and associating with the holiday, I was giving credence to it in my life and opening myself to deception.It is my prayer that everyone who follows Christ will be open to prayerfully seeking God’s wisdom about the traditions of man.“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” —Ephesians 5:6-10Here are additional Bible verses you can review as you prayerfully seek God’s wisdom regarding whether your family should continue to celebrate Halloween:http://www.openbible.info/topics/celebrating_halloween

Here is another article I came across that also talks about Halloween:
"Why this mom doesn't do halloween"
http://ourgoodwinjourney.com/2013/10/why-this-mom-doesnt-do-halloween/

18 weeks...

We are very thankful for the 18 weeks we have been given of this little life. We have a doctor's appt coming up that we are anticipating great news again of continued spared life within. 

your baby's the size of a sweet potato!

She's about 5.6 inches long and about 6.7 ounces now and she keeps on growing rapidly. (That's why you're probably feeling so hungry.)

your baby at 18 weeks

• Can you believe she's yawning, hiccuping, sucking and swallowing?
• And she's twisting, rolling, punching and kicking, too -- and she's big enough that you might be able to feel her doing it!

16 weeks!!

16 weeks have arrived and all seems to be going good so far. We are thankful for the signs that the baby is still growing.. gaining weight, stomach groing slowly...

What an amazing blessing we are able to experience!

This week: 

your baby's the size of an avocado!

Now, she's about 4.6 inches long and weighs about 3.5 ounces, and she's big enough that your doctor may be able to hear her heartbeat.

your baby at 16 weeks

• She's listening to your voice, thanks to tiny bones forming in her ears.
• She's growing hair, lashes and eyebrows.
• And she's forming taste buds.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and well wishes, we are blessed to have such a supportive group of family and friends!

14 weeks!!

14 weeks today!! 

We had our doctor's appt this morning...

Here is the size of fruit the baby is this week..

 

your baby's the size of a lemon!

At week 14, your baby is 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces, he's almost doubled in weight since last week and keeps on growing.

We were able to hear the heart beat as well!! What a blessing to hear there is a little baby developing and growing inside of me. 

your baby at 14 weeks

• He's probably sucking his thumb and wiggling his toes in there!
• His kidneys are making urine, and his liver and spleen are doing their jobs, too.
• And he's growing lanugo, a thin, peach-fuzz-like hair, all over his body -- it will help him keep warm!

Thank you for all your prayers! 

Banff and Lake Louise

Well, it has been a while since I have posted pictures of our travels this summer. So here we go again!

We visited the Fairmount Hotel that is located in Banff. Beautiful building!!! 

The first few are of the hotel... we were able to walk around and view the antique looking rooms and furniture and art work.

View from Fairmount...

Long corridor where we stopped to rest and enjoy the view from the window

Mountain views we passed on our way to the hotel...

We were accompanied by dear friends of ours on our trip to Banff/Lake Louise.. Stan & Juliet McKenzie

:)....