Saturday Plans

Well, Gary is off this Saturday and I was looking forward to spending the day as a family. I had a half lazy, half get stuff done around the house, day planned.

Instead, we're going to go have a baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ordained

"your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be."

Psalm 139:16

(To read the whole chapter)


Ten days! I have been counting down the number of days to June 7 for 8 1/2 months now. But as June 7 approaches (10 days away...in case you didn't catch that!) it is not June 7 that I anticipate anymore.

As I sit here, feeling much too tired to go into labor anytime today :o), the date I am anticipating now, is unknown to me.

My due date was the date set by man. It was the date that in our earthly wisdom we could pinpoint as the time God's miracle would be ready to enter this world.

The date that this little girl will have been growing for 40 weeks is sure. That is just 10 days away!

The date that she will enter this world and I will get to count her toes, kiss her cheeks, and find out who's nose she has...well, that remains a mystery.

But not to God. He has ordained that day. It has been set since before I knew I wanted her.

When I was pregnant with Rachel, we had decided on Monday, March 27, to be induced on Tuesday, March 28. I remember driving to the hospital on that morning and worrying that it wasn't right to choose her birthday. (To clarify...there were several reasons to induce but none were health related, I would not have had that worry if there had been a medical emergency!) Anyway, I mentioned my worry to Gary...what if this isn't the day God had planned? To which he replied, "Then it won't happen today."

Very good point.

And Rachel was born on that day. Not because we chose to induce, but because God had ordained it.

Three years later, here we are anxious to know what day God has ordained for our fifth little one. We are having fun talking about what day we would pick. She could share her Grandma's birthday, or mine. We are planning who to call to take the kids in the middle of the night, or the middle of the day. And getting even more anxious as we learned yesterday that I'm already 3cm and 80% effaced!!!! And we are waiting.

Waiting to see what day is already written in His book! We do know it's soon!

On Your Marks...Get Set...

...but don't GO just yet!!!

I think it's important to first decide what race you're running. A couple of years ago I was facing a big decision. If you don't know, I don't like decisions. It's probably just me being a chicken, because if someone else decides then it's not my fault if it turns out to be wrong. But moving on...

Gary and I were separated at the time and I had a babysitting opportunity come up. The details of this opportunity are not important now, but let's just say it was a very, very complicated situation.

So, I was faced with a BIG decision. I desperately wanted to do God's will. I desperately wanted to know what that was! I was stressed but I was in prayer.

And God did show me His will. But He did so much more than just show me what direction to take.

He taught me something about seeking His will.

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

He reminded me that this life is my race.

I Corinthians 9:24 says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

He reminded me that there was purpose in this race. Eternal purpose.

And then He asked me what race I was running!

I was trying to run a baton relay. I was anxious and searching. Looking for Him to show up with a baton to pass on to me. I wanted to make sure that it was from Him, I wanted to run the race He had set for me.

But.

I wanted to grab a baton and take off running. I'd seek His direction again if I came to a crossroads, but until then, just let me run!

He was waiting for me to join Him in a different race.

The three-legged race.

One step at a time.

And never without His lead.

That big decision was not a baton. It was a step.

And His will wasn't something to accept and then set out on my own to accomplish.

He will was for me to trust that He had a plan, a course, and then rely on Him with each and every step. His will was a race that involved an intimate relationship with Him.

Feeling Like Sponge Bob

Okay, if you don't watch Sponge Bob, then you just won't understand. But in the voice of my favorite little porous friend, I want to exclaim...

"I'm ready!"

(I told you that you wouldn't understand. That's okay.)

So, our little one has been a very good girl! She has turned (although she is face up at the moment, but we can work on that) and did very well for her non-stress test. I get to go in once a week now for the test and ultrasound. I think this is due to the fact that once they see that the cord may be around baby's neck they have to continue to monitor them more closely because they can't truly tell by ultrasound if the cord is around the neck or just appears to be. This is just an educated guess, however, because I have not been worrying about it to the point that I plum forgot to ask any questions!

So, we're 4 1/2 weeks from our due date...I feel like a kid again counting the days until my birthday :o) ! I was blessed to find a few great garage sale bargains last week! A swing (one that swings side to side and front to back) , a vibrating bouncy chair, and a sling all for a grand total of $14! Thank you, God! My husband rearranged our bedroom to make room for our bassinet. Did I mention that...

"I'm ready!"

Well, there are two very important things that need to be finished first.

We need an infant car seat! This is one item that we decided we will probably just buy new. But we'd better hurry up or Gary will be shopping for one while I wait at the hospital to go home!

It is finally starting to sink in how soon she will be entering the world! I think that because she is due the beginning of summer, her due date has seemed so far away. Now that the weather is so nice, it's starting to feel like summer is actually coming soon...and so is our girl!

"I'm ready!"

So, the second thing that we are working on getting done is a bunk bed! I am so excited about this! We were given instructions and tips from a friend who built one for his boys 11 years ago. We need to be able to fit all 3 girls in the same bedroom that only accommodates 2 beds. So, we are building a bunk bed with a trundle to give them more space. Why? Because this is easier than moving!!!

The kids' last day of school is June 2. Baby is due June 7. It's been fun wondering which will come first. And I have to say that I am glad is not up to me! I am glad God has her day all planned. I can see so many reasons to hope she comes while the kids are still in school...and just as many good reasons to hope she doesn't. But the Creator who has so lovingly been knitting her together, sees more than I ever could, and He has made a perfect plan for her.

I feel blessed beyond measure to be a part of her life.

Oh, yeah, and...

"I'm ready!"