From Around Blog Land

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Prepare for Gay Marriage – Great article on how, as Christians, to prepare for gay marriage.  “Prepare our children, prepare to love, prepare for jail, prepare for betrayal, prepare a refuge?, prepare for eternity.”

A Healthy Baby Isn’t All That Matters – Why the phrase “At least s/he’s healthy” after a birth is actually destructive.

My Train Wreck Conversion – “As a leftist lesbian professor, I despised Christians.  Then I somehow became one.”  Praise the Lord!

After Steubenville: 25 Things Our Sons Need to Know about Manhood – As a mother of a son now, I really appreciated this post.

-Bonnie

Life With You

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I now direct you to our song.  Because I love it.  And because I love and miss my husband.  Also because it is the inspiration behind our blog name.

Love you, sweetheart!!!  You are the best husband in the world!!

-Bonnie

Our Answered Prayer

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I think this post is overdue.

For those who have been reading our blog for a while, you know about all the doctor’s visits and tests and procedures I went through to determine if I had PCOS.  And if it wasn’t PCOS, what was it?  (If you’re new, you can see those posts here.  )

The last update was that everything was fine health wise.  Praise God!

I need to just talk about answered prayer.

Before the Pilot and I were together…when I was still trying to sort out my feelings for him….I prayed many times that God would bring the right woman into his life to help him raise his children.  I knew that he wanted children.

It was hard.  During all the doctor visits, not knowing if I would actually be the answer to that prayer I prayed.  It was hard even after we got the all-clear when we had several negative pregnancy tests.  Maybe something was wrong with my body after all?  Maybe God just didn’t intend for us to be parents.

But I prayed.  I prayed that my body would be able to conceive.  I prayed that we would be able to have children.  At least three close friends were praying with me.

Fast forward to last November.  The Pilot and I had both noticed that things were odd with me.  For one thing, I was getting out of breath after hardly any exertion.  We were getting slightly concerned and were making plans to go to the doctor if it didn’t get better.  Neither of us ever dreamed I was pregnant.

We went to the commissary and just picked up a .99 cent test so that I could know for sure I wasn’t pregnant and move on with my life. When we got home I waited a few minutes and prayed about the test results  Rather, I prayed for my heart.  Unlike some of the previous times of testing for pregnancy, I wasn’t all caught up in the moment (I honestly thought I wasn’t pregnant) but I still was just praying that when it came out negative I would praise His plan.  I wanted to honor God regardless of the result..

So I took the test and IMMEDIATELY it came out a super clear positive. What?? I waited the full two minutes in the hallway, went back in and it was still positive. I took the test in to my husband, held it up and said, “I think I’m pregnant.”  He took it and began to examine the test. That’s when I started crying and we just hugged. We went straight back to the store for a more expensive test and I took two more….both immediately a clear positive. We were so giddy!!

This baby is an answer to prayer.

I am just praising God.  Praising Him that my body is in fact able to conceive.  Praising Him for His perfect timing.  (We wouldn’t have been able to do half the amazing things we did before our move if we had been pregnant sooner.)  Praising Him for that wonderful day we got the positive.  Praising Him for this baby.  Our son.  Our son!!

During those months of waiting to get pregnant…those months where I was looking down at another negative test…God grew me so much.  And I am so thankful for that!

I’ve wondered what people would think after reading our blog.  After seeing the stories about the doctor’s tests….then I’m pregnant.  Would people judge me?  “See, there was no reason to be upset before!”  “Silly girl.”  “You should have just given it more time.”  I know, I know…what people think doesn’t matter.  (Amazing book about people-pleasing “When People are Big and God is Small” by Edward Welch…on my “To Be Read Again” list.)  Honestly…I don’t feel ashamed at all.  That is precisely the path God took us down.  For a reason.  And it is never easy to be facing facts that you might have difficulty conceiving or be unable to completely.  I don’t apologize for what I went through.  I proclaim it to show off the goodness of God and His amazing hand!

This has been quite a journey.  And we are so thankful!

-Bonnie

When Your Husband is Gone

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Well….my sweet husband and I are two weeks into our time apart.  We probably have at least two more weeks to go…possibly longer.

I’ve been enjoying my visit in California.  It’s been so great visiting family, and of course spending time with my sweet nephews and nieces.  🙂  But honestly it is nowhere near as much fun as if my love were here, too.  Not quite as much sparkle in the world.

Being away from your spouse is never fun or easy, regardless of the length of time apart.  (Seriously, I still cry sometimes when he leaves just for a day at work!)

A post came up on my google reader shortly after arriving here.  It was really good timing.  It’s called How to Maintain Your Marriage When Your Husband Travels.  SO good.

One of my favorite parts was her fifth point.  “Turn to God for all your needs.”  It was such a great reminder that even the Pilot can not and should not be the ultimate one in my life.  He can’t fulfill my everything.  Only One Person can…and that is God.  Sure, the Pilot is the sparkle in my world….but God is the ultimate sustainer and encourager.  That thought gives so much strength to keep going when I don’t feel like it!  He will give the strength to make it through the next few weeks!

-Bonnie

Pregnancy Update: Week 20

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IMG_20130304_113133_26920 weeks!

Our sweet baby is about ten inches long (from head to heel) and
weighs about ten and a half ounces.  He is
swallowing a lot, practicing for digesting food later.  His taste buds
are now developed!

Biggest news since my last post?  We found out our baby’s gender!! 😀

It’s so amazing to be close to halfway done!  (ACOG [American Congress
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists] says
full-term is 42 weeks.)  Can’t believe how
quickly time is flying!

Remember how in my last post I asked our little one to start
moving?  A week later, when I was 17 weeks
to the day, he did!!!  I had just woken up and was lying in bed
when I felt it…just a few repetitive taps on my left side.
The Pilot was still sleeping, but I quickly woke him up!  Our son
moves quite a bit!  I usually feel him at least once a day.  I love it!!
I can even see my tummy jump from the outside.  Makes my heart
so happy to feel/see him move!

Felt my first Braxton Hicks contraction a few days ago as well!
Definitely a unique feeling…that and baby kicking my bladder!

I’m also now showing enough that people know I’m pregnant…
not just pudgy.  😉  I finally had one person ask if I was pregnant…
and at least one other person just assume I was.  Makes me smile
so big!  Not at all ashamed of my baby bump.  😀 😀

So thankful that all my aversions are still gone.  I keep craving
grapes and strawberries.  So good!!  And they satisfy my
sugar cravings, which is also a great bonus!

Dear Son,
We love you!!  It makes Mommy and Daddy
smile so big to see and feel your kicks.  We are so 
excited to see your face in only a few months!  God has 
such great things planned for you…and you are already
such a blessing to us!    
-Mommy

Off to IFS

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Okay, it’s been a while since my last update. So far, not too much has happened. I’ve been working a temporary job, waiting for pilot training to start. And finally, here we are. I am now starting the first part of pilot training, IFS. At IFS we will learn the basics, and hopefully have a fun time!

So far, my trip to Colorado for IFS has been one of adventure. We got caught in a blizzard, in Amarillo Texas. Fun times! Hopefully the rest of IFS will go well.

Here are a few pics!2013-02-25 14.16.26

2013-02-25 09.44.23-The Pilot

Pregnancy Update: Week 16

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2013-02-05 17.04.0916 weeks, 1 day

Baby is now 4 1/2 inches long and weighs about 3 1/2 ounces!  S/he is
the size of an avocado!  Toenails are beginning to form and its heart is
pumping 25 quarts of blood each day.  Our baby is always on the move…generally
not still for more than 10 minutes at a time.  (Mommy has yet to feel it!)
The nervous system continues to develop, and all of baby’s moving
helps strengthen it.

Several times I have tried google searches to find out when baby can hear us.
Mixed results.  I’m going with the answers that said 16 weeks.  😉

I haven’t had many cravings….mostly fruit.  Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries,
and pineapple.  I have the best husband ever….the other day he
bought me a big fruit tray I was drooling over at the store.  That thing
was not cheap!!!  Definitely won’t be making that splurge again but
it has been an amazing treat!!!  (Thank you, sweetheart!!)

I still only wear the maternity jeans….but almost all my other pants and skirts
are starting to be too uncomfortable.  A lot of my tops still fit, but I did go
through my closet and pull to the front the ones that have empire waists.
Soon I think that the maternity clothes will be here in full force!  😀

Currently my love and I are reading Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp.
I also added two other books to my pregnancy pile….The Thinking Woman’s
Guide to a Better Childbirth by Henci Goer (so far it’s REALLY good…wish
they would print a more up-to-date version!) and
Redeeming Childbirth by Angie Tolpin
(so far I have mixed thoughts on that one).

I liked this post from Bonnie at The Koala Bear Writer.  Especially
being in my first pregnancy, I appreciate her honesty.  And that one quote
she shared is so great!!  (Quick note on Bonnie….she’s awesome!!
She’s one of our few regular readers and commenters.  Thanks, Bonnie,
for taking the time to read and comment and encourage us!!)

On the To-Do List:
1. Write birth plan
2. Begin working on baby’s room
3. Assess maternity clothes situation to determine what all
I’ll need in the upcoming months.
4. Keep reading the above books!

Dear Little One,
The past few weeks my tummy has started to grow more.
It makes me so happy to see the growth and know that
you are in there, growing and developing.  I hope you can hear me
when I talk to you and read to you…maybe you can start giving
little flutters or kicks as a sign, okay?  You are so loved, 
precious child.  I am so thankful that God gave you to us
and I can’t wait to see His plans for you!
-Mommy

Please Pray Today!

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Huge prayer request today!

I don’t know if any of y’all watch the Super Bowl.  I personally don’t.  I just don’t get football.  It’s not my thing.  But…whether you are watching the game or not, please be in prayer!  Every year, the Super Bowl is a huge venue for human trafficking.  It has been called “the single largest human trafficking incident in the United States.”

The Huffington Post published an article last year on this topic.

Please join me in prayer today that the number of victims will decrease.  For protection.  For deliverance.  For those who are doing the selling to be caught.  For the customers to be caught.  And please pray for the light of Christ to come into hearts!

-Bonnie

From Around Blog Land

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You Cannot Be Anything You Want – Tackling the ever prevalent idea that you can be anything you want to be in life.  The reality is that while God has great things in store for each person, that person must also take stock of his or her own weaknesses.

Another Way to Look After Orphans – Five practical ways to help families who are adopting!

Reporters Who Watch Abortions Tell of their Brutal Reality – In honesty, I couldn’t even finish reading the article.  It breaks my heart and makes me cry to hear about abortions.  It is only so much more real to me now that there is a precious human life growing in my right now.  But this article is so powerful.  The fact is that abortion takes a human life…and that fact cannot be denied.

Hard Water Spot Removal – My sister shares a way to clean hard water spots using only a lemon and a scrub brush.  I might need to try this in our bathroom!

Finally, a video.  I can’t say that I have listened to much of Tenth Avenue North, but a friend sent me this video and I loved some of what he said.  “Hallelujah, we are free to struggle, but we also are not struggling to be free.”