Just a couple things...

Lila, the one year old I am taking care of for a while, is preoccupied so I thought I'd take a minute to ask for your prayers.

1. My great-aunt (Ain't Arlene as we call her) has been diagnosed w/ lung and brain cancer. She's a smoker and the lung cancer, while difficult to find, tends to spread quickly. It completely covers one lung, half of the other, and enough of her brain to be incredibly serious and inoperable. The specialists at Erlanger in Chattanooga have said she may have as little as 2 months and as long as 5 years.

2. My step-mom's sister, Debbie, had a stroke a couple weeks ago. She has lost 1/4 of her brain functioning. It's the reasoning, sequencing, mature part which may or may not be compensated for w/ proper therapy. Dede is taking care of her (plus their mother and aunt, who has epilepsy) and really needs to take it easy. Dede was recently diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia (sp?) and the more stress she has, the worse she feels.

Just a few things we could really use your prayers on. Other than that all is well. Hadlee is growing at the speed of light and taking up more than her fair share of tummy space! :) We absolutely LOVE being at home and are taking full advantage of seeing family on a near daily basis. Lila isn't so preoccupied anymore and I think it's nearly her morning nap time... ahh, nap time...

Happy Blog-iversary... My Dog is Grounded

Today marks the beginning, one year ago, that I began traveling down the bloggin' road. It has brought nothing but encouragement, friends, prayers, laughs, and little touches of Christ via technology. What a sweet treat!

... Now, about my dog. She is SO grounded. Yesterday I took her to the vet for her vaccinations and a flea and tick treatment (ticks are awful this year!). She does good job of traveling after she is in the vehicle, it's the whole getting in the vehicle part that scares her to death. (Can you see where this is going?) Well, all went well with the visit, weighing, seeing my sis-in-law, etc. We were leaving and Karen (the sis-in-law) had walked us to the car to help me get Sass back inside. Karen was at her head and I was assisting at the hind quarters. We try a couple of times to lift her to no avail (really, I was just there to talk, not do all that much lifting). The third time's a charm, right? Not in the Hale family. Sass slipped her head down, managed to get out of her BODY HARNESS and bolted. That's one stubborn dog with no harness in the smallish town of Tullahoma running rampant while three completely embarrassed and frustrated women tried to bribe her w/ treats, dead animals, and a threat to end her life (I was the only one doing that part, though). For 30 MINUTES we chased and tried to coax her back towards the clinic ~ we ran through yards (saw a couple smoking some crack and ran a bit faster) across streets, in front of traffic (luckily the speed limit in town is only 20 mph) and finally headed back to the clinic. Sass followed and was eventually contained. So now she's grounded for 3 days (no attention, no walks, and no treats) and I have to find a HUGE thank you gift for Karen, Amy (the vet) and yankee girl who answers the phones. Any suggestions?

Must head off to the New Union area. I'm yard sale-ing (I can't spell that) today and keeping a one year old... something tells me it's not going to be the best combination of duties. Bye now.

And we're back...

I can't express enough how fantastic it feels to be back home. It's been four years since I've lived here and six years for B (plus his 4 1/2 years of college at Evansville). It took about two trips to his parents' house (5 whole miles down the road) to decide that there are few jobs that can feel right enough in the heart and right enough in the wallet to compensate for leaving Coffee County. Homecoming is so sweet, I can't even begin to imagine what's in store for THE homecoming!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers over the past week. Ma Penny lived a long life (89) and was tired and ready to get to her eternal resting place.

The rental house is slowly becoming home-like. It doesn't smell like us yet, but I'll take care of that w/ some B&B Works wall flowers and candles! We have decided to stay here (in the rental) save up a good chunk of cabbage and try to find some land to build on. Forget North Carolina, forget Atlanta, forget GE if we have to; it's all about being w/ family!

We are officially into the last trimester. I'm officially ready to not be pregnant anymore and stay swollen no matter what precautions I take (CC, how in the world did you do this for so long??!?!) I've always wanted to have four children, that want is quickly changing to a lower number! :) I guess we'll take what precious gifts we're given. I've come to the realization that it's not really my decision to make anyway. Whatever God sees fits is what we'll take.

Break time is over, must unpack some more and head over to my parents to set up for a yard sale for this weekend.

When it rains...

It pours.

Today, Mattie Jane Tenpenny, or Ma Penny to many of us, passed away. Hadlee would have been her tenth great-great-grandchild.

Stuff 'n Things... n' Procrastination 'n Prayers

Today I left my last Ladies Bible Study class and lunch and gabbing session as a true Lawrenceburgan. Sadness.

Today I am supposed to pack, I'm blogging instead.

Today my great-grandmother (Ma Penny) had a heart attack and was life-lighted (or is it life-flighted? we say it so fast I actually have no idea) to a Nashville hospital (we assume it's Saint Thomas, but do not know for certain ~ Daddy has a large lack of details disease). We have been asked not to flood the hospital w/ visitors (all together there are roughly 75 - 80 children - great-great-grandchildren), but to pray. So please join us in that.

Today I bought a graduation gift for a sweet friend who will be in Nashville at DLU next fall.

Today they put a "SOLD" sign in my front yard.

Monday evening we met the people who will inhabit my precious home in a couple of weeks. My only comment is "I'm sorry house and nice neighbors." Next time we sell a home, I'll screen the buyers in a much more proficient manner. Goodbye nice walls, white carpet, and pretty yard. (Yes, I am being judgmental and I could be wrong, but I just don't think so...)

Today I need a nap and don't have time to take one.

Tomorrow is the last day we have to pack.

Yesterday I (along w/ my step-mom and a friend) scrubbed our rental house from top to bottom to get ready for us to live in.

Today I am exhausted from expending all of that energy.

Today I am a week behind on my classes. Next week I'll have to catch up and unpack at the same time.

Today I have 97 more days until HAH's due date.

Today I could use some laughter.

Funny Forwards

YOU KNOW YOU GREW UP IN THE 80's or early 90's IF-

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE ".
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Bel-air " ...and
can do the "Carlton".
4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly
sexy.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to
start a club of your own.
6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that "WOAH " comes from Joey on Blossom
8. Two words: Hammer Pants
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock."
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and
"spokey-dokes" or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect.
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "DuckTales " (Woo ooh!)
12. When it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to
watch cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles " on the big
screen..and still know the turtles names.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer
class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your
shirt in a knot on the side.
17. You played the game "MASH " (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter,
House)
18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of
it.
19. L.A. Gear....need I say more?
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM " in Kindergarten.
(She's truly outrageous.)
21. You remember reading "Tales of a fourth grade nothing " and all
the Ramona books.
22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF "
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us... head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his
nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took lunch boxes to school... and traded Garbage Pail Kids
in the schoolyard.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to say "NOT " after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook
up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because
you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes (and like #24, probably in
neon colors, too).
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know
you are, but what am I?"
36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up! "
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline
skates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. "Don't worry, be happy "
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top
Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do...
getting yelled at by "younger hip" members of the family)
46. "Miss MARY MACK MACK MACK, all dressed in BLACK BLACK BLACK "
47. You remember boom boxes.. and walking around with one on your
shoulder like you were all that.
48. You remember watching both "Gremlins " movies.
49. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"
50. You remember watching "Rainbow Bright" and "My Little Pony
Tales"
51. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
52. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
53. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool... and
don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB".
54. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on
"Saved By the Bell", the ORIGINAL class.
55. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
56. You just sang those words to yourself.
57.You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
58. homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)
59. You remember when mullets were cool!
60. You had a mullet!
61. You still sing "We are the World "
62. You tight rolled your jeans.
63. You owned a bannana clip.
64. You remember "Where's the Beef?"
65. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' about
Willis?"
66. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
67. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head,
aren't you!!!

Decisions... not that they are all that important or life altering, they're just more fun at the moment.

I'm having a problem deciding on which baby bedding I like the most. Other than seeing it in person, this is as close to touching, feeling and smelling as I can get w/out putting any $$$ into the purchase. Tell me what you think "Coronation" or "Pocketful of Posies." (Click here, then check out children's, then baby bedding, and girl's bedding.)

Yesterday was so much fun. The Ladies Bible Class held a shower for me. The whole "I'm going to be a mother in a short while" thing is beginning to really kick in. There is pink frilly stuff everywhere and I LOVE IT!!!!

I need to whip up some lunch for Brandon, pack up some boxes and dive into the oh so interesting world of Marriage and Family Development. Woo~hoo!

Oh yeah. B was officially offered the North Carolina job yesterday. There is much to ponder, look at, think and pray over, and several more options in the GE job search to look into as well (one of which would probably allow us to stay in Manchester). Please keep us in your prayers over these decisions (the not-so-fun, life-altering ones).

Dreams

Last night Brandon told me of a news story where a local couple had to deliver their child in the car en route to the hospital. Apparently this bothered me some what on a sub-conscious level, as I dreamed the following.

It was a hot Tennessee summer evening. Brandon and I were hosting a BBQ for some friends and family members. He and the others are outside chit-chatting away and I'm in the hallway cramping and feeling a bit out-of-sorts. I sit down on the guest bed, (which if you know me, sitting on a made bed is definitely an unpardonable sin) reach down and deliver a baby boy... a boy? A BOY??!??!! It's a BOY??? What happened to my sweet little girl? What in the world am I going to do w/ a boy? I'm not prepared for a boy! AARRGH!!!! In walks my sister and niece all excited about me delivering a baby and not having a mess of any kind to clean up. I hand Lynette the baby and run out to get Brandon. He gets all perturbed b/c I interrupted his conversation (if you know him at all, you know he just doesn't get perturbed at anything). I"m crying hysterically over delivering A BOY and he could care less. He has guests to entertain and I had sat down on the bed for crying out loud! My sister calls the doctor who appears at the house and says "Congratulations on your son. What are you going to name him?" I let out a blood curdling scream and the dream pans to a beautiful sunset.

That's what I call messed up! For the love... I can't handle too many more of these. I'll be a nervous wreck by the time we reach the hospital (an hour and a half drive from the house in Manchester ~ let's think about that at a later date!). Just thought I'd share that little tid bit. Not much else to blog about. Getting boxes packed and working on summer school.

By the way, the next time I decide to have a child while in grad school please remind me of the pocket protector wearing professor from Nebraska and I'll definitely change my mind! Holy Moses, how in the world am I supposed to "think scientifically, academically, and critically about marriage and family development" when I can't even decide what to fix for supper?!!!

Life is in the details, not the parachute.

More than just about any other saying, I firmly believe that life is definitely in the details. I love details about absolutely everything. I mean EVERYTHING! (Unless it's my grandmother describing what she ate for supper three nights ago for the fifth time in one phone conversation, then I'm not so appreciative of them.) The good thing about seeing, knowing and understanding the details is that there is little room to be un-prepared for any (detail) given situation. I am SO INTO DETAILS, that I asked my ob/gyn for a c-section so that I could be fully prepared and know exactly when HAH is coming into the world ~ she laughed and said "Umm, no!" If you are around many men you probably know that most of them could give a flitter about details. One such man is my husband, bless his heart.

Unfortunately, men run the course of our life right now. Every person who is higher in the GE food chain and has a remote in-site to our future, just isn't too detail oriented. What we do know is this: Brandon has a job through the end of September and probably will continue w/ the company after that date. As of now, his boss has his eye on two very different places. One is the North Carolina job (we would probably live in South Carolina ~ one of the guys B works w/ said it's much less expensive, just as nice as Asheville, and only 30 minutes away) and the other is right outside of Atlanta. The girl who has rather strong opinions and hates, detests, can not stand curvy roads, hills, or mountains, just isn't all that excited about living in a very curvy, hilly, mountainy area (when the interstate speed limit is 50 b/c of natural terrain I tend to have panic attacks). This job would be wonderful for B's career and we are told we'd be there for at least 5 years (Holy crap ~ Hadlee will be in Kindergarten in 5 years ~ someone give me a paper bag and tell me to breathe ~ not easy to think about!!!) My brain is having a hard time thinking now, I'll try to continue... The Atlanta job would be more of a lateral slide in the career area. BUT, as we all know, it's not located in the mountains and if you go 50 on any road you will shortly meet your maker. Nascar's got nuttin' on Atlanta highways! Also, Atlanta is only 3 hours from home and we know people there, while NC / SC is 5 - 6 hours depending on who is doing the driving and we know no one in that area. Both are in a different time zone ~ I'll not go into how much that messes w/ my mind right now. We probably won't know until June or even later when or where we'll be moving east. If you'll remember, HAH will be here in August... at least, that's what we're counting on.

If you read paragraph one, you will notice that I'm BIG on details. In paragraph two, there is a large lack of them. Yep, it's not really my kind of thing, but if I have learned anything at all in life, it's that all things will work out in the end (if I knew exactly which "things" these were and when exactly they would "work out" I'd be much more at ease, but ya know how that goes). I seriously think God was bored and needed to laugh so He decided Brandon and I should have to manage our lives in a different manner. He better be getting some good guffaws in is all I have to say about that!

Boxes are slowly being packed and moved to storage in Manchester. Leaving is sad, but being there is going to be so much fun (once the boxes are un-packed)! We are going to miss our church here dearly. (Speaking of church, they are giving us two showers and one going-away party next week ~ FUN!!!) But since my doc's office is only half an hour away I'm going to try to make the appointments on days that social activities are happening and just make myself at home w/ my retired friends.

Changes, details, imagining having a 5 year old... it's a bit much for now, but that's what's going on. Stability seems to have disappeared. God is providing us w/ a parachute. It's not necessarily cute, nor does it match my purse and shoes, but it is a parachute none the less. All we can do is trust in Him, jump, and enjoy the ride down. (If only I knew when the ride was going to be and where we would land...)

Sugar and spice...

and everything nice
that's what
Hadlee Anne Hale ~ a.k.a. HAH
is made of!!! (We're 95% sure, anyway.)

She has chubby cheeks, a blank space between the legs, long appendages, and was incredibly bouncy from the Sun-drop I enjoyed before hand. It was a lot of fun and crowded ~ I was joined by my sister, brother, sis-in-law, niece, her aunt (the ultra stenographer ~ that's a fun one to say) and her daughter in a pediatrician's exam room on a very small table!!! YAY! Just 16 1/2 weeks (or so) to go.

I chose her first name and her father chose her middle. I think it's a cute combination, and not something you hear everyday. How 'bout you? (If for some un-godly reason you disagree, keep it to yourself, please. Thankyouverymuch!)

We found a house in Manchester to rent for the next little while. It's in a cute neighborhood and has a garage and plenty of space for us, HAH and almost everything she'll bring along. It'll work until we know what will come next. RELIEF in one area at least!

Woo~Hoo!!!

I can now feel HAH's jazzercise and breakdancing moves outside of my tummy!!!! So exciting! :)

Question...

Does Sonic, America's Drive-In, really need a drive thru?!?!?!?!!

Saturday Hilda and I spent several hours looking at the baby sections of Target and Toys-R-Us (we weren't sure where Babies-R-Us or USA Baby were located). I successfully went through Target zapping away at large and small things for the baby's registry. If you have the urge to spend money on a gal, I urge you, do not be afraid to send it our way!!! :) Kidding, but really, I'm kind of not too.

Massive head ache, probably sinus related. Going to watch Oprah and veg, then pack up Brandon to send him on his weekly Georgia trip (he's been asked to commit to Wednesdays and Thursdays for an undetermined amount of time). He'll be on the five hour drive around 4:00 in the morning. Please pray for his safety. Mrs. Paranoid isn't too keen on him driving for so long all alone. Yes, I am officially turning into a worry-wart mother ~ he's my closest experiment!

Losing it / Gag a Maggot

So, as with all prego's it is beginning to happen to me. My innie is becoming an outie... and I find this extremely disgusting (or as Shelby used to say "di-gust-ing"). I am so not interested in belly buttons. When my sister was pregnant she could easily make me gag by belly flashing me w/ the big button staring at me like a one-eyed monster (what are those things called? I just can't remember.) I'm cringing just at the thought. Today's term is "GAG A MAGGOT!!!"

Tomorrow I am going w/ my mom-in-law to a baby shower for Brandon's aunt. Yes, you read that correctly, his aunt. (She's a couple of years older than B, but his uncle is in his late 50's. It's an interesting story to say the least!) And then we are going baby furniture shopping!!! I am SOO EXCITED!!!! What fun. I can't wait to pick stuff out. I doubt that we'll buy anything just yet. It will more than likely wait until we move back home, but looking is the fun part.

I have to start compiling the list for my own shower invites. Apparently I'm not supposed to know about the shower, but hello, I picked the date! It will probably take me days to try to remember everyone I should invite. Maybe I'll just get Lynette to put an ad in the paper. That would be so much more convenient, don't you think?

The energy phase is beginning to slip away. I'm glad of that for only one reason... the end is near!!! Only 123 more days... and if I do my yoga squats, it could be even less than that (is it bad to think that way??!!).

Off to rest and do some laundry. Have a great weekend and kiss your babies (or someone else's, either way will work!)

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Do you ever look at situations and ask yourself, "Is this a gift from God, or is He just bored with my current life and in need of some real entertainment?" No, I didn't think so.

With the closing of Murray getting closer and our move from our little home even closer still, Brandon and I have been tossing around several different living scenarios...

Our favorite is striking it rich, buying a home in Coffee County and flying our private plane to exotic destinations along w/ any friends and family who wish to join in. Since we've never played any type of "strike it rich" game, that one seems to be a bit out of reach...

Next is finding a job that allows us to live happily ever after (again in Coffee County). Only, the more realistic version includes me having a "real job" and HAH and any subsequent children being watched by someone while B and I bring home the cabbage. While we both know that having excessive amounts of $$$ isn't everything, we also know that it sure does seem to make some things easier. I've been thinking about what my dream has always been (staying at home w/ the babies, being an SUV driving soccer mom, having lunch and play dates w/ all the other mom's in the neighborhood, etc.) and what reality seems to be handing us. Working (more than likely as a teacher ~ the more you know, right? ~ until I finish my master's anyway) and having what can be the best of both worlds. We want to provide our children with whatever they want, but more importantly to be available, nurturing, supportive, loving, and set the best examples possible for their lives. How do you decide what is best for your children when you have no idea what being a parent is like?

It's not a stressful decision. Obviously if there is anyway that we can be geographically close to our families that is the path we will head down. Neither of us are worried about the future. God always provides. He always has, and He always will. It's just that there is so much more to consider with a child coming into the world. How do you know what to do when you don't even know what to expect next week?

Just some ideas and details that are swimming around in my head. Apparently, I don't have enough going on in my life already. Any insight on this whole "parenting" thing would be greatly appreciated.

Home

Safely returned.
Stir crazy.
Swollen.
Incessant appetite.
Craving pizza covered in ketchup and Hawaiian Punch Kool Aid.
And homemade vanilla ice cream.
Ready to be in Manchester for a semi-permanent stay.
HAH is moving around like crazy.
She doesn't like it when I go down inflatable slides at Party Palace.
Fun weekend w/ the New Orleans family.
They gave me a surprise baby shower ~ fun ~ & INCREDIBLY surprised!
Going to rest on couch and lay on heating pad.

Yee Haw!!!

Brandon and I just finished up a celebratory trip to the DQ for some ice cream (his choice ~ a Dilly Bar, mine ~ an M&M Blizzard). Why were we celebrating you ask? Well, there is finally a contract on the house ~ YIPPPPPPEEEEE!! We are supposed to close on everything May 16 and then we have two weeks to pack up and move on. The plan for now is to head home (that sounds so surreal) and live in one of my parents' rental units until we are given further instruction by the powers-that-be to head to another place.

It's an exciting time. We've never lived in the same town as our families (always been 2 - 4 hours away) so for the short time we'll be there I'm sure we'll gobble up every chance to see the peeps as is humanly possible. And as an added bonus it will be much cheaper to live in Manchester, so we'll be able to save up some extra cabbage for HAH's future and the down payment on house #2.

Must catch up on classes and begin packing for a weekend trip to New Orleans.

Hooray for a contract, heading home, and not having to keep an immaculate house! :)

Danger: Overly Occupied

Just taking a small reprieve for a moment. I'm in the middle (ok, really, just the beginning, but humor me for a minute!) of a project that is due tomorrow (or today, actually) by 5:00 p.m. and trying not to get overwhelmed by the gargantuan size of this. Going brain dead and losing ideas as soon as they seem to take a tangible form. Is this mommy mush or am I just losing it?!! I'm thinking the best thing for my brain is at least six hours of sleep and a good breakfast. Mmm, breakfast!

Leaving the paper at page three ~ the beginning once you get past the ever important title page and completely useless abstract. Seems like a good place to stop for the time being. Hope your reading this when you've had sleep and some fortifying food... Mmm, food...

Hallelujah for the end of the semester on April 20!!!

Sugar & Spice or Snakes & Snails?

I am not a patient person, nor am I one who likes to be left out of the loop of knowledge. I guess you could call me stubborn or perhaps hard-headed... I truly believe this child will be just like me in every way (her father is the polar opposite in each of the afore mentioned characteristics). We were unable to check out the "important" area in order to determine the baby's sex, she just floated there pretty as a peach w/ her legs crossed in a very lady like fashion. The rad tech, nurse, and doc all think that HAH is a girl (heartbeat was b/t 150 and 160). I was so disappointed and even shed some tears. Oh well, the baby is healthy and doc is pleased w/ our progress. Her brain activity and growth (10 inches and 1/2 lb) are all in line w/ the projected due date. All's well, I'm just left out of the loop for the time being. We'll try again between weeks 30 and 32 (late June / early July)~ maybe HAH will cooperate then. My sister also told me that they have an ultrasound machine at her office we can play around with the next time Brandon and I are in Manchester.

We've had three house showings this week... looking forward to having a contract put on the place sometime in the near future.

Tomorrow B and I are off to Birmingham to visit w/ some friends and do an area survey. It's on the list of possible re-location areas. I'd much rather be there than in North Carolina, but we really don't have a clue as to where we'll end up. The plant isn't closing until Sept. 30, so we have at least that long to find something else. The other option for now is a job where he'd be traveling constantly, but we'd be back at home. I'd rather live away from home and see him on a constant basis ~ call me selfish...

I'm going to soak some strawberries in sugar water for strawberry shortcake and put cucumber slices in salt water. Just a few cravings coming my way! :)

Have a fantastic weekend.

?

We just returned safely from a fantastic trip down to Mobile. I've "done" Inner City work before for a while in Montgomery, but this was an entirely new experience. Instead of just riding the bus to pick up the children and take them to Tues. / Thur. evening studies (not that this isn't an important job by any means!), we were in their homes trying to make new contacts for Chuck and attempting to show them the one thing we ALL have in common ~ the love of GOD. I haven't yet fully processed what happened; I'm not sure that I ever will. What I can say is that it makes me take a look at what I do in my walk w/ Him and want to toss it out the window b/c it is nothing compared to what I am capable of doing. I also have so many questions. Some that I will probably post on here and some that I am sure only the Good Lord himself can answer.

What I do know for sure:
* People in the Inner City are precious chilren of God.
* Mother's in the Inner City are the foundations of the family and home.
* They have struggles. I have struggles. Some we may share, and others we may not, but we all are just trying to get from here to there w/ safety and securtiy.
* You can't map out the "Five Steps to Salvation" for someone who hasn't ever heard of Jesus, who doesn't know how to find Bibile passages and can't imagine how God is going to help them put food on the table.
* It all begins w/ forming relationships, showing God's love, telling them the story of His love and showing them the right way to live.
* It's incredibly exhausting work, but the rewards are immeasureable!

********************************************************************************

Today marks the half-way point in our pregnancy! Woo ~ hoo!!!! Just two more days until we find out what's swimming around inside of me... Holy Moses am I afraid to find out, for fear that I'll have to eat my words! ;) Excitement abounds.

Off to nap before services tonight.

Hey.

It's a little after 10:30 and I just finished book review #2 for one of my classes. Now all I need to do is finish a couple loads of laundry and pack for the mission trip to Mobile for tomorrow morning. I am headed down along with about 15 others to help remodel the Inner City Church building, teach games, and do some Bible studying with people in the neighborhood. Please pray for us as we travel and plant the seed of the Kingdom.

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll update you all when I get back.

{Only one more week until we know HAH is a GIRL!!! And if she isn't we'll have to come up with another name and get into a completely different mind set for the remainder of the pregnancy. Week #20 here we come! :) }