waters gone by

"You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by." Job 11:16

I stumbled upon this verse a few days ago and it really resonated with me regarding our house. Having a second house payment clearly is a financial burden and there are many days that I feel like it will never end. Throughout these 11 months we have been able to tithe, pay our bills, have food on the table (praise Jesus!) but I am quick to go to a very dark place when I think about this burden hanging over our heads. I was reminded through this scripture that this too shall pass and one day we will look back and forget the frustrations it has brought us. When we suffer troubles, we, like Job, must trust God. He will provide the strenth to go on serving him.

My prayer is that God would continue to teach me and grow my faith throughout this process...

use me, break me, waste me on You, Lord.

It's a boy!!!

Shhhh. Don't tell Derek I put our son's boy parts on the internet. He wouldn't let me put this picture on the facebook. I didn't ask him about my blog. Also, remind me to take this down before he gets to an age where he understands his mom put his prives on the internet.

We are so excited it's a boy. We obviously would have been grateful boy or girl but definitely would have picked a boy if we could have. It is more of an order thing for us than anything else. Derek is almost giddy. I don't think I realized just how badly he wanted a boy until we found out. He has been so careful not to say a preference but he was on cloud 9 Monday after we found out.

We have the names narrowed down to about 4 so hopefully we will have a name picked out soon. One decision is for certain, all of our children's middle names will be family.

The ultrasound went well. The nurse was showing us all of the body parts and when she got to this view she started showing us his little legs and feet and I looked at her and said, "It's a boy, isn't it?" She just laughed and said, "yes it is, I was trying to get a better shot before I told you." My heart was racing...that moment determined the identity of our family. Would we be going to dance recitals or baseball games? I never realized until that moment how much of our future was determined by that ultrasound. She was able to clear just about all of his anatomy except for his heart because he was being a little stubborn (not sure where he gets this) and wouldn't let her get a clear shot of his front. She said she didn't see anything wrong but that she couldn't clear it without a better shot. Lucky for us because we get to get another ultrasound when I go in for my next appointment July 15th.

I am so in love. I can't believe how much I can love this tiny little man who has done nothing but exist. I can't wait to hold him and kiss him. I am truly overwhelmed by the blessing of my son and have spent two sleepless nights thanking our heavenly father for the perfection he is knitting together in my womb. Oh how I pray that the Lord will raise up a mighty warrior for His glory.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 4

Children, a reward from HIM

Since I'm not a huge fan of talking on the phone or exercising while I have a bulging baby bump, I have decided to combine the two (thanks to the IPhone). I was on my daily walk at the Troy University track and decided to call my mom, who I knew was at my sister's house. I ended up spending about a half a mile talking to these two precious angels. Each time I hear their sweet voices it gets me even more excited about meeting baby Irons. Meet Jackson (3) and Julia (2), dear son and daughter to my sweet sister….

Jackson's first question was, "where is Uncle Derek?" Of course it was. I am chopped liver in comparison to my husband who will play any game imaginable with this child for hours on end. We discussed his baby cousin “in my belly” and he declared it a boy (which we will find out Monday). After about 10 minutes of discussing something he had seen on the television it was time to give the phone back to my mom and as he was hanging up he said, “thank you for my baby cousin in your belly.” That little boy has got to be the cutest thing ever. He and his sister just melt my heart. I wish I could get a lasso and pull Houston, Texas closer to Troy, Alabama.

our little orange

I am 15 weeks today and our weekly email update said the baby is the size of an orange.

I went back to the doctor on Monday. Derek and I have been in Mobile for baseball so I am just now getting around to updating everyone. My doctor's appointment went very well. Dr. Connor said everything looks really good. She has been monotoring my sugar levels since my sister had gestational diabetes but so far so good. I also got to hear the heart beat again. The nurse was practically chasing the baby around with the doplar wand. It was neat to know that the baby was moving around so much and that he/she made the nurse laugh. I will go back to the doctor on June 1st and at that time I will be a little over 18 weeks so she will set up my ultrasound for my 20th week. I can't wait! I am so ready to know what this baby is.

My nausea has gotten much better. I was beginning to think my first trimester was never going to end. But thankfully I am somewhat getting back to normal. I still don't have a normal appetite but most of the foods that don't make me sick are healthy ones (imagine that) so that has been quite an encouragement to eat healthy.

Thanks again for praying for baby Irons!

You knit me together in my mother's womb...

This verse (Psalm 139:13) has gone through my mind as Derek and I read about the growth of our baby. It is truly the most amazing thing to have life inside of you and to know that God ordained this soul for His purposes and timing.

Derek and I went to the doctor this morning and Dr. Connor said everything looks really good. I am 10 weeks and 3 days today so usually at this point it is just to check vital signs and make sure everything else looks good. She said she usually doesn't attempt to hear a heart beat until 12 weeks but since my next appointment won't be until 14 weeks if I wanted she would try today. I of course wanted to try so after about 5 minutes of moving the doplar around she found our little rascal and his/her heart was just a thumpin'. Dr. Connor also said that he/she was moving around a lot and she could tell based on the heart beat fading in and out. She seemed very pleased with how fast the heart was beating and that he/she was active.

Our next appointment is May 4th which will put me a little over 14 weeks. I'm not sure what all will go on at that appointment but she did say going forward we will hear the heart beat at every visit. Thanks for the prayers for our little one!!

The waiting room, a land where time seemingly stands still

Derek and I got this email from our realtor this morning:

"Well....I'm kinda dumbstruck about ya'lls home! It has only shown a few times in the last two weeks. If you are really serious about what you told me last time we talked "do whatever to get it sold" then think about listing it at the lowest you possibly will go and let's see what happens. "

Well, the house is already at the "lowest we can possibly go" so this is very discouraging news for us. It's kind of funny the timing because Derek and I just had the conversation last night that we both have a peace that it will sell before we need to make living plans in July. Funny how Satan knows the exact time to swoop in and steal every bit of peace we have prayed for over the past 7 months.

I called Derek after receiving the email and he was still at home because he has a dentist appointment this morning. When he recieved the email he was reading in Matthew 6 and right when he finished the email he looked down at Matthew 6:25, "DO NOT WORRY." I love how the Lord continually encourages me through my husband. I was reminded that it does not matter how much Satan tries to discourage us through emails, phone calls, the failing economy, the constant question, "have ya'll had any luck selling your house?", the Lord knows the exact date our house will sell and no matter how much we worry, it will not change that date. Thank you Lord for sanctification and for teaching us long suffering while we wait and pray and wait and pray and wait....

Working for the weekend

I just thought I would add my first post. I really started this blog so that I could have a place to archive all of my favorite blogs. Maybe one day when we have kids I will be a better blogger.