100 Days to Go...

Today marks 100 days until my due date - seems like forever away and tomorrow at the same time. I have so much to do before the baby joins us.

I had my doctor's appointment this morning and everything went perfectly. The doctor said everything was as it should be and that the baby had a nice strong heartbeat. I did find out that I will have another sonogram at about 35 weeks.

Last month I had some liver function tests that were a bit off, so I had to repeat the liver function test today. The doctor suggested that I might have gallstones and said she wanted to make sure that my levels didn't continue to increase. I just got the results a few minutes ago and nothing is elevated now! Praise the Lord! One part of the test showed that one level was a bit low, but I'm not sure what that means. It was low last time also and this time its lower still. I guess she will tell me in three weeks when I go back. In three weeks when I return I will be changed to an every two week cycle for my appointments because of starting the third trimester. When I go for my next appointment I also have to drink the orange flavored sugar water then check my glucose levels an hour later. Everything was perfect today! I took my eight year old daughter with me to the appointment and she was just fascinated with hearing the baby's heartbeat and being there for the appointment. The doctor made her feel like a special big sister too.

Please continue to pray for the precious little one (who loves to jump around and kick) and that the next 14 weeks are healthy for the bundle of joy and for me. Thanks!

Choices

Watch this powerful video that shows how a single choice ripples and can destroy a family... - (Thanks Lisa for emailing the link to me.)

* You may want to shield little eyes and ears from the start of this video *

Slow Fade by Casting Crowns

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

As parents we are entrusted with precious treasures when God gave us our children. When they are young its our responsibility to be careful what their little eyes see and ears hear.

It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. ~ Luke 17:2

Pray for families. Pray for men and women, fathers and mothers that when they make choices they are choices that will positively effect their children and their world... Choices that make our Heavenly Father smile... Choices that lead others to HIM!

"Let no Christian parents fall into the delusion that Sunday School is intended to ease them of their personal duties. The first and most natural condition of things is for Christian parents to train up their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Serving Others

Rick in Alaska

Serving others through mission work can be life changing both for those who are served and those who have the honor of serving. This morning our Work and Witness Team (short term missions) to Alaska shared during our morning worship service. It was great to hear from each team member (five adults - my husband, Rick included and two teens) how God worked in their lives during their time in Alaska and to hear that some of them are considering future mission trips.

This morning in Sunday school we discussed the financial aspect of going of Work and Witness trips (mainly airfare). I was pleased to hear that others hearts are burdened to make a difference closer to home also and to use the money that would have been spent for travel expenses to make a difference in the lives of people closer to home. I think both types of trips have value.

This evening during our missions service we were privileged to hear from two of our teens who traveled closer to home for their Work and Witness project. Last year they traveled to Mississippi to help with the hurricane repairs (which are still ongoing). It touches my heart deeply to see young men striving to serve and finding their place in ministry. Pray for Nathan and Timothy that God will continue to work in their lives and lead them to the ministries where HE can use them.

Have any of you taken part in a short term mission project? If so how did it change your life and or world view? If you haven't been on a short-term missions trip would you consider it?

I am Strange!

Last week when I took my kids to the water park, I was walking in the lazy river (this picture is not of our community water park, unfortunately). The lazy river is about 3 feet deep and has a current that flows to move the tubes everyone is required to use. I put the tube around myself and instead of floating, I walk - have to get some exercise somehow since the gym was vetoed for me. As I was walking down the lazy river, picking up trash and stray tubes, a thought for a blog post came to mind, so I hit the next exit and grabbed my bag to find a pen and paper. How many people would jump out of their tube on the lazy river on a hot, sunny day to run back to their chair to jot down a few notes for a blog entry? I know, I'm strange!

My husband returned from a Work & Witness (short term missions) trip to Big Lake, Alaska last Wednesday afternoon and his short term service encouraged me to think about life. Our lives as Christians are 24/7 Work & Witness projects. No matter where we are or what we are doing we should look for opportunities to serve others regardless of their faith. Acts of service could be as simple as picking up litter on the sidewalk or holding a door for someone or they may require more thought, sacrifice and effort. We need a constant open line of communication with our Savior, Jesus Christ through Bible reading and prayer so we are alerted to His will for each moment of each day.

Are you floating down the river of life just looking at the scenery and enjoying the ride or are you looking for ways to serve and love those you come in contact with each day? As my brother, David, told me one day, he walks around with his eyes open. We should all strive to do likewise.

Remember, we may not receive a reward on earth, but keep living, loving and serving during your time as a stranger on this earth and prepare for eternity with Jesus in the home we were created for... All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. ~ Hebrews 11:13