Maternity Pics

This past week we had a good friend of ours here take some maternity pictures for us. We're those typical first time parents, who want to make sure that we remember every milestone of this little one's growth, even in-uteuro ; ). We were really pleased with how they turned out, and are so thankful for the joy and the season of our lives that these pictures represent. Here are a few of our favorites:

 

 

 

Hard to believe our little one will be here in less than two months! We simply can't wait!

Remember that one time . . .

I was thirty weeks pregnant? 

Yeah, that was weird.

Moments I'll Carry Forever

I don' know that I'll ever understand the goodness of God that allows us to participate in such precious and holy moments.

I don't know that I'll ever understand the Father's love for me that allows me to witness His miracles.

This weekend some of our dearest friends stood before their fellowship and gave testimony to the God that they now intimately know and follow. We were overcome as they shared the story of their lives, and gave voice to God's grace in allowing the four of us to meet so that they might know the Father. Before a body of 100+ local believers they committed their lives to following the Lord and participating in His church. After their testimony and promise to follow faithfully we all were led to the roof of the building to consummate their profession of belief.

Fully clothed and amidst a light drizzle on a cold day, they joyfully entered the waters, taking on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Being washed in the newness of life, they came out of the waters with this smile, perfectly articulating our shared joy in God's overwhelming goodness and grace.

"You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told!"

Psalm 40:5

Babymoons 'R Awesome

So we obviously not been on vacation since May 3rd. I mean I wish, right? We did however have a fantastic time, and it was the perfect balance of relaxing and adventure. We quickly realize that island hopping in long-tail boats, hiking, and sleeping in bungalows under mosquito nets probably aren't in our cards for a while, so we lived it up while it was just the two of us. Here are few highlights of our time in Thailand:

Ok, clearly this is not Thailand, but rather a graduation/birthday party we had for our teammate Nate the night before we left. I just love these folks, so I had to include a pic even though we weren't technically on vacation yet.

 No vacation is complete without matching hats, right? 

We did a lot of this . . . 

 Some of this . . .

 

More of this . . .

And WAAAY too much of this. . . 

All in all I'd say it was pretty much perfect in every way! We did decide that it was time I started acting pregnant however, and felt quite responsible when we declined a speedboat transfer to an island because it would require me to sign a waiver. I mean - are we ready for parenthood or what?

 It was the first time people noticed my bump and treated me differently - fresh and free coconuts to drink on the beach to keep the baby hydrated, boarding planes first, I could get used to this! In the two places we were, two different women told me the baby was a boy. One lady looked in my eyes and said "It's a boy, and he will look like his father!" (SWOON!) How could she know I've prayed that for years?! The second lady said boy too after feeling my belly - to both which I responded "I'll tell you in about 3.5 months!" Baxter thinks they just said that as most people (particularly in Asian countries) prefer boys. But - we'll see I suppose! I am so thankful for this special time with my BFF, hard to imagine next time we fly it will be to bring our little Bentley HOME! Eeek! 

If you need me . . .

I'll be taking all 23.5 weeks of this . . .

And heading here . . .

And staying in one of these . . . 

Babymoon 2k12 here we come!!

The Deepest Joy

Whew! Easter has come and gone in our part of the world, and I for one am pooped. I'm pretty sure I say this after every holiday, but gosh, these holiday things are WORK I tell ya! Clean the house, cook x,y & z, host such and such event, put on extra eye de-puffer Sunday morning and do it all over again pretending you're not completely exhausted. Mom, seriously, A+ for all the years you did this when I was a kid, and then continued to mooch off of your holidays as an adult. Maybe over time you just get used to the holiday exhaustion?

On the flip side though, we did have such a special weekend. We started by hosting some of our favorite Hani college students for an Easter party Friday night, where we decorated cookies, dyed eggs, and then hunted eggs. Below is my cutie husband who decorated his cookies with a picture of our baby (insert collective ahhh here).

Perhaps the most special part of the night however, was walking our friends through the meaning of the Resurrection eggs that they had hunted. In addition to the symbol within each egg, we had printed the corresponding verse in Chinese. As they opened their eggs, Baxter shared the story of Easter and what the symbols meant, while I finished by sharing what this truth means to us. Seeing these students that I love so much hearing such an unbelievable story for the first time was a high and holy moment for us, and I found myself in awe that God would allow us the privilege to be bearers of this profound Truth. We know that so often journeys of faith and understanding are long ones, and as we finished we shared our willingness to continue the telling of this story, and are praying that seeds and questions would grow wild in these dear hearts.

Sunday morning it was our turn to host a holiday for our foreign community, so we welcomed 25ish into our home for a light breakfast, egg hunt, worship and potluck. Due to some much needed but plan-complicating rain, the kids hunted 100+ eggs inside, and I think by the end of the day our spill count was nearing close to ten. Here's a picture of the mongrels, I mean kids just so you can see a bit of the sugar-induced madness. It was wild, but a really precious time to celebrate such a meaningful holiday together.

Although I could have slumped over in my chair at multiple points throughout the weekend, I couldn't help but be filled with a deep and radiating gratitude. As I sat in worship yesterday with my hand resting on my 20 week pregnant belly feeling tiny kicks next to my husband that I absolutely adore, worshiping a God who rose despite all doubts and expectations so that we might know true freedom and life, all of a sudden my tiredness paled in comparison to the joy washing over me.

I will admit to a roller coaster of emotions the past several weeks, as I have felt flooded with questions and doubts. Clearly we are thrilled about this baby, but the things to be done and changes that it will mean for our life have been somewhat overwhelming. From simple things like which bottle is best and how/where to buy it, to how will my role in our work change have chased my days, leaving me sometimes feeling overcome and impotent. But yesterday as I evaluated the richness of new life, both within and around me, I came to see again the true beauty and necessity of dying to so many things. My expectations, questions, and doubts have no place in light of what Christ is desiring to do in me. Because of Christ and what we celebrated yesterday, we can confidently proclaim that death gives way to a deeper fullness than we could have ever imagined.  Easter is the promise that we are assured of new and better things when we willingly take on both the life and death of Jesus.

I know that this baby is going to change who I am, what I do, and the way I see the world in unimaginable ways. But, what I also know to be true, is that in this release and putting off of the old - newness comes. Hope springs forth, and just as He was and is so faithful to do - new life fills up and spills over  absolutely everything.

Come quickly Lord Jesus, risen Lord and sacrificial Lamb. Teach me to walk in all of your ways, embracing even the roughest of crosses so that I may know the sweetness of your presence every day, and ultimately the deepest joy of your risen life. 

Another First

One morning while I was jogging (which yes, is QUITE different from my days of running), I noticed something.

My belly was jiggling. I couldn't help but laugh out loud in simultaneous joy and disbelief. I'm thinking this might have something to do with the jiggling:

Although it also could have been this:

Cheesy baked pasta with roasted red pepper sauce and eggplant?  Um yeah, I'd say that could make your belly jiggle! But, for my own sake of mind we'll just blame any and all belly jiggling on being 19 weeks pregnant!