I want to thank everyone for their prayers.

 I’m sorry I’ve been gone all week. I’ve developed a strange aversion to my computer. (Too bad I don’t have this normally I’d get a lot more done and waste a lot less time.)

We had a good week. (Thank you for your prayers - Monday went especially well.)  I managed to get through everything each day - even Latin (which tends to fall to the wayside) and school with Caleb.

The kids have been so sweet during my bouts with morning (noon, and night) sickness…they bring me water and pat me on the back. Bess is very funny – she sits on the bathroom step stool and watches me and then pretends she is sick too by making loud hacking noises. Grin.

Wednesday I went for my first doctor’s visit. I am officially 8 weeks.

During the three or four hours that I spent waiting at the doctor's office I did happen to notice (in a modern hip baby magazine) that there is a new (or maybe not new - I haven’t looked at a baby magazine in years as I'm not very fond of baby magazines) over the counter medicine for morning sickness. If I get any energy later, I might head out to the pharmacy and see if I can find it.

I’ll be glad when I hit the second trimester...

blessings,

dani

All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. –Psalm 139:16

Pregnancy is a funny thing. It does strange things to my brain, my emotions, and my abilities. I’m finding I can’t type and when I do I leave out words, misspelllle everything and can’t think at all. It’s very frustrating…and what is worse I don’t even notice the mistakes until later…so if you are reading along and things start looking or sounding strange, you will know why. Please be forgiving.

blessings,

dani

“Grace, mercy, and peace…” -2 John 1:3

Yes, it's true.

God has given us another gift…a precious one that I am truly overjoyed about and yet at the same time feel a great sadness over because it means that we (Mark and I) will have to share news of this  gift with others who will not be overjoyed. Who will in fact be very upset by it. Even our church will step back and say, “What!”

It steals my joy. Mark says, don’t let it. Joy comes from God alone. Your joy is in the Lord, not in what people do or do not do. I know he is right, but my heart aches. It feels unfair. Like an injustice.

I hear God say, “You said you believed in this. Prove it to me.” And so here we stand…our family increasing by one…joyful and yet restrained. Soon we will throw off all that hinders and move forward and face the naysayers with joy…but right now, in this place, I want to weep. Not for the life within me...no! For that I feel only joy and great love…but for all who do not understand…

No longer four, but now soon…five. God willing.

Grow this child within me...healthy and strong...let this be an easy pregnancy...a blessing and a witness... more than any of the others...let this child be a testimony to You that others may see, hear and follow.

Praise Him.

blessings,

dani

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace…” –Isaiah 55:12