All is well! I feel great and my cold is finally almost gone...it's nice to be able to breathe again! Matt sprained his ankle yesterday, so we've been quite the pair :) We never thought Lily would actually be late! But, the Lord keeps reminding us that His timing is perfect, and has truly given me a good peace that she'll come when she comes and I will be fully satisfied with that! Just wanted you all to have an update...we PROMISE to let you all know when she's coming..as soon as she decides :) \

"For lack of wood, the fire goes out." says Proverbs 26:20...

Put some wood on that fire this Sunday...Spend some time in the Word today, some time with our precious Lord...add some depth, some understanding and some peace to the fire He's given each of us for Him. Allow the fires He never started in you to extinguish, to starve...anger, unforgiveness, self-centeredness...

and pile good dry wood on those fires He has kindled...

have a wonderful Sunday!

40 weeks!

Had my doctor's appointment yesterday, and everything continues to look "beautiful." They're not sure why she hasn't come yet because everything indicates that she, and I, are ready. She's just too warm and toasty and not quite ready to face the world yet, apparently! But I feel fine, and we're just waiting for her "any day now", or for her inducement, scheduled for 8 am January 2nd. Thank you for all your continued prayers and emails! We're just thanking the Lord for this little one, whenever she decides to come, and for this precious time we have in the States!

Just back from our appointment (it was cancelled yesterday). I am 90%, 1 cm, and -1 station. If you don't know what that means, you probably don't want to, so don't worry about it :) It does mean that 2 of 3 factors are showing that Lily is good and ready to come, and one of those factors shows that I still have a while. Either way, it could be any day or I could still have 2 weeks, they just don't know. As always, "she'll come when she's ready!"

Worse case scenario, they tentatively scheduled her induction for January 2nd or 3rd. If she hasn't come on her own by then, she will be induced one of those two days (they won't let me go more than a week past my due date.). So, hopefully that won't be the case, but any way you look at it, Miss Lily will be here by January 3rd!

Meanwhile, we are feeling good! Thank you for all your prayers for our continued safety, health and prayers for the upcoming delivery!

38 weeks!

Well, the good news is that 95% of babies are born within 2 weeks of their due date, and for us, that starts today! I'm feeling increasingly tired and uncomfortable, but definitely nothing to complain about! I've been so blessed to miss out on so many of the common complaints of pregnancy once I got through that first 4 months! Lily is moving like crazy all the time, and it seems we're all just waiting...Next appointment: Monday morning.

Two good friends from college are in for the weekend, hoping to be around for Lily's arrival :)

baby shower!

Yesterday my sister threw me the most beautiful baby shower, attended by friends from all over Ohio and a few from PA! We had SUCH a wonderful day! Most of the people there were from my childhood church, women that taught with my mother, families that I baby-sat for (or that baby-sat me!), friends from high school and even a friend from college!



We ate AWESOME food, all of which Lisa made, opened presents and had some good time to catch up! Lily got some beautiful things, everything from toys and books to blankets, little outfits, one of them handmade, baby care supplies, a diaper bag...etc. We are so blessed to have all these necessary little baby things, and about a fourth of the people there were women who bought similar gifts for my mom when I was born...how special!


For the baby shower activity, Lisa had bought and begun a beautiful scrapbook for Lily, and had a huge basket of craft supplies. Everyone that attended made a page for the scrapbook, with gorgeous stamps and ribbons and paper, and everyone signed their page. We then put all the pages in the book, giving me a full and complete scrapbook...just waiting for Lily photos!

Haitian vanilla with a cookie cutter and recipe was the favor, and right after everyone left we rushed Lisa off to the airport, sending her back to Chicago for her last three weeks of teaching before Christmas break.


Matt and I had SUCH a wonderful time, and felt SO very loved. Everything was beautiful, and the best part was just having so many women there that have blessed and enriched our lives and who have been a part of my mom's life, my life, my sister's life, and now Lily's! Thank you all for coming!!!