By popular demand, a picture of an increasingly pregnant Val.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Celebration
I got to go to church today!
When I think of all the times growing up I said, "Do I have to go to church today?", I wish that my current self could travel back in time and slap my past self upside the head.
It was so nice to get to see everyone and worship with them. The baby got excited when I started singing. I guess it probably feels pretty weird to him. Everyone was excited to see me--I didn't keep count of how many times people touched my tummy but it was a lot. But if you're telling me how gorgeous I look pregnant or how young I look, you can touch my tummy as many times as you want!
It was a weird day at church, though. Travis and Alicia left this morning for furlough (after a crazy 24 hour move!) and Matt and Mary Virginia were on the way home, so it was just us and the Porters. We managed fairly well (I say "we" but the burden really fell to Russ and Randy, especially with the setup and take down) and it was a good reminder that it's not by our strength and ability that we get anything done.
After lunch, we headed back to the church for English class. I've been looking forward to returning to my class but today Fabio, a guy that Russ has been studying with, came to help out. He's an English teacher and offered to come help out sometimes. So Fabio taught, Russ assisted, and I visited: first with some of the girls from church who were still hanging out at the church and then with the intermediate class, who were teacherless today but were conversing in English. We sat and did our best to solve the world's problems but we never could agree whether socialism or capitalism was the answer. Oh well, maybe next time.
I'm so thankful to be back in the swing of church life!
When I think of all the times growing up I said, "Do I have to go to church today?", I wish that my current self could travel back in time and slap my past self upside the head.
It was so nice to get to see everyone and worship with them. The baby got excited when I started singing. I guess it probably feels pretty weird to him. Everyone was excited to see me--I didn't keep count of how many times people touched my tummy but it was a lot. But if you're telling me how gorgeous I look pregnant or how young I look, you can touch my tummy as many times as you want!
It was a weird day at church, though. Travis and Alicia left this morning for furlough (after a crazy 24 hour move!) and Matt and Mary Virginia were on the way home, so it was just us and the Porters. We managed fairly well (I say "we" but the burden really fell to Russ and Randy, especially with the setup and take down) and it was a good reminder that it's not by our strength and ability that we get anything done.
After lunch, we headed back to the church for English class. I've been looking forward to returning to my class but today Fabio, a guy that Russ has been studying with, came to help out. He's an English teacher and offered to come help out sometimes. So Fabio taught, Russ assisted, and I visited: first with some of the girls from church who were still hanging out at the church and then with the intermediate class, who were teacherless today but were conversing in English. We sat and did our best to solve the world's problems but we never could agree whether socialism or capitalism was the answer. Oh well, maybe next time.
I'm so thankful to be back in the swing of church life!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
He Has Set the Captives Free!
Yesterday we went for our monthly doctor visit. The baby is doing well, growing nicely (a fact that is obvious to anyone who sees me!). The most exciting thing was that we found out that all my previous problems have now healed and I am free to resume "normal" life. After eight weeks of hiding I finally get to leave the house whenever I want! Thanks to everyone who went to the Father on our behalf in the past few weeks. We had some terrifying moments but He saw us through. Of course, we ask for your continued prayers for a healthy pregnancy from here on out.
Someone asked yesterday what I will do with my newfound freedom. It's honestly going to be hard to not overdo it (especially since my stamina is pretty low at this point!). Looming large is our citywide women's conference which we are hosting in about a month. It's starting to all come together but it's going to take some running around to make it happen! Also, Travis and Alicia are leaving this Sunday for their furlough--their first! (And they insist on taking Ceara with them, no matter how much we object!) They're going to be gone for over three months so it's going to be a lot of work for those of us who have been left behind. (At one point in the not-to-distant future, the Maberys will also head out on furlough, so everything will be left to us and the Porters, or should I say Randy and Russ and the two preggos! That will be even more interesting!) We're also looking forward to another visitor season starting for our family, beginning with Russ' parents in about a month. We can't wait to see them and spend more time with them. I'm making big plans for our time together (okay, so some of them involve painting the nursery!) and I'm looking forward to us getting to sit down to Thanksgiving as a family!
Someone asked yesterday what I will do with my newfound freedom. It's honestly going to be hard to not overdo it (especially since my stamina is pretty low at this point!). Looming large is our citywide women's conference which we are hosting in about a month. It's starting to all come together but it's going to take some running around to make it happen! Also, Travis and Alicia are leaving this Sunday for their furlough--their first! (And they insist on taking Ceara with them, no matter how much we object!) They're going to be gone for over three months so it's going to be a lot of work for those of us who have been left behind. (At one point in the not-to-distant future, the Maberys will also head out on furlough, so everything will be left to us and the Porters, or should I say Randy and Russ and the two preggos! That will be even more interesting!) We're also looking forward to another visitor season starting for our family, beginning with Russ' parents in about a month. We can't wait to see them and spend more time with them. I'm making big plans for our time together (okay, so some of them involve painting the nursery!) and I'm looking forward to us getting to sit down to Thanksgiving as a family!
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