Sprite, Crackers, and Grandy's Mashed Potatoes!

What I am about to tell you is going to be no surprise. The stomach bug sucks the life out of you. Then it tricks you into thinking you are better. So you get up. AHA!! You are NOT better. So you go back down. And then you are up…faking better a little bit…and down again! Thank God for my family. It hit me about 4am on Thursday morning. Patrick took the day off, at some point went and bought all the necessities, (sprite, crackers, popsicles, and Grandy’s mashed potatoes and gravy with rolls on the side) he has been down this road with me several times it seems! This time, he had the kids all wiping everything down outside my room with Lysol! LOL! I was keeping everything wiped down INSIDE my room. (You know…in that “honeymoon period” right after you puke??? You feel great for about 3 ½ minutes??) My kids came to the door about once an hour checking on me…Patrick says he did not tell them to do so…I have great kids! I also have a secret gift. I can catch the stomach bug over the phone. Seriously. As soon as I hear that it is “going around”, I know it’s coming to me! And this time, just for kicks, I actually got THROWN UP ON! How do you get out of it at that point??? (Poor baby Cherish…she is much better now!)

So, all of that to say, that I have missed my Bible study. Sorry…yes…rumors are true…I am human. I do not delve into my Bible while I have the stomach bug. If you do, do not respond to this blog…I hate you. BUT…I must be feeling better, because my desire to pick up where I left off is coming back. I had also been praying that God PLEASE not let our baby be born while I am puking…my hair looked SO bad! (I only have one “just had a baby” picture out of FOUR that is decent! He is also the only baby I had that I had a flat stomach almost immediately after birth…even the nurses were in shock…he is my favorite.)

I have now started thinking that I can take care of a baby again, so that is good, also! Hair is back to normal. I even have make up on today. Yes…it makes a difference! BUT…with all the “normal” stuff coming back, so are the “normal” not so good things. The doubts…the what ifs…the anxiety. While sick, I really didn’t think a whole lot about God’s promises. Or the baby. But now, here I go asking for reassurance again because I have this silly human mind that thinks it needs constant encouragement and hand holding until our baby arrives. So, anyway…I decide to skip the days I was sick (in my yearly Bible) and start today, 1/10/09. As I am flipping the pages from 1/7/09…the last day I read…my eye is drawn to a few verses I had underlined last year on these days…allow me to share them with you.

“So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant of harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than they are. “ Matthew 6:25-26

“Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7

“Then the Lord did exactly what He had promised. Sarah became pregnant, and she gave a son to Abraham in his old age!” Genesis 21:1-2

And then I read on about Abraham willing to sacrifice his son…with faith that God would provide the lamb! There was a time…well…according to the markings in my Bible, it was a year ago…that God told me I was to share what He was doing in our lives.

“I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1

“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you….For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore those who cry to him for help.” Psalm 9: 9-10, 12

And I haven’t even made it to today’s passage yet!

Many of you have asked how you can pray for us. Here are a few specifics until further notice!

1-DHS will move Samara and Josiah’s adoption along. The county’s are not cooperating…one tells us we should be finished…one won’t answer my phone calls. Please pray that this will move on smoothly. We are concerned that it might be held up due to our allegation report…we found out the DHS is recommending grief counseling for our family. To be quite honest and without getting really ugly about it, well, it just ain’t happening! When those people making the recommendations lose a child, and then want to meet and get to know me, then maybe I will take note of their recommendation. That is all I will say about that…

2- “January” baby will be protected in the womb from the drugs and lifestyle her bio mom is living. I am praying that God has been/will cover that baby with His hands in the womb and if there are issues when she is born, the doctors will have the wisdom and knowledge to care for her.

3- Birth mom…praying for her safety and health as well. I am also praying that God will put someone in her path to share His love with her. Don’t get me wrong…I would love for it to be us, but that isn’t happening right now. From what I have heard, she is in her early 20’s, been on drugs since she was 10, with the mentality of a 13 year old. Sounds very much like S&J’s birth mom.

4-That God will continue to hold us and put wonderful, praying people in our paths as we learn to live this life without Jacob.

That is all I can think of at this point.