32 Weeks (almost 33) and Counting!

32 weeks....in 8 weeks I will be a mom. Isn't that crazy to think about? Something will happen in the next 8 weeks that will change my life forvever....I will be responsible for someone else, for her every need. That is a huge responsibility. But honestly, I am so ready in the sense of being ready to meet my baby. I know that I don't know everything about how to be a mom and I will need lots of help from the Lord to learn, but my heart aches to see this baby and hold her and kiss her. I hope to enjoy the end of one phase of my life as I look expectantly to the next one! Hope you all have a blessed week!


32 Week Belly!!! Almost there!

Praises!!!!

God is so good...and i don't just mean in the generic sense of the term. He is so good to give us blessings that we don't even ask for. At our 20 week ultrasound, everything looked good, but there were a couple of small things that the doctor wanted to keep an eye on. He told us our biggest worry was still finding a name for our baby girl. One concern was that one of baby girl's kidneys was bigger than the other, not by much, but still something they wanted to watch. Another concern was a muscle or something that they could see on her heart which was unusual to be able to see...also explained as a minor concern. To be honest, I didn't give it another thought until today's ultrasound. As the doctor looked over our ultrasound pictures everything was NORMAL or GONE...his words, not mine. Isn't God good to bless us with that kind of reassurance even after he has already blessed us with peace of mind over the problem in the first place. He is so good to give us abundantly more than what we ask.

Baby Shower #1

Sorry I haven't written in awhile. It's been a crazy busy month and will continue to be probably until school gets out. Two weeks ago I had baby shower #1 put on by some sweet ladies from our church, University Baptist Church. I don't think I could have planned a better shower than what they planned for me. First of all, it was the most gorgeous spring day. I commented as I came into the house that I hoped somebody was getting married that day, because it just seemed like a good day for celebrating. Secondly, my hostesses did an amazing job with the food and decorations; the food part is especially important to a pregnant lady. And I was absolutely blown away by the number of people who came. I felt so blessed and so humbled by the love and generousity people have shown us since we found out we were pregnant. It makes me hope that I am showing that same kind of love and support to those around me not only in times of celebration, but also in times of trial. I was especially blessed by the college students who showed up. Our students lead such full lives and for them to take time out of their busy schedule to come to a baby shower blessed my heart. I so love the opportunity that God has given us in Fayetteville to minister to students and I am looking forward to being more involved in ministry after Baby Penick comes. I was so blessed by this shower; it was a great time to visit and catch up with friends and family and what more could you ask for than that!

Silly Me!

Earlier this week Cole was out of town with a group of international college students for a spring break trip while I was at home. Most of the time I would accompany him on college ministry trips, but due to the 10 (yes, that's right 10!) snow days we had this year, my school district decided to help ease the burden of making up the days by using the Monday and Tuesday of Spring Break. So, I stayed...no big deal, until Tuesday night when I started cramping, which shouldn't be a big deal, but it seemed like a bigger deal since Cole wasn't home. I called Cole and a close friend for thoughts on what to do, drank a big glass of water and went to bed. I woke up the next morning still cramping. This woulnd't be any big deal, except I have had several friends who have gone into premature labor...and those stories stuck with me. Fast forward to middle of the morning, I called the doctor and went in only to find out everything was fine except for a urinary tract infection. Made me feel a little silly, but I guess it was worth the peace of mind. I'm wondering if I will ever figure out what is normal during pregnancy...One thing is sure though, I'm glad I have the Lord to guide my head and my heart when I know both of them a deceitful. Praise God that he has the wisdom to make me a good Mom and wife and that I don't have to walk this journey alone!

Am I walking the talk?

So, as I was singing this morning in the band for our college worship service, the Lord really convicted me of how the words I was singing and the actions of the previous days had not been adding up. For those of you who don't know, I have a huge ESL project that is due April 1st. This project is to show the results of what I have learned and implemented from my ESL academy that I did last summer. As I was singing this morning of God's love being enough, I realized that I have not been living this out in my attitude toward this project. Number one, I have been trying to do this in my own strength...and number two, I am treating this project like it has some bearing on eternity (a little dramatic sounding, I know...but it's truth). I do know that God placed the desire to go to ESL academy for a reason and I want to work on this project as unto the Lord...but regardless of the grade I get on this project I have to keep in perspective that this "suffering" that I think I'm going through right now is nothing compared to Christ's sacrifice on the cross. If I get an "A" on this project or fail it miserably does not change the status of my relationship with the Father....it might change the way some people look at me, but then again I can't serve two masters. I have to trust that all the difficulties and challenges that seem to overwhelm me right now have been allowed or put in place by the Father to refine me into who he needs me to be. I pray that my actions and attitude over the next couple of weeks would reflect who I am in Him rather than who I am in me.

Laura Story - Blessings

Hope this song blesses you like it did me!

Hard Choices, Right Choices

So, I made the official announcement this week at school that I will not be coming back next year to teach. I first met with both of my principals to let them know of my decision. I think they thought something was seriously wrong with me, because I couldn't even tell them what I was wanting to talk about before I burst into tears....I know...I never cry right;) Cole and I have been planning on me staying at home with our children since we got married. I think in my plan, though, I thought that would be a year or two longer. I have been so blessed by my co-workers and students that the decision to leave became a very difficult one. But sometimes we have to let go of the current blessing to go forward to the next blessing God has for us. I am excited to stay at home next year, and I know that God will use the things I have learned as a teacher to change the world for Him, but outside of a classroom setting. This verse really seems to sum up what the Lord is doing:

Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

God bless! Have a great weekend!