Babies, Babies, Babies

This post is all about babies...go figure. =)

First, my sister just found out she's having a girl in July....yay! Since I can't do much shopping for my kiddo, I can make up for it with her's. =) Keep praying for Rachel, Matt, Aubrey, and the new little gal in the coming months.

Second, there is a sweet, sweet couple named Zach and Sarah that are the best friends of Mike and Lindsay (Marc's brother and our sister-in-law). We have met them on a few occasions and have always enjoyed our time with them. They are looking to adopt one, maybe two, children from Rwanda, and are in need of prayers and financial support. Marc and I have been dearly blessed to be able to conceive on our own, and we feel like the LEAST we can do is pass on this story so that you can be praying for them and consider supporting them financially. You can click on the Skidmore Adoption ticker below to donate. Honestly people, how often do we waste money on frivolous things or get obsessed with saving for the future when there are needs in other's lives RIGHT NOW? This is a worthy cause. I am so thrilled for them! Please visit the following links to learn more about their story:

Intro to Zach and Sarah

http://www.not2us.net/blog/lindsay/2009/feb/sothrilled

Getting to Know Them and the Adoption Process http://www.not2us.net/blog/lindsay/2009/mar/meetzachandsarah

Enter in a Giveaway for Donating http://www.not2us.net/blog/lindsay/2009/feb/letsmakedeal

Third, in other news, BITO (bun in the oven=) is doing great! I go to the doctor next week for my 25 week check up. I am getting very antsy to say the least. I have my first shower in April, so Marc and I did a registry at Target yesterday. It's so fun but very exhausting!! I am definitely obsessed with baby stuff. My prayer lately is that I stay humbled and not get TOO excited as I know that the health of this baby is out of my hands. There is a delicate balance of not worrying too much but still realizing that God gives and takes away. In addition, I cannot let the excitement of "stuff" get in the way of my excitement of this life growing in me! I am still not showing a ton, but I definitely feel like my stomach is very full!! Digestion has been an issue to say the least. =) Here are some photos from the 20 week ultrasound. BITO gave us a thumbs up!

Fourth, please pray for my friend Melanie who I mentioned earlier this month. I taught with her in Louisville. She ended up giving birth at 24 weeks, and Jackson died a week later. I cannot even begin to imagine her grief. My burden for friends and people who I don't even know struggling with infertility, difficult pregnancies, and/or the death of a child has been overwelming the last few months, and it once again humbles me to no end that I currently have a healthy baby (as I know it) growing inside me. May I never take that for granted!!

Finally, I hate to post without turning to God's word. I have been learning a ton lately out of Proverbs. I have specifically been challenged regarding how I use my words and how I respond when people hurt me with their words or rebuke me in a godly way in order to help me grow. This verse really stuck out for me in Proverbs 17:27...it says, "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered."

A second theme I have noticed in my devotional time is how to respond to hardship. It is the desire of my heart that I handle hardship the way that God instructs me in the Bible, and I am thankful that I am learning this now rather than in the midst of tough times. Proverbs 19:23 says, "The fear of the Lord leads to life: then one rests content, untouched by trouble." I could expand on this, but I will let you meditate on this verse yourself, as I am tired. =)

Thanks for reading!

Steph