the rockets, my dr. visit, progress, and God's love!

Kyle and I went to our first Houston Rockets game Friday night, and we had a blast. Our seats were at the VERY top of the arena--like no one was behind us--but they were great! The Rockets played the Suns, so we got to see Shaq Daddy, which is always fun.


Today I had my 34 week appointment. I cannot believe how time has FLOWN! Everything went well, uneventful. My blood pressure and weight gain were good/on track. Baby's heart rate was good (133 bpm), and he has been moving a lot. Dr. White said that today the baby was lying head down. At my 36 week appt., he will start checking for dilation and the baby's position. From then on, I'll go to the doctor every week until the baby comes! I am so happy to be so close.

I have made more progress in the nursery!!! Nothing else has been put together or hung, but I FINALLY found a rocker and bookshelf to go in his room. This makes me feel sooo much better because now I am just waiting on my help to get here to decide where everything will go and add all the finishing touches! :) (Help = mom, Aunt Jan & Granny) I thought that moving away would inspire Kyle and me to learn to hang pictures, etc. for ourselves...but no...just like the last 3 times we have moved (yes, this is our 4th in 5 years!), we are waiting on the "experts" to get here to save us. I promise this will be our last move for a while!

Last but CERTAINLY not least is a little rambling about God's love! First of all, it is far greater than we can ever imagine. I never expected to move to Houston and be met with such an outpouring of blessings from God and His people. He began teaching me things before we moved as a result of pondering our "future" in Texas. I thought to myself...I have not been the type of person to reach out to "new people" in Baton Rouge. I have always been caught up in my own "happenings", groups of friends, and family. Of course I never intentionally did not make room for others; I guess it was just a product of busyness and not using my gifts effectively where I was planted. Why would anyone reach out to someone like me in a new place?...

...Well, guess what I have learned? God is not a God who "gives us what we have coming." His decision to bless us is not tied to what we have done or whether we deserve it. That sounds simple because of course...we did not deserve for Him to send His son to die on the cross for us...the ultimate sacrifice. We have been taught from the time we were little children that God is a God of grace and mercy, but the experience I have had moving here has been a "reteaching" of that truth for me. God has shown me His grace and mercy first hand. And I am not the slightest bit deserving. God has placed wonderful people in our lives over the past few weeks, and we are so thankful to Him for these and many other blessings. Through this, I am learning that I am tired of being idle--just going through the motions and not really doing anything extra to help grow God's kingdom. I am so excited to see what all God has planned for our family.

My good friend Rebecca gave me a little calendar for my birthday..."The Power of a Praying Parent". I have been reading it every day when I blow dry my hair...okay for those of you who know me it's probably more like every other day that I blow dry my hair ha but the point is...I have been reading it. Anyway, yesterday it said, "Obedience brings great security and confidence of knowing you're where you're supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to do. The Bible promises that if we are obedient we will be blessed. We want our children to walk in obedience so that they will have confidence, security, long life, and peace." I know the message is geared toward the obedience of a child to his parents, but I took away something for myself.

When Kyle and I were praying about whether he should take the job with ExxonMobil, we felt that it was what God wanted us to do. Of course I wondered...is this what God wants us to do...or is it what WE want to do? We continued praying and felt that it was right. (I can't explain how strange a feeling it is to decide that moving five hours away from home with a baby on the way is what is "right", but we knew that this was from God whether we knew exactly what he had in store.) Well the blessings we have experienced lately through the love of God and His people have made us further confident that we have been obedient. We are sure that we are where we are supposed to be, doing what we're supposed to do.