Almost 37 weeks...

Saw the Dr. yesterday. I am officially 2 cm dilated and Ashby is down head-first, getting ready to make her debut. Just a few pictures to show how I am looking (and what I am looking forward to someday again!!!)

Me at 5 1/2 weeks pregnant....just a little peanut Ashby in there.

Me at 36 1/2 weeks. Ashby likes to stick her butt out on the right side and kick my ribs...

Kuma, post operation and Conehead. We call him Conan the dogbarian. He got the snip last Thursday...poor guy.

Well, feeling like I am hunkering down now. Still no clue on Dave's career next year. Still wondering what God is going to do, but focusing on this little treasure that God is entrusting us with!

Faith and Faithfulness

If there is one thing that God is instructing me in over and over and over it is dropping everything I hold as permanent and anything I use as an anchor and setting myself down in Christ's OVERWHELMING FAITHFULNESS. In order to experience God's Faith....we have to ourselves have ridiculous faith. I was cleaning the kitchen this morning (because they don't need me to sub..trial of Faith for where the $ is going to come from) and I put on a DVD concert of Jeremy Camp. His music ministered to me this morning. The lyrics to this song say much better than anything I can say but I believe and choose to believe today that God is who He says He is.

Psalm 27:
13 I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Walk by Faith: Jeremy Camp
Would I believe you when you would say

Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me
Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

Well I'm broken, but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken, pouring Your words of grace

If you're like me and you need to see it or hear it, this is for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TdGEl5HZZM

The Pete Carroll express....

Well, I haven't been around these parts for a while...

I have had a lot going on.
I had 2 beautiful baby showers.
1 new beautiful neice was born.
I spent 2 weeks in Seattle with my family.
I spent a week in San Francisco with USC football for the Emerald Bowl.
I have been ferverntly trying to clean, organize, purge, refresh, repair and declutter the house we will soon be welcoming Ashby into.
And finally my husband's boss got a new job and God pushed a giant pause, hold your breath button.

I am sure most of you have seen the news about the USC/Seattle Seahawks fiasco.  A week ago we knew our future. Or we thought we did anyway. The funny thing is that really, REALLY, none of us know anything beyond this exact moment that we are in except that God has promised he will be faithful.

Friday morning Dave happened to be home when the news broke and we learned of the likely position in Seattle for Pete along with the rest of the world on ESPN. No time to prepare, no inside scoop. Nada. So we did what we thought best. We bought sandwhiches, went up to Point Fermin lookout in San Pedro, and walked Kuma after our little picnic. We just let it be. Walking along the cliff with our little family and watching the huge, vast ocean churn below us, we were perfectly content. Minds racing a mile a minute. Hand in hand, dog on leash, baby in belly, knowing that we were ok.

So what does this mean for us?  Right now...we have no idea. Except that we know for certain that God has a plan, and that from these events we can expect miracles and blessings that we cannot even begin to fathom. Honestly we literally have no idea what is next. Do we have a job? Do we need to start looking? Like I said, BIG FAT PAUSE BUTTON.... God is so funny like that. Not to mention that I am 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow and that also means limbo because we are waiting for this little one to make her debut!

My salvation is this: God's track record is 100%. Make that 110%. He has never failed me. He has never not shown up. In fact he has always shown up even when I am the one that has intentionally gotten myself into the mud, the pit, the mire, the yuck of all that life has to offer. Why would he change now? God is constant: life and me and circumstances and jobs...those are temporary. God is who he says he is and forever faithful.

Lamentations 3:21-26
21 Yet this I call to mind
       and therefore I have hope:  ²² Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
       for his compassions never fail.
 ²³ They are new every morning;
       great is your faithfulness.
 ²⁴ I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
       therefore I will wait for him."
 ²⁵ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
       to the one who seeks him;
 ²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
       for the salvation of the LORD.

I am taking this one day at a time. Dave and I have never been closer and never felt the need to simply keep our little family safe in the comfort of each other. As soon as we have solid news I will post it here. And as soon as Ashby is here I will share her news with all of you.

In the meantime...take heart. It is good to wait QUIETLY for the salvation of the Lord. Salvation is forgiveness of our sins, but also redemption from the pit of life's circumstances.

Imagine if you could just trust that God IS who he says he is. Imagine what he could do....