Not much in the last few weeks has turned out the way I expected it to...but none of it has surprised God. Let me tell you how everything has been going.
We were struck by the Christmas Eve Blizzard of 2009 in which OKC got over 14 inches of snow in less than one day! Visibility was practically nonexistent, the roads were poor at best and after 2pm on Christmas Eve - Hubby works until noon and then they have a Christmas Luncheon at 1pm - we had to drive 10 miles (each way) to get Kiddo home for Christmas the next morning! We did make it there and back safely and we enjoyed the chance to be at home; warm and cozy. Christmas morning was very laid back and we went back to hubby's parent's home and spent a good part of the day with them - it was very nice. We had burgers for Christmas Dinner - YUM! :)
The day after Christmas, my family came to celebrate and we had an Indian Feast. We had another wonderful, relaxing day with family...we have been so truly blessed to be able to enjoy the holidays to the fullest!
Sunday services at church were canceled because of the roads and the church parking lot (as were the Christmas Eve Service and the Fellowship) so we did miss our time with our church family. In fact, the next week went pretty slowly as many roads were still pretty bad - didn't stop us from getting out though. Hubby is a wonderful and safe driver and if it didn't look good, we took another route or didn't get out at all. (However, from Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve we still got in well over 150 miles! :)
We spent some of New Year's Eve with Hubby's parents and New Year's Day was really nothing special. We don't ever really make a huge deal about it - no real resolutions or parties - but I did have black-eyed peas. Hubby and Kiddo wondered what smelled bad and both were pretty disgusted to eat the single bean that I gave them! How pitiful is that? (Ahh...those boys crack me up!)
Most of the next couple of days was spent in preparation for my gallbladder surgery on January 4th - Monday. I got the boys some convenience foods in the freezer and pantry and I even showed them what and where so they couldn't play dumb and get fast food every day. I told Hubby that if I didn't show him what I got and where it was, that I would expect him to assume that we had nothing for them and they'd have to eat out...although we do have a few sweet friends who have offered food for us if we should need it. We are so blessed...
We ate dinner Sunday night and then we watched a movie. I was getting pretty anxious for surgery, so I much preferred watching a movie to going to bed early and lying awake for hours worrying. We got up Monday morning (much later than we planned, but I just couldn't get up and Hubby didn't complain about staying in bed) and got ready. We got to the hospital about 5-10 minutes early and checked in. They called me back a few minutes later and took me to the outpatient surgery ward - where we prepare for surgery, get hooked up to IV's and wear our lovely backless hospital gowns. They told me that they needed a urine specimen (sorry for the details here) but as it had been some time since I drank anything (I had to fast after midnight) they thought they might be able to help me by hooking me up to my IV and giving me fluids. At 9:15 am, the nurse comes back into my room and asks if I have provided the specimen yet, as they are ready for me in surgery - 45 minutes early! I told her that I'd try and we finally got that cup filled. Imagine my shock when my surgeon enters my room 15 minutes later and tells me that they need to run more labs before they can do surgery and that it was unlikely I'd be able to have surgery at all. I was terrified wondering, "What's wrong with me?" and she says, "You're pregnant."
WHAT?!?!?!?!
I put my hand over my mouth and I immediately started crying. The doctor was relieved, I think, apparently most people don't respond well to this kind of news. I explained that for nearly 9 years Hubby and I had been trying for another child and that I had received a negative pregnancy test result just Saturday - I wanted to be ahead of the game so I tested though I wasn't due to "start" (again, sorry) until Monday. They wanted to run blood tests to be sure.
Well...
I'm pregnant. Yep...apparently JUST pregnant - as in 3 weeks along.
I am in shock and I am amazed and I am totally overwhelmed by God's blessings.
However, this weekend and the beginning of this week is not truly as joyful as I wish it were. Sunday night - just about the time we were eating dinner - our Children's Minister, Mark Gibson, was rushed to the hospital with a brain aneurysm. Yesterday he passed away. And tomorrow we have to explain to 100+ kids that Mr. Mark will not be coming back. He was an amazing man, and I am certain - as he knew of my desire for more children - that he is overjoyed by this news that we have received. However, our human hearts ache for the loss that his family will endure until their reunion in Heaven. Our church is hurting right now as this morning - on his birthday - our own Pastor Ray Ivey has officiated a funeral service for a beloved woman in the church who died last week after a long battle with cancer. Now, Pastor Ray will again be officiating more than one service in a week (unfortunately this has been fairly typical as of the last year or so) as he performs Mark Gibson's ceremony Friday afternoon at 2pm. Please lift up the family and friends of the Gibsons - life is fleeting.
One moment I learn news that makes my heart leap for joy...and merely hours later, I hear news that breaks my heart with mourning. Mark would want me to be happy...and I am. Truly. But I'll not forget the fingerprints that Mark made on so many young lives for the Lord. He will be sorely missed...until we see each other again in Jesus Christ's presence - the presence of God Himself. What a glorious day that will be!
And soon - maybe when it really feels real - I'll truly enjoy the life that is just beginning to grow inside me. A new life. A new day. A new baby...
We were struck by the Christmas Eve Blizzard of 2009 in which OKC got over 14 inches of snow in less than one day! Visibility was practically nonexistent, the roads were poor at best and after 2pm on Christmas Eve - Hubby works until noon and then they have a Christmas Luncheon at 1pm - we had to drive 10 miles (each way) to get Kiddo home for Christmas the next morning! We did make it there and back safely and we enjoyed the chance to be at home; warm and cozy. Christmas morning was very laid back and we went back to hubby's parent's home and spent a good part of the day with them - it was very nice. We had burgers for Christmas Dinner - YUM! :)
The day after Christmas, my family came to celebrate and we had an Indian Feast. We had another wonderful, relaxing day with family...we have been so truly blessed to be able to enjoy the holidays to the fullest!
Sunday services at church were canceled because of the roads and the church parking lot (as were the Christmas Eve Service and the Fellowship) so we did miss our time with our church family. In fact, the next week went pretty slowly as many roads were still pretty bad - didn't stop us from getting out though. Hubby is a wonderful and safe driver and if it didn't look good, we took another route or didn't get out at all. (However, from Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve we still got in well over 150 miles! :)
We spent some of New Year's Eve with Hubby's parents and New Year's Day was really nothing special. We don't ever really make a huge deal about it - no real resolutions or parties - but I did have black-eyed peas. Hubby and Kiddo wondered what smelled bad and both were pretty disgusted to eat the single bean that I gave them! How pitiful is that? (Ahh...those boys crack me up!)
Most of the next couple of days was spent in preparation for my gallbladder surgery on January 4th - Monday. I got the boys some convenience foods in the freezer and pantry and I even showed them what and where so they couldn't play dumb and get fast food every day. I told Hubby that if I didn't show him what I got and where it was, that I would expect him to assume that we had nothing for them and they'd have to eat out...although we do have a few sweet friends who have offered food for us if we should need it. We are so blessed...
We ate dinner Sunday night and then we watched a movie. I was getting pretty anxious for surgery, so I much preferred watching a movie to going to bed early and lying awake for hours worrying. We got up Monday morning (much later than we planned, but I just couldn't get up and Hubby didn't complain about staying in bed) and got ready. We got to the hospital about 5-10 minutes early and checked in. They called me back a few minutes later and took me to the outpatient surgery ward - where we prepare for surgery, get hooked up to IV's and wear our lovely backless hospital gowns. They told me that they needed a urine specimen (sorry for the details here) but as it had been some time since I drank anything (I had to fast after midnight) they thought they might be able to help me by hooking me up to my IV and giving me fluids. At 9:15 am, the nurse comes back into my room and asks if I have provided the specimen yet, as they are ready for me in surgery - 45 minutes early! I told her that I'd try and we finally got that cup filled. Imagine my shock when my surgeon enters my room 15 minutes later and tells me that they need to run more labs before they can do surgery and that it was unlikely I'd be able to have surgery at all. I was terrified wondering, "What's wrong with me?" and she says, "You're pregnant."
WHAT?!?!?!?!
I put my hand over my mouth and I immediately started crying. The doctor was relieved, I think, apparently most people don't respond well to this kind of news. I explained that for nearly 9 years Hubby and I had been trying for another child and that I had received a negative pregnancy test result just Saturday - I wanted to be ahead of the game so I tested though I wasn't due to "start" (again, sorry) until Monday. They wanted to run blood tests to be sure.
Well...
I'm pregnant. Yep...apparently JUST pregnant - as in 3 weeks along.
I am in shock and I am amazed and I am totally overwhelmed by God's blessings.
However, this weekend and the beginning of this week is not truly as joyful as I wish it were. Sunday night - just about the time we were eating dinner - our Children's Minister, Mark Gibson, was rushed to the hospital with a brain aneurysm. Yesterday he passed away. And tomorrow we have to explain to 100+ kids that Mr. Mark will not be coming back. He was an amazing man, and I am certain - as he knew of my desire for more children - that he is overjoyed by this news that we have received. However, our human hearts ache for the loss that his family will endure until their reunion in Heaven. Our church is hurting right now as this morning - on his birthday - our own Pastor Ray Ivey has officiated a funeral service for a beloved woman in the church who died last week after a long battle with cancer. Now, Pastor Ray will again be officiating more than one service in a week (unfortunately this has been fairly typical as of the last year or so) as he performs Mark Gibson's ceremony Friday afternoon at 2pm. Please lift up the family and friends of the Gibsons - life is fleeting.
One moment I learn news that makes my heart leap for joy...and merely hours later, I hear news that breaks my heart with mourning. Mark would want me to be happy...and I am. Truly. But I'll not forget the fingerprints that Mark made on so many young lives for the Lord. He will be sorely missed...until we see each other again in Jesus Christ's presence - the presence of God Himself. What a glorious day that will be!
And soon - maybe when it really feels real - I'll truly enjoy the life that is just beginning to grow inside me. A new life. A new day. A new baby...
Comments
Praising with you!!
Beth
CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy! Whoo-Hoo!
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca
May God bless you and the new life that is growing within you.
Sonya Lee
You will likely have problems with your gallbladder during your pregnancy (I'm sure you are well aware!), so google some things you can do to help prevent flareups. I've had them, and they are NOT FUN! I learned it was my gallbladder by googling the symptoms, then shortly after confirmed a large stone via ultrasound. I still have my gallbladder and hope to prevent surgery!