THANKFUL!!!

I have so many things to be thankful for.  I could go on for ever and ever really; life is that good right now!  I just love what God is doing in me and through me.  I've made a lot of progress over the past few months and I am so thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit who has guided me out of despair! There is nothing more powerful than feeling and knowing the Spirit of the Lord is at work in me and through me.  I trust that my life is going to be used for great things for the Kingdom!  It's kind-of weird because I don't have any specifics really that I can share.  It's not like I've sold everything I own and am moving across the world.  I'm just making some significant changes that might lead me, in the future, to be able to drop everything...deny who I am according to this world, pick up my cross, and follow God wherever He leads me.  That's who and what I am striving for.  I just have some work to do.  Although, if I've learned anything this past year, it's that God's timing is far different than my timing.  I have finally accepted that!  I have been praying that I really learn how to be a servant, and that I can discern between what the world says a Christian is and what the Bible says a Christian is.  I know there is a big difference; I'm just trying to work out all the details.  I want to be amazing for Christ; not for me, my husband, my daughter, family or friends.  Only Christ! That's what I'm working on.  That's all that matters!  When my life is truly based on how I live for Christ, I know the rest will follow!


On a pregnancy note ;)  things are going great!!  We had a couple of scares over the past few weeks, but nothing major. The up-side of having scares this go round' is that I get to see the baby more frequently.  Of course, I would rather not have any scares, and only go to the doctor at my regularly scheduled visits.  Nothing is worth the pain and worry that accompanies "the scares", even if it means seeing the baby on ultrasound more than the average pregnant woman.  I got a really bad case of the flu about a month ago and lost four of the five pounds I had gained.  I was a little bummed about that, but I quickly gained it all back and then some ;)  I think I'm doing pretty good though with the weight thing because, for the most part, I am still able to wear all my regular clothes (jeans and all); and I'm almost 16 weeks!  For those of you who know me really well, you know that weight, pregnancy or not, is a HUGE thing for me.  But I'm doing okay considering.... I started feeling the baby move several weeks ago; just the flutters, but it's such a magnificent feeling no matter how strong the movements are.  Every time I feel them, I literally stop and thank God for the opportunity He has given me to have this baby and get to feel such amazing things inside my body.  Having a miscarriage truly puts this pregnancy in a whole new perspective for me.  I don't take ONE-SINGLE-THING for granted.  I soak it all in....from the migraines that I get constantly, to all the throwing up I did. To all the sleep I have lost because my body thinks my new bed is sitting on the toilet instead of lying on a mattress!  I'm thankful for it all!  I wouldn't change any of it for the world...I'm simply just thankful to have this chance again. What's really exciting is that this past week the baby's movements have gotten much stronger, so much so that tonight Ilyssa was able to feel him/her move for the first time.  She was so overjoyed and thanked God for it during her bedtime prayers!  Now it's Patrick's turn ;)   We find out what we are having in about two weeks.  Yep...these are gonna be the longest two weeks EVER!  We are all very anxious and so very ready to know.  I am definitely not the type that can wait until delivery day to know.  No way...I'm the type that has to know like yesterday ;)  I've really never been good with surprises; why start now, ya know?  


So, overall, life is just wonderful!  I praise God and give Him all the glory with each new day He blesses me with.  I'm just so THANKFUL!!!