April 17, 2009

It's raining here in New Braunfels. LT may have actually heard some thunder. He is becoming his own little person even though he is still inside me. His dad came to bed last night after I was asleep and apparently had some play time with him while I was oblivious. It's nice that we can do that now, and I try to enjoy all the conveniences of pregnancy (but am still looking forward to the baby times, even with the new trials that come). Trey can really feel him moving around now that he's a little bigger. He is such a wiggle worm, and he does like showing his dad and me how strong his kick is.

Our out-of-town friends coordinated with our friend April in San Antonio and with Trey's family (who were here this past weekend) to surprise us with a baby shower last Saturday. It is probably not terribly hard to surprise a pregnant woman, but Trey and I BOTH were completely surprised and felt so loved. LT got some precious things, and Trey and I got some little happies, too. It was so fun to see all the people who had coordinated to sneak those gifts out here to us and feel for a little while that we aren't so far away after all.

We're still settling in very well out here and are thankful for God's gracious provision for us. Meanwhile my uncle in Maryville, Tennessee has gotten very sick, is in ICU, and does not have a good prognosis. He is in his 50s. My heart is torn because I know my place is with Trey, and I cannot be present in Tennessee right now or even in Mississippi where my grandmother and mother and aunt are (my other aunt is in Alabama). I am with Uncle Duff and Aunt Lorna and my cousin Sarah Catherine as often as I can be in prayer, and my sweet Dad reminded me that I shouldn't think of prayer as a little, ineffective thing; God uses our prayers. Uncle Duff has always been a picture of God's giving heart to those around him. He has always given of his time and love, not to mention his material resources, to so many who have given nothing back to him. I know the Lord has a plan for Uncle Duff, for his good and not harm. Our whole family needs God's grace to realize that and to continue to trust God through this hard time.

God is good, and all things come from His hand to His children.