The Day Jimmy Came

It is now 7 pm on Tuesday, December 30th. Bekah and I woke up this morning wondering how many more mornings we were going to wake up without a little Jimmy in the crib. Well, apparently this was our last. After sleeping in til 9 am or so (I wonder when that will happen again?), we made ourselves a big breakfast of pancakes and bacon, OJ, and coffee. After cleaning up, I proceeded to do some lesson planning for an elective that I will begin teaching on Jan 7th. I spent most of the remainder of the morning and early afternoon sitting behind this computer typing notes with the class readings laid out next me. The class I'm readying is called "Advanced Topics in the Law of War." While I typed away, Bekah was busy putting away all of the Christmas decorations including packing up the tree. I helped a little bit--carried the boxes back to the garage. She also managed to clean the whole house. She's been adamant about not wanting to come back from the hospital with a dirty house. Well, she won't have to. Finally, Bekah put together Jimmy's "Rainforest Swing" which she and her mom bought at Target last weekend. Then, it was time for lunch. Bekah and I each had a slice of leftover Vocelli's Prima Vera pizza, which we had ordered the night before. Bekah also put out some carrots and cut up an apple. It was kind of a light lunch because we were planning on going out for Thai food tonight. The weather today was absolutely gorgeous -- sunny, blue skies, about 58 degrees -- so we decided to go for a walk after lunch. This was about 2:30 pm. Bekah remarked as we headed out that her water better not break because she felt so gross and wanted to be able to take a shower. We walked to the Forest Lakes pool (about 3/4 of a mile) then turned back. When we were about 1/4 of a mile away from home, Bekah turned to me and said, "I think my water just broke." It soon became obvious that it had. This was about 3:00 pm. I offered to run up the big hill to our house and get the car, but she toughed it out and made it home. We called the doctor's office after we got home and our nurse, Susan, told Bekah she could take a quick shower (pheww) before heading to the hospital. I took a quick one too then we jetted out of the house (good thing Bekah had already packed bags for both of us) and headed for UVA hospital. We got here at about 4:00 pm and have been getting checked in, monitored, and stuff since then. Fortunately, the hospital has wireless internet so I could make this blog entry. I'll write more about the labor later. Jimmy is finally coming! Praise the Lord.

Well, its 7pm on December 28th and little Jimmy has still not decided to grace us with his presence. Mom and Ned are here now visiting and that has been fun, but I"m pretty sure they would like to meet him before before they leave! One thing we do know is that Jimmy is still moving and growing. I thought I would post a picture from today...40 weeks plus!

Thank You!

Dear Family! We missed being with you so much this Christmas! We were so blessed to still receive so many wonderful gifts from you in the mail. We thought we would take some pictures of opening our gifts as well as a quick video of thanks! We miss you and hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

All our love,

Bekah, Jeremy, and Jimmy (soon to arrive...we hope!)

Thoughts on Pregnancy

Well its Christmas day and I'm still pregnant! I can't say I have ever thought of such a long amount of time in weeks before but for the first time I'm looking back on 40 weeks of my life. Its interesting that woman are pregnant for about 40 weeks, I wonder if God did this on purpose. 40 is a number he uses often for his people in times of trial, wandering, and learning...I think that in these last 40 weeks I have definitely faced many trials, done some wandering and I have learned a lot! I thought I would just share with you one major thing that God has taught me over the past 40 weeks.

Pregnancy has reminded me of how anxious I can get about things...and I know that it will only get worse when Jimmy is born! But over the past 9 months God has taught me over and over again that He is in control of my life and in control of Jimmy's life and I am not. "You are not your own, you have been bought at a price." This is a fact that I daily resist and yet that I daily find to be my only hope in life and in death. God reminded me of this especially the other day as I read from my devotional reading about the parable of the talents. My devotional told the story of a Dr. Moon who, when suddenly struck with blindness said, "Lord, I accept this 'talent' of blindness from You. Help me to use it for Your glory so that when You return, you may receive it 'back with interest'" I was reminded, as I meditated on this, that parenting is also a 'talent' given to us by God. Jimmy is not ours but has been given to us by God. My prayer through the tough times and the amazing times will be that God may help us to use this talent for His glory. In other words, I pray that God will use us in Jimmy's life, like He used Eli in Samuel's life. That we may help him hear God's voice and help to lead Jimmy in path's of righteousness so that when Christ returns He may receive Jimmy back with interest...a heart that knows God's love, grace, and salvation.

Well, thanks for indulging my thoughts! I can't wait to meet little Jimmy and hope that he comes really soon! Merry Christmas to everyone and may we all be in awe today of God's great gift of salvation through Jesus...He is our only hope in life and in death.

First Message - Merry Christmas!

Well, it's December 24th and Bekah and I are here in Cville...still waiting on little Jimmy. It doesn't look like he is going to come anytime soon. So, we're celebrating on our own tonight for the last time in our lives I'm guessing. For all who are reading this, we are thankful for you and wish we could be with you tonight. May God bless you this Christmas.