From the Porch

Our good friend Jenny came over a few weeks ago to take some pictures of our family - one last time before we add Lucy to the mix. Here are a few pics from our time together. If you live in Richmond and want someone to take awesome pictures of you and your family, say for Christmas cards or something, let me know and I'll put you in touch with her. She's great :)

(Note, this is BEFORE our boys had their last hair cut. Now you can actually see their faces a bit better.)

Can anyone tell me where my little boy has gone?!

We love Pumpkins!

I was anticipating this day ever since I was put on bed rest - Pumpkin Day. It has been my favorite day in the past - I love fall and everything pumpkin, and to miss out on it seemed unbearable. But God was very good and the day went great. I was a little sad not to go, but it really ended there. It was a joy to send off my three favorite boys (well one is a man, but you know) and to receive them home with MANY fun stories to tell (and Chick Fil A in hand!). I am thankful that God is so good and that He walks us through each and every day. On Sunday we were able carve one of the pumpkins and plant some of the seeds in our back yard. Owen and I are hoping that we'll have a mini-pumpkin patch in our garden next fall...we'll see!













Lucy's pumpkin :)

Painting

This past weekend, the boys painted some canvases to put in Lucy's room! Here are a few pictures of them hard at work. We'll put up some pictures of her room and the finished paintings at some point in the next 7 weeks!

Sweet Couch Snuggles

From the Couch - The Lord IS my Shepherd!

I haven't had many sad moments in the last few weeks. I have had moments of frustration or restlessness, but not too many sad moments. I am so thankful for that and I really see God's protection in that most of the words I'd use to describe the last 5 weeks include peace, contentment, etc.

Well today was a sad morning. What set me off what Matt getting the boys snack packed for school. It struck part of my heart that misses being a mommy to these boys in the ways that I am used to and love to. I am being a mommy to Lucy in a very tangible and important way, but that means that the way I love my boys has had to change.

I am holding on to the fact that the Lord is my Shepherd today and that He promises that we shall not want - that means we shall not lack. He is leading and guiding us and He will lead us and guide us in the way that is best for us. He is our good and loving shepherd.

I received an email from a dear friend that encouraged me right at this point. I knew that our Wellspring women's Bible study had been looking at Psalm 23 yesterday, and so the concepts from the Psalm were in my mind (I think this would be a good day for me to go do that study myself). She has some words of encouragement from their time in the Word yesterday. I'd like to share it with you so that you too may be encouraged by the Lord being YOUR shepherd wherever you find yourself today...

"I love that you are seeking to trust the Lord as your shepherd. Yesterday our Bible Study spoke about how David learned to trust the Lord as his shepherd. Think of David's up and down life - mountain top experiences, deep valleys - pictured in our lesson from this past week. I think that David continued to look back at his shepherd's care for him - looking in his rear-view mirror at the valleys he had walked through and seeing the presence, goodness and mercy of the Shepherd through those deep, difficult times. And so his faith in the Shepherd grew, bit by bit as he looked back and saw the Shepherd's faithfulness to him. Their relationship grew. David trusted the Shepherd's care more and more....until eventually he could say with confidence...."I shall not fear", and "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!" Those are two very bold statements about David's future, built squarely on the past faithfulness of his Good Shepherd's care for him in David's own personal difficult valleys.

So, today, I'll encourage you as you are experiencing real sadness in the midst of a valley, to look back and see the faithfulness of your Shepherd in those other valleys you have walked through. Notice His presence with you, His comfort, His provisions for you, His refreshment, the way He restored your soul in valleys-past. He will give you hope for today and the future."

From the Couch - Doctors Appointment

I got to see the outside world yesterday for another doctors appointment. It was fun to be out, but not nearly as fun as you'd imagine after being in the house for 2 weeks. Strange I know.

Anyway, we had a great appointment with my doctor who I really love. She is so patient and knowledgeable and helpful. We are 29 weeks along, and the hope is to make it to 37 weeks at which point we'll have a c-section. We have tentatively set that date for December 14. Two things could change that plan: 1) if I start to bleed at any point they will deliver Lucy then to prevent a more serious bleed...thus the need to be on bed rest and 2) if at my next ultrasound (Nov. 5) shows that the placenta has moved to where it "should" be, then we'd reevaluate and go ahead for a normal delivery whenever I went into labor.

SO... you can continue to pray that Lucy Grace would grow and grow and that she'd stay put where she is until 37 weeks or beyond! You can also pray that God would move the location of the placenta so that we don't have to do a c-section. Pray for perseverance and joy in the midst of it all and that we'd trust Him with all of these details.

We've gone ahead and gotten a lot of things ready for her just in case we don't make it to 37 weeks- Matt set up the crib last night, and we're going to do some decorating this weekend, washing the car seat, etc. It's nice to know it will be done and we wont' have to worry about it, but it makes me want to meet her all the more!

From the Couch - pictures

Here are a few pictures from our last few weeks on the couch.

Me and the boys enjoying a timely gift from Aunt Becky and Uncle Bryan.



Matt and the boys have been great coffee makers.





Just sweet

From the Couch - Book Recommendation

Matt started reading a book last night called "All Things for Good" by Thomas Watson (17th century pastor - but easy to read!). I picked it up this morning and started into it as well. I just read an excerpt from the preface and the introduction and find myself highly encouraged and stirred up in my faith. I suggest you pick up a copy HERE.

Here is part of the preface to whet your appetite:

"ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD. (Romans 8:28) To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that ALL things which fall out shall cooperate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over."

Little Girl Purdy has a name!

We wanted to update you and let you know that this sweet little girl has a name! We have decided to name her Lucy Grace Purdy. (Note that her initials are LGP, which also stands for Little Girl Purdy...her first nickname given by her Uncle Brett. So sweet!)

Lucy is loosely based on the character from The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. Matt and Owen have been reading these books this summer (they just finished the whole series last week!) and they are such a great picture of Jesus and His people. Lucy is so in love with Aslan and truth and isn't afraid to fight for Him and she is a little sister. CS Lewis is also just a great author and so that is a neat tie too.

For middle names, we have chosen to do family names (Owen MATTHEW, Baxter GILLAN). We are choosing Grace for Lucy which is also our precious niece Megan's middle name. We thought it would be fun for Lucy to have her middle name be from her sweet cousin who loves people so well and who loves Jesus so much.

We can't wait to meet her and see what this little Lucy will be like. We are currently ALMOST 28 weeks along, 4 weeks into bed rest. They are talking about delivering by c-section at 36 or 37 weeks (8ish weeks from now) if nothing develops sooner. I just had an appointment this week that went well. They are very happy with the effect of the bed rest - growing baby, healthy mommy. So we continue to rest and let her grow grow grow! Please pray that she'd keep growing strong and healthy and for our family as we continue to adjust to this new way of living. We have been overall encouraged and very well supported, so we're thankful for that. Though there are also very hard moments.

From the Couch - Middle Child

I have felt over the last few weeks that our sweet Baxter has taken the brunt of all of this the hardest. He was in a rough spot being 2 1/2 years old before I was put on bedrest, and it seems that it's just been made worse since then. I often feel like I am loving and caring for our little girl at the expense of our middle child. It's hard to see how hard things can be for him and I am often not in a position to help. It's been hard to trust that God is actually caring for Baxter. Matt was encouraged by a friend at church whose wife was on bedrest off and on for TWO YEARS that our boys won't remember these days. That was helpful. You can pray for Baxter to grow in his joy and peace and trust in God and for us as we seek to love him in limited ways. AND most of all that we'd trust the Lord to love and care for all of us in this time. He is good and He is faithful and He is loving and we need to remember that. His goodness and faithfulness and love don't depend on our circumstances. They are true no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in! Isn't that good news?

Here is a picture of the two of us the morning before my bleeding started. It's amazing how much a few hours can change your life! Or at least your year.