June already??

Who else is in disbelief that it is already June? That's the halfway month of the year! We leave for our house-hunting trip next week...Elijah arrives next month (56 days!). Only four months left here in California. Strangeness all around.

I've had some encouragement the past couple days that have helped me not feel so tired of being pregnant...

1) A message we listened to by John Piper reminded me that God created us with physical bodies so that we can use our bodies to bring Him glory. How does my body do that? By displaying the awesome wonder of the process of building and carrying new life! Pregnancy is MUCH more enjoyable to look at from that perspective rather than focusing on the discomforts.

2) I've realized that Matt hasn't really felt my belly as much as he did with Judah. We talked about it, and the reason is legit -- this is the second pregnancy and it is VERY routine and predictable in that we even know the day Elijah will arrive (from a human standpoint). That's not to say it's not just as special as the Judah pregnancy, just not "new." Make sense? He did say he will make an effort to take time to "be pregnant with me," as I requested. I think that will really help my attitude and emotional strength to finish well -- to not feel like I'm just a pregnant woman, but a wife carrying a second son. :-)

3) I had a good conversation with our pastor last night after his continued series on prayer, asking if it's ok to ask God for His help in NOT getting pregnant for a few years (in reference to selfish praying). Such a good conversation that would take too long to blog out! Matt and I spent the whole drive home from church (a lovely 40 minutes) talking deeply about waiting to have more kids, the motives behind that, etc. in response to all Jim had said to me. I think one thing Matt brought up helped release alot of my struggle/guilt in not wanting to be pregnant for a while (to many reasons to delve into). God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply -- one point that brings me guilt in wanting to take a good break from child bearing. BUT...God didn't specify and say "Be fruitful and multiply by having as many kids as you physically can." We have had two kids, and therefore we have already obeyed God's command! What an epiphone! Matt also pointed out that God continued His command with "and fill the earth." Adam and Eve could not have filled the earth from only their own loins -- but their kids had kids who had kids... Another point Matt made was that they had hundreds of years to have all the many kids they did. It probably wasn't one kid right after the other for years on end. He also brought up Abraham and Sarah, who only had one child together. One. And yet Abraham is one of the greatest men of God in all of history. All this NOT to say that we aren't going to have more biological kids! We want to and hopefully will in the future...just hopefully not when Elijah is 1 and Judah is 2. And coming to terms with it being okay that I want to take a break (for multiple reasons, both physical and spiritual) has really helped me have a fresh, lovely perspective on my current pregnancy. I count down the days now out of anticipation of Elijah's arrival and not getting to be un-pregnant. A much better attitude, hopefully now pleasing to God with thanksgiving for even being able to have children...with great pregnancies to boot!

Whew. That was a lot! But at least it lets you know where I'm at...and you didn't even have to go to a different blog. So to give your brain a break, enjoy the pics from Judah's "Backstreet Boy" outfit (as Matt calls it...and I love it) and today's playdate/babysitting of Rachel. They had so much fun together!