Three Unexpected Perks of Pregnancy!

3. Overstuffed - You know when you go out to eat at your favorite restaraunt and knowingly eat way too much? You get up to leave and do your best to tuck in your tummy that has to be popping out at this point. Well, when you are pregnant you pretty much feel like this after any meal, no matter how big. Heck, I could eat an apple and feel like that. The great thing is that no matter how full and uncomfortable I feel, I look down and my belly is popping out - just like it's supposed to!

2. Elastic Waist Pants - I never thought that I would appreciate the comfort and convenience of pants with an elastic waist rather than the more traditional zipper and button. Not only are they totally practical, but they also help with the hourly potty breaks! I give any one of you permission to have an uncomfortable conversation with me in the future if you notice that I am still sporting the elastic minus the baby bump.

1. The Outty - My belly button has

never been so clean and spotless! And this is definitely the number one perk that was least expected during my pregnancy. Corey has been telling me for months that I'm "done". And with less than 5 weeks to go, I am feeling rather done.

Potholes

Each morning I receive a devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries. I will admit that I have not been the best student as of late and many mornings I skip over the reading. For some reason this title caught my attention and I took a whole 2 minutes out of my day and devoted it to the reading. I attached it below.

It made me think. Although I don’t feel that I am in a “pothole” right now, I also know that I am not singing from the mountain tops. I am just hanging out on a molehill feeling a bit in a funk. Sometimes I wonder if I would be better off in a pothole – reaching, seeking, asking, praying for any glimpse of relief from a difficult situation. But when I don’t have a specific struggle or heartache, just feeling a bit blah, then it’s easy for me to forget to reach, seek, ask, and pray. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for any storms to blow in! But just a good reminder for me to not look to the Lord in only times that are really great and really tough.


Potholes Required
9 Apr 2010

Van Walton
"Dear...sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." James 1:2-3 (NLT)

Before moving to the warm South, complete with mild winters and smooth roads, my family lived in Wisconsin. The greatest contrast I noticed? Southern roads free from potholes.Or so I thought.Then one day as I sailed along a local street, my car sank into a deep hole. Water and mud splashed over the windshield and bounced off my side view mirror. The abrupt pitfall surely damaged my car. At the very least it was dirty and dented."Where did that come from?" I wondered. "A pothole on the streets of my fine city?"Driving on, I considered the pothole. Every road we travel is susceptible to pothole blight. I remember my front walkway caving in and crumbling after a heavy rain washed out the ground underneath it. I've even found myself walking around muddy holes on forest paths.Yes, every road we travel is susceptible to the pothole blight, including the road of life. God's Word guarantees it: "You will face all kinds of trouble ...Your faith will be put to the test" (James 1:2b-3a, NIRV).At one time or another, the highway on which we travel will fall out from under us. Or, if we are not personally affected by troubles, we know someone who is. Potholes are inevitable, it seems, if we're going anywhere. Consequently, we can spend much time dealing with the destruction, or rescuing others from their deep pits. Writing these words distresses me and if I were to camp on this thought, I could find myself sorely depressed.So I drive on, focusing on God's Word. Like the dependable tow truck that fixes damaged tires or the repair shop that aligns them, God's Word assures me that falling into an abyss is not the end of the ride. Life does go on ... with a high calling and meaningful purpose.

Consider these words:"The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort...comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others ..." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)"

...we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair..." (2 Corinthians 4:7-8, NLT)"

...under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:2-4, MSG)

And finally Isaiah 53:3a, 4a explains that the troubles our Lord Jesus suffered made us who le. He was "a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief...it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down..." (NLT)

Precious friend, are you stuck in one of life's potholes? Don't despair. You're not alone. Jesus knows. You may feel damaged, broken, or rejected but there is a high calling, a greater purpose for your troubling experiences. One day you will comfort others in their afflictions. Your light will shine on another's dark and difficult path. And when you step into eternity you will receive the crown of life.Hallelujah!

Father, God, I have fallen into a deep hole. I am damaged, broken, and feel rejected. Please use my circumstances to strengthen me and cause me to shine so others may see Your glory. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Our Present State

This is our present state. That’s me – 33 weeks pregnant. And this is our nursery that I am standing in. The soon-to-be room of our sweet, innocent, dependant infant. Yes – we have a lot of work to do before the baby makes a surprise entrance into this world. I have really enjoyed the surreal anticipation of a baby coming. Each week as I grow larger and the baby’s movements more intense and lifelike, it reminds me that this whole things is for real. It’s almost as if I’ve attached a personality to this little guy (or girl)! And may that personality be one of a need-to-please nature and even a little procrastination would be acceptable. At least for 5 more weeks…please.

In good ole Bevan-like fashion, the rest of our bedrooms are in a similar state as the nursery. We have a cozy little set up in the basement. Some how we justified to ourselves that it made complete sense to remodel them all at once. We are really good at putting ourselves in challenging positions during already strenuous circumstances. Although, this go-around I have the baby to blame for my flailing emotions and bouts of exhaustion. No really, I think I handle the situation better than most hormonal women would. But only Corey knows the truth. And the best part of agreeing to this ordeal – I don’t have to partake in any painting :) A big thanks to my mother and mother-in-law for help in that arena. Just remember, it’s for the grandbaby.

So next on the to-do list is to paint/texture the ceilings, paint & hang new trim & baseboard, build closet systems, add blinds & fixtures, wash the walls, new carpet, and of course decorating. This is nothing compared to what we've already been through!