Happy New Year? Forgive my melancholy spirit but knowing that much of southeast Asia lies in ruins, that the death toll in Iraq continues to rise and that we are awaiting a hard spring with the pregnancy of Ira I find it hard to say with genuineness, "hapy new year." It's not that I'm a louse or a curmudgeon by nature but I think many of us will be putting to test the beatitude "blessed are those who mourn" this year? Does God really bless those who mourn? We'll see.
As for us, we are doing okay. X-mas was good as we spent time in Long Island with my family. We were a bit tense going as we didn't want to overwhelm the situation with talk of Ira, etc. It turned out to be just right as we shared many laughs together.
We had two appointments over the last week. The first was a follow-up sono with the doctor who first discovered Ira's CDH. We didn't have to mess with the sonographer as the doctor escorted us back to the room and then spent an hour with us looking over Ira. Nothing has changed. The good news is that the heart is "beautiful" and there is no excess fluid in the chest area. There are bumps on the lungs but even healthy babies have these. They most often go away. The doctor warned us that with as many sonos as we will be having other little things are bound to pop up. He was kind and gracious and wants us to keep in touch with him through the rest of the pregnancy even though we are being transferred to Columbia in Manhattan.
Laura also had one last mid-wife appointment. It was a sad parting as we were hoping to go with the low medical intervention route. The mid-wife was gracious in the parting and gentle. Just what we needed.
I also needed the gym membership Laura gave me for X-mas. I'm grossly out of shape and gaining weight. When I don't feel good physically, I feel bad mentally and spiritually. Laura could tell that I wasn't doing good in so many ways and thought that one step in the right direction would be to get back in the gym. We really can't afford it but we are going to make it happen because I'm at my best when I'm feeling fit and I'm going to need to be at my best over the next few months for our family's sake.
One more piece of big news: we are postponing the public launch phase of the church plant. The Manhattan church leadership and I decided that we needed that to be postponed. There is no way I can give proper attention to the church plant while we go through this pregnancy. It is an incredible relief. The launch team members know and it is a matter of time before it is announced to the church. I'll write more about this later.
As for the new year, I really hope it will be happy for many. I guess that as I grow and mature and continue to grow the eyes of God I realize we will never be truly happy until the Lord comes again. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
As for us, we are doing okay. X-mas was good as we spent time in Long Island with my family. We were a bit tense going as we didn't want to overwhelm the situation with talk of Ira, etc. It turned out to be just right as we shared many laughs together.
We had two appointments over the last week. The first was a follow-up sono with the doctor who first discovered Ira's CDH. We didn't have to mess with the sonographer as the doctor escorted us back to the room and then spent an hour with us looking over Ira. Nothing has changed. The good news is that the heart is "beautiful" and there is no excess fluid in the chest area. There are bumps on the lungs but even healthy babies have these. They most often go away. The doctor warned us that with as many sonos as we will be having other little things are bound to pop up. He was kind and gracious and wants us to keep in touch with him through the rest of the pregnancy even though we are being transferred to Columbia in Manhattan.
Laura also had one last mid-wife appointment. It was a sad parting as we were hoping to go with the low medical intervention route. The mid-wife was gracious in the parting and gentle. Just what we needed.
I also needed the gym membership Laura gave me for X-mas. I'm grossly out of shape and gaining weight. When I don't feel good physically, I feel bad mentally and spiritually. Laura could tell that I wasn't doing good in so many ways and thought that one step in the right direction would be to get back in the gym. We really can't afford it but we are going to make it happen because I'm at my best when I'm feeling fit and I'm going to need to be at my best over the next few months for our family's sake.
One more piece of big news: we are postponing the public launch phase of the church plant. The Manhattan church leadership and I decided that we needed that to be postponed. There is no way I can give proper attention to the church plant while we go through this pregnancy. It is an incredible relief. The launch team members know and it is a matter of time before it is announced to the church. I'll write more about this later.
As for the new year, I really hope it will be happy for many. I guess that as I grow and mature and continue to grow the eyes of God I realize we will never be truly happy until the Lord comes again. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
posted by jch at
9:01 AM
1 Comments:
I believe you are right brother, as I read it from the Lord himself in Matthew 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" right after he tells us "whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven."
I agree with your request, come quickly Lord, come quickly!! But give us your heart to boldly spread your Love.
steve
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