Let God unfold the rose....

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact. It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do.

Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...

It's only a tiny rosebud
This flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold it's petals
With these clumsy hands of mine
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I
This flower God opens so sweetly,
Would in my hands fade and die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
How can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me,
My Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as He unfolds the rose.
(author unknown)

So I ask you today? Are you trying to unfold the rose of your life? or will you allow God to unfold it for you in His time?

Sometimes it's so hard to wait on the Lord, to put my trust in His hands. But I know, that I cannot open this rose of life the way God wants, and so everyday I look to see what petals have been opened. Everyday learning to trust more that He will provide what we need.

I don't ever want to forget that God knows best....and when I don't see a way out of my situation, God does. He has never failed me.

What really got me thinking on this subject; yesterday I was looking at our budget, and I just couldn't see how we could make it. I was getting upset, and then God steps in and gives us another blessing. I still needed a breast pump (which obviously is a more expensive item) but couldn't afford it. So I went searching last week for a used one (with a closed circuit for sanitary reasons) and found someone who was selling her's for $25.00. I inquired, but forgot to get back to her. So she sent me an email that said she would just give it to me if I was still interested...and so yesterday I picked up the pump (that normally cost about $150.00 new) for free. There are benefits to being a child of the Most High! So now all I need to do is buy some new tubing parts (which will cost about $30.00) and it will be like brand new!

Thank you Jesus for providing yet another blessing!

36.6 weeks-Carrying a baby melon to take a bath...or is it a shower?

This last weekend "Baby Jehoshaphat" had another shower. This was his main shower and 36 were in attendance. We were so blessed. He got lots of clothes and diapers! We even got some big items such as an exersaucer (from Nana Wendy) and a travel crib/play pen (from our good friends Siena and Bryan). I left feeling blessed and very grateful. He is definitely loved.

There are still quite a few items we still need to get (such as a stroller), but knowing that diapers and clothes are set for the next few months is such a big help! I am amazed how much stuff a little one needs though.

Special thanks:

Mollie P.-Your generosity was too much! Thank you so much for blessing us with a car seat, and a changing pad and cover. Words can't even express how grateful we are.

Lynette R.-Organizing the baby shower. I really appreciate your hard work. Also, thank you for making the cake so cute with the fondant blocks.

My Dad and Lynn-Opening up their house to host the shower and taking pictures. We had 36 in attendance, see the pictures above. Also, thank you for the beautiful rocking chair! It will be well used I am sure.

Mone't T.-For putting together the games (even though there wasn't enough time to get to them). I appreciate your hard work!

Carisa V.-For making the fondant blocks on the cake, and for your help with the shower.

Mary S., Rochelle R., and to anyone else, that helped make the shower a wonderful day.

Jasbir S.-For making it out to the baby shower. She lives about 30 minutes away. I was so glad that you were able to come! It was great seeing you again.

As I am typing this out, I realized he will be here in approx. 3 weeks! It's crazy how quickly this pregnancy has gone. I am so thankful that I have had such an easy time being pregnant, and that I really haven't gained a lot of weight. I am looking forward his birth too. I am curious to see which set of genes he has taken too, or if there is a healthy mix of both Joel and I in him. We'll soon see, in the meantime:

What's new this week?

How far along: 36.6 Weeks

Maternity clothes: Yes.

Total weight gain: 17 lbs.

Waist: This week my waist measures in at 46 1/4".

Belly Button: Still an innie, thank the Lord, but it's getting sorta flat looking.

Best moment this week: Firstly, a surprise visit from a friend with a very special and big gift; His baby shower; Putting away all his clothes; Bringing home my rocking chair (finally!); Getting the bedding set in the mail.

Food cravings: Something tasty, but I just don't know what it is! Nothing satisfies :(

Food aversions: Everything. Heartburn is almost over right?

Gender: He's still a boy! Check out the picture from our previous post.

Crazy Dreams: Had one that involved Joel, but can't remember it.

What I miss: He's still in my ribs, so I miss being comfortable while singing...and this week there is a lot of singing to be done! Poor me!

What I am looking forward to: Finishing setting up the nursery. It's never going to get done, at least that's how I feel.

Milestones: I think he might have dropped. I had two friends say that the belly looked lower. I will say that that last two nights of sleep have been great! We'll see what the Dr. says. I have my next appointment of Friday.

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.

Until next post,

Double portion blessing!

God is so good! Yesterday we got a double portion blessing almost at the same time. I went to the mail, opened it, and then got a phone call. Here are the details.

1. Firstly, I was laid off from my job back in December. At that time I applied for Unemployment, but since I only worked for last two months out of the year it was not counted. Well, I had a independent contractor position for 4 months last year as well, but that does not pay into unemployment, so I had no wages that I could benefit from with that job. So needless to say, I had no wages to benefit from at all. Confusing I know! So the other day, I decided to try and apply for unemployment again, because this time my wages from working those two months would be included. Praise God! I qualified. So for the next 13 weeks or so, I will be getting a small check. It's not much, but it will help.

2. Second, after I opened the mail and saw I had been awarded unemployment, I got a phone call from our tax guy. A couple of weeks ago, I had received a corrected 1099 form from Joel's work for a settlement that he received. Because of the settlement, we ended up owing the IRS over $1,500.00. Talk about devastation when we found out. So when I got the corrected form I called to let him know, and yesterday he called me back to let me know that with the corrected form it dropped our taxes owed by 2/3!!!!! Praise God! Now we won't be owing taxes to the IRS for 100 years....lol

God is good and always on time, and just when I did not see a way out of our situation, God is working it out. It pays to pay your tithes and offerings. Even when you can't afford to pay them...do it! This is a testimony to God's many blessings!

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Until next post,

23 weeks and 1 day - The Mango Tango

I know it seems like every week, I am saying the same thing over, but I can't get over how quickly this pregnancy is going by. I mean, it seems just like yesterday that we announced to the church we were expecting a little one.

The last week has been an emotional one for me. A really good friends dad went on to be with the Lord, and I sold my car. But as sad as the situation was, it was also a joyous occasion.

Last Saturday, Cesar Virtucio, received the Holy Ghost (in accordance with Acts 2:38) as...yes that's right, as he was passing. All that were there in attendance of the passing, said it was a miracle. He was previously baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus (Sometime in February of this year), and seeking the Holy Ghost. Looking back, I realized how precious life really is. That same day he passed I was just in awe of how much the baby was moving, and how life was growing within my belly. How the Lord gives and takes away, but still "Blessed be the name of the Lord". He knows the plans He has for our life, and though things happen and we don't understand why, He has it all under control.

With that in mind, we were struggling financially to make ends meet, and so the decision was made to sell my car to help relieve some of the pressure. Not that I don't need my car, I do, but at the same time, there are plenty of families who get by with only one vehicle. It just means that I have to plan my days/time better if I want to go out. So we put my car up on Craigslist, and I refreshed it a couple of days later, and not more than two hours goes by, and I get a call. They came by last Thursday, liked the car, made an offer, and then I proceeded to see if they bank would settle the debt for less than the amount owed (I was upside down, so there was no way I would sell the car for what I owed). So this last Tuesday, the bank accepted the offer, and Wednesday, we went down to the bank to pay the debt off, and register it in their name. It was very emotional for me, because I was worried they would back out, or there was going to be some problem, or it wouldn't pass smog, but though there were a few hangup, they now have the vehicle, and I only need to have the the lien removed, and sign off on the title when it comes. TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

If you can, please keep our family in prayer, our financial struggles are not over yet. I desperately need a job, but at this late into pregnancy, I am not sure I will be able to find work. So if you could pray that my husband gets a better job, as things are tough for him there with all the changes they are making, we would really appreciate it. As I stated before, God knows the plans He has for our life, and so it is with a humble servant's willing heart, that I want to be found. We want to be where God wants us. I know sometimes my faith falls short, but He is there in my times of weakness.

What's new this week?

How far along: 23.1 Weeks

Maternity clothes: Still in my regular clothes, but I do wear maternity, when I feel that my clothes are a little too tight. I had yet another friend tell me I look great, and don't look pregnant at all.

Total weight gain: 6 pounds. I was so excited when I went into the Dr.'s office, and I weighted in at 171. My starting weight was 165, and so considering I was 5 months along when weighed, that's pretty good!!!

Belly Button: Still an innie, although it looks like it got deeper. It might just be that it has spread/gotten bigger.

Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move around daily. I noticed in church he responds to the preaching/music. He is really active during those times.

Food cravings: Watermelon

Food aversions: None.

Gender: It's a boy! Check out the picture from our previous post.

Crazy Dreams: Ok, so last week I dreamed my stomach was as hairy as a dog. It was really gross.

What I miss: My energy...I feel zapped at the end of the day.

What I am looking forward to: Setting up the nursery, and buying a stroller.

Milestones: Baby is moving/Tangoing daily, about 11 inches in length, and approx. weighs 1 pound. You can visibly see movements on the outside now. Joel got to feel the baby move again the other day. I find it's so special to share that with him.

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing his for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

15 weeks and 4 days

Time is flying by. In a few days, we will be 4 months. Crazy! We have a Dr. Appointment on Wednesday, March 17th, where I will be one day short of 16 weeks. I am hoping that she will do an ultrasound, and be able to find out the gender of the baby. Well if not, we will have to wait until our 20 week scan. Right now Baby W is approx 4 in, and last night was moving up a storm, although you still cannot see it on the outside of the tummy.

This last week we went to Merced, CA for a church conference called "On Course". Let me just say, the preaching was so good. I felt refreshed and revitalized....rembering why I go to church. The only downfall I had, was trying to make sure that my church clothes would fit properly, as we cannot afford to purchase new clothing for me just yet.

On another note, here are a few stats on me and Baby W:

How far along: 15.4 Weeks
Maternity clothes: I’m still getting away with my regular clothes! I have noticed a rounding of sorts to the lower abdomen.
Total weight gain: 9.5 pounds
Belly Button: Still looks the same.
Best moment this week: Going to a church function, and being able to share our news with friends we haven't seen in a while.
Food cravings: Well, food....I'm always so hungry. But really, nothing in particular.
Food aversions: Nothing in particular.
Gender: Not known yet.
What I miss: Being able to fit my clothes properly (transitional stage is a bummer)
What I am looking forward to: Decorating the nursery, and finding out the gender.
Milestones: Baby is kicking, and 4 inches in length (according to books)



Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby’s legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can’t feel the movements.

12 Weeks today

Yesterday we had our second ultrasound. We were so excited. Baby Willoughby was moving around like crazy. To be honest, I think I felt the baby move for the first time Tuesday night. It felt like when you get a twitch in your eye. It wasn't very much, and I think if I had not been in that half conscious/sorta sleeping state, I might not have felt it. I know they say that it's too early, but we'll see. ;)

So it looks as if the baby is measuring a week ahead of schedule (12w and 2d...instead of 11w and 3d), and so the Dr. said that we should just go by the original due date of September 2, 2010....which would make us exactly 12 weeks today.

So our new due date will be September 2, 2010. I can't say how excited we are. It's been such an emotional journey for me to get to this milestone. With miscarriage on my mind constantly, it was very hard for me to really embrace the fact that we might become parents soon.

Bro. Rodney Rushing just preached a message on Sunday (Feb 14, 2010) about faith, and how Abraham was considered to have great faith even though he laughed at God when God told him that he was going to have a son. Bro Rushing even went on to say that yes, that was doubt, and that he tried to reason with God that the promise would come from his other son.....but God mentioned in Romans 4 (I think that was the scripture he used) that Abraham had Great faith. Bro Rushing also said that even though there was doubt, Abraham never acted out on that doubt, and that it's okay for us to have doubt, but not to act out on it.

I felt like God had given me peace about this pregnancy from that message...and that even though I think that my pregnancy might end in miscarriage, that as long as I did not act out on that doubt, I could still have faith.

I am so grateful for God taking the time to reassure my mind, and that even though I had doubt, everything turned out alright. Our baby was alive with a heartbeat, and moving up a storm. That we reached the milestone of 12 weeks and the baby is still alive was great faith to me. I am so thankful for my God.