Josh and Kerin (dot com)

Baby #3 is on the way, due September 19th. That's only about a month after Rachel will turn one year. Some people wonder if we're crazy or just don't know how it happens.

While in all honesty, I would have preferred more space between Rachel and this new baby, I trust in a God that knows and does what is best for me. Would I want to interfere with His perfect plan for my life or the lives of my precious family members?

And so I've been thinking a lot on Psalm 127.

"Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

Could "except the Lord build the house" apply to the bearing of children? What makes a house? If I try to take control and make my "house" the size I think it should be, are my efforts vain? Will my house crumble?

"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."

Sometimes, or a lot of times, having young children brings early mornings, late nights, and sometimes tears... is that all for nothing? For me, I feel the Lord saying through these verses that it if I am holding on to a right to get enough sleep/rest, keep to the perfect schedule, etc., it will be for nothing. Instead, I need to rest in the fact that I am His beloved, and He will give me sleep sufficient for the day, and has a plan for my life that is better than I can imagine.

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

Who doesn't want to be blessed of the Lord? What other rewards can we take with us to heaven, and present to our Father? I want to open my arms wide to the blessings the Lord desires to give me. Sure, it's not a life of ease and pleasure, but the rewards are everlasting, and will bring the most joy in life.

"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth."

There is a raging war out there today. The enemy has many weapons and warriors. He is out to destroy us. And he especially wants to destroy the family. Will my husband and I fight with an empty quiver? Will we fight with a half full quiver? It is our desire to fight with as many arrows as the General will give us!

"Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

The word "happy" here means "blessed." This verse really got me with this pregnancy. As I'm feeling pretty cruddy these first weeks, and thinking about everything my body is going to be going through, and all not that long since I went through Rachel's pregnancy/birth, I was having very selfish thoughts. "Sure, others can be excited, it's not their body that has to do all the work!" ... "They don't have to care for three little ones..." etc... And as I meditated on this passage, I was struck with this thought -- "Do I want to prevent the Lord's blessing for my husband?" Meaning, why shouldn't I be willing to sacrifice my own interests, in order that my husband might be blessed?
And finally, there is no shame to be associated with having a full quiver. In fact, there are important tasks to be performed -- speaking with the enemies in the gate! Would that be speaking with actual words? Or might our testimony alone be able to speak volumes, and perhaps be used to lead others to Christ.

And so, I'm excited that the Lord has chosen to bless us yet again with a precious little arrow, to be raised for the Lord's purposes and use!

In early December, Aaron and I went to a class done by the Log Home Builders Association, in Washington state.

It was great, and we learned a ton. Our first project is going to be a log fort (like a tree fort, but we're using logs for much of the walls). We've already built a model of what we're going to do and have gotten a lot of feedback from other LHBA members.

We're still in the process of looking for land. We've found a few lots that are promising, but are still reviewing our options and keeping and eye out for something better. The ideal lot would be 4 or more acres, subdividable into two lots so Aaron and I could both build a house of our own, less than $50,000, and in Berkeley WV, Jefferson WV, Clarke VA, or Frederick VA (those are counties, not cities).

Since November 6th, we've been doing battle with a nasty cold. Abbi is suffering the worst with it. She has had a runny nose the last 5 weeks, a cough, and even had an ear infection during Thanksgiving. Rachel has had a runny/stuffy nose on and off. Josh got it and has been trying to shake the cough, but other than that is doing better. I have had a touch of it twice, a bit of a sore throat stuffy nose. Praise the Lord it hasn't been any worse for me.

Today Abbi seems to be going down with it again... her nose is running more, and the cough is acting up more. She's quite miserable.

We've been eating healthy (even more than normal), taking good vitamins/supplements, and doing our best to get good rest.

Would you please pray that the Lord would heal us? I know He's allowing this for a reason, but at this point I'm not sure what that is. I need strength to not grow weary. Also pray that if there is something that is causing Abbi to be sick (allergies to something), that we would have wisdom in discerning what it is.

Thank you!

There's an interesting article by Tom Mullen over at BreakTheMatrix.com.

I think he's right—most people don't even fully understand the implications of what is happening with this "bailout," or the real reasons we wound up here.

I'm sure everyone is aware of that both Republican and Democratic candidates for President are strongly in favor of this bailout. It's a great example of why I can't vote for either—if the only choices are socialism or socialism, I have to vote "none of the above."

Of course, you hardly ever really have to vote none of the above. There's pretty much always somebody else you can support.

more random/Abbi pictures
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more Rachel pictures
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more anniversary pictures
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