Baby Horst

Here's Baby Horst weighing in at 5 lbs.+! At this rate, with 5 1/2 more weeks to go till my EDD, we're looking at a 7 pounder, my OB doctor says.

I was having a battle with my faith last night, worrying about how we're going to make ends meet the next little while, etc., while remembering our recent blessings and answers to prayers, and trying to leave it all in God's hands. I kept laying it all out before Him, naming each of the things bothering me, and yet I was still having an emotional breakdown about it all. Talking with my comforter of a husband did wonders, though for my spirit.
Then today I had a sonogram to check on Baby's weight and fluid level, etc., and after seeing our baby moving around and letting the tech get this adorable facial picture, I felt my worries fading away, and feeling so in awe of one of God's greatest miracles. Yes, we'll have a greater responsibility once this child makes his/her appearance, but for now, I gaze upon this picture and am better able to keep in focus that God will ALWAYS provide for our needs in HIS timing, will ALWAYS care about what's on our hearts, and He'll help us through EVERY circumstance that comes our way.
"So do not fear, for I am with you: do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 NIV
~Lez

Read ALL about it...

My Amazing Husband

Monday evening I was debating what to do for supper, when my precious hubby pipes up and says HE'S going to fix supper. He checked out our stock, along with what I mentioned we had on hand, and started looking through the cookbook. He wouldn't let me see what he was looking at, but as he went through recipes, he would ask "Do we have ---?" My answers varied, from "Yes", "No", or "I'm not sure, check (whichever) shelf and see if it's any good".
Well, then because of the way the evening was quickly progressing, he did allow me to help him once he decided what to make, so things would go a little faster. After I did my part, I sat down at the computer, put my feet up, and chatted online with a seldom-get-to-talk-to friend. Meanwhile, Hubby finishes up preparations and proceeds to wash up the dishes to have them out of the way. He later set the table and got glasses filled while I was upstairs working on a dress, then came to find me to escort me down to dinner.
I felt so special and cherished! I could DEFINITELY get used to this! I told him that since I've seen him in action and now know he can do this, I'll be glad to put him to work over my delivery time.

Thank you Sweetheart for the wonderful layered scalloped potato dish and for the special care you bestowed on me that night!
I LOVE YOU!!!

Read ALL about it...

The Lord's Prayer

Someone sent us this forward, and I felt led to share with you, our readers!
=Man =GOD

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
But -- you called ME!
Called you? No, I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father who art in Heaven.
There -- you did it again!
Did what?
Called ME. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven" Well, here I am. What's on your mind?
But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right. Go on.
Okay, Hallowed be thy name . .
Hold it right there. What do you mean by that?
By what?
By "Hallowed be thy name"?
It means, it means good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy, wonderful.
Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing? Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control, of everything down here like you have up there. We're kinda in a mess down here you know.
Yes, I know; but, have I got control of you?
Well, I go to church.
That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money --all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read?
Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!
Excuse ME. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you -- for example.
Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
So could I.
I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free.
Good. Now we're getting somewhere.We'll work together -- You and ME. I'm proud of You.
Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember, you called ME -- and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying. ( . . pause . . ) Well, go on.
I'm scared to.
Scared? Of what?
I know what you'll say.
Try ME.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Ann?
See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!
But -- your prayer --What about your prayer?
I didn't -- mean it.
Well, at least you're honest. But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness
and resentment isn't it?
Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born.
No, you won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. You know how unhappy you are --Well, I can change that.
You can? How?
Forgive Ann. Then, I'll forgive you; And the hate and the sin, will be Ann's problem -- not yours. You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned.
Oh, you know, you're right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You . . (sigh). All right . all right . .I forgive her.
There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?
Hmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight. I haven't been getting much rest, you know.
Yeah, I know. But, you're not through with your prayer are you? Go on.
Oh, all right. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.
Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.
What do you mean by that?
You know what I mean.
Yeah. I know.
Okay. Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory --What would really make me happy?
No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now. I've really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you. I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me . . How do I make you happy?
YOU just did.

Read ALL about it...

God is so Good....He answers Prayer.......

What did you do this past weekend? We were down on Vern's folks' farm, helping out with chores while Vern's parents were away Saturday and Sunday. Vern's sister and one of her friends came over from SC to help out too, while Dad and Mother were away, which made for a fun family weekend with siblings.

We have another washer now! PTL! Funny part is, it's not even the one we looked at and were having held for us to buy. Apparently our representative at the appliance place either forgot to put a sold sign on our washer or something, because when we got there Saturday, he told us another guy had sold our washer that morning. He had another one he could sell us for the same price he'd quoted us on the first one, and come to find out--I actually like this second one better! It's a bigger capacity washer, I believe, and has worked well the last two days!

Vern started his new work schedule this week. I so enjoyed his being around last night! It's taking my mind a little to stay caught up with remembering he's home every other night now, though. The nice part of this new schedule is it will give him more time to study during the week for upcoming tests/finals, etc., for the next 7 weeks.

Also, according to some computer techs, the cd burner on our computer was burnt out, but I was able to burn a cd today for Vern to hand in at school tomorrow, with one of his latest projects on it, and it worked fine.

So right now, I'm praising God for answering prayers that sometimes weren't even prayed before He answered them with another solution to the current problem. He's provided for our every need, and we are THANKFUL!

What has God done for you lately?

Read ALL about it...

The Lord Is Providing Once Again

It's amazing how the Lord can provide for our needs when we completely lay everything at His feet!
~We have found a washer, which we are to pick up this weekend. I was really wanting to 'hurry up' and find one, with this baby coming, so I wasn't stressing about doing laundry at the laundromat over delivery and once home again. God showed us a used one at a decent price.
~A friend offered her infant car seat/stroller combo to us free of charge.
~Another friend offered her swing and/or bouncy seat for borrowing purposes.
~Another friend told me on Sunday some of the women down here want to give me a baby shower.

I am well stocked with 'older' baby equipment, but no longer had some of the 'newborn' items, that I had when running my daycare, having sold some of that before moving. Of course, I don't have provisions for Baby's basic needs, either, so being offered a shower will be wonderful!
God has proven faithful once again and I'm overwhelmed at the kindnesses shown by others!

Thank you, LORD for my friends!

~Lez

Read ALL about it...

God is in Control!

Any of you out there struggling with discouragement lately? Maybe I have because it's easier to feel whatever emotion is it when you're pregnant, I don't know.
We've had a lot going on lately, and I've been fighting the financial 'depression bug'.
~We found out that not only does Vern NOT get any money back from our taxes this year, but he has to pay out instead. I knew from my past years that I would still have to pay for my 4 months of self-employment last year, and was prepared for that. We were NOT prepared for Vern to have to join me in that though. I think it can go without saying that when I found out we were paying out only this year, with no help back, I took it rather hard.
~While preparing our taxes this year, we found an unpaid bill that Vern wasn't aware still existed, and it's rather substantial. Though we have until the end of the year to pay it, we want to get it paid off as soon as possible.
~Our washing machine decided it would act up again on Tuesday, and got worse than before, smelling hot and not finishing its cycle as it was supposed to, yet the dial was around to off. Long story short, we now have to find another washer, and dump this old one, which is ancient and has surprised me by holding up this long.
~Naturally, reality has it that your other bills don't stop coming in just because you've had unexpected setbacks with new bills that just created themselves.
~Our baby is due in 8 1/2 weeks, and new expenses are fixing to occur with all that.
~Vern has to figure out what's happening financially for school next year, if he is to go back.

So I've been trying to remember how blessed we are through all this turmoil going on in my mind and heart, and something the teacher in our ladies' SS class on Sunday shared has really been running through my mind this week. It goes something like this:
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of faith is the end of anxiety.

Then I think about my cousin who is still fighting cancer, and an aunt who lost her husband to cancer only a year and a half ago, and now has cancer herself, and was told five weeks ago that she wouldn't live more than a month without treatment, but she is still here! Their situations are so much more complicated than ours, so why am I allowing myself to get down about our problems?! Like I said, maybe it's because I know with the baby's time coming closer all the time, life isn't going to get any easier for a while, but hey! Life isn't a bed of roses without the thorns!

So for today--a few things I'm thankful for:
~a healthy pregnancy
~Our needs have always been met somehow so far, so why need I fear how He will keep providing?
~Vern's medical insurance and Medicaid, which are paying for my prenatal appointments and hospital stay, therefore saving us those huge bills.
~Our vehicles are running.
~The flat tire I had the other week started close to home and finished going flat in the carport. Vern's class the next morning wasn't until 10, giving him time to change the tire for me in the daylight, before heading off to class. God provided once again and kept me safe.
~Vern's work schedule is fixing to change in a week and a half, giving him more time to study during the weekday evenings, though it will take him away on Saturdays.

I could name so many more blessings, but I'll only share those for now.

What tidbits, phrases or other type of encouragement have you heard or read lately that has helped you put things back into proper perspective?

~Lez

Read ALL about it...