I will get to meet...

my newest niece or nephew tomorrow morning.  Ally is having a c-section at 8:00 tomorrow morning.

We're not sure how long Junebug will be here with us on earth.  It could be seconds or minutes.  I'm praising God, though, that He knows.  This is His plan.  Not ours.  We trust Him with all the details.  Yes, we can be sad, disappointed, angry, and heartbroken.  He is too. 

We just rejoice in the fact that He blessed Rob and Ally, and the rest of us with this little miracle in the first place.

Wow, the hearts that have been changed because of Bug.  The people whose spiritual lives have been impacted for the better.  The relationships that have been strengthened.  The outpouring of love for Rob and Ally and a little one.  It's all just amazing. 

And as much as we love those three, God loves them even more.  His love is ultimate. 

...loves like a hurricane, I am the tree.
bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy!

Oh, how He loves us so.
Oh...how He loves us.
How He loves us, oh...

We are blessed enough to get to be there with them.  When I would want to be selfish with my child, they are willing to share God's little miracle with us.  I'm ready to love on my Lovebug.

Your prayers would be appreciated so much tomorrow.  For as much as we trust God, it will be a difficult time for our human hearts.  Pray for peace that we cannot even comprehend to fill that surgery and recovery room.  Pray for a blanket of love to surround them.  Pray for guidance in the decisions that will have to take place by both the doctors and Rob and Ally.  Just pray.

Thank you so very much.

Love you, friends.

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who fasted and prayed last Wednesday.  Although we may not have received the kind of news we hoped for, we DID receive answers, and that was one of the prayers. 

Rob and Ally updated their blog, so it would be easiest to read it there.

Junebug's journey is far from over.  I will keep you updated.

And seriously, thank you all so much.  I feel honored to "do life" with you!

Fasting for Junebug

Hey, friends.  I have been a Christian for many moons.  But, honestly, in all my learning and growing, I never truly understood the concept of fasting.  Fasting.  In all my years, I had never been challenged to fast, or understood it enough to know I could have/should have fasted a time or a hundred throughout my life. 

A good bloggy friend of mine introduced me to fasting.  You can find Linny's blog here.  If you scroll down the right side of her blog, you can find the labels for her posts.  Click on fasting.  You could read dozens of posts about fasting and its purposes.  You'll find testimony after testimony proclaiming how fasting has moved mountains, and drew people closer to God.  Her stories and explanations are so encouraging and informational. 

But here, I'll give you the elementary school Reader's Digest version of fasting.  (Because that's what level I'm at haha)  Basically, when we fast, we sacrifice food (or items) that mean something to us.  We choose to do this in order to draw closer and lean on God more.  When we fast, we are petitioning God.  We're going before the throne to ask God to move a mountain.  We're asking Him to do something huge.  And throughout the day(s) that we are fasting, we are often craving what we're fasting.  Therefore, when my stomach growls (which it does, OFTEN) I am reminded to be in prayer for that mountain or need.  When I am at my most desperate hour with the fasting, God supplies what I need and I lean into Him more.  I often become quieter before God.  I'm steadily in prayer, but when I'm fasting, I feel like God sees my heart clearer.  And I can hear Him clearer.  He knows that if I'm going to give up food, I MUST be desperate!  :)

Some people cannot fast food.  For health reasons, it is simply not possible.  And God knows your heart.  Maybe, instead of a whole day of fasting food, you fast a meal?  Or fast other things.  Find something that once it is missing, or not a part of your everyday, you'll be reminded to pray.  It's not about WHAT you fast, it's about the purpose behind the fasting.  Your intention.  Your heart.

So, why the lesson on fasting?

Rob and Ally are going to Cincinnati for a second opinion about Junebug on Friday.  Their doctors and specialists here are, pretty much, saying they have done all they can.  I thought they saw the God we served when Junebug outlived their predictions.  I thought the doctors realized the power of our God when He created space where there should be none.  One would think they would get a glimpse of God when they saw that our Junebug was growing RIGHT ON TARGET, without the fluid and space otherwise afforded a baby.  Maybe they did see it, but don't know where to go from here.  Well, Cincy seems the place to go.

So, friends, Friday seems to be a day that could provide many answers for Rob, Ally, and Junebug.  They will have a few more tests done, and see a specialist there.  What some will see as a last ditch effort, I think God could use as the beginning of the next chapter of Junebug's Journey.  You can hop over and read their blog for the details about what Friday will bring.  (It was originally scheduled for Thursday, but will now be Friday.)

Therefore, I wanted to see if you, my sweet bloggy friends would be willing to fast with us on Wednesday.  We have been discussing as a family what we will be fasting.  It is an amazing opportunity to go before our King and ask that He heal sweet Junebug.

What will I be praying for?

• I will pray that Junebug's kidney/bladder be healed.  Simply healed.  Something only our God can do.
• I will pray that Junebug's lungs continue to develop and get stronger.
• I will pray that Rob and Allyson have a peace that no one can give, other than God.
• I will pray for ultimate wisdom for the specialists. 
• I will pray for hope.
• I will pray for trust.
• I will pray for our families.  Honestly, Rob and Ally have been stronger than we have.  They know God chose them to be the parents of Junebug regardless of the outcome.  They have peace in God's decision.  The families of Junebug are working toward that, but I will pray for our families just the same.
• I will pray that Junebug's Journey will continue to touch the lives of many.  That those who are far from God now, will be reunited all because of this sweet baby.  And for others, that prayer for Junebug will strengthen relationships with God and family.

So will you join me, Wednesday?

It's going to be powerful.    I can feel it.

Feel free to spread the word.  I want to be storming Heaven with prayers on behalf of Junebug, Rob, and Ally on Wednesday.

Are you in?

B to the LAH! (That's BLAH for those who don't speak Rett)

So, I'm in no mood to blog. 

I think I'll just keep reading other people's blogs.

Yeah.  That sounds like a good plan.

Then, I'll reread my last Thankful Thursday post. 

I need it.

Oh So Thankful, Thursday

Settle in, I'm going to do a bulleted list of why I'm thankful this Thursday!

• I'm thankful it's Thursday.  There's only one more day this week to get through.
• I'm thankful that Tony's Mamaw is still with us.  She is very very very sick, and the Hospice nurse thought she'd probably pass away Monday.  Well, she doesn't know our Mamaw.  She's Wonder Woman.  She has the strength of ten elephants.  She was alert yesterday, and speaking.  Praise God!
• I'm thankful for the witness that Mamaw is to us.  She is a prayer warrior, for sure.  What a wonderful child of God!
• I'm thankful I'll get to see her healed and happy in Heaven one day!
• I'm thankful for Junebug.  I'm thankful that this little bug is alive and kicking (literally!).  I'm thankful that he/she has outlived most babies in this situation.  I'm thankful God is providing space where there is none.  I'm thankful this baby is determined to LIVE! 
• I'm thankful for Junebug's parents.  I'm thankful that Bug's parents are strong, selfless, caring, and wise beyond their years.  I'm thankful for their relationship with God.  And I'm thankful that because of Bug, their relationship has gotten stronger with each other, and God.
• I'm thankful for a husband who is willing to stay up till midnight to put together bunk beds just to surprise the girls, and midnight two days later to pick up a cousin from the airport.  And still going to work the next day!  (By the way, he took Stinker with him because she had NEVER seen an airport in her 11 years of living.  We love providing new experiences for her!)
• I'm thankful for family. Without them, I'd be lost.
• I'm thankful for new knowledge.  I am learning so much about a special need that I had never really considered for adoption, and God is stirring my heart big time.
• I'm thankful for friends who have a heart for the orphan and come up with creative ideas on how to raise awareness and funding for orphan care programs.
• I'm thankful I have kids who complain, argue, bicker, apologize, hug, and make-up.
• I'm thankful I have kids who just flat make me laugh.
• I'm thankful I serve a mighty God who loves me unconditionally.  When I mess up, He forgives me and still loves me.
• I'm thankful for coffee.

Whew!  There's nothing better than a thankful session to change perspectives!


What about you?  What are YOU thankful for?

Ahhh, Junebug!

Our sweet little Junebug is on the move!  He (or she) is stretching, growing, and moving!  As of yesterday, he is a whopping 1.8 lbs!  Woot woot!  Right on target!  All that with a strong heartbeat to boot!

ONLY GOD!

And my family was blessed to FEEL Junebug on the move last weekend!  This little body in there flexing and moving within the safety of his mama's belly.  It was such a priviledge to feel the life within her. 

ONLY GOD!

At their appointment yesterday, the doctors are just unsure how to proceed.  Why, you ask?  Because our little Junebug has defied all odds and has continued to grow and survive without cord compression.  And that fact, my friends, is a miracle.  They haven't seen any other babies live this long without fluid!

ONLY GOD!

There is a spot on or near the kidneys that they are unsure what it is.  However, an MRI is scheduled to take a closer look at it.  This will take place Wednesday.

ONLY GOD!

Junebug's little lungs cannot develop properly without that fluid.  So, Ally started getting steroid shots to bump up the lung development.

ONLY GOD!

So Rob and Ally have a big decision to make after next Wednesday.  Do they keep Junebug in the safe confines of Ally's womb and risk cord compression?  Or do they deliver not knowing if his lungs, kidneys, and other vital parts are ready?

ONLY GOD!

Thank GOD, He will provide direction and wisdom for them.  He has carried them (and all of us) through this whole situation, and will continue to do so.

God never promised to show us the end of the story,  And really, I'm glad He doesn't.  However, He DOES light the next stepping stone for safety.  That is what this whole process has been.  A series of stepping stones.  From week to week, He lights the next step. 

• Wait and get another ultrasound.  
• Meet a new specialist.  
• Another ultrasound.  
• Steroids.  
• An MRI.  

I trust He will light the next stepping stone for Rob and Ally too.
Thank you for praying.  Storm heaven next Wednesday.  (I'll be back to remind you!)

ONLY GOD!