Thank God for babies

So this was us at our house this Thanksgiving-what a blessing! One other family came but left before we started taking pictures. Jesse, Shelly, and Katie Atwood are our friends in the middle. Clement, Carrie, and Kylie Sofka are on the left. They are our friends who just had another baby this afternoon! (Brianna Rose-6lb 10oz) It was amazing to see that little bambina (who had a full head of Texas-sized hair). Carrie was due this past Monday, but I think Brianna wanted to hold out for a sunny day, which today was :)

It's pretty awesome, awe-inspiring (and frightening all at the same time) to think that in about six weeks we'll be going to the hospital to deliver our little bambino! Wow-while I'm totally excited, I'm also nervous. With everything in pregnancy, birth, child care, and growth that I'm learning and seeing that while I have a large responsibilty, I have very little control. (and coming to the Lord with open hands when realizing the lack of control that I have) A wise friend once told me that the two things in life that had taught him the most about God were 1) getting married, and 2) having a child. I can already affirm the first one, and I have full confidence that the second will hold true as well.
steve

Community across the miles

We're blown away by the comunidad on blogspot- it's like house church has never ended, only just begun as we all journey to ends of the earth. Wandering in part, but really just finding more about God's call for our lives. I haven't figured it out, but today I thought as I sang the lyrics to Hillsong's "Shout Your Fame" that read, "Jesus I desire to live, Live a life that shouts Your fame." I was wondering about why God would move me from places I've been more comfortable (duh), and I realized that often in those places the fame shines on me, for that's when one appears to have stuff all together;) Instead, I felt God saying He'd move me as long as my life was one that shouted his fame- whether in a loud arena, or in the quiet of my upcoming months of single motherhood as Steve's out to sea. Cool thoughts though, as I realized a little more how little I need to know about the big picture to have God work in power in and through my life.

jules<><

P.S.

So we enjoyed many adventures while moving around this Spring. From rock climbing in Vegas, to scuba diving in the Caribbean. Pretty much hitting three corners of the continental U.S. we ended up in the fourth. We now reside on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula in western Washington State. Steve's working on a submarine. Jules is a Jules-of-all-trades. And we're due in January with our first little baby (this is jules at 6 months with sista Shelly)! We're learning about parenting, woodworking, quilting, cooking, marriage, and growing in Christ.

Red Rock

Us at Red Rock earlier this year (pre-bambino).