Greetings!

It’s been a few weeks since we last posted, and we are approaching another milestone in our journey.  Jennifer and I are both writing for this post.  Jennifer wants to tell you about some exciting developments in her life personally, and I will be bringing you up to speed on our next steps, and let you know how you can be praying specifically this upcoming week.

From Jennifer…

Some years ago, I was taught that God sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to bear all my sins and die on the cross so that I could go to heaven to be with Him and I prayed to God that He would come into my heart and placed my faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sins, as my only hope for eternal life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.

However, I waited to be baptized, because I wanted to make sure I knew fully what baptism meant. So, on Sunday August 10th, I publicly announced my faith in Christ and was baptized.

It was such a heart-warming experience to be baptized with my 15 year old step-daughter, Annie, and to have our sweet baby girl with us for this special day.  I know she was in my womb and unable to comprehend what was going on, but still I knew she was there with her mom and her big sister.  At our church, baptism is done by emersion (dunked) by both the pastor and the husband/father so I was able to have my husband right there with me as well.

My prayer is that one day I will be able to hold my sweet baby girl in my arms and tell her about Jesus, share with her about the day her sister and I were baptized, show her the pictures, share this blog with her, and tell her of all the people that were faithful to pray for her.

I know that God is the only one who knows if this will happen here on earth or if I will have to wait to be reunited with her in heaven.  I pray that God will help me feel His peace throughout the pregnancy that He has blessed me with, and will prepare my heart for His will.

As my husband I prepare our hearts for our 20 week ultrasound on Tuesday, August 19th at 11:00 am, I ask that everyone please pray that we will have another normal scan.

From Andy …

On Tuesday of this week, we visit the perinatologist to have our Week 20 ultrasound.  Given the risk of our baby having Trisomy 13, we are on a monthly schedule for these, so it is time for another scan.

The previous two scans looked like “normal” pregnancies, and we were so encouraged that the doctor was not able to see any visible defects.  In fact, she saw two distinct hemispheres of the brain and four chambers of the heart.  We are obviously hoping for the same result this week, but as the time for the appointment grows closer, so does the temptation to go to a place of fear.

While the doctors have generally admitted that our normal scans are “reassuring”, they have also cautioned us that, as our baby develops, abnormalities associated with Trisomy 13 will become visible or evident on the scans.  For example, though we saw all of the chambers of the heart, some 60% of Trisomy 13 babies present with heart defects.  So, as the heart continues to develop, abnormalities may develop as well.  The truth is, we don’t know… and neither do the doctors.

So, we wait.  We wait, and we trust God – even when it’s hard.  Psalm 91:1-2 says:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”.

Throughout this journey thus far, there are periods of time when we are strong and filled with faith.  There are other times when we are afraid, and filled with “what ifs”.  But, ultimately, as believers, our hope is in God – hope that he is working all things together for our good; that He is orchestrating every event of our lives.  We also have hope that He hears and answers our prayers.

Our appointment is at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 19th.  We covet your prayers for us during this critical appointment.  Please pray with us that we would receive another good report.

Jennifer and I pray together every night.  We pray that God will allow Jennifer to carry our baby to full term, and that He will bring her to us healthy.  But, above all of this, we pray that God would have His way, and that He would be glorified through this trial.  We hope that you will pray this with us as well.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”. James 1:2-4

Thank you so much for carrying us on your hearts, and for praying for us.

Andy