Greetings,

It has only been a week since our last update, but boy things are crazy busy.

This past Saturday morning, Andy hosted Martha Stewart’s “How-to Holiday” workshop at his store.  It was so much fun!  Martha arrived at the Home Depot with customers and associates eager to meet her. While there, she hosted a “Meet & Greet” for invited associates, and a “how-to” workshop for the public, in which she demonstrated how to create some really unique holiday decorations for the home. Baby Girl and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend the event and meet Martha Stewart.  She was gracious enough to pose for a picture with us.

My Grandmommy passed away September 2013, and her house recently sold. Saturday evening, Andy and I visited her home one last time and took some pictures with our baby girl.  The new owners are planning to tear it down immediately and rebuild.  It was an emotional night for me, and it saddens me that my grandmother was not able to meet her great granddaughter.  She met all of her other great grandchildren, and I found out I was pregnant just 7 months after she passed.  However, I am so happy that our baby was able to visit her great grandmother’s home.  We sat on her bed and looked at a book that she used to read to me as a child.  I like to think somehow that Grandmommy knew we were there.

As some of you may remember, 6 weeks ago Andy and I went to see a pediatric cardiologist, who discovered a moderate-sized VSD (hole in the heart) in our baby girl’s heart.  I am now 33-weeks pregnant, and it is time for our follow-up appointment with the pediatric cardiologist.  They will be doing another fetal echocardiogram to check the baby’s heart.  Please pray that the sonographer will get clear pictures, and that the VSD that we saw 6 weeks ago will be healed and that that they find no other heart defects.  Our appointment is today, Thursday, November 20th at 10:30 AM.

Please also pray that I will be able to carry our sweet little girl to full term, that God will heal her of Trisomy 13, and that she will be born a healthy little girl.  I have started feeling the Braxton Hicks contractions a lot this week, and while they are a normal part of pregnancy, they are not the most comfortable.

Andy and I have been trying to get the house prepared for her arrival.  However, with an interior painting project, an unexpected flood in our basement and the holidays approaching, we are behind.  Please pray that we will be able to get the house ready to bring home our baby girl.

Finally, with Thanksgiving coming next week, we are reminded that we have many reasons to be thankful. Life moves so fast, and this season has been no exception. One of Andy’s high school friends read one of our posts recently and sent him a message, assuring him that she was praying for us. She was praying a specific verse from scripture on our behalf:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope”. Romans 15:13

As we think about those of you who are encouraging us and praying for us, we are refreshed and encouraged. We pray for you and we are grateful for you. If we can pray for you more specifically, we’d love for you to share that with us.

We do hope that you are filled with joy and peace this season, and that most of all, you abound in HOPE!

Andy & Jennifer