For Unto Us A Child Is Born....

     First of all, I want to wish a very Merry Christmas to all my friends and family! This is such a special and tender time of year. Despite the rush and madness of people shopping for gifts, I think people are a little more compassionate to others and open to the message of Jesus Christ than at any other time of the year. You hear the message of Christ's birth and salvation proclaimed on the radios and in shopping malls, which doesn't happen the other 10-11 months of the year. This truly is my favorite season and time of the year. I know I get that from my mother. She loved Christmas, and for those of you who know me pretty well, know how she passed on to me her love for It's A Wonderful Life. I know it is one of those movies that some people tire of watching and can be overplayed during this season, but I could literally watch it everyday and not get tired of it. We used to watch it at least 3 times at Christmas, right up until she passed away. The movie has such a powerful message that is lost today...that your life matters.... how you live it and how you treat others. Life is a gift and should not be taken lightly. There is power in who you are and what you choose to do and say everyday. I also love that in the movie, George Bailey has all these dreams and plans for his life that never turn out the way he expects. In one way, he sees the absence of these things in his life as a failure and it leads him to confusion and depression. But through it all, he sees that his life is the way that God intended and he has everything he ever REALLY wanted in the end.  This is a good message for all of us, not just at Christmas, but all year long.

      As for an update on Zoe, we finally have a c-section date scheduled for January 10th, 2012 at 10:00am. I can't believe how soon she will be here. It has been a long road and God has been faithful through it all. The last two OSU visits have been encouraging with minimal fluid growth on her brain. She is very healthy and active in every other way and we've gotten many ultrasound pictures that make us even more anxious to meet our little girl. I have hit that stage of pregnancy that can only be described as miserable. My tummy is big and I've been experiencing some pains in my abdomen that have made it very hard to function at times. I ended up going to OSU to have everything checked out and thank God all is fine with Zoe and me. The Drs couldn't really give me an explanation for my pain except muscle stretching and maybe scar tissue pain from my first c section. It was scary, but we left with a little peace of mind to get us through the next two weeks. We even had the blessing of hearing Zoe have the hiccups while I was hooked up to the monitors. It lasted a while, but the Drs told us that hiccups are actually a good sign with a baby like mine. Hiccups mean that her brain, heart, and lungs are all working on the same connection and functioning normally. We have had many little blessings like this along the way that have encouraged us that Zoe is doing fine, despite the hydrocephalus. Of course, we won't know the full affects of everything until she is here and the shunt is put into place. I have been encouraged by many prayer warriors that we love and respect that Zoe is God's hands, which we know. We know that God works miracles all the time and we believe and trust Him for everything!
     At this time of year, and considering that I am 9 months pregnant, I can't help but think of Mary carrying the baby Jesus. Now, she was a lot younger than me, but I can't even imagine hopping on a donkey right now and making a long journey to end up having a baby, naturally mind you---no pain relieving drugs :-), in a stable with animals, and unsure of the future. However, she did have God's promise that Jesus would be great and would save people from their sins. I think that would help, but it had to be so hard, so I will suck up my misery and little pain I'm dealing with for the next two weeks in anticipation of my little one, who I will know will change our lives in such an amazing way. I think of that moment when I will hold her and look into her little face and be overwhelmed with love and thankfulness. How much more did Mary, while doing the same thing, feel the emotion of not only holding her son, but her SAVIOR.  It is pretty mind blowing and humbling.
       I had a good friend send me link a little while back for a song written and performed by the lead singer of Sanctus Real. He and his wife went through a difficult pregnancy and were told that their son had many heart issues and may not live at birth. The song is perfect for describing the emotions of it all and how I feel. I also would like to share some Christmas pics of our family and the most recent ultrasound pic of Zoe. May you have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and blessed 2012!
All of Me