My Life as an African Gypsy

As many, if not most, of you know, I am having a baby girl. Miss Anaya Hosanna is already so dearly loved. It is such a different and wonderful feeling being able to call her by name. I love imagining our life with her!

She currently about the length of a bell pepper, or 5 1/2 inches long. She is likely able to hear my heartbeat and possibly our voices at this stage. Many prayers and songs are in order!

I have felt her moving a bit these days. It is still not consistent and not very strong, but "flutters" is a good way people describe it. I cannot wait for more definite kicks and for Jon to be able to join the fun of feeling her in there.

I've gained about 8-9 pounds, which according to charts is pretty on schedule for gaining between 25-35lbs total. I've noticed that I have gained in two little spurts so far, each of about 4-5 pounds, and each over a 1 week period. It will be interesting to watch and figure out my "norm". I haven't really had the urge to eat more than usual.

I keep posting these morning pictures with no make-up, but I figure these bummy gaucho pants give you a good look at my growing belly. =) I am still able to wear my old clothes with my belly-band on or a rubber band around the button. I am trying to enjoy it while I can, because I have a feeling those days are coming to an end soon.

I told Jon the other day, "I feel like I've been pregnant for such a long time!" Ha. I laugh thinking about it, but it's the truth. I keep thinking to myself how good I'm doing to be able to wear my old clothes still, and how I don't feel like my tummy is that big. But then I was hit with the realization that I still have 4 and a half to five months... aka FOREVER. Anyways, I am going to focus on the 20 week mark for now, since that one is only a week and a half or so away. Downhill from there, right? ;)

I just started a Bible study with a group of women here, made up of other moms and missionaries. They are the same women that I did my Beth Moore study with. I really enjoy group Bible study and discussion; it really helps sink things in.

This Bible study is called 'Me, Myself, and Lies' by Jennifer Rothschild. Thanks Quiettime Ministries for your generous donation, making it possible for us to do this study!

Throughout this Bible study we focus on what she likes to call our "thought closet". How interesting it is to be aware of what you spend your time thinking about... from heavenly things to pointless things and even at times destructive things.

I would like to encourage you to take a day and purposefully be aware of what you think about, or for that matter, talk to yourself about! (I tend to have lots of full out conversations in my head.)

While I was not necessarily alarmed by "bad" thoughts or "negative" thoughts, as some others are, I was alarmed at the amount of time I spend thinking about useless things, things that will never happen, conversation I will never have.

One way I have decided to combat this wasting of time is by keeping worship music on as much as possible. Every time I am in the kitchen, making breakfast, lunch, or dinner, doing dishes, etc. I turn on praise music. It directs my thoughts to things above, heavenly things. Not only that, I tend to have a worship song lingering in my head the whole day.

The other way she suggested and I am trying to implement is purposefully trying to think of one or two wonders of the Lord each day. For example today, I decided to dwell on the miracle it is to have this baby growing in my tummy. I also have taken special note of how beautiful the weather is and what a blessing it is to have the cool wind blowing through my house. I find that when we purposefully take note of wonders, miracles, provisions of the Lord, we have a hard time dwelling on the negative.

So maybe this week, like me, you can purposefully be aware of the things running through your head and then take one or two purposeful step to directing those thoughts to eternal things.