Reading, reading, reading...

These days of bedrest and the inability to care for my husband & children have been difficult days.  For almost 6 weeks now, we have been in this schedule. 
Me in Wenatchee, the kids and my husband in Leavenworth. 
Our wonderful family stepping in to care for my children around the clock. 
Seeing the kids 2 days/week. 
Seeing my husband sometimes only one day/week.

It is giving me such an appreciation and renewed love for being the manager of our home. 
For being the mother of our children.  The supporter for my husband. 
The food-maker, discipline-enforcer, puzzle-helper, fort-creator, peace-keeper, silly-dancer, heart-monitor, attitude-changer, and husband-lover.
All of this and so much more. 
I miss it all so very much.

But in an attempt to stay focused on what I CAN do during this time, Josh & I have created a syllabus of "stuff" that I am trying to complete during this time.  We are looking at about another 8 weeks of the aforementioned schedule.  And we have decided to look at it as a season that I will not experience ever again and one that I must take full advantage of.  I am without much responsibility (except to care for our little baby girl in my womb) and am required (by my doctor) to be in Wenatchee, away from my family & home.

This offers something I have not had in a while...time to read.

So here is the "syllabus" that Josh & I have worked on.  It may get a little tweaking, but for now I am excited to work on it daily...hoping to redeem this very unique time.  I post it to encourage others and for you to see the list and then pray for me as I endeavor to savor each of these titles!

I will post updates every once in a while to say I have finished a book. And let you know what I thought.  For now, let's start with the list. (not listed here is my continuation of our church's daily Bible reading plan for the year...I am not quite done from 2009, but am keeping at it.  And loving it!)

1. The Legacy of Sovereign Joy, Piper (Done...Dec. 22nd!)

2. The Hidden Smile of God, Piper (need to order...)

3. Filling up the Afflictions of Christ, Piper (need to order...)

4. Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, Piper/Taylor (all lectures are online at DG)

5. What’s the Difference, Piper (Done...Dec. 23rd!)

6. Gospel-powered Parenting, Farley

7. The Pleasures of God, Piper (Chapters 1-5, 8, Epilogue & Appendix)

8. Biblical Womanhood in the Home, Demoss (Done Jan. 5! Second time I've read this one...)
(reprinted as Becoming God's True Woman)

9. Knowing God, Packer

10. The Doctrines that Divide, Lutzer (Chapters 9-13)

11. The Ministry of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson

12. The Big Picture, Roberts (need to order)


Other reads include:

The Well-Trained Mind: A guide to classical eduction at home, Bauer & Wise (just borrowed it...need to order my own!)

Prayers of an Excellent Wife, Case (which I mentioned I wanted in my stocking...hint, hint, hint!)

From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying life from the inside out, Twigg

We've also included sermons to listen to and scriptures to memorize and meditate on. 
Whew...I have got some work to do. :o) 
But it is good and I pray that my time would be sweet as I seek the Lord in his Word and the words of His saints.

The latest on the little lady...

So I said I would update on our doctor's appt....Aaaaannd...

(first of all, my husband beat me to it!)

To put it simply: he was encouraged. And so were we.


In fact, he was so pleased with the ultrasound (which showed that the placenta is moving even further out of the way!), that he said I could "increase my activity" a little bit. Now, don't get me wrong. That does not mean I can run a marathon.  In fact, it is still glorified bedrest with the occasional chance to get off the couch to fix a bowl of cereal. But hey, that's an improvement!

The big change is that I can sit up for some meals now.  Yes!  I still have to recline back on my "couch domain" though, lying down for the rest of the time.  Bummer. (note & interpretation: still no childcare, no housework, no being on my feet for longer than minutes, etc...that will continue until this little lady arrives.)


His next bit of good news was that if things go well (meaning: my symptoms don't worsen with this new "increased activity"...and I use that term loosely), then he would think about, maybe, possibly letting me finish my pregnancy & bedrest back in Leavenworth with my family. 

Glory be! Josh & I could not believe it!


We do have to wait & see how everything goes over these next couple weeks. But we are still so thankful for this good news.  It is encouraging and gives a wonderful boost to our souls.

In the meantime...the Lord continues to overwhelm us with His provisions through His people and it reminds us that His ways are far beyond ours.  

One particularly generous gift was given to us last week. The day it arrived was one of the hardest I have had to date, during this journey.  As Josh placed the gift in my lap, I immediately started to cry.  Almost sob.  

The gift was so perfect. So timely. So unbelievable. 
It lifted a burden I hadn't known was so heavy.


I felt so unworthy. So humbled. 
For there was nothing I could do to repay the gift. 
There was nothing I had done to deserve it. 

My husband quietly said, "Doesn't that remind you of the debt He paid?"

And I cried all the more. 
As I thought of my Savior's gift of sacrifice and pain. 
To be the atonement for my sins.  
To pay the debt of death that I could never pay. 
And there was nothing I had done to deserve it. 
And nothing I can give to repay it. 

I can only give Him my life, my affection, my praise, my gratitude, my heart, my husband, my health, my children, my mouth, my mind, my all.

And yet, it does not seem enough. 
It isn't enough. 

And that is grace. 
His matchless grace. 
A gift so incomprehensible, that you weep at the thought of it.

And so, I weep, with joy.

and with a thankful heart,
Sharon

Updates tomorrow...

Tomorrow I have my 31 week appointment and another ultrasound to look at little missy-moo. I am not really expecting any change in the news or any surprises, but I am anxious for the appointment nonetheless.  

Not anxious in a fretful or worried way, just anxious in an excited way.  

-Excited that I am already 31 weeks.

-Excited that there was good news last time...so there might be this time.  

-Excited that I get to take a ride in the truck...with my husband. 

-Excited that this little lady has stayed inside where she belongs.

-Excited for the Vanilla Roiboos Latte from Starbucks that my husband will get me after the appointment. (with his Christmas gift card...hint, hint, hint Love?)

-Excited to see the next chapter in God's story through this little girl in our lives. 

So I will post an update tomorrow. We would appreciate your prayers as we embrace the anxious excitement. :o)