God continues to be Faithful

A few weeks back I confessed to you that I wasn't ready to hold another baby when I already had one to hold. And so I feel that is my duty to share with you how God has spoken to my soul and brought me forward from that though.
I completely broke down in tears more than once last week that I had no desire to work hard to deliver this baby, to hold this baby, or to nurse this baby. While preparing to do my Bible study, Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore, God spoke to my heart that He giving me this child is

NOT ABOUT ME! 

Instead this child is about God's specific plan. God has appointed this child's birth for March 2012 so that he will be the right age at the right time for God's use. God is giving me this child to raise for Him and His purpose. I am His instrument. God wants this child to be a part of my family and He has my best interest in mind; therefore, having a son so close in age to Matthias is in my best interest!
I let out a sigh of relief after God gently spoke these thoughts to me, but He had more to tell me! That day's work in the Moore study was in Pslams 123. I keyed in on verses one and two.

I life my eyes to You,

The One enthroned in heaven.

Like a servant's eyes on His master's hand,

like a servant girl's eyes on her mistress's hand,

so our eyes are on the Lord our God

until He shows us favor. 

And what did God faithfully reveal to me in these verses? 

To "Look at Me" during labor and delivery. I am giving you this child. I will see you through the labor and nursing and raising four children, BUT YOU MUST LOOK TO ME!"

God then took my eyes to Psalm 30:10-11.

Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;

O Lord, be Thou my helper.

Thou has turned for me my mourning 

into dancing (I will literally dance my way through labor as I did with Matthias).

Thou has loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness [for this child]. 

If you've been with me since the birth of Matthias 15 months ago, then you know how much of a spiritual high his birth was for me. God has faithfully reminded me where I need to put my focus - on Him and not me - in order to pull me through the delivery of our fourth child. 

Not only do I look forward to the unity with God in delivering our child, but I also GREATLY look forward to the unity that happens between Scott and I. I can't tell you how much he is now in tune with the rhythm of my body during labor. It's a blessing. I look forward to seeing my husband's big and strong arms swallowing our newborn in those first few hours. 

Mother Bird and Her Chics have landed in TX

 We have been in TX for a week now and miss daddy LOTS, but enjoying lots of family time.
Scott's parents flew from the DR to TX with us and you can imagine how HUGE their help was to me. Papa even upgraded me to first class on one leg of the flight!

 

Nonnie treated us to a Chik-fil-A breakfast on Valentine's Day. Matthias using my belly as a pillow is just pure sweetness!

My parents bought bicycles for the kids to use at their house. They are LOVING them. Bicycle time is hard to find in the DR since you can't just go out and ride in the street due to safety. 

Cousin time with Colten. 

Making nachos with Grandma Aboul-Ela

Grandma entertaining Matthias with plastic containers. 

Darton riding Grandpa's exercise bike. 

Adeline and I went out for one last date before baby brother comes and has to go with me EVERYWHERE. We shopped until we both ached and couldn't go to any more stores. It was so much fun for her to be of age to try on clothes in the dressing room. She enjoyed every minute of it too :)

Baby Shower

By the time #4 comes along you don't expect a shower, but my girlfriends lavished me with a shower this past Monday to celebrate our fourth child. I asked for no gifts since we seriously have everything we need and instead asked to celebrate motherhood. Some had a hard time coming to a shower without bringing a gift, so they brought diapers, which are always needed!

The 3 Lovely Hostesses - Jill, Amanda, & Emma

 To celebrate mothers the hostess Jill gave us all neck/back messages. Jill is a professional message therapist.

 We were also given manicures!

 Jill arranged for everyone to take home a candle with the instructions that when I go into labor you are to  light your candle. This spoke directly to my heart! I can't wait to notify the gals and to carry that image of  candles burning in the DR for this baby's entrance into the world.  

 Scott's parents are here with us this week to help me fly home with the kids on Sunday. Scott's mom, Noreen, is getting her nails done in the picture below.