Robbed

I don't know if you recognize the characters above but they are stars from the Cookie Crisp commercials that aired when I was a small child (please note my mother would never let us have such sugary goodness at breakfast). Anyway... in each commercial "the Cookie Crook" and "Chip the Dog" would connive a plan to rob "Officer Crumb" of the Cookie Crisp...of course it never worked.
I feel like I have been robbed lately, but by a character far more conniving then the Cookie Crook ever was. While I should be elated out of my skin for the life that grows each day inside me I must be honest and tell you that I have not. I have spent the greater part of the last twelve weeks filled with fear and doubt rather than joy and excitement. It seems like for the first weeks that I knew that God had blessed us with new life I was constantly afraid that at any moment it would end abruptly as many early pregnancies do. As I near the end of my first trimester a new wave of impending doom is filling my thoughts as I wonder if there is any chance that we will financially get through the changes that are headed our way. In my worry this weekend and for the better part of last week I realized something profound; I realized that the Devil was robbing me of my joy. He is trying from every angle he can to steal the moments of what should be one the happiest times of my life; but he is trying to do more then that, he is trying to divert my focus off of the only One who will carry me and my Mr. Jones through this, the One who deserves the credit for where we are now, and where we are going.
Today I had my 2nd official mid wife appointment at which I got to hear the most wonderful sound I have ever heard...again. When she finally found it(apparently my baby was running away from her)it sounded like the entire room filled the little, but rapid
bump
bump
bumps
and my heart melted.
Every worry simply went away when I could at the same time here my slow and steady heart beat pumping the needed blood to my sweetie inside, plus the rapid quitter heartbeat that is their's.
So from this moment I will try to not give Satan the satisfaction of stealing my joy that should surround my wee one. I am going to do my best to give the credit and the praise to my heavenly Father for everything He is doing in my life.
Thanking Him for all His perfect gifts.

James 1:17
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

A Surprising Request

I got a call from one of the pastors at my church last week asking if I was available to paint a picture for our new sermon series "Jesus Stories: Part 2" . I was excited to have a reason to paint so I happily obliged. I wish I could do this kind of thing all the time and for a living...however in this case I was happy to serve!
(please note this was not my design...I copied it from a photo!)

The Reason I Failed

So I know that I have failed miserably at my New Year's resolution of posting on my blog, but I have a very good reason for it. You see, since the new year began I have had one topic on my mind...or one person rather; one person who I wasn't prepared to post about just yet. This one person however has blocked out anything else I would even think of posting about. I've never seen this little person in real life yet but I heard their little heartbeat and I watch it thumping away on a screen and I knew instantly that I was in love.
So here they are, the first pictures of Baby Jones, they were taken several weeks ago so now the baby looks more like a baby and less like a bean. Bean or baby we are thrilled!