33 weeks

Today marks week 33. I can't believe that I am just a few weeks away from holding my newest little bundle. The excitement and anticipation is settling in and I am finding myself very anxious and having a hard time feeling patient. I think I have learned to appreciate pregnancy more as I have had more children and know that the Lord at any time could decide that I am done.
I remember complaining about every ache and pain when I was pregnant with Shyloh. She was going to be it! We were done after her. The Lord (thankfully) had other plans for us. He changed our hearts and along came Shelbie, then we were done! After Shelbie was born we got saved and that is when the Lord drastically did a heart transplant on us! We then decided that "we" wanted another baby and along came Shaylah. It was like we were brand new parents all over again, in awe as this sweet blessing. We looked at this child as truly a gift from the Lord. Being a Christian gave us a whole new perspective on children and God's handiwork. It was after Shaylah that the Lord slowly started working on us and showing us how we were not completely surrendering everything to Him. We trusted Him with every area in our lives...except our fertility. That is a hard one to give up! Why should it be though? Would He give us a child to financially bankrupt us or to send us to the loony bin? After a serious struggle over this, we surrendered EVERYTHING to Him. Was it easy? No, after Shayden, Shannen, and Shadd we argued with the Lord again. I mean good grief, we may end up with like NINE children or something. Once again He told us that He only had good for us and plans to prosper us, and that children were the GREATEST gift He could give. He desires godly seed!
Here we are on that crazy number 9 and I couldn't be more excited if it was number 1! With each ache and pain (and there are definately more this time) I give Him thanks and praise that I have been given the priviledge to once again carry life. Life for Him, that will one day grow up to glorify Him. I am so thankful for the awesome task of fashioning the destiny of these little lives. I look at each child He has blessed us with and I see His fingerprints all over their lives and I look and watch in anticipation as to what His plans will be for their lives. They each have a unique destiny! I am so grateful to the Lord. To be able to trust Him and know that His plans for us are perfect. And if crazy number 10 ever comes along I will probably be even more excited!

Silly boys! Can you tell that they are pretty excited. Shannen wants a baby girl while Shayden says that the boys need some help on their team!