6 weeks

I am 6 weeks pregnant and feeling great for the most part. I'm very tired and have started taking my various vitamins and minerals along with cod liver oil and extra folic acid. I'm trying to stay away from meat and sugar. My first midwife appointment is next week. I'm interviewing a new Midwife and praying for discernment. I honestly don't have peace about which one to choose yet. I've had our last three children at home with a wonderful midwife but in my heart I feel I should look elsewhere. Not sure why but trusting and following His lead.

The children are all so excited. Victoria has been looking at Maternity clothes on ebay for me and they each tell everyone that their "mommy is having a baby!" So sweet.

We have discovered that two other women from our Feast of Tabernacles celebration are also expecting in July. It's quite amazing. While we were all there together there was a prayer said over the woman that Abba would open our wombs! Isn't that awesome?!

On another note,  a friend of mine created this video which I think is appropriate for my blog. She did a great job. It's funny and yet so true. I've had to answer these same questions numerous times and will more than likely continue to.

Sharing our Joy

David came home from his trip with flowers in hand and we were able to share the news with our children over Shabbat (Sabbath dinner) on Friday evening just as David had planned.  I read several Psalms to them and then David announced the addition.  Victoria and Gregory understood right away but the little girls asked if we were adopting since we've talked of that in the past.  It was nearly an hour later before they actually understood that I am pregnant and we are not adopting! Even now days later they are continuing to ask me if I am pregnant as if to make sure it's real.  The evening followed with us sitting around the fire David made and talking of the baby. Victoria was talking of her favorite Hebrew names while the little children were laughing and giddy with excitement.  At this point Dalton doesn't have a clue that he will no longer be the baby. He's just happy to be playing with his trains.

Yesterday we were able to share our news with everyone in our Shabbat fellowship.  I just happened to be standing during worship watching my girls dance and was called on to share testimony as the song came to an end. I'm positive most were not expecting what came out of my mouth.  After all our 'baby' will be four in two weeks and it would seem that our family was complete.

"We are expecting next summer." I said.

" Expecting what?" I heard someone say.

"A baby!!"

Then all I heard were many "Congratulations", "Baruch HaShem", "How wonderful", etc.

What a wonderful moment.  Honestly I never thought I'd be sharing this kind of news again.

Over the next several hours while Scripture reading and discussions were going on outside, I found myself inside surrounded by young mothers with my oldest at my side and my youngest quietly playing at my feet.  We discussed childbirth, nursing and everything in between. It was fun. I hadn't done that in a long time. I loved my home birth experiences. They were much different from the hospital births.
It's been a long time remembering those details.

I've also shared on my blog and both David and I have shared on our Facebook walls about the baby.  The love and comments of encouragement and Scripture are amazing. We are expecting number SIX after all.  I wasn't prepared for that kind of response.  Our loving Father is so gracious in brining His people to encourage us and be His mouthpiece.

The following is a response my husband made to a congratulatory comment on his wall...

Stephanie and I are truly blessed. The other night as I was looking around our table, I did not just see my children, YHWH gave me a much greater vision, I saw a nation. A nation of Torah observant children of Elohim. I pray that every parent will catch that same vision. Too often we see our children as obsticles in the way of what we want to do, added bills and future expenses for college and other things. I see them as YHWH intended, a blessing, and now much bigger than that, a Nation.

The response to his statement was as follows...

 David my friend, you are a wise man with a seasoned vision. You see as Yeshua sees. Your family is deeply Blessed, because you Choose to humble yourself in the sight of our Moshiach, Yeshua. The nation that you and Stephanie are raising up will be the Delight of Abba..."...And if YHVH has delight in us, he will take us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey." (Numbers 14:8)"Such as are upright in their way, are His delight." (Proverbs 11:20) David, it is You who leads, who sets the Standard in and for your family. You are doing this Very Well.... Blessings upon Blessings in Yeshua come overflowing upon you and your family because of your passionate obedience to Him.

So much to be thankful for as we near Thanksgiving celebrations!

Baby makes half a dozen

I have discovered that our sweet family will be expanding in late July to include our sixth blessing. David was working in our home office (Nov. 12) and I came in and sat down in front of him with the test and a huge smile on my face. He knew right away!

We find life is always exciting when we allow Yahweh to plan the next step and try not to take control of it ourselves. We will always fail and mess it up when we do that. David and I chose long ago to do just that against others opinion, some quite rude. We know children are a blessing. We can’t imagine our lives without all five of our children. I love our family. I love living my life walking in footsteps of Messiah and yielding to complete control in my life and that includes our family size.

This pregnancy comes at such a good point in our lives. We are enjoying life, our family and each other. After my miscarriage 17 months ago it took time to heal and move on but our faith was strengthened in the process. We are simply His servants and His timing is always perfect. I am thankful for the opportunity to have a peaceful, stress-free pregnancy.

We're currently studying the 12 tribes together in Genesis and about Jacob, Leah and Rachel. We've been emphasizing the fact that it's YHWH that opens and closes the womb and that children are His greatest reward. His ways truly are not our own. What a beautiful expression of the love we have for each other and the love He has for us that He would bless us once more! It's going to be great to share this news with our children and to once again rejoice in the goodness of the G-d that we serve.

I've decided to journal this pregnancy as I've done with all the others and I hope you will enjoy following along and that, as with everything in my life, the Father would be glorified. I plan to involve the children in every aspect from a learning perspective which I am really looking forward to now that they are all much older. Victoria has talked for a while of studying midwifery. This is going to be amazing for our entire family!

David has asked that we wait to share our news with the children over Shabbat dinner after he comes home from his next business trip. Hopefully I won't slip. It will be difficult! This post will be a week old once I post it.

"Father I thank you for this opportunity to raise another arrow for your Kingdom. I acknowledge your ways are not the ways of the world and that you have the ability to open and close the womb. You have blessed us yet again and we are so thankful. Please keep your hand on me and this precious life that is growing within me. May he or she grow up to be completely sold out and devoted to you."