Four Years

Happy Anniversary Anna and Mark!!! 

God's Faithful Provision

I get lots of emails, texts, and phone calls asking how Anna and Mark are doing!  They are so loved and without a shadow of doubt, they know that your prayers and love is totally God's grace!  Their hope is that God would be glorified in their suffering!  This chapter of life isn't easy, but their hope is in the Lord and 'Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.' Lam. 3:23

Mark and Anna's babies are doing great!  Three kids under three is busy, but they're totally enjoying each moment!  Baby O is putting on the pounds really well!  Little J has a smile that can brighten a room!  (Continue praying for the courts to finish the paperwork soon so Little J can officially be their forever son!  There will be celebrations worldwide when the adoption is finalized!)  Big Sister M is doing great, too!  She loves having her Daddy home lots and is a sweet little mommy to her babies, just like Mommy!  

Anna recently put together a 'Thankful Bulletin' to continue directing her and Mark's heart towards all that God is providing for them each and every day!  When my sisters and I unpacked their house a couple months ago, we were amazed at the mass number of verses jotted down on scratch paper, note cards, and post it notes...verses were tucked in every drawer, book, and crevice in their home!  Such a testimony of the love we should all have for the Word of God!

Through Mark's sweet sister, some new medical options have surfaced...keep praying that our Faithful God would give Anna and Mark great wisdom and peace!

Squeals of Excitement

Let's start off with the BIG NEWS and then go from there...

via

Baby O was born early this morning, February 15, 2012!   So do you want to know how awesome God's timing was!?!?

Last weekend, Mark's friends at work gifted their family with tickets to the circus.  Mark's parents and sister went with them and it was a really fun time!  This last week, they also learned that Baby O was sunny side up and started praying for him to turn. 

On February 12th, my parents arrived in KY and together they deep cleaned and did typical "nesting" things.  On February 14th, Valentine's Day, Anna and Mark spent the day together...an all day date!  Awesome, right!

Anna started having serious contractions in the middle of the night on February 14th -- a little less than a week early.  At 3am they went to the birthing center.  He was no longer sunny side up and by 4am, she birthed Baby O -- a good sized baby boy!  Totally God's mercy!  I've seen the pics...Baby O is good looking, Mom and Dad are GLOWING!  J & M will be at the birthing center to meet their baby brother in just a bit!  God is so good...thanks for your ongoing prayers!

Character Revealing

I was talking with a girlfriend (an oncology nurse) today and of course my baby sister and her family came up in our discussion.  She said, 'some refer to these type of situations as character building, but my mom likes to refer to them as character revealing.'  Isn't that so true!  When we're stretched...what is within comes out!

My mom and Anna had an awesome conversation this weekend --- here's a little recap!  1. A complete answer to prayer, Mark's eye sight has returned.  For the first time in a long time he's able to read again --- for curious peeps like myself, he spent a lot of time reading through John 1:1-18.  2.  Anna had another OB check up and Baby O is doing great (almost 38 weeks now).  3.  It snowed at their house this weekend and Anna, Mark, and M and J had a blast playing together in the snow! 

Anna said, we don't know what tomorrow holds so we're trying to focus on today and enjoy the time we have together! 

Isn't this how we're all suppose to live!?!?  Church isn't just something Mark and Anna attend on Sunday.  They have a deep, abiding love for Jesus.  Mark hasn't been able to work for quite some time and medical bills are obviously crazy high, but Jesus has given them both the promise of eternal life and that is the gift they cling to!  He has perfectly provided for them for the last 30+ years they have no doubt that He won't lovingly provide for tomorrow!  He's giving them moment by moment peace and the prayers of family, friends, and friends of friends is a huge praise and blessing that they don't take for granted!

Sister Chat

Anna and I had a fun conversation.  I thought my call would encourage her, but she ended up being a huge source of encouragement to me!  Here are some of the personal ways that God is caring for their sweet family.

• Anna has made it to week 37 of pregnancy.
• Baby O checked out great at his appointment this week.
• Anna said her friends are bringing her such awesome meals and treats that the OB could tell she had been eating well.  (I'll never forget my end of pregnancy weigh ins).
• Anna really wanted a wooden cradle in her room and a sweet friend has one that they'd love for the them to borrow.
• Another friend has a real fun truck-themed crib bedding set that they're thrilled to loan Anna and Mark.
• Mark still has his sense of humor!  Friends keep telling them how encouraging they are.  Mark's response to Anna, "Who would have thought that I could be more useful to people while sick than I ever was when I was well?!?"
•  Mark has been blessed with an abundance of energy lately.  He's been up early folding laundry, cleaning floors...such a huge blessing to Anna at this point in her pregnancy.
• Both sets of parents have affirmed them over and over that they will walk through this with them every step of the way.
• They are extremely aware that they have a supernatural strength carrying them through this season and feel overwhelmingly blessed by the prayers, gifts, and words of encouragement from family, friends, and friends of friends!

Date

Anna on Facebook, ‘Hot date tonight with my man! Majorly needed and majorly thankful!’