Not long after birth, but after both of us getting cleaned up. 🙂

A sweet shot with big sis, who got to go to Kansas with us

From today’s sleepy photo shoot

And a sleeping smile 🙂

Guess Jonathan was right on target about us needing to get to Kansas asap. 🙂

Stephen Wayne was born yesterday, June 2 (Happy Birthday, Tracy!!!!), at 2.14pm. He was 7# 2oz and 20 inches long. He is wonderfully alert and laid back. We are both doing well.

Planning to leave Monday evening to head back to Missouri. Will post more and better after we get back. With pictures, too. 🙂

Here it is, just last night. The picture turned out awfully dark; I’ll have to see if I can get Jonathan to take some for me today.

We had cake and ice cream last night for Grace’s birthday – a couple days early, since we’re leaving today for Kansas. Thought I’d post a few pictures. 🙂

White cake with pink icing, as per Miss Grace’s request:

It’s hard work opening these presents!

But it’s so worth it in the end. 🙂

We leave tomorrow for Kansas – woohoo! My hubby is convinced we won’t have to wait long there till the baby comes. He might be right, but I’m trying studiously to not expect to go into labour as soon as we arrive! Besides, I’d really like to get to help out at camp for a least a few days… We’ll see what the Lord has in store.

I’m feeling good; still having lots of contractions and having to listen when my body signals me to sit or lay down if I don’t want to have this baby yet. 😉 I have a busy day today, so if you think of it, I’d treasure your prayers that I will be wise in my actions.

Talked to an acquaintance last night who is at opposite poles of so many spectrums from me. When she heard that we were going to Kansas so that we could have our baby with a legal midwife she asked, “And you want to use a midwife instead of a doctor because….?” with that special tone in her voice that clearly labeled us as idiots. 😉 I didn’t bother to get into quality & quantity of care; into the fact that the midwives we’ve worked with have respected us, the parents, as wise decision-makers for our children; into 5 minute vs. 30-45 minute prenatals, etc, etc. I just said, “Well, repeated studies have shown that they have as safe and healthy results as doctors, with fewer of the interventions that can cause problems later.” Brief synopsis, but I didn’t get any more idiot comments. 😀

Well, anyway… I’d better get going on my tasks for the day. I hope to post pictures later of Grace’s B-Day cake and such from tonight.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervaMPt4Ha0]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCUfIT5Lm3g]

To add to my excitement today (see the first two posts of the day for reference), the Lord has given me another wonderful gift!

Background:
I first read Elizabeth Elliot’s Passion and Purity when I was in my teens. It had a huge impact on my life, but it’s relevence to this little tale of God’s goodness has to do with a precious hymn.

Elizabeth references in Passion and Purity that Jim had memorized all 12 verses of Rutherford’s Hymn. I’ve tried for years to find the other verses of Rutherford’s Hymn, more commonly known as “Immanuel’s Land” or “The Sands of Time are Sinking.” What we commonly sing of this hymn has made it one of my favorites for years, and I’ve longed for years to know the rest of the verses.

Today’s gift:
Totally by “accident” – I found it! This page actually has 19 stanzas of a poem by Ann Ross Cousins inspired by the writings of Samuel Rutherford. I haven’t even read them all thoroughly yet, but I had to post in my excitement. I hope you enjoy it!