Technology & Truth

So Monday we got the opportunity to do 3D ultrasound and we got great close ups of Rilynn! It was absolutely amazing to be able to see such detailed images of a baby who has not been born yet. This picture was my personal favorite...

… I loved how her face, hand, and foot were all scrunched up together! It was also nice to see that she has a good arch to her foot and not my brother's hobbit-like box feet. We got about 35 pictures of her and were able to deduce that she has her uncle Ryan's full lips, her aunt Lindzy's long fingers, her daddy's chubby baby cheeks, and my basic features! It was so exciting to be able to more accurately imagine what she is going to look like. I can't wait until August to see how accurate these 3D images were and what other family resemblance's she may have :) 

While we were able to watch our baby dance around on a giant projector screen, two questions kept racing through my mind. One, how can people see this and not think it's a baby in there. I believe that anyone considering abortion should be required to have a 3D ultrasound so they can be fully aware of what it is they are "eliminating". We use words like "fetus" in order to de-humanize the babies affected by abortion, mostly to make ourselves feel better, but looking at these pictures, how can anyone argue that the living, kicking, yawning, hiccuping thing in there is NOT a human being? Blows my mind….It's a baby on the inside, and it's the same baby on the outside, and the technology we have today to allow us to see images like these should only make that truth more evident. 

The second question that kept coming to me was…How can anyone experience, first hand or second hand, the miraculous process of human development (pregnancy from the inside) and then birth and not believe in God. There are so many things that have to happen, and happen perfectly, for a human being to be developed, so many details and stages that can't be skipped. How can something so complex be the product of anything other than an Intelligent Designer who knew exactly what, when, and how everything needed to take place? If anything, seeing and feeling our baby grow at each stage, even before she is born, has absolutely validated the fact that there is a God who loves us. He takes the time to stitch each of us together in exactly the way He wants us. It is humbling to think that the Creator of the Universe cares enough about each of us to take a personal interest in us even before we are born into the world. Thinking on this leaves me grateful and awestruck at how amazing the God we serve is. I pray I never take for granted the blessing of being His.

Settled In

Since my last post, we have purchased and moved into our new home! The whole process was eye opening and a great experience for us as a couple. We saw God move and provide in huge ways and I can't believe how much He blessed us in giving us the house we ended up with. It is more than we need or ever expected for our first house! Just goes to show that God wants to bless those He loves (all of us) as long as we are willing to listen for His voice and wait on His timing. We are grateful.

Also since my last post, we found out that our baby is a GIRL!!! Her name is Rilynn Elizabeth and she will be here sometime in August. Found out at my appointment yesterday that she may be due a bit earlier than we originally thought! We will see :) This was her at 20 weeks, about 10 weeks ago. She kicks, wiggles, and moves almost constantly, although I can't say that I mind! Jonathan was flabbergasted the first time he felt her kick and he now loves to watch my belly move when she gets going. We cannot wait to meet her!

My little brother graduated high school this past weekend and will be going to Mary Hardin Baylor in the fall. I can't say I'm pleased about him leaving, but I know it will be a great experience for him and I'm excited to see how God uses him! My silver lining is that he will only be two hours away and he says he will be home a lot…he better be! I love this kid more than anyone can know and I'm so proud of him! He is my best friend and I can't wait to see what the future holds. It's gunna be great! 

Those are the big things happening in my life right now. Change is always happening and it's what we make of it that determines if it's positive or negative. The most important thing to remember is that God is never caught off guard by the ups and downs in our life. He has been in our past, He is with us in our present, and He is already in our future. Our reaction to change is a testimony of our faith and our trust in God as the only thing that does not change. I can confidently say I am excited for whatever the future holds because I know that God is already there and preparing the way! 

Story of My Life

    A little about myself for the first post seems appropriate. The top left picture, is my handsome husband and best friend, Jonathan. He is the love of my life and I cannot imagine being without him! We have been married for almost a year and a half and it has been the best 18 months of my life so far. He is everything I am not and makes my life a fairy tale.

    The top right picture is my lovely puppy, Kiara. She is almost a year and a half old and is a german shepherd mix. We adopted her the Christmas after we were married (she was my Christmas present). She is obsessed with playing frisbee, enjoys chewing wood, and has a limp tail because she was hit by a car on her 1st birthday. She is spoiled rotten and we love her to death!

    The bottom/center picture is our baby!! This picture (the only one I have so far) was taken at 8 weeks. We are now almost 17 weeks pregnant and we find out March 26th if we are having a boy or a girl! The due date has been set for August 19th…6 days before my birthday. I am preparing myself for a long, hot, pregnant summer in the pool!

   We are currently living with my parents while we save to buy our first home. We are hoping to be IN a house by the end of April….we will see. The other parts of my life include my family (amazing parents and a fantastic brother), my church which I love, and also happens to be my place of employment, amazing friends I cherish, and above anything else, my Savior. I could not be more blessed and I am thankful every day for the people God has put in my life and the opportunities He has made available to me. I look to the future with high expectations of what I know He has planned. Ready for an adventure!