Baby names and God's plan.

I don't know how far along I am...could be 23 weeks or 25 weeks....I will explain below:) I am feeling great, now that I am taking the vitamins my mom sent. I have more energy throughout the day and have a lot more patience with my students! I feel like I'm not that big, but when I see pictures of myself, I realize how pregnant I am! I'm getting to that point where I can't put on my own socks. It's pretty funny!


For the longest time, Dan and I thought we had our boy baby name picked out. Since finding out we are having a boy, the name selection process became a lot harder, and we both started to doubt our original choice for many reasons. As we went back to the drawing board, we began considering our other first name favorite and decided to go with that. It was somewhat of a stressful time, because we needed to have a name in order to buy our plane tickets. We didn't get him a seat, but we still have to have a boarding pass and ticket for him, so thankfully after a week of debating, we got a name and made it final. We chose Elijah.

So, last Thursday, we had another prenatal appointment complete with an ultrasound. I was told by my doctor that I am at 23 weeks (which is where I thought I was 10 days ago!). The first ultrasound gave us two different time frames. According to Elijah's leg, he was 17 weeks, but according to the size of his head, he was 19 weeks. Anyways, at our most recent ultrasound, his head size told us that I am at 25 weeks. Still though, my doctor insists that I am only at 23 weeks and my due date is closer to June 6th. At this point, I have no idea how far along I am or when I am actually due. I think Elijah just wants to surprise us!

Anyways, it was so fun to see our little Elijah, kicking and moving around! I always feel him moving and often wonder what he is doing in there! We stopped and watched his hands move and it was so amazing to see him be so active. I think that I am more excited about being a mom, now. When we first found out, it was such a shock. All I could think about was how we would have to leave ABCCA before the school year was over. Why would God call us to teach only to later have us leave our jobs early and not complete the task? I also couldn't stop thinking about how our 'family plan' and other life plans were now scrapped and we would have to figure out a whole new plan. It stressed me out to think about how we would care for this baby, being in debt from school and feeling called to do missions. If you know me at all, you know how much I LOVE to plan and have things figured out. Well, the Lord has been so wonderful in giving us the gift of a child. I know this is His timing and I am learning more and more about what it means to follow Him and not my own way.

It is good to plan and be wise with resources and such, but it is never okay to assume that it will all work out the way you planned. I have seen the Lord change my plans so many times now, and it has been encouraging to see Him walk me through life by the hand, providing all I need. Already, we have seen the Lord provide for Elijah. People have given us clothes, a changing table, a crib, and other things that I was stressed about purchasing here in Malawi. As well, the Lord has provided financially for our plane tickets home. We were pretty nervous putting all that money on our credit card, but we just prayed that God would provide. Already, we have been able to pay off half of our ticket costs!!!

This is all to say that the Lord is good. He directs our paths but doesn't leave us there alone to find our way in the night. He literally carries us through His plans for us, carefully loving and reproving us all along. I just feel so blessed.