The latest.

Still no takers on the bowflex.  We do have another donated item to be raffled off in the near future, which I will speak of at a later time.  Working out the details and getting volunteers together to help with raffle tickets before we're swamped with football and band boosters.

This is what I wanted to share, though.

Maybe it was my imagination.  I don't know.  When we went for an ultrasound two weeks ago, there is no question the baby was moving around. S/he had their hands up behind the head, all kicked back and cute looking.  I don't know if you can really see the details, but here's a picture.

From a side view, Peanut was just a-swinging those little legs, probably a little disconcerted by the ultrasound wand invading the territory.  

I haven't felt any of those movements, because, well the baby's only about 2oz right now, and I'm...um...considerably larger.  But last night, we were getting the girls out of the bathtub when Anna's giggle-box got turned over and she cackled nonstop.  About that same time I got a little swooshy feeling like a butterfly just under my skin, light but detectable.  The baby heard Anna laughing and responded.  

That is so crazy to me.  And sweet.  And I can't wait for them to meet each other.

Addie has taken on a new identity as mother hen since Anna promoted to the older toddler group at daycare.  She checks on her when she cries, says soothing things in a tiny little voice, "Iss okay, Anna. We gon' heppa you."  She's so lovey dovey these days.  I'm glad too, because she can be a rambunctious little toot when she wants to be.  But so far, she's loving and concerned for those smaller than herself.  

The daycare got a new class pet, too.  "Happy Feet" the guinea pig.  Happy Feet (or Happy Feek, as Addie calls him) is not just any ordinary rodent.  He is disabled.  Since their school is run by the Institute for Disability Studies at the local university, there is a special interest in inclusion and therapeutic services for disabled children.  We haven't been disappointed, either, as Anna has thrived in this environment.  Addie and Anna are learning gentleness with small, helpless things that I hope will carry over to the baby.

As we move into our second trimester with the Peanut, here's how you can pray for us.

• Energy and health.  The teaching/mothering/church schedule leaves little room for downtime.  It's taking everything to do bare minimum right now.  I still have nausea and other physical symptoms that are uncomfortable at best, downright inconvenient or painful at worst.  I'm hoping this subsides soon, but even if it doesn't, it's all a sign that everything is moving along as it should.  At least there's comfort in that.  -  Even if sleeping 8.5+ hours a night still doesn't feel like enough.
• House stuff.  We're nearing the completion of the additional bathroom, which means coming closer to putting the house up for sale.  Mixed feelings about this, but it needs to happen.  Pray not just for the sale, but direction about the whole kit and kaboodle.  How should we proceed once/if it sells?  
• Oh yeah, and I will need a new car.  I've got my eye on a couple of older SUVs in town, some with higher mileage than I'm comfortable with.  But I can't be picky at this point.  Oh, if only I had kept my old Durango just a couple more years.  Wish I had that decision back.

On the note of that last point, I've been thinking about that idea of coming back from bad decisions.  I sang a song about it a couple of Sundays ago.  The prodigal son, for all his wanton waywardness, was welcomed home with feasts and gifts.  God doesn't reward our wanderings, but those offerings from the father are the very definition of grace.  It says in another passage in the Prophets that "He will restore what the locusts have eaten."  And what if you just happen to be the locust, eating all your own stuff, tearing down what you are supposed to be building up?  Well, to you he says "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."

So here's to new creations, freshly planted fields awaiting the growing season and harvest, at which time we will sit at the welcome table of grace and partake of His rich goodness.