Today

I am writing just to keep up the habit of putting my thoughts down. Life is so busy, sometimes we forget what we are here for.

• Orchestra Orientation last night
• Max has two leads in two different theater productions, one a competition
• Fuel church service tonight, several rehearsals this past month
• David has resigned his worship ministry job
• David has been promoted at work
• Homecoming is coming
• High school Bible study started

Scattered thoughts hopefully I will have more next time.

Continue to pray for the baby and her family. She is growing big and strong. Continue to pray for me as I look for that next journey of service.

8 weeks

Well it has been eight weeks today since the IP's got to hold their baby for the first time.

Our lives are getting back to "normal". We continue to serve at church and work full time. Our children have been back to school for four weeks and we have gone on and returned from a family vacation.

We went on the longest family vacation we have ever gone on. We went back to Disney and the "land of make believe". We did make a one day trip to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure to visit where David used to work and the new "Wizarding World of Harry Potter". We had a great time, much needed just the four of us time. We had been on trips this past year, but we always had the IP's and their family with us because we were carrying their child. This trip was just us. We rode rides, ate lots, swam and sweat. It was GREAT! We were able to spend some time with church family down there also, I wish we could have met with more, but family bonding was very necessary this trip.

I am uncertain how I am feeling emotionally right now. I feel great, but different. I actually miss being pregnant. Having a body created by God to have children, when I am pregnant I feel whole, complete, perfect, beautiful... I am pumping, originally I was donating to the baby. now to end the supply I pump and dump for comfort until the milk is gone. I need to get back to exercising. I am soft and squishy were a person should not be soft and squishy. I need to find where I am supposed to work next. I feel lost without that obvious God given job to do.

I continue to watch those that are trying and those suffering from loss on YouTube and wish I could help them all. God is and has been so GOOD to me I just wish I could do the same for others. I continue to PRAY for them. I reach out when I can.

Please pray for those hurting, for the next job God has for me and that His glory be shown.

One Month Old Today

WOW

One month old today!

I am so blessed to have been able to do this surrogacy. God is so GOOD! I am blessed everyday. Last night at our ladies small group got together for a monthly meeting. We studied God's love and how to make an invisible God visible through our acts of love. That is all I want to do, share God's love. Most days I am certain "my" attitude blocks what I want to be seen.

I love that the mother of this baby has God's story to share. I Iove to hear her stories of peoples' reaction to sharing it. It makes me cry tears of joy at how God is being seen. This was something that I struggled with. I did not want people to be looking at me. The attention made me uncomfortable. I liked it at times, but most times I wanted to be invisible and God be visible. He deserves all the praise and glory.

Please pray that His story continues to touch lives. That He is made visible.

Recovery

God is so GOOD!

My recovery has been an act of GOD.

I returned to work the Monday following surgery. Everybody, but my boss, told me it was too soon. As I stated in the beginning of this journey, work has not been supportive in any way.

I was amazed at how much walking hurt the first time, and the several times after that. But, I was more amazed at how quickly the pain stopped and my energy came back. The doctor let me go home Thursday. It was great to sleep in my own bed and snuggle with my husband again.

I started pumping at the hospital but found it much easier to do at home. I was able to give the intended parents a couple of weeks supply of milk to supplement the formula.

I find it hard to believe there are people that don't believe in God, when I look at the the all the different jobs my body can do.

Life quickly returned to the normal pace.

• kids
• work
• church

I would do this again and again. This journey is a BLESSING. I am so thankful to God that He LOVES me this much.

Praise GOD!

Please continue to pray for the parents and their beautiful baby.