A Blast From the Past and some Booboo's!

 I came across this picture while going through some old pics and it made me feel human again! I look less swollen (nice way of putting it) and normal. And Eric looks a lot younger!! It reminded me there is life out there beyond pregnancy. I say that sarcastically...somewhat. Being this sick all day, everyday starts to take it's toll. It is a good reminder to not take our health for granted and that suffering is real...and worse for many others. It has been a constant reminder of how weak and frail our bodies are and that even for them to function, God has to be in charge! It all started that fateful day in the garden way back in Genesis 3, remember the curse that promised us women there will be much pain in childbearing. Thank You Jesus that you will return for your own and make it all right again and for the grace you have provided to make it through until then.

 I am now 14 weeks and am starting to see little evidences that "the sickness" might just be on it's way out the door! I can't say good=bye to this un- welcome house guest soon enough. I am trying to cultivate gratitude during it, being self-controlled in my emotions and  relying on God's strength to accomplish what I NEED, and only what I need, to get done. You might need to ask Eric, but I think God has been very gracious to me in those areas this pregnancy.

We started school today and it went very well. Eric took today off and that ended up being a big help. He spent the better part of the last two days splitting and stacking wood along with his little people crew. I am not sure if they were big helpers or not, hmmmm. They enjoyed it though! We went for a several mile bike ride on Sunday night and Christian who just learned how to ride with no training wheels kept the pace. He was very proud of himself, especially since he only ran in to 1 parked..tree.

 We ended up at the Croft Mine park and received an impromptu tour through an old mine that has been in ruins for many years.

For those of you who don't know Crosby that well, it is known for it's mining industry dating back from the early 1900's until the 1970's. They closed for good and have been a source of  tourism since the mountain bike trails wrap around the pits that have since filled with water. The mines here were home to the worst mining disaster in U.S history, until just a few years ago. We were able to hear about the 41 miners that died back in 1924 as well as see the history of all the open pits here that we use so often to swim in, mountain bike and run around. Of course, Eric who is a history buff, knew all this already and we had actually already visited this park before. But, it was a fun activity to go do with the kids and we couldn't have asked for better weather to go biking in.

Speaking of running in the mine pits, Eric runs every morning and this Labor Day was no exception.  He is not usually the one I am nervous about on his feet, but maybe I should have been. These are the battle wounds he received while meeting the trails face to (ground) face.

He actually joined the Anderson injured club. Christian had a black eye from the trampoline and Simeon had road rash from having his face meet the pavement, thanks to an older sibling. I won't say any names...But I will give a hint. He is 3 and used to have long curly hair. He was very apologetic after it happened. Ethan also has a bruised cheek from the "waterpark" the little ones made in our basement and the injuries that occur when you have water parks in your basement. You know what kind of injuries I am talking about, I am sure you experience them too.

As for ministry, that probably is a longer post. I suppose just like Jesus' ministry it is intertwined with joys and sorrows. Our sorrow's are probably better described as disappointments. Some are brought on by our own desires that have become expectations, ones  that we have held too tight. They require discipline and pain to get out of our hearts. Some are just that, disappointments. Sadness based on expectations that are not sinful, just normal things that we thought would happen that haven't. Or, maybe a certain way we had expected it to happen and it didn't go the way we thought it would. We are trying to figure out how to sort it all out and process it in light of the Gospel.  It is amazing to me how my human mind tends to get caught up in the sorrow and disappointments part of ministry and forget that God is still working, He doesn't need us and this is not about my comfort. In all of it, I know  He is taking out the deep roots of sin and hopefully banishing them for good. I have feeling though, based on the truth of scripture, that I will have to do the hard work of  cultivating  that ground while on this earth after it is all tilled and weeded. We are having a man from our church teach us about the suffering and sovereignty of God for the next several weeks on Wednesday nights and we are looking forward to that. I am sure I have a lot to learn, we probably have only scraped the surface.

 I hope you all have a great week and for those who have prayed for us, we are so appreciative.

Love in Christ,

Miriam