I wanted to get a quick update out now since the day after tomorrow (Tuesday) we will be going in to have our baby. Who knows how much I will get done after that. I actually had sat down and written a long update and somehow it all got deleted. I was to frustrated to go back and do that all over again, so I will do a quick run down here of our family, ministry, and the up and comings.
For those of you who have asked and kept updated on Jordan, thank you so much. There is not much new to report. She is still dealing with pain. And it is still, for the most part, undiagnosed. In some ways we have answers, but in some ways we have more questions. Right now we are in trust mode and pray and wait mode. We aren't sure of what direction to take, if any, and when. There is some genetic testing the neurologist wanted done, but there weren't any guarantees on answers, and the tests were very expensive. With all the new health care stuff going on they aren't covering quite a few genetic tests and so it would be out of pocket on our end. It would not necessarily change the outcome of how it is treated either, so now we just wait and see. The pain seems to go in seasons, getting worse at times and doable at other times. Although, never completely going away. This has increased sleepless nights and long tiring days for her so we are trying to figure out the balance of resting during the day, and yet not too much so she can't sleep at night. All those combos can increase anxiety on her end and ours, so this has all really been a process of relying on the Lord when you don't see any answers. The other post I wrote had a lot more details. I shared what we have seen God doing in her through this and what we are thankful for in it. Hopefully I will have a chance to share that on here at a later date. I will say I am very thankful for her attitude, and despite wishing I could snap my fingers and take it away, sometimes grace grows best in the winter!
And, Winter it is. It has been very cold and we have had a lot of snow. This Winter the girls have been growing in their social life and it has been fun and challenging for us as parents to watch. It has added a new dimension to parenting as we navigate those questions about riding in cars with friends, what time to be home, how much time on the computer can you spend ect.... I am so pleased to report that the girls have been so good about it and have truly made this season a very fun time as I get to watch them grow in wisdom and discernment through their relationship with Jesus. They share with us all the details (sometimes the good, the bad, and the ugly) they get to experience and it is very much a joy to listen to them grow up. I think I had different expectations due to my past and what you hear in the world about these years, but so far God's grace in their lives, and ours has been very evident.
The kids and Eric have been enjoying broom ball games, floor hockey at our church, and game nights at some friends of theirs houses. The younger boys have enjoyed tagging along as long as their is a promise of hot cocoa in the end! Gracie prefers to hang at home with Mama and Simeon and snuggle up and watch something of her choice.The floor hockey at church has organically become an outreach at the church as it has brought in different kids from the community to play. Then they have a few minutes evangelistic bible study at the end which has created a good mix for our kids to learn about ministry with. They are under the protection of Eric who is there the whole time, yet have to deal with the hard facts of life. Not everyone knows about Jesus and not everyone who knows about him, really knows him in a Savior and Lordship type of way. So it takes prayer and wisdom to do ministry, and it takes long term commitment to relationships so that we can fulfill God's ultimate plan of making disciples and teaching them to obey all that he commands. It also requires us giving up of our own desires to serve others, that is not an easy lesson and it will never be fully learned this side of heaven. Our kids our learning that in a new setting now, one that is different than our always busy home. I am so thankful we have order in our chaos and our kiddos still have the ability to thrive!
Eric had two conferences this last month that he went to. The first one was the Desiring God Pastor's conference he enjoys every year. He is always encouraged by the feeding and fellowship he receives there. Then we had our annual North Central District Church Planters conference up in Brainerd. (If it would have been any farther away I would not have gone since I was in my 38th week of pregnancy.) But, Eric and I were able to go to that together and it was the last time we will be alone without another little one for awhile. My mom was a huge help as she came and stayed with the kids for 3 days so we could go. I am so thankful she is willing and able to do that since it is a huge help to Eric and I. The kids had a good time, and it was good time for them to have with Grandma.
We are still moving ahead on the building buying process, however we learned recently that it has to go before one final committee on the Presbytery's end before it can be fully approved. They have said it is most likely a done deal from their perspective, this is just a formality. That meeting will be in May and then we will be able to go ahead with the buying of the building. Our mother church is doing a findraiser and has agreed to match up to $25,000 that comes in with that so I think with what we have saved as a church, as well as what we will receive from our own local body, and Lakewood's donation we should be good to go. We are finding that in our small town area it gives us more credibility and stability in the people's eyes, which long term will be a good thing. Eric has done a great job of being present in the community and not being ashamed of who we are as a church so he (as well as some others from our church) had really tilled a lot of soil, so being in a stable environment was just an added bonus. It has opened up doors as a church to move ahead with more discipleship training and Eric has an office with office hours now. We are finding that here that means a great deal to the people.
Finally, we have one more day until we meet the newest little Anderson. Our home has the undertones of excitement, anticipation, and come on let this be over with all in one. I am now in my 39th week of pregnancy and so far everything has gone very well. We still do not know what we are having so we are looking forward to the announcement of "It's a boy" or "It's a girl". It is one or the other, right?? Tuesday at 11:30 am I check in and register so I am assuming somewhere around mid afternoon they will do the surgery. My mom will come out for the day and then we will navigate the next week with different combos of kids coming up to spend time with the baby and I. We will see how it goes! I will try to post pictures as soon as possible and some details as well. Until then here are some moments from this last week or so of broom ball and our newest snow fall.
Again, thanks for your prayers.
Love In Christ,
Miriam (for the Anderson crew)
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