Home Sweet Home

FYI: I am normally not into long blogs but I didn't want to spare any details.

Well, after 4 years and countless talks about selling our house, we have officially listed it with an agent. Chip and I have always been burdened by our school debt. This is usually what has driven our desire to sell. In the past we would occassionally check to see what houses were for sale and where we could make a buck or several thousand. Nothing ever panned out. When we returned from Brazil we were praying one day as a staff team. Casey Williamson prayed that all of our houses would be used for ministry and would be always open to the students. I immediately started crying and praying for God to open doors for us to move closer to campus. We live 4 miles from campus which doesn't sound like a lot but it is when you think about people just dropping by. Students have commented/complained for years about how far it is to our house. So, we started looking. Everything in south Louisiana is high right now. Houses around the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University are outrageous! A house came up that needed some work, but we were up for the challenge. Then we found out that it had a cracked slab. We were not up to this challenge or the expense it would take to fix it. So, we kind of slacked off on the pursuit.

This week's order of events: After church last Sunday we went out to eat and ran into my old boss. Later that day I realized I had a voice mail but my phone died before I could charge it. While it was charging I spent time in the Word using an Amy Charmichael devotion. The chapter was on prayer. I was challenged to really ask God for our needs. I spent time praying specifically about a house less than 1 mile from campus. Afterwards I checked my voice mail. It was from my old boss. She called to tell me (without knowing we were looking) of a house near her (4 blocks from campus) that was for lease. We hadn't even considered this option until then because rent right now is close to $1000/mth in Hammond. But, Chip called the realtor and this one was affordable! Before we even went inside it we got counsel from several people we respect, including some men who are certified in Crown Financial Ministries. Everyone gave us the go ahead. So, on Monday we met with the realtor and saw the rental. Wednesday we had a sign in our yard. Friday we had our first showing. Can't wait to see what the next days will hold.

Oh yea, this sale will allow us to pay off ALL of our debt!

Paci Anyone?

Streed never took a pacifier. Ella uses one occassionally. However, when she needs it she has to vie for possession of it. I originally bought a pack of two. Streed promptly lost the white one so now they "share" the pink one. I look at it as building up her immunities.

I've tried to add pictures twice. Blogger is really getting on my nerves! I may try again later. There are some really cute ones.

OK. I decided to load them all separately and we have success. Enjoy.

The Fam

Here is our family with our newest addition, Ella. She was 10 days old here. When I saw this picture I joked that she looked like Streed in a dress. It is really odd to look at. In this picture she looks IDENTICAL to Streed as a baby. It really is Streedella.

Double Daddy Duty

Chip is settling into his new role--father of a daughter. This has been different for him so far. I think he is more timid or scared he is going to hurt her than he was Streed. The first few days she would scream in a really high-pitched shrill like a pterodactyl whenever you would change her diaper. This traumatized him. But, he is pushing through and being a really good helper.

PINK

Everything is pink with a baby girl, including the roses from my mom and sister. I was having a really teary day on the 2nd day home from the hospital. They felt sorry for me and came home with some pink roses. Thanks Gran and Aunt Wobyn.

Week One

Ella turned 1 week old yesterday. I took this picture of her yesterday because she looked so chilled out. She pretty much sleeps all day. Amazingly enough she slept through the night last night! I fed her at 11:30pm. We were hoping she would sleep until 3. I woke up at 5:20 and she was still asleep. Needless to say I did not wake her. I waited till she woke up at 6:30. We will see if it was a fluke or not. Remember, she is a 9 lb-er.

Botherly Love

For those of you who know Streed, you know he is a sweet little boy. This has continued to be true with the arrival of his little sister Ella. He can barely walk past her without giving her kisses. Tonight while I was feeding her he was kissing her toes and fingers.

She's Here

Ella Claire's stats:

• Sept 6, 2006
• 3:52 pm
• 9 lb 8 oz
• 19 1/2"
• head full of black hair

I went for my weekly checkup last Tuesday. I had not progressed any from the week before. We knew the baby was big so we decided to induce labor the next day. I went in at 6:30am, they broke my water at 8:30am, got an epidural around lunch, had a baby a few hours later.

My midwife, Mary Byers, delivered her. She said at my 32 week check up that we were looking at a 9 1/2 lb baby at 38 weeks. I delivered a 9 1/2 lb baby at 38 1/2 weeks. Even though I delivered Streed (7.1 lb) by cesarean, Mary was on my team and let me try to deliver her. I am thankful that she allowed Chip and I to make the decision. The verdict is still out on whether or not this is a good thing!