fatherless family

i met up with two of my cousins tonight plus kids, hubbies, etc. we were talking about our Dads. In my family, which is my mother's family, there were 14 siblings but in the last 4 years we have lost fathers. It began with my Dad and then 3 of my uncles within 2 and 1/2 years.

Out of my Mum's 14 siblings, 2 brothers out of 6 remain and 6 out of 8 sisters. My Mum lost two siblings in 1989 within a month of each other. And her 3 brothers within 2 years. Even my cousins that have lost their mothers have also lost their fathers. We are a fatherless generation.

Why am I recounting all of this? I think it's because my cousin tonight was talking as if two more of my aunties are near the end of their lives. We are losing a whole generation. It's very sad because most of them died young. Only 1 out of the 6 was over 60.

My Dad was 58 turning 59 when he went to be with the LORD. It's been 4 years but I still have moments when I am reminded of my Dad and I ball my eyes out. I still wish he was here. When I talk with the LORD I know he had a plan for taking my Dad but if I could change anything in my life it would be losing my Dad.

My cousin tonight was super close to her Dad. Her Dad was the most recent so it's still very fresh to her but it feels like he's been gone for ages. I think she's still mourning. And only time can lessen it but it will never go away.

It's like me. My Dad was larger than life. He was never sick, and he was so young at heart. He would play and play. He was like a big kid and like me I think he enjoyed hanging with kids more than grown-ups because they are all about enjoying life.

There will always be something missing in my life without my Dad's smiling, chuckling face.

CAN ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE?

can someone please tell me what 'BEING ONE' is because I have no idea what that means. We've been together for 17 years and I seem to have become more and more clueless about what this looks like.

What does a good relationship look like? What are the keys to...no not just a good relationship but an amazing relationship? I'm talking about men and women, husbands and wives...what does an amazing one look like? I have seen very few good ones, but an AMAZING one...I don't think I've seen one of those. Can anyone help me? Please let me know because i'm stumbling in dark trying to figure this out and I could use opinions other than my own!!!!!

Does anyone think they have an AMAZING relationship with their other half? What makes it so?

my little man

I have a dreaded lurgy...is that even a word?? Been spewing and cold chills. This means Caleb is off limits. I have had a whole day of not being able to hug or kiss him. It hit me again how spoilt i have been for the last 8 & half months. Holding this life in my hands that is my son.

That's a long time to be able to hug someone every day, several times a day :-) I can't believe how much the LORD has blessed us. But it's only 8 mths and I have lived 39 years almost. I hope and pray I have this privilege till i'm old and grey...sure I will be lucky to have a hug once a week...but those can be replaced with 'i love you Mum' over the phone...when he can talk :-)

For now I will make the most of holding him in my arms...my little man. I have years of hugs and kisses ahead of me, God willing. Can't wait to get better. I miss him already and it's only been a day. Makes me want to make the most of every moment with him....mums...it's the LORD in us...an overwhelming love for our little ones.

passing thoughts

My friend Lill sent me a Max Lucado devotion (Thanks Lill !). It reminded me of something I love about the LORD. I will say something in passing or think something in passing - it might be just a question or something I think I need or think I should do and then the LORD answers me.

He knows me so well and knows I love it. It freaks me out and makes me want to jump up and down with joy. Why? Because it shows me he is a part of my every day life. I'm generally just talking to myself. But he hears me and he's with me every single moment and he just participates in my life.

An example...I met this young Pacific Island girl at the church I was just starting to attend (before my Pastor left and started a new church which we joined). We connected and I left without seeing her again. Anyway months and months went by and one day I was at home thinking about her. Wondering if she was still at that church and how I should have kept in contact with her. I left my unit to do some shopping and as I stepped out my door I heard someone call me. It was her! She had just picked up her daughters who went to school a few streets away from my place.

I cracked up laughing because that is so the LORD. I think my thoughts are my own...but meanwhile it's his Spirit in me prompting me to think about certain things and people.

Another example...I was wondering about a certain issue one day and I watched Joyce Meyer on the internet that day and she was talking about that very same thing...Joyce has a list of archived programmes and I watch the one at the bottom of the list because they roll off and I don't want to miss one:-) That was the one I watched that day. And I recorded her episode that day on tv which isn't in anyway connected to the order on the internet and it was the same issue!!!

I knew that whispered thought to myself was something important to the LORD that I needed an answer to. He's so awesome like that.

Even if I'm not talking to him - he hears me and talks back. That's exactly what it feels like and I absolutely love it!!

ivf

I watched this baby programme about a mum who had twins and then sextuplets. She was truly amazing. If ever the LORD made someone to have sextuplets it was her. She was super organized and didn't have anyone helping her apart from her hubby. They kind of reminded me of myles and I - he was very complacent and easy going and she was very organised and fixed everything :-) except I'm only a little organised compared to her!

I wouldn't be able to cope - 3 boys and 3 girls plus twin girls?! Myles and I joke about having twins at our next IVF treatment but it never occurs to me I would have more...surely the LORD would know better than to give me that many!

I rang up today for IVF and the earliest appointment is mid Sept. I thought that's too late, but then I'm nowhere near ready health wise anyway. Belly dancing has been great - a part from a bad knee (need your knees for belly dancing cos that's the normal stance to shake your hips -knees bent). Weather has been wet and cloudy...so no walking, apart from at Byron Bay. Punched my punching bag today...but I need some volleyball to really get me moving.

I have blood tests first so that could take a few weeks and if they find anything wrong with me then I will have to wait till it's sorted before actually implanting the embryos. So I'm thinking Oct/Nov at the earliest. All going well I could be pregnant and doing it all again :-)

Mum highlights

All the Caleb bits in last post of course :-)

Had the best donuts ever...from a market at a town 20mins away from Byron Bay...Mullumbimby (?)...organic again and yummy! Had the best steak sandwich at another tinier town called Uki...had eggplant, sundried tomatoes and pesto.

Uki was tiny - it reminded me of Samoa except tinier! But it had this great cafe with the steak sandwich. Mullumbimby had a great market...first time in ages I had been to a great traditional market where I could have bought something from nearly every stall - lots of unique handmade pieces. And some stalls were such bargains I couldn't believe how cheap.

We went to these two towns on the day we flew out. I bought so much stuff that I was glad I had an spare bag! Then we went to a clearance store with more bargains which almost made us late for our flight. We had less than 10 mins to repack our bags, return our hired car and check in. This airline had a strict deadline for check in so we were really pushing it.

The beaches at Byron were the highlights. They were long stretches of beach with hardly anyone on them. Lots of sand and enough of a surf to entertain the boys. I could easily see my nieces and nephews running amok here.

Byron Bay town - expensive and tourist filled. Glad we stayed 5 mins away by the beach at a little holiday park. Our cabin was right by the path to the beach. We had native turkeys roaming through the park.

Another highlight for me was being able to walk on the beach from one end to where our holiday park was. We drove to a spot which I thought was a different beach but Myles realised it was the same. So he said he would drive home with baby and I could walk home along the beach. It was exaclty what I needed.

I could have spent our whole holiday by the sea but Myles thought we should explore the towns since we might not see them again. He was right. But it was still nice to walk barefeet on the sand, enjoy the smell of the sea, and explore the seashells and perfectly flat litle stones scattered along the beach. Oh how I love the seaside.

Holiday - caleb highlights

plane trip - Caleb was awesome. Mum and Dad need more practice though but it was fun. I knew you had to feed baby on take off and landing because of his ears. So as the plane was taxiing away I started feeding him a bottle except he finished the bottle before we even took off :-)

Thankfully, he fell asleep and only woke up just before we landed. Then I fed him bits of rice cake so he would keep swallowing. Except as we hit the ground - his bladder seemed to let go and a flood went through his nappy on to my me. Luckily I was wearing black so it wasn't noticeable :-)

Our trip home was less eventful - Caleb stayed awake the whole time and even looked out the window when we were on the ground. You point out the window to him and he just notices the window :-)

Oh and he did notice the air hostesses and they noticed him - a charmer already! He was stretching his neck around his Father to look at them.

Firsts - Caleb had lots of firsts on this trip including the plane trip. Before we jumped on the plane I waved bye-bye and he copied me. He's done it a few times since so he's learnt his first trick!

Found his first freckle on his knee. Actually Myles and I noticed he had two similar birth marks just below his knees on the back. Very small but probably more noticeable now he's grown so much.

He ate his first baby food from a jar - not all successes. He still doesn't like apples - from a jar or home pureed. But he loved the organic vege jars.

Had his first organic formula...everything in Byron Baby seemed to be organic. This formula was the only one available at the local supermarket and it was twice the price! He loved it.

He learnt to make a clicking noise with his tongue. I use to do it to entertain him and then out of the blue he started doing it. Plus myles held his hands and he took his first real steps forward - normally he stands still or steps backwards. He's learning and growing so much!

1st plane trip

we're taking off in 12 hrs to Byron Bay by plane for Caleb's 1st flight!! How exciting!! It's an hour by plane and a test run for when we fly to NZ in January next year - that's a 3hr trip. So hopefully Caleb will enjoy it. Though not sure about his ears :-(

It's also a test run for myles and i with our son. I am leaning towards overpacking at least for this practice run. Just finished packing Caleb's stuff...and it's after 2am already. Will have to do my own tomorrow, thankfully we don't need to leave early.

There have been so many cheap domestic flights that we jumped at this opportunity. We've never been to Byron Bay but I hear it's beautiful. I love travel...want to see so much of this awesome world that the LORD created before I leave it.

There's lots happening in our lives at the moment so it will be good to take time out and just chill. A few big decisions to be made about my man's future so need to seek the LORD...draw near to him and he will draw near to us.

Sleep calls.

dealing with my strengths

So I wonder how one overcomes weaknesses that stem from your strengths??? For me it's letting go of things, moving on and leaving it in the LORD's hands, surrender or cast it and get on with what you can do until the LORD gives you the strength to do what you can't. Stand on his grace because we definitely don't deserve God's forgiveness but he gives it to us freely through Jesus.

It's not easy and I know if something is on my mind too much then I'm out of balance and I need to get rid of it. Even if it means giving up. And it means accepting that people are not like me.

I have a couple of people in my life who are forever back-stabbing me. I wish I could say they are not close to me, but they are. A long time ago I decided thats just the way they are. They need to tell other people to get it off their chest because they're not comfortable telling me. Probably because they know I will tell it like it is and try to resolve it, but sometimes they're just not ready to stop being angry or upset with me. When they do, they no longer need to tell me.

I have always tried to be a blessing in their lives even when they don't recognise it or know about it. If I do something good they will give Myles the credit because it can't possibly be me. Little do they know that sometimes I have had to struggle with Myles to be generous to them.

Yet...I love them. I can't hold anything against them, I will be heart-broken by them but I know that talking to them about it, just makes them feel bad and they will hold this against me too. I can't win. So I let go and go on.

The hard thing is I know I will never trust them because they've made it obvious that I can't. But I accept that this is the way they love me. They're not like me. In fact sometimes I wonder if they like me at all :-)

So I accept.

unfaithfulness

So men and that dreaded weakness 'UNFAITHFULNESS'. I am wondering if this is attached to a strength because it's such a great weakness amongst all men. That's a generalisation based on personal experience...I can find a few faithful women but a faithful man?? Do they exist at all? (And all the men in the world cry out...HANG ON LADY!!!)

FAITHFULNESS doesn't make you unfaithful...is it STRENGTH (Courage, being brave)? Having to be the strong one? Does that make you abuse your loved ones? Strength means what?? To be courageous means to step out on your own. To do something that other people are not willing to do.

Or maybe it's INDEPENDENCE. Yes, that's it. Independence means you can stand on your own, that you don't need to be a follower but a LEADER. Yes, LEADERSHIP, is a strength. It would make you think you can do anything. That you are a step above the rest. That you don't need anyone, you can do it your way....and next minute doing it your way leads to arrogance and believing you are above everyone and can do anything...including adultery, sexual immorality...anything with anyone...no door is closed to you. And of course there's the illusion that you can cope, you can do it all and keep the world going around.

Yip, I think that's it. That was the case with David the shepherd boy who became David the King of Israel...nothing was beyond his grasp including someone else's wife. He went down that road and it lead to murder. Abuse of power. If a christian man has these strengths then I hope he realises that above his beloved, if he has one or plans to have one, is his God. And true independence is not depending on yourself but depending on God.

To be made in his image is to be faithful. And the LORD's idea of faithfulness - thinking the thought, using your imagination to fulfil your fantasies about someone else, something else...is adultery.

You have to wonder - is this too high a standard, an impossible ask for MEN??? Yes, I'm afraid it is...and that's where Jesus comes in.

strengths and weaknesses

sometimes your strengths are often your greatest weaknesses. My strengths....I'm a problem-solver, I'm calm when everyone else is losing the plot...I'm a peacemaker, I make things happen and I don't give up easily, I'm loyal and I will tell you the truth rather than tell everyone else.

So what are my greatest weaknesses which come from these strengths....I don't know when to give up and I jump in and fix things that people really don't want fixing....I get into trouble and end up being the bad guy because to pursue peace means confronting issues that some people would prefer burying or not dealing with at all. I'm not diplomatic and sometimes people need this more than they need the truth.

So sometimes I don't let things go and move on. That's why ACCEPT is such a word for me. Because I always want to do better, or keep working on a problem until it's solved. But some people value calm and stability above finding the answer.

A perfect example would be how myles and I miscommunicate sometimes. I am about the PROBLEM and getting rid of it. Myles is about the process. How we do this matters to him cos he can't cope with conflict. But when communication is calm he talks. But the problem still doesn't get solved...but hey at least he felt good. To him keeping the peace is much more important than pursuing peace which to me is real resolution.

children

I think the LORD gave us children to teach us how to love.
It teaches us what it means to love unconditionally - like him.
Here's a little being completely vulnerable who can't survive without another human being.

So to be able to finally have a child is to learn what it means to love like the LORD.
Loving myles is a selfish thing...it's about me, me, me.
But loving caleb...I'm learning to put myself second.
Big and small things all have to be worked around him.

I'm responsible for him.
The biggest responsibility I have is him.

The LORD actually gave us the ability to create life.
I can't believe I gave birth to him.
I look at him learning every day and each moment is precious.
everything is worth celebrating...a new food, a new cry, a giggle, a look, a movement, a sleeping position...Nothing is small.

I want to enjoy every moment of his life.
Watch him learn and grow.
Help him and guide him.
Sometimes even say NO to him.

The LORD obviously wanted us to have an inkling of what it's like to be him loving us, his children.

prayer - day 40

LORD, last day of praying for the children of Gulu, for the Skinners and the church they are setting up, refuge for the children, for Uganda and it's future. I pray that the opening of the church will just be the start of a plan to save this area from destruction, to give back to the children the future you have planned for them.

Thank you LORD, for hearing our prayers. For filling us with your Spirit so we are able to pray in line with your will, so that Satan is defeated and your plans are fulfilled.

I cover my prayers with your Word LORD as spoken through Isaiah. Words that aret timeless and apply to us, to our prayers and to the children of Gulu. Jesus said that we overcome by his blood and our testimony. These words are my testimony LORD of who you are and all your glory. Love you LORD.

Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.

Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands...

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;...

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'

Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."...

You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

I pray this for the children of Gulu LORD. The children of Uganda. Thank you LORD for your Word is shaper than a two edged sword. In Jesus name, I leave this in your hands. amene

prayer - day 39

LORD
In these last days I just what to speak your promises to us your children, speak your Word which sustains us.

You said you plans are to prosper us not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and future. Let this be true of your children in Gulu. May they find that future with you at Watoto or any other means you have provided for them. Please fill them with your hope.

We call upon you LORD and pray and you listen to us. We seek you and find you because we seek you with all our hearts and you will bring us back from captivity. Please let this be true of the children in Gulu. That you will bring them out of captivity because of our many prayers which cover them. I ask in Jesus name. Thank you LORD.

I pray that your workers in Uganda will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm for these children. Like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. May they quench the thirst of the lost in Uganda, LORD.

Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. Help the government authorities, local authorities to see and listen to the leadership team so the way will be made clear for your church to be established with favour in Gulu.

No weapon formed against them shall prosper. The children of Gulu will be sent free from captivity by the power of your Spirit, LORD. Jesus said with man this is impossible but with you, LORD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. We can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us.

We lift up our eyes to the hills where does our help come from? Our help comes from you LORD the Maker of heaven and earth.

You will not let our feet slip, you watch over us and do not slumber. You are our shade at our right hand, the sun will not harm us by day nor the moon by night.

You will keep us from all harm and watch over our lives. You watch over our coming and our going both now and forevermore.

We dwell in your shelter and rest in your shadow. I will say of you LORD, you are our refuge and our fortress, my God, in whom I trust

Surely you will save us from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. You cover us with your feathers and under your wings we find refuge, your faithfulness will be our shield and rampart.

We will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day. Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at our side, 10,000 at our right hand, but it will not come near us.
We will only observe with our eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If we make you our dwelling, you who are our refuge then no harm will befall us, no disaster will come near our tent. For you command your angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways; they lift us up in their hands so that we will not strike our feet against stones. We tread upon the lion and the cobra. We trample the great lion and the serpent.

Because we love you, You rescue us, protect us because we acknowledge your name. We call upon you and you answer us. You are with us in trouble, You deliver us and honor us. With long life you satisfy us and show us your salvation.

Thank you LORD that these promises are true for all your children. Those of us who know you now and those who will know you soon because of the awesome work of your body. The children in Gulu who know you now LORD and those who will know your soon. You know are names LORD and we all belong to you. I pray in the name which is above all names, Jesus, our Saviour, amene.

Imagine if...

• instead of trying to get the best career here, you prepared for the best career in Eternity?
  Would you still be working overtime and doing what you are doing now?
• instead of striving to get the best out of this life, you were striving to get the best in Eternity?
  Would you spend your time, energy and money doing what you are doing now?

OR WOULD YOU BE DOING SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, LIVING LIFE DIFFERENTLY? DIFFERENT PRIORITIES?

That would be imagining eternity. This life is practice ground for the MAIN EVENT, THE REAL DEAL, YOUR REAL CAREER, YOUR REAL LIFE in heaven.

What would that look like? You already have clues just look at who you are, your skills, qualites, life experience. This is what you need to work on. Putting into practice who God made you to be.

I wonder what that would look like for me? For my man? For my family? For my son?

prayer - day 38

LORD
not many days left now in our prayer watch. Thank you for sustaining all your women in your call to prayer. I ask that you keep us all motivated in these last few days so we will remain faithful to the end. Forgive us for our sins LORD, and hear our prayers as one united body calling to you, Father.

I love you LORD, and i thank you for your faithfulness. Even when we are unfaithful you are always faithful. Because you can't be anything but you. Even when we don't deserve your love you still love us. Like the Israelites who wandered around the desert for 40 days, you forgave them again and again. Like the Israelites of old, how many times did you take them back? And still they rebelled.

Thank you LORD, that when you forgive us you remember our sin no longer. Unlike us, LORD. When we forgive it takes us forever to forget. Instead it affects how we treat that person for a long time. We only have a shadow of your understanding, especially when it comes to love.

The love described in Corinthians is unconditional. It never holds a record of wrongs. LORD, I pray this will be true of the children of Gulu, child soldiers. They would have taken lives of others as instructed. Forgive them their sin LORD, and rescue them from evil. They are so young and in desperate need of your instruction, of your unfailing love, of your forgiveness, and to be able to forgive themselves.

I pray that the villagers will see them with your eyes LORD, and realise that they don't know what they are doing. To see them as children once more and forgive them. Please renew their minds and fill them with your compassion LORD. Like you have for all your children.

I pray LORD that the children of Gulu will experience your love, what it means to be a child of God, and to have your favour wherever they go. I cannot live without you, LORD. You guide my steps every day. You protect from spiritual things that I know nothing about. You keep my family safe and go before them every day. Because you love me. Because you saved me so long ago. You never left me nor forsaken me. Many times in my past you could have given up on me because I was so much trouble and so stupid. But even when I made a bad choice you turned it around for my good. Your mercy was new every morning. I have always known your favour, even in my darkest days, I was never alone. And your restored my innocence and made me a new creation, gave me a new beginning.

I owe you my life LORD. And I am grateful for your grace which covers me every day. I was always honest with you and I knew who I was - a sinner in need of your help. Not because I'm perfect, or earned it, but because I made Jesus Lord and Saviour of my life. Tho I stumble I will not fall for you hold me in your hand. You said Lord Jesus, if we love you we will obey you, obey your Father, who sent you. You know my heart Father, and it belongs to you.

All this I recount LORD, because I ask that the children of Gulu, may know you just as well. Give them this opportunity LORD, to call out to you, to choose you. Show them your mercy and cover them with your grace. I don't know the suffering these children know but they need you just as desperately I needed you. Hear their cries LORD. The tears of your girls as they deal with the abuse in their lives. Help them LORD, be their refuge like you have been mine. Please set them free LORD.

Help them to know the truth about you LORD and not the lies the adults in their lives have taught them. Help them to see you. Give them the gift of your Spirit LORD. So that no blindness wil remain in their lives, and they can experience the complete freedom that comes from following you.

Save them LORD, because you can. Heal them I pray because you are their Healer. Forgive them LORD, like you forgave the Israelites in the desert. They are only children LORD, and know not what they do. Help them to find your body who represent you in this place, to find genuine help, to find Watoto and the church they are establishing. Show them the way please LORD so they make have life in abundance, to the full, until it is overflowing.

Thank you LORD. In Jesus name I pray amene

SORE! BABY MILESTONES

My legs are aching - normally when you exercise you don't feel it immediately but a couple of days later...i had my first bellydancing lesson - i felt sore immediately afterwards. And now my legs are aching!!! Oh but it was sooo worth it! Loved it, had so much fun, laughing too. My cousin and I were so excited afterwards we couldn't wait for the next one.

Thanks LORD, for finding me something fun to do while getting back into exercise. Plus our instructor said bellydancing is great post natal exercise. I'm like...can she see i've had a child...don't be silly that's just God's awesome planning :-)

Plus today caleb sat up without any cushion support. He didn't fall and was perfectly balanced...until he saw a toy he wanted out of his reach. Wooohoooo! My son can sit.

So progress being made in both mummy and baby's lives.

prayer - day 37

LORD
another Psalm prayed for your children in Gulu - it's like it was written with them in mind too. Thank you LORD that your Word is true today as it was in David's time. You know how we feel and understand us like no other.

Hear me LORD as one of your many girls in Gulu, I pray.

The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?

When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Hear the voices of your children in Gulu, Father, answer their prayers as we pray on their behalf. In your mighty name Lord Jesus, amene.