36 weeks

The past couple of weeks have been crazy good. We have been preparing for the arrival of our baby. You would think that - this being our third - I would have a pretty good handle on what needs done. I keep forgetting that preparing for Brian was much easier because it was just me and Beth Ann. When Brett arrived (oh boy did he arrive) the challenges where different because we had Brian, but the challenges still felt very manageable.

The challenges of preparing for this baby are different yet. Involving both boys, who are so excited to be big brothers, in all of our decisions from helping put the crib back together to helping choose names has been interesting. Tasks, like assembling the new pack-in-play, which would have taken me and Beth Ann a half hour to do now took a couple of hours! Recognizing that both boys use the bathroom independently, feed themselves and fall asleep on their own make us a little anxious about the adjustments that are forthcoming. Not to mention preparing for their little, broken hearts when I tell them that that mommy (and maybe daddy) are too sleep-deprived for another game of knee hockey.

However, as we closed this evening together in prayer, I was blessed to listen to both Brian and Brett pray for "mommy and the baby." Then it hit me. I was attending church and exploring my faith when Beth Ann was pregnant with Brett. It was not until Brett was born that I (literally as Brett was born) accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. While the process of preparing for this baby has been more difficult, it has been such a comfort to begin to welcome the baby into a family that is centered around Jesus and living in His grace and peace.

Mark