Shower of Blessings

It's been a while since I've written an entry (Chris typing), but I wanted to share how extremely thankful Sara and I are for the generosity of those who came to our first baby shower. I wasn't able to go to the shower yesterday, but when I saw all of the gifts when I got home, I was struck by just how good God is. As new parents embarking on the new adventure of raising a child, each and every gift is a blessing and an opportunity to give to our child. Those of you that know me best won't be surprised to see my next sentence. To me, showers are a chance for the newest Greenwood to enjoy many things his stingy ol' dad would be too cheap to get him! :-) I look forward to many days and nights of watching Josiah sleep in his crib surrounded by his new froggy friends (including Pickles the Frog). Sara and I look forward to stylishly and comfortably carrying him around in the Baby Bjorn and the travel system stroller. We know we will be able to keep an eye on him using the reflection mirror as he stylishly rides in our car with sun blockers and the car seat protector with detachable tote. :-) I'm sure he will spend many hours playing on his new play mat wonderland and listening to his ABC's and chimes. We have some new books to read to him along with his first New Beginnings Bible. He has clothes and diapers, wipes and bath toys, bottles and lots of other wonderful things. He has a changing table and a diaper champ to put all those diapers his mom will be changing....don't tell Sara I said that! Josiah's hand painted chair is a beautiful work of art, which we hope will last many years to come. The signed frame will hang on his nursery wall as a reminder of God's goodness through those who love, pray for, and are excited about this new one's entry into the world. Our hearts are full of gratitude for every gift because it reminds us of each person who gave to our son. Thanks to all of you for your support and kindness.

"Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on lyre!"
-Psalm 147:7

Human Trampoline

Well, Josiah is getting quite the personality, even in the womb. Sunday night Chris and I were coming home from a Bible study group. The whole time we were there, Josiah had some body part up between my lungs. Well, when we got in the car to come home, he decided he was going to stretch out. When he did this, he had a part up between my lungs and another body part jumping on my bladder. Did I mention that I had to go to the bathroom? Josiah and I had a little talk, and I told him, "I'm gonna get you if you don't stop." Right on cue the little guy gave me the strongest "punch" he had ever given me. He actually brought tears to my eyes. Chris started laughing and wanted to know who had just won that battle.

Well, Josiah continued to have a body part up between my lungs, so when I got home I decided to try putting an ice pack on my stomach. I had read in a magazine that babies don't like the cold. Sometimes they will put an ice pack on your stomach if your baby is breech and needs to turn around. I figured I would try out this theory--at this point I was desperate to breath with some ease. Within 15 minutes, Josiah had moved himself from my lungs and everyone was getting along again.

It just amazes me how this little guy already has his own personality. He really loves to move around and be active. I'm not sure if this is a good sign of what is to come, but we will take whatever the good Lord gives us. I can't believe that Friday we will be 25 weeks along with 15 more weeks until our due date.

Please be in prayer this week as we have been in contact with a church in PA. Chris talked to the pastor yesterday after taking the weekend to pray about the position. We have decided that we want to put our name in the hat to be considered for the position. They said that they will let us know something by the end of the week on what will happen next. We just pray for continued wisdom on what God wants us to do.

"For the Lord gives wisdom..." -Proverbs 2:3a

23 Weeks

Well, today is Josiah's 23rd week of life. According to the Baby Center webpage he is around 11 inches long and weighs a little over a pound--the weight of a large mango.

Josiah is really starting to kick and punch. They are hard enough that Daddy can feel them on a regular basis. Josiah is already starting to get his own little personality even in the womb. He likes it when Mommy gets home from work and puts her feet up for a little bit. He really starts moving around. He likes when Daddy reads him bedtime stories and his devotional. He has even started moving around when his Mimi calls him on the phone. He still likes going to church and listening to the music. I'm still praying that he will have his daddy's musical abilities. We are excited to meet this little guy, but want him to stay put for awhile longer.

Chris has sent out two more resumes. One to a church in Ann Arbor, MI and the other in a small town in TN. We've heard from the churches in TX and Omaha. Both said, "No." We weren't upset about it because we desire to be where the Lord wants us. We have come up with "Plan B" if a position at a church doesn't pan out.

We hope everyone is doing well. We thank you for all the prayers that you have lifted up on our behalf. Know that prayers are lifted up in return for you.

"Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!" -Psalm 149:3

Test Day

Today, Chris has headed to Durham to take his written ordination exams. He will be taking three exams with the longest one lasting two hours. He might take all three today, but looks like he will split them up between today and tomorrow. Once he takes these exams, he will be another step closer to being ordained. We are praying that he will pass them on the first try. If he doesn't, he will have to wait a few weeks before he can take them again.


We are still waiting to hear from a couple of churches that have Chris' resume. They have a few more weeks of accepting applications, so it will be a little while before we hear anything. We just continue to pray that God will place us where He wants us. From the get go, we've said we will go wherever He wants us.

On Monday, we got to hear Josiah's hearbeat again. We also got to hear him moving around, along with me laughing. Things are looking good and I'm doing a good job on my weight gain--praise the Lord!

This past weekend my family came into to town for a visit. Tayler and my mom came for "Girl's Weekend." We did crafts and just hung out. My mom and I made a floor quilt for Josiah to play on. I made his name out of some fun scrapbook paper and framed it. My mom made a fleece frog blanket for Josiah to snuggle with.

We tried all weekend for Tayler and Mimi to feel Josiah moving, but he was playing his game of hide-and-seek. He did that for the longest time with his Daddy, but Chris finally got to feel him move a couple of weekends ago. I guess he didn't want to share all of his new tricks at one time.

That's all that is going on in the Greenwood Family. Please continue to pray for us as wait patiently for the Lord's calling on our life.

"For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
-Jeremiah 29:11

My Little Flutterfly

Well, Josiah has become more active. His new nickname from his Mommy is "Little Flutterfly." There are a few things that will get him a fluttering in my belly. He likes to listen to Chris Tomlin and Casting Crowns. If I turn them off, he will start to move around until we turn them back on or he just gets plain tired. He likes when we go to church and we are singing songs. I think he is going to be musical like his Daddy. I might need to stop singing so he has a chance to have good musical skills unlike me! He likes when his Daddy reads stories to him at night before we go to bed.

His newest trick is putting his feet or hands right below my lungs and pushing up. We've had some discussions about how it is too soon for him to be up in my lungs taking my breath away. I told Josiah that he needs to enjoy all the space he has because in a few more weeks it's going to be tight in there. Some days I just have to put a little pressure where he is poking me and he moves away. I think he wants to let me know that he's still in there.

Overall, we are doing great. Chris and I are still praying for a position at a church and continue to have faith that the Lord will provide for us. His time table is perfect and He knows what He is doing. Chris will be taking his written exams on February 20th and 21st. Please pray that all will go well, and he will pass on the first try.

"Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!"

Psalm 149:3

No longer my own

Tomorrow, I will be 19 weeks--almost halfway there! The last week or so I've realized that my body is no longer my own. Gone are the nights where I sleep on my stomach and back. Instead they are replaced with sleeping on my sides because that is what is best for the baby and me. Gone are the nights where I sleep the whole night through. They are replaced with visits to the bathroom and gentle flutters from my little "flutterfly." Gone are the meals where I eat whatever I want and how much I want. Instead, I am making healthier choices for me and the baby, so he gets all the nutrients that he needs and so I don't get heartburn.

Even though I've had to make some changes in my life, I can say it is all worth it. I don't mind making the sacrifices to do what is right for Josiah. If Jesus was willing to sacrifice his life so we can have abundant life, then I can sacrifice a few months of changes so Josiah can have a chance to start life healthy. As I've written that thought, I've realized that the sacrifices aren't going to stop after he is born, but I'm more than ready to make those sacrifices. I'm ready because for the longest time I've desired to be a mom and to fulfill the calling God has given me.

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called." --Ephesians 4:1

Why Josiah?

In the Old Testament of the Bible, there are two books called Kings (1 & 2 Kings to be exact). These books are filled with...you guessed it, kings! If you read these two books closely you will soon find out that many of the kings were not very good ones. About half way through 1 Kings, the country known as Israel divides into two kingdoms. One retains the name Israel and the other is called Judah. Judah has a mixed history when it comes to its kings. Some were good and some were bad. One of the best kings Judah had was named Hezekiah. He was king during the time of another Bible person with a book named after them, Isaiah. Hezekiah was a Godly man and did all he could to lead his people in the ways of the Lord. We considered Hezekiah as a name for our firstborn son, but neither Sara nor I felt like Hezekiah was quite right. After Hezekiah died, the worst king in Judah's history came along. His name was Manasseh. After Manasseh came his son, Amon, who followed in the footsteps of his father and was another horrible king. After Amon was killed, his son came to power. His name was Josiah. He was the great-grandson of Hezekiah. He was only 8 years old when he began to rule, but like his great-grandfather he was a great man who sought to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He was guided by another Bible person and book title holder, Jeremiah.

Family and friends, there is no greater prayer for Sara and I than to have our child grow up and seek to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Josiah will be raised hearing the story of his namesake. We will teach him, pray for and with him, and model for him what it means and looks like to walk rightly before the Lord. We will do this with constant guidance and time with the Lord. We only get one shot at life and only one lifetime to pour ourselves into any children the Lord blesses us to care for. Josiah did not have a Godly father or grandfather and yet God is faithful to honor the heritage of Hezekiah. My prayer is that our legacy does not skip generations, but continues on down to nurture those who come after us into the faith of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Bible is a book rich with heritage and history, but it is chiefly a book telling of the glory of God. This glory is displayed through the loving sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, on a jagged, horrible cross almost 2,000 years ago. While I know that for many of us sitting down to read the Bible can seem overwhelming, maybe we could all try to read it a little bit more. Could I ask you to start with the story of Josiah's namesake? His story is found in 2 Kings chapter 22 thru chapter 23 verse 30.

As I said earlier, Josiah will know this story from the Bible. Will you?

Shalom,

Chris & Sara

"Before him (Josiah) there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him."

2 Kings 23:25