the "scoop" on our family's expansion

That's right! We are expanding our family.

in 2D - approximately 11 weeks old

in 3D - approximately 11 weeks old

On Boxing Day we found out that I was pregnant and it has been exciting to see the progression of this pregnancy so far.
It has been fun to be pregnant with slightly older children who can comprehend more what it means that "Mama has a baby in her belly" and ask hilariously honest questions.
We are expecting this little one to arrive in September and we will be staying in Uganda for the birth.
I have been seeing a midwife here at one of the hospitals who is from the UK and has been great so far although she will be returning to the UK around the time that I am due. I will likely be delivering the baby at the hospital with one of the doctors she works closely with.
Next week we will have another ultrasound to make sure the baby is developing properly {this is a routine scan} and hopefully be able to find out if this little one is a boy or a girl. We are so thrilled for this baby and are so thankful for another straight-forward and relatively easy pregnancy for Vanessa.

packing and moving

I(Vanessa) have always loved change.
It's the transitions that are tricky for me.
I don't especially like packing (unpacking I can totally handle), nor do I like co-ordinating all those little details or sorting through endless stuff.
But it's all part of moving and change.
(Unless you can afford movers.)

So we've been packing, packing, packing this week and we move to Toronto on Saturday.
Every time we move (this will be the 6th time in 7 years) I am amazing and overwhelmed at all the help we receive from those around us and we've already had so many offers already.
So we're thankful.
Thankful to you who pray for us and send us emails to see how we're doing and to you who are physically here, helping us with some practical things.
We truly are blessed.
Even in the transitions.

thoughts from the home...

What an incredibly busy semester.

Both Jamie and I feel like we have never worked harder and never been busier than we have been in these last few months.

But they've been really good.

I think as a mother {and as anyone, really} I've had good days where I accomplish a lot, am patient, loving and creative as I interact with the boys and care for both my family as a whole as well as specifically my husband, Jamie. And then there are days where I feel like from the moment I get out of bed I am dragging myself through the motions of the day. I am tired, impatient and have a short fuse.

But God is shaping me. It's a slow, painful process; one in which I feel is taking far too long. But it's happening. He's giving me love. He's giving me a heart that is soft and seeking to serve. He's giving me a desire for His Word.

I am thankful for His Grace.

Please pray for me and my realm of influence. I want to make the most of my time here in Canada {did you hear? We are moving to Uganda!} and I want to continue to take steps of faith so that my faith continues to grow and also to continue to model to my boys how awesome it is to trust in God and see what He does and how we get to be a part of it all!

Please pray for Noah. He has a strong will. He has a tender heart. He is truly such a blessing and I have never known such joy {and sometimes such frustration} as I have raising him so far. Please pray for him to have a hungry heart for God and for His truths. He is so drawn to television and the world and I want him to grab hold of how awesome God is. How He is SO much more amazing than any media or video or Disney movie.

Please pray for Jude. He is a jumble of craziness and I love that kid! He too, has a strong will and {as a close friend put} is VERY passionate and seems to know exactly what he wants. He is very "hands-on" and is into everything.

Pray for me that I would have wisdom on how to navigate the waters of siblings and to teach Jude to respect Noah but also to teach Noah to have a tender, compassionate heart for his brother. These two silly boys love each other very much, but I want to continue to lift them up individually and together in prayer as they grow and one day become men.

What a blessing to have you partnering with us as a family as we seek to take the gospel to Guelph, Canada and the world!

I, as a mother & wife, am so thankful for YOU for your prayers for me, for Jamie and for our boys. We are so grateful for your partnership with us.