The baby came and he is our joy!

I'd ike for you to meet Jude Edgar Putnam.

He arrived a while ago. April 18th to be exact. He was almost 9 lbs. Now he is even bigger, maybe 18 lbs. He is our joy.

He's huge. Loves to smile, talk, sit up and jump in the Johnny jumper.

We love this little guy.

Since he was born in April we've taken 2 vacations to Smith Mt. Lake, VA., moved from Maryland to Ohio, lived with the Byers, my parents and finally moved into a great townhouse in North Olmsted. It's been a whirlwind but now after 6 months of life with a baby I feel settled.

I am more in love with my husband now than ever before and my heart is full when I watch Jude smile and laugh with his dad.

Life is good and God is great!

Rounding the bend...

"Did you hear that the final four basket ball disappeared? I have no idea where it would be???" I joked this evening with JP about how my stomach looks like a big basketball.

Today marked week 39 of being pregnant. We are excited and perplexed as to what is to come. We've never gone through labor, had a baby, nor been parents before. So what do we expect? This was our dinner conversation tonight. So many changes that we cannot anticipate.

I think Spurgeon summarizes what we are anticipating...

"It is our Father's business to mark the future. Our eyes are dim.

We cannot see tomorrow. But our Father knows all about tomorrow,
and He will be ready for whatever happens.

Therefore, I will wait on Him. I raise no questions.

I expect great mercies. "

Great mercies it is. We'll keep you posted.

Here's the nursery. It might look like a walk in closet, don't be alarmed but it is.

Feeling like a whale!

After a long day of work on Saturday, I arrived home feeling extremely tired with a body that just hurt. I have heard that pregnancy does that, but that hadn't been my experience thus far. Up until now that is.

I told Jonathan that I felt like a whale and couldn't imagine getting bigger. He was so kind to say, "Well, if that is the case than you are a hot killer whale." I never knew such words could sound so sweet but they did. (FYI... That feeling past and I just feel prego again. :)

We are rounding the bend to being pregnant. I work until March 20th, which is 2 weeks away. We have been giving three due dates which means the baby could come in 2 weeks, 3 weeks and beyond. I'm still rooting for April Fools Day.

UPDATE ON JP: This past week was on evangelism and boy was JP excited! The students went out on their lunch breaks to talk with folks in the community about their worldview and their understanding of knowing Christ. As JP was talking with a college student about Christ, this guy started crying and said that the one question he wanted to ask God was "why it took so long to get his attention." This was only the beginning of the conversation. All week long JP and others had some very encouraging conversations that made us realize that the harvest is plentiful and people are eager to talk about Jesus. This week has really spurred me on to begin praying that God would show me opportunities to tell others of Him, to trust that He will open my mouth to share and give me courage to take a stand. I wonder what is going to happen this week. hmmm?

God is so good and we are so loved.

Signing off for some time.

PC CLass on Parenting

A few weeks ago, Jonathan was sitting in a week long class on Parenting (he took lots of notes :).

One thing that was really cool was watching God move in a special way. All week long the professor spoke of the beauty of having a family. And yet to one couple, our dear friends, it was a bittersweet week as they long to have a family but are still waiting.

Here is the amazing thing~ the class pitched in and gave them a generous gift to continue fertility treatments. Watch the video of Jonathan leading the class in the presentation of this gift.

http://www.youtube.com search Allen and Dannette

oh yeah, the couple had no idea this was happening. It was a surprise!

Overwhelmed by love

It is officially beginning to sink in after 8 months of pregnancy that WE are having a baby. It wasn't the bulging belly, the awkward sleeping positions, the heartburn, nor the fact that I have seen a midwife more than 10 times. Reality sunk in when I received a baby seat and stroller from my sister-in-law in the parking lot of Panera. I couldn't believe I was taking home a stroller and a car seat. This is when it all began.

Throughout this past weekend in Ohio, we were lavished with love, hugs, words of encouragement, and many many baby gifts. I am still in shock at the generosity of all of our family and friends. I was reflecting on the journey today with the Lord about how we have seen God deal so gently toward us through the entire process. We have wept many a tears and have had others weep with us. We have prayed many a prayers for a child and have had others pray for us, especially when the pain was too raw to ask for a child, you prayed. And now we have rejoiced in God's steadfast love and faithfulness to give us a child and you have rejoiced with us.

As I was sitting on my bed this morning viewing our 1 room shanty (executive style) covered with baby gifts, each with a face of the friend that gave it to us, tears were streaming down my face. Our room reflected LOVE and support from so many. I couldn't believe my eyes to see how much we are loved.

And then to top it off, we went to our doctor's appointment to hear the good news that our son's kidney's are functioning and the cyst on his brain has been dissolving. I was relieved and thankful that the Holy Spirit kept me from being anxious, it would have been a waste of time and energy.

We are loved!!! Thank you for walking this journey with us, both near and far.

Love,

Megan