Our Part

I heard a crazy statistic the other day that really bothered me. It went a little something like this: There are approximately 140 million orphans in the world. If you stood them shoulder to shoulder on the equator, they would wrap around the earth 3 times. If you drove your car at 60 mi/hr it would take you a month to drive past all of the orphans. Then the speaker asked a really good question, "Will you stop the car to help one orphan?" This challenge comes shortly after hearing another statistic that went something like this: If just 3 families from every church in California would adopt a foster child, every child in California would have a family. There would be no more need for the foster care system. What amazed me about that was how easy it seemed to me. Just 3 families!!! What if Churches in every state got on board. We could effectively wipe out the need for foster care and orphanages in the United States. Then it dawned on me that there are somewhere in the ballpark of 2 billion people in the world who "claim" to be Christian. Then I asked myself the question, "Why are there still orphans in the world."
My friend, I would like to encourage you to think about what part you can play in changing the life of an orphan. If you have never considered adoption, would you think about it? If adoption is not an option, would you at least consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International or World Vision. Together we can make a difference, one child at a time.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. --James 1:27

First Bath Mishap

Kaiden received his first bath yesterday. He did really well with it. He sat there quietly while we got him all cleaned up. When he was finished, we wrapped him in his hooded towel to dry him off and warm him up. Being new parents and all, we were enjoying the moments, taking it all in. We were so enamored by his cuteness that we lingered in getting him to where he needed to be...in his diaper. As soon as he was dry and laying quietly in Jewelly's arms, we heard a noise that caused the proverbial "uh-oh!" Sure enough...big yellow stain on the white towel. Being the smart parents we are, we rushed him over to the diaper caddy to get him set up. The towel was removed, legs were lifted, diaper put under him and...you guessed it. He peed all over himself. Kaiden did not seem to enjoy round two in the bath so much. But, Jewelly and I got some valuable training and learned the art of quick change.

Kaiden Thomas Hart

Our little guy has arrived!
7.30.09 - 7:17 p.m.
8 lbs 12 oz - 21 in

Happy Monday!

My last week of work has finally come! It's hard to believe that starting next week I won't sit at my desk Monday mornings wishing for just one more day of weekend. I'm trying to picture what it will be like to trade scheduling and meetings for housework and playdates. Not too hard to imagine...I've longed for this for years! I can't wait to have time to make breakfast for Brian and pack him a lunch - what a reverse, he's usually the one doing this for me now! I'm overjoyed with the anticipation of sitting on the couch nursing Kaiden, taking him and Macchiatio for walks around the neighborhood, meeting up with Chelle for mommy time, or showing up at Brian's school just to have a surprise lunch. Just one more week of corporate life, then bliss!

Class of Three

I am sitting at the computer while my students are working on homework. A third of my class is missing today. Lest you think that is a lot, it is only one student. I have been blessed with only three students to work with for three weeks of summer school. I must say it is the quietest, hardest working class I have ever had. What a blessing. I will be back to a normal summer school class with about seventeen students for the second semester, but for now, I am enjoying the laid back atmosphere in my class of three :)

Michigan 2009

These are for you Mom. It has been way too long, but I finally got some pictures together from the trip to Michigan. We had a great time hanging out, laughing, taking a walk, and opening shower gifts. Jewelly and I want to give a huge thanks to you and to Ann for putting the shower together for us. Also a big thanks to Tara for making the cake and thanks to everyone else who came to spend the day with us and to shower us with baby gifts. We look forward to Kaiden's arrival. He should be here in a little under 8 weeks. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

The craziness of life has slowed up for about a week so I had a little time to finally update the blog. Over Memorial weekend the family went up the the mountains for a great time of camping. It was beautiful. We sang around the campfire, cooked smores, relaxed, hiked around Lake Gregory, and just had a great time. The following are a few pics. Enjoy!

Living Life

That's what we've been doing...just living life. Last week we had the blessing of visiting with Brian's family in Michigan. It was great to be able to see everyone! Even his sister Kristy and her husband Greg came from South Carolina!

Mixed in with the visiting was a trip to our house out there...yeah, let's just say that was not so fun...We really need wisdom to know what to do with that place. To rent it we would have to put a bit of money into it and selling it in the market back there is not a possibility at the rate we would need to. That said, we're looking at our options, praying for wisdom, and seeking godly counsel. It is in the Lord's hands and He knows what is best for us.

On a lighter note, our precious little boy continues to grow and develop day by day. I can feel him moving off and on throughout the day and as a result can not help but smile! Just 100 more days (or so) until we meet him! What a blessing and a joy this pregnancy has been so far! :-)

Life is busy, but sweet. Brian is in the home stretch of the school year, both in teaching at WCHS and in his classes at Biola. He has a weekend class starting tonight and going through Saturday and then just a few more meetings of his semester long class. He is completely swamped with reading and paper writing! While he is focused on all of this work, I am trying to keep myself busy preparing for the baby and my friend Kim's wedding.

We have a ton of pictures to share, just need to take the time to put them on the computer...I'll try to post something this weekend.

It's a....

Our little adventurer continues to grow big and strong. We found out little guy's gender on March 17th - so glad our little leprechaun didn't avoid the ultrasound tech's skilled hand. Growing up with three brothers, I always said I was going to have all boys! Brian and I are thrilled to be venturing into the world of toy trucks, Lego sets, dinosaurs, and every kind of ball (or puck) you can think of!

The Pregnant Girl's Dilema

I think I saw this comic on a friend's blog when she was pregnant and today I got it in one of the pregnancy emails that come each week. So true!!!

Hello, Hello

Well hello there friend! It's been some time since the last update, so I thought I would stop in to say "Hi". I am 18 weeks pregnant today. Can you believe it!?!? Time moves right on by. In some ways everything is going so quickly, but in others we can't get to August fast enough. I continue to have a delightfully easy pregnancy - thank you Lord! It is evident our little one is growing as my belly continues to do so as well. I'm starting to out grow work clothes, so it's time to go shopping. Bummer is I can't seem to find good in between pants. They're either to casual with draw-strings or made for a much bigger belly. Any suggestions of good affordable places to shop for cute transitional work clothes would be much appreciated! :-)

At our last appointment we got to hear the baby's heart beat for the second time. The first time our little one was a little shy, but not so much this time. Along with the heart beat we got to hear the baby kick the doppler scope and move around a bit. What a wonderful, amazing, beautiful thing to hear life inside myself! Today I am almost positive I'm feeling little flutters and kicks. Someone is going to be very active from the get go. Go figure, it's my baby! ;-P The baby's heart rate was 165 at the first appointment and 150 at this appointment - both quite fast. Brian said he can already sense the baby taking after me. Go, go, go!

One thing I would like to see moving along is our plan for the future, but that doesn't seem to be God's plan. We know what we want for our family and we're looking for ways to make it happen. Being a planner by nature I would like to know NOW of course - but being a follower of the Lord requires that I wait patiently on Him and His time. Just as I have at other points in life I cling to Jeremiah 29:11 - "'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 a hope and a future.'" As I think about it, this verse reminds me of the many times in the nation of Israel's history that the Lord said, "Wait. I have a plan, but you have to wait. I know what's best for you and I will bring it about at the proper time." It's comforting to know what a great God I serve, who is always working on my heart, bringing about what He knows is best for me. And so, I will wait, and trust, and prepare for this little one as best I can where He has me now - knowing that wherever He has us in the future it will be just right!

15 Weeks!!!

We've been meaning to put pregnancy pics up for a few weeks now, but just haven't gotten around to it (and there hasn't been much that's exciting to see). :-) I'm starting to get a little belly, but it mostly shows up in the evening. Our little one is growing, growing, growing, as is our excitement.

A Good Recovery

Today is day five of recovery from hernia surgery. I (Brian) am doing well. I experienced some pain on the first three days and then just some discomfort after that. I was feeling well enough yesterday to walk into Brea for dinner. Now that I am feeling a little better, the most difficult thing for me is to remember that I am not supposed to lift anything over fifteen pounds for the next six weeks. It is not easy! Yesterday I almost picked Kaylee up. When she lifts her arms up and says "up-ee," it is so hard to resist. Later in the day I did pick up Macchiato for a second, after he ran across the street after a cat. Oops! It only took me a second or two to realize that was a bad idea. The plan is to be good about these things for the next five weeks so I can be back to full strength during the second half of Jewelly's pregnancy and when she gives birth to our first child. How great it will be to hold him or her.

Jewelly is doing wonderfully well. I praise God for his kindness to her during her first pregnancy. She has faced only a little nausea so far and is just about out of the first trimester. What a blessing she has been to me over the past four days. She has taken great care of me. Thanks Honey! SHMILY!

A Weekend in San Diego

Saturday, January 3rd, Jewelly and I headed to San Diego for the weekend. We spent the day at the San Diego Zoo. Talk about the amazing handi-work of God! The zoo is well know for its size and the diversity of animals they have from all over the world. We loved seeing all the animals. Besides the familiar favorites, there were a few that were unique to us. We really enjoyed the wombat and the snake neck turtle. You can see them in the pictures below.
After the zoo we headed to the Westin Hotel where we ordered room service and enjoyed a quiet evening. We were up on the 21st floor and had quite a view of the city. I suggest staying at the Westin if only for the purpose of ordering their Chocolate Bombay. It was delicious!
Sunday morning we went to Skyline Church in La Mesa. Jim Garlow is the senior pastor there. I had taken a class taught by him at Indiana Wesleyan University years back. He also spoke at a leadership conference at my old church. It was good to see him again. (Matt, remember when we picked him up from Detroit Metro Airport in the dead of winter in your car with no heat??? Good times :)

Prayer for Brian's Family

Brian just got word that his Aunt Diana (Dee) passed away today. She has been ill for some time, but generally her illness did not seem to be life threatening. Please pray specifically for Brian's mom, Judy, as she deals with the loss of her sister and also for the extended family. Aunt Dee loved the Lord and we rejoice that she is no longer in pain as she dances with the angels.