Faithful in the small things.

Third trimester hit and so have those crazy pregnancy hormones.  You know, the ones that make you conjure up all sorts of catastrophes until they feel real and at other times make you want to burst into big rolling tears for absolutely no reason.  They're frustrating.  They annoy me.  But at the same time, I'm thankful for them.

Why?  Because they give me a great opportunity to strengthen my faith.

It's easy to say "I trust God."  It's hard to really believe it.  Every time a sad and crazy scenario of doom pops into my mind I have the chance to entertain it, worry over it and let it consume my joy or I have the chance to trust God, remember his faithfulness and give it up to him in prayer.  And when I train my thoughts towards God and his trustworthiness, I'm growing in my faith.  That's an opportunity I don't want to miss.

God cares.

Just this morning Shelby drove off to work and as I watched him go I began to worry over his safety.  Those thoughts are destructive and I know it.  So I silently prayed, "Lord, watch over him today.  Quiet my mind. I know that you alone hold our days in your hand.  Help me to trust you and to know that you are good".   And I went on with my day. 

An hour later I had a message on my phone:  "Hey Honey, I don't know how but I managed to not be in a car wreck this morning.  The guy in front of me drove into oncoming traffic on a bridge and corrected with only millimeters to spare."

God heard my prayer and reassured me.  Life and death are in his hand.  I have no control over life's uncertainties.  But God does.  And peace can only be found through believing he is good, his plan is perfect, and he cares. 

Thanks God.

Pleased to announce....

Dear Friends, Family & Curious Strangers,

We are very pleased to announce the Lord is blessing us with another little boy!  Baby boy Hodge #3 is expected to arrive sometime next February. 

And in case you're tempted to feel sorry for us, please don't.  I love my boys.  And I love lists.  So here's my top 5 reasons for being thrilled about another addition to the boot troop.

1.  I believe God chooses and designs each child to fulfill his good and perfect will.  He's in charge of my family, he's proven himself very capable and I'm more than happy to trust his good judgment.

2.  I'm comfortable with boys.  Even though each boy is different I, in general, find them much easier to understand and deal with.  Exercise, mud, trucks, blocks, exercise, repeat:)

3.  It's convenient.  I have boy stuff.  Lots of it.  Clothes, toys, etc.  And with a house short on storage and high on organization, this makes it easier.

4.  I get to be the only woman in my house.  It's kind of a special thing.  And I don't have to share my husband with any other girl.  Or my boys....at least til they discover girls.....a long long time from now...

5.  My boys are getting another member for their boy adventure club called life.  I pray that they will go on grand adventurers together, even if it's just in the backyard; that they will fiercely love, encourage and root for one another.  I have a picture in my mind of 3 brothers, rubber boots on, tromping into the forest, laughing and wrestling as they go.  It makes me smile.

So thank you Lord for this precious little boy.  Please protect him.  Help him to grow strong and brave.   And most of all, help him to become a great man of God.