Baby #2 and Waiting Rooms

Happy news...we are expecting baby number two! I think all who read this already know that, but there it is anyway!

We are excited about an addition but anxious about doing it in France. So much will be different this time around, but then again so much will be the same. I remember when we found out we were expecting Owen that I had a sudden rush of overwhelming feelings and anxiety about our lives changing forever. The same was true this time around, but the anxiety was more about going through this process in a foreign place. How was I going to find a doctor? I don't know much French, so what do I even say when I try to make our first prenatal appointment? Things like that definitely raise the stress level in this situation, and sometimes it feels like an elevated stress level is just a part everyday life here.

Yesterday we had our second prenatal appointment, and it was one of those times where the stress got to me. We have found a doctor that we like very much, but the doctor we saw yesterday was not that doctor. I also had to reschedule this appointment last week, and apparently I misunderstood what time we were supposed to be there. As we were sitting in the waiting room for an hour, I started crying (which I'm pretty sure that isn't the first time thats happened in an OBs office) because the simplest things like not fully understanding what time our appointment was just too much. It felt like a small failure in some ways to me. On top of that, were going to be seeing a doctor that we didn't even know if he spoke english. In the States I wouldn't have thought twice about seeing a different doctor, but in this situation, the unknown and uncertain can bring on a great deal of fear in my heart.

That fear is becoming normal, I feel it everyday when we step foot out of the door and attempt to interact in French.  Everyday, small situation become an opportunity to lean on the Lord for strength and boldness and everyday I see how much I need His help! The best part is that He promises to give it and He promise to be present with me.

Everything yesterday ended great! A lot of fear for nothing. The doctor did speak some english and we found out if the baby is a boy or girl! Its a...choix du roi! Google the phrase if you really want to know. God is good and we are thankful for his provision and blessing in our lives.

Bonjour mes amis!

I’m baaaack. I know I have been away from the blogging world for a long time, largely because I didn’t have much to say. Life was normal mostly; I wasn’t doing anything different than any other American family. Well, in some ways that changed drastically on Wednesday.

Leaving was hard. It was such a strange feeling taking off, looking out the window and knowing I wasn’t going to see home for a very long time. Many people and things I hold dear were not on that plane, though I wished with all my heart they were. I cannot imagine how Jesus left the glories of Heaven for a place not like home and knowing he would not see it for a very long time. But thankfully love compelled him, and a love for him compels us. Sometimes I just selfishly wish love was easy and comfortable….

The flights were long, Owen barely slept, all of our bags were lost in London, but we arrived with grateful attitudes and ready to finally be in our new home. We have waited anxiously for this day to come for three years now, and we are excited to see our lives change. Parents, you know that feeling of waiting for a baby to arrive? You wait and wait and wait some more, and then the baby comes! You are more overjoyed than you have ever been before, life will never be the same, but BIG changes are coming your way. That’s what these first few days have felt like, and I know we will feel the effects for many years to come.

The first few days have been productive. We have gotten a phone and a bank account, been to the store a few times, had much coffee (which is A.MA.ZING), shared many meals with our teammates, been to church, fried a few small appliances, met an Arab man, walked more than we have in weeks at home, cried (Owen and me only), shrugged my shoulders and nodded when someone spoke to me in French and I had no clue what they were saying, gave many bissous (French greeting) and I’m sure the list could go on.

I keep saying, “I just don’t know what to expect every day to look like.” I’m sure I won’t quite know what to expect until we settle into a place of our own and we aren’t the ‘new teammates’ anymore. Right now everyone is looking out for us and inviting us for meals and helping us settle in. As I said that statement to one of my teammates, she replied with the encouragement to think rather about what needs to get done today. That’s a great Biblical perspective we all should probably live by, but I rarely thought about in the States because everything was easy and I pretty much knew what each day held for me. So I will learn to just worry about today and let tomorrow take care of itself.

Well, I will end this post here since it’s a bit long. I just wanted to update anyone who wanted to know about these first few days. If you want more info or have more questions, you can always email me!!