A quick catch up

It seems like a lot has happened in the last few weeks! Matthew has arrived back from China and had a wonderful, yet exhausting time over there meeting people and trying to find ways that Fuller can help to serve the church as it is growing so rapidly. Some ideas have included future trip possibilities by faculty to provide training for the large number of overworked and undertrained church leaders in China. If you'd like to see pictures, he has a ton on his facebook page. Here are a couple I happened to have on my computer. I do think in between all the meetings he did his best to take advantage of sight seeing opportunities ;).




















































The beginning of April brought Holy Week with it, my first with the church and was it ever busy! We had a very creative and effective worship service on Palm Sunday that led us from the jubilation of Palm Sunday to the Passion of the cross. It worked really well and was a new experience for them, so my hope was that it helped them see the story with new eyes. Easter went better than anticipated - I am very blessed to work with great musicians and we were able to worship with the choir, worship team, brass, percussion, organ, piano, and bagpipes! All told, a very powerful morning. I had my first experience ever hearing a favorite of the church's called Highland Cathedral. Amazing. Here's the link if you want to check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRno9BMstE&feature=related

Shortly after my last post we had a bit of a scare, when our OB called to say that our ultrasound had turned up some cysts in the baby's brain canal. Apparently these cysts are not harmful in any way and always go away, but they can be what is called a "soft marker" or a chromosome defect called Trisomy 18, which is very bad. However, further conversations and research showed us that this connection is very loose and also revealed that, unlike downs syndrome, there are always other indicators of Trisomy 18 that can be detected with ultrasound, such as crossed fingers, or deformed limbs. Because of that, they sent us back for another ultrasound with the actual radiologist instead of a tech. She was WONDERFUL and after 30 seconds of looking at the baby told us he looked absolutely perfect. Further examination confirmed her theory and in addition ... the cysts were already gone!!! For Matthew and I this was such a HUGE answer to the prayers that so many had been lifting up that week - so thank you all. I told Matt that it was our Easter Miracle :). Additionally, the radiologist moved our due date up to August 17 because this dutch baby is getting so big! So that was kind of fun ... and we got LOTS more fun pictures. Here is one of him waving to us and proudly displaying his perfectly formed fingers and toes.


























And last, but not least ... Henry got his summer cut. He's a whole new man now. Witness the carnage.













Other than that, not much new to report. The new quarter has started - and it is my last one!!! I'm taking two classes while frantically trying to finish up my master's project and thesis, which has overtaken my life. Matthew is working on his final paper for a class he is technically taking this quarter, but did all the work for last quarter and then he will begin studying for his comprehensive exams to be taken this summer.

So it will be a whirlwind, but it's all good things and we are so thankful for that!