It's a ...

post with lots of different baby pictures.  We recently went to our twenty week ultrasound.  The tech said that baby cooperated and she could tell what the baby is...we didn't look or find out that day, because we're having a revealing shower this Saturday!  I am really excited about everyone being able to find out at the same time.  BUT, let me tell you it was tough, tough, not looking when she did.  So, there is one person that actually knows what we are having, and it isn't us!  The good news is that everything looked good, and baby let us take some good pictures of it.  See:

Also, most people that know us well, think that Emrick favors daddy, as do I!  There are so many times a day when I think, holy cow, you look just like your daddy.  However, there are seldom moments that do see me in him.  So, what do you think.  Here is a picture of all three of us...



























































Love to you all, and we hope to see many of you on Saturday!

Just a Little Update

We have been pretty busy lately, and while its been fun, it makes me tired!  HA!  The first of February Jonathan took Emrick to his 18 month check-up.  He's getting so big so fast.  He weighed about 24 lbs which puts him in the 20 something-th percentile (I'm going off of memory because I'm "resting," and can't go get the paper).  I don't remember how tall he was, but he was in the 70 something-th percentile (but the doctor said the measurement could be slightly off)!  Either way, the boy is tall and skinny!  He's getting really fun, and I find myself laughing at him all the time.  He's learning so many new words, and continues to be super sweet, and such a ham.  Everyday when we leave daycare, he has to tell the whole building "bye" especially the baby room and the director.

We (and by we I mean, his grammy and poppy) recently got him a toddler bed, and got the baby a mini-crib so that they could have more space in their room.  I really thought that there would be a week or so of transition time, but so far Emrick has done awesome.  He hasn't had one night in the last six that its been hard to get him in bed.  I sure hope that this continues!

We got a sweet package in the mail from my aunt, Jeanne.  She sent us a Valentine, and included was a precious love bug blanket for Emrick...he loves it!

I put it on his bed, and tried to film him...I was trying to get him to say "thank you" and then just share some of his new words for everyone.  Except, he was way more interested in playing.  Its not really that interesting of a video, but if you are family, you'll love seeing how grown up he is.  So full of  life and fun!

In other news, we go on Monday for our twenty week ultrasound.  Emrick will go to daycare, and Jonathan has the day off, so I am excited about spending some one on one time with Jonathan.  I, however, get anxious before the twenty week ultrasound because it is so much more than finding out the gender...they do lots of measuring and assessing, and that always brings a new level of anxiety for me.  Please be praying that I will fully trust the Lord, and find a peace in Him!  We could find out the gender on Monday, but we aren't...we are having the tech write it down, and we will find out with many friends and family on March 5....I'm not sure that I will be able to contain myself those few days!  So excited!

And, we are still raising prayer support and funds for Jonathan's trip to Nicaragua in March.  Thanks to everyone that has committed to pray for Jonathan and to those that have given financially.  If you want more info about his trip, please click here to read his post about it!

We are so blessed!  I hope we always remember that, and try to take nothing for granted!

Exciting Opportunity

Hi all, Jonathan here.....what has it been? Almost two years since my last post (?)....guess I am a man of few words!

I have an exciting opportunity coming up this year.  In March of 2011 I will be with a group from Grace Church heading down to Nicaragua for 8 days.  I believe we will be in Rivas working with the local churches and Christ for the City International on a medical/construction mission trip.  I love the way that CFCI works with Grace and the local churches, we go down to provide skills (medical or muscle) and this brings the local community to where we are.....everyone that comes through the clinic gets to sit down and hear the Gospel message from a person from the local church.  You might ask why this is a big deal.....well it is because the local church will be there long after we are gone to love on and support their community.  For those that decide to give their life to Christ in those 8 days, there is support there for them......for those that are still lost, there has been contact made by the church that they can follow up on.  We as a church in Greenville can love and pray for these people, but the truth is we wont be there for them in their time of need.....the local church will be.  If we can strengthen  (through Grace teaching trips) and support/give credibility (through construction/medical trips) to the local church, they can use that to impact their community and change lives......what Grace is all about.

Many of you know the powerful story of Bailey and I's first trip to Nicaragua and unfortunately only I will be making this trip.  I am excited to see Gods hand in this trip and am really excited to be going with some men that I respect and that have an amazing passion for the people of Nicaragua.  I will need your help in a couple of ways though:

1)  Most importantly I need you to pray for our preparation, our team and the locals we will come in contact with......pray that God will open our eyes as well as theirs and prepare each of our hearts to worship and be open to his will.  There are alot of things that go into making this trip happen successfully....pray that it all comes together.  Pray for Bailey and Emrick and the little one yet to be identified for their safety and an easy week of being a single mom.  And mostly pray that Gods will is done and that he is glorified in all things we do!

2) For those of you that can and feel led to, I will need financial support to make all this happen.  The total cost for the trip is $1600 with most of that being transportation related.  We would like to have this fully raised by the end of January.....but as long as we can get it by March...that is good too!  Any amount will help and I would just ask that you would pray about it and do as you feel led.....

If all you can offer is prayer.....I would love it if you could pray diligently that everyone that is on or comes in contact with this trip is moved and their lives are changed.  Thank you guys for loving our family and thank you for every once in awhile checking this blog to see what is up with the Edmonds family......until next time....

Jonathan

If you would like to contribute financially please send a check to either address below with Edmonds-Nicaragua written in the memo line

Edmonds directly - Jonathan Edmonds, 10 Southcreek Dr, Travelers Rest SC  29690

Church directly - Grace Church, 2801 Pelham Rd, Greenville SC 29615

Bailey and I in Villa el Carmen............

My Battle with Excitement!

Ever since we had a miscarriage in 2008, I sometimes feel guilty for being excited about things like being pregnant, or being excited about things that Emrick is doing. I was always the one that struggled so with not being pregnant when others were; I was always happy for them, but so sad that it couldn't be our "status" as well. When others would complain about being sick, or being tired, or complained about anything related to pregnancy, it really angered me (even after I found out I was pregnant with Emrick). I tried really hard to be excited about the baby growing inside of me, but to not overly talk about it or complain about it. I never wanted to cause anyone the pain that I felt after our miscarriage. Even then, I had to tell myself and my pregnant friends that it was my battle, and something that I needed to deal with, and they couldn't possibly feel responsible for every little thing that they said and worry about whether I was going to struggle in some way because of it.

Since Emrick, I have learned of so many friends that have struggled way harder and longer than we ever did. And truly, they inspire me. Each of these friends has impressed me with their unwavering faith and comments like "We just keep trusting" and "God is doing something." But I still struggle to share....

That we are expecting again in July 2011! I'm twelve weeks today, and things seem to look good!

I struggle because I am so excited, but I hurt for some of my closest friends that can't feel this joy. I worry that they will be sad, not jealous, just sad. I've been there...and, its pretty uncontrollable when you want something, but it seems out of reach. I don't want to throw it in anyone's face, and I feel like this is harder now than it was when I was pregnant the first time.

I hope that in all this, my friends can find hope. Maybe they can see that we struggled, but that God remained faithful. Maybe my friends don't struggle the way I did. Maybe their desire for the Lord, is stronger than their desire to be a parent (unlike mine, before Emrick). I know that they will be happy for us, and I don't know why this is such a hang up for me, but its just one of those things I guess.

Please know, all my dear, sweet, and faithful friends: We are praying for and with you! I love each of you dearly. Thank you for being such an encouragement to me, even after we had Emrick; you're unfailing faith has strengthened me!

PS - In this holiday season, our family prays that you feel the blessing of all that this season really means. May you spend great time with family and friends, and truly experience that God, became flesh for us, and that is what we really celebrate. And, that He did this to eventually go to death for us. Take that in completely, and celebrate all that He continues to do for us!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Before I actually start this post, let me say if you read my last post, I am not in despair! Nor, did I mean to give that impression! I've simply been in a funk...that's all! But, it does get better everyday.

Okay, onto today's post. Its actually a post for tomorrow, but we have a crazy day tomorrow, so I am writing today. My nana is my mom's mom. Growing up we went to see her often, holidays, summers, and all through hunting season. She cooked for us, she quilted for us, and she loved us. I have so much admiration for my grandmother as she raised 4 children after the death of her husband, and I am sure that her children would say that she didn't DO everything perfectly, but she herself was all I could ask for in a NANA. In 2005, she started declining in health, and for the next couple of years, she was sick and just not herself. However, when she passed away, I still wasn't prepared...I miss her, the real her deeply!

Dear Nana,

I just need you to know that although I probably never showed it properly, you were one of my heros. There is so much that I miss about you, and that could never, ever be replaced. I wish that I would have been older, or at least paid more attention when you cooked, and when you quilted (its pretty much a lost art now - quilting, and you could argue the same thing about cooking ;P). I don't think I recognized then how talented you were, or how much you loved me. I will remember random things like going to Krogers on Saturdays and sitting in your hot trailer as you cooked dinner. My quilt you made me when I was a little girl is still one of the most comforting items I have (its made it through two hospital stays - Emrick's birth and Emrick's seizure). There's nothing like it! I know that today, you are in a better place, and you are whole, and no longer sick. For that I am so thankful...your last days were not how I want to remember you. But, I still miss you, and I still love you, and I still think about growing up with the best NANA ever! Happy Birthday! I love you so much!

Your granddaughter,

Bailey

May my life impact someone watching me the way my grandmother has impacted mine!

Give Me Faith

So this is THE song that has been referred to a couple of times in the last couple of blog posts. It was the song that was sang at church the morning before Emrick's seizure, and its the song that God used during all of that to encourage Jonathan so much. We have sang it every Sunday since then (I think). And, God has definitely been using it to work on my heart. This has been a rough week for me, and my spirit has reveled all kinds of evil in my heart this week...I could go on and on about all the things that have made this a rough week for me, but really, they're are just excuses for me to act immaturely, and with a hard, hard heart. So, in my attempts to be vulnerable, here are the lyrics with my own little side notes of what I am thinking when I sing it....

Give Me Faith
I need you
To soften my heart (Lord, please do this, cause right now its pretty hard in so many ways)
To break me apart (ok, don't break me apart though...that part may hurt, and well...not really up for hurting)
I need you
To open my eyes
To see that You're shaping my life (sometimes I need to be reminded that You have this...You've got it...all of it)

All I am
I surrender (Well, see, can't really do that...my family, and my work??? are You really sure that You can handle that for me?)
Give me faith
To trust what You say (why do I struggle with this so?)
That You're good and Your love is great (sometimes I know and believe this, and other times, I just know, but can't really believe it, and sometimes I'm not sure, but I just have to believe it, oh, and I tear up every single time I sing this line)
I'm broken inside
I give You my life (okay, yes, I am broken, You can have me)

This is true, I go through these thoughts everytime! There is another verse, and then the chorus again, and then the bridge:

I may be weak, but Your spirit's strong in me
My flesh may fail, but my God You never will (Lord, I am so weak, and I am so thankful that You are strong, can You please just continue to prove that to me until I can't question it anymore - I SO need You)

I cannot express the thankfulness I have for a church that seeks truth, and a church that desires to teach biblical truth. It reaches our family in so many ways. On top of that, we have family, friends, a community group, work places, and so many others around us that continue lift us up, speak truth to us, and encourage us daily. There is no denying that I am somewhat struggling this week (and I don't really even have a reason), and if I am honest, have been struggling in different ways for a while. So, its overwhelming really to think about all that God has placed around me and my family to help us through...He continues to move me closer to Him, and I am thankful for all I learn in the process!

God's Hand

Wow! What a week it has been! My last post told about how terrifying our last week was, but only gave minimal detail to the ways in which we saw God's hand over the whole circumstance. Can I just tell you how awesome He is, and what grace He showed us through this experience! If you haven't read the last post, you might want to start there, and then read this one!

1.) Jonathan's parents were in town visiting for the weekend, and were getting ready to hit the road, but they hadn't left yet

2.) Donald and Mary Beth Spann (some of our closest friends) live across town, but had come by to borrow our bikes and our "child trailer" (as I call it) to go on a bike ride; they were still on our side of town riding when we called

3.) Our small group was about to begin, but our leader (Wes) had time to come by and pray with us, then go to small group with an update

4.) I work with an amazing Christian friend that was able to get my sub, and help her with plans all day, both days, and update my school, and ask them to pray for us as well!

***This is an addition: Jonathan's work was also encouraging, understanding, and flexible. His boss even sent us a text that said there was a team praying for us!

5.) The nurse at the TR hospital keep telling us to pray, we tried, but were so afraid that it was hard...we both think in song most of the time. We had sang a new song at church on Sunday, and all Jonathan could do was sing parts of the song in his head.

6.) Rebecca and Charity (more good friends) were able to bring our car to the hospital for us, and encourage me for just a minute at the hospital

7.) When Jonathan was telling Wes about hearing the song in his head, Wes pulled the song out, and said, "This one, that I printed for you."

8.) Our small group was able to join us at the hospital, pray with us, and get us dinner (for many days and nights to come)

9.) Jonathan's parents were able to stay at our house Sunday night, and take care of Bristol. They were willing to take Bristol home with them on Monday night, and Jonathan's dad was able and willing to come back on Tuesday, and stay as long as needed him to to watch Emrick, so that we could go back to work.

10.) Our sweet community group has been feeding us, and has even made trips to get various things that we needed this week so that I wouldn't have to...

11.) We go to church with our peditrician, and he was so sweet to call and check on Emrick yesterday (we kind of feel bad for him because he was out of town, and he is hearing the story on so many levels - being filled in from our church members, and from the hospital too...poor guy!)

12.) So many others have asked, called, prayed, posted on Facebook, and just simply loved us through this last week.

I am still so emotionally overwhelmed at all that God placed around us to protect and comfort us. Amazing, really!

If there is one way that you could still pray for us, it would be that we rest, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I think that it took so much more energy than we even really knew or expected. We are so incredibly thankful for a God that loves us dearly and personally, and uses others to love us that way too! Thanks for being a part in the way God has shown himself to us this week! We love you all!