Peeking Around the Corner

• We babysat the cousin, Kylie, at our place for the first time over the weekend. The two girls were a hoot together! Kylie is amidst potty-training, so that added to the fun!

The minefield

• Aolani has been pooping three times a day -- what is up with that?? Well, she does eat like a horse! All I smell is poop, all the time.
• I went out with some girls last week, and Ricky and Aolani passed out tracts downtown -- too cute!
• We had a low-key Father's Day at the Olivers' place.
• As some of you know, we do not have cable or even a TV (by choice), but Ricky has a huge HD computer monitor screen, from Craigslist, that we have now christened with two Redbox movies :)
• BIG NEWS:

She loved it; every time the ball fell out, she would come running with it to Ricky to put it back in ;)

• Verse to memorize this week: Psalm 27:14 ~ Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Conforming is Comforting

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ~ Romans 8:28-9

The first part of these two verse has got to be one of the most oft-quoted verses of the Bible, along with Jeremiah 29:11. It's the great comfort verse. While there are many things one can note, I just have to mention one point.

While it is obvious, especially through experience (aka life), that when God works for our good, Paul is talking about our ultimate and eternal good, NOT our preferential or temporal good. Meaning = all things do not work out how we want when we want. Anyway, my point... Christians are always comforting another person going through a hard time by talking about the good that will result. What good? No one mentions that. So, I think people are left to their own interpretation of what good means, which can be dangerous and wrong. But the next verse, verse 29, does provide this information. The good God is bringing about is this: He is at work conforming us into the image of Jesus!

Now, that is good and that is good news! In God's hands, trials do have their benefit -- Christlikeness. Randy Alcorn mentions this here.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds... ~ James 1:2

Ultrasounds from 13 Weeks

... of baby DiMartino #2:

Profile view (so cute!)

Sucking that tasty thumb

Yawning -- tired from all that activity!

Groaning and Grunting

• Good news is that we got tons of ultrasound pictures, but I do not know when I can get them ready for show. The baby was moving up a storm, sucking its thumb, and yawning -- precious! I am 14 weeks along, and the baby is the size of a fist. I am definitely showing ;)
• We had a busy weekend, here are some pictures:

Aolani really enjoyed the swimming pool and splashing (and shooting bball hoops).

• Just like her daddy, Aolani has now taken up grunting every time she bends over or down. She sounds like an old woman with arthritis. You can see her "grunty" face here as she tries to get her dilapidated self off the floor ;)

• We constantly find her sitting on the floor pillows reading a book, sipping her water, or just resting from her hard and active life.

• Verse to memorize this week: Mark 4:19 ~ ...but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Desire and Ability Both

...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

~ Philippians 2:12-3

I just love these verses; they hold so much mystery for me! There are two big things tucked in here I want to mention.

1. Notice that the word work is in here twice, but the working is by different subjects - me and God. Now, we know that our working can do nothing to attain salvation. Only Jesus can do that and did that on the cross. But, once we accept Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf and receive salvation, we are to work it out. To me that means how does His grace affect this area of my life? Yet, we only work because He is at work in us! The great mystery of us and Him working together!


2. God working in me -- this is what I really love. He is giving me, through the Holy Spirit, the will and helping me act on it. Not only does He walk me through something, giving me the strength and ability to do it, but He is busy at work changing my heart, giving me the desire to do it! This is oftentimes what I really need -- motivation. But, He works on me there, too. Thank You, LORD! Get to work on me ;)

Mailwoman

• I am currently 13 weeks pregnant with the second trimester beginning in a few days -- yay! I get the first ultrasound for this little one tomorrow. [I'm getting it done for free via a connection, so I am not sure if there will be pictures to bring home.]


• I hope to get a little tour of our new(ish) condo taken and posted this month, but we'll see. I have not forgotten!


• Aolani is so sweet, but occasionally a little mischief comes about. Anyway, this past week she has learned to unlock the dishwasher, open the door, and pull out the trays. Oh, and the oven, too. My current goal is to block off the fireplace before she discovers that.


• She loves to hide things. A shoe will be in the pantry. Alarm clock with the socks. Sippy cup in the bookshelf pouch. For awhile, we've been missing her diaper cream; lo and behold, it was in the drawer below the stove!


• Aolani loves to get the mail with Daddy during lunch and show Mommy the "treasure."

• Aolani is taking her turn with cousin Kylie in the rock-rock while hanging out with the Olivers over the weekend.

• Aolani is constantly shouting and pointing whoa! or wow! all the time, everywhere we go (church, restaurants, all around the house)...




• Verse to memorize this week: Psalm 19:14 ~ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Nearer and Closer

I really want to write, but I must lay down and rest!

"We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God.

He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts."

-- A.W. Tozer

The Case Against Abortion

I really like this video on the case against abortion put out by abort73 --

Swings, Smoothies, and Smiles

• We got to hear our precious womb-baby's heartbeat yesterday -- clocking in at 166 bpm! I also learned that Aolani has gained about a pound in a couple weeks, and I am about 10 pounds lighter than I thought/feel ;)
• Here is Aolani swinging on the back porch with her smoothie:

• Aolani has somewhat begun to obey us when we ask her to carry things to the other person or throw something in the trash! We're still flabbergasted over this. She has also found her belly button :)
• This is what our kitchen looks like after every meal:

• For Memorial Day we went on a Wike ride (I held Aolani on my lap). It was hot, so she wore only a diaper, and we brought a spray/fan bottle to keep us cool (and her entertained). Some man stopped us on our trip and offered to pump up Ricky's back tire because it was almost flat -- what a God-send!

• The first time Kylie, our niece, got to see Aolani walking...

• I just cannot get over how BIG she looks here! Bye, bye to baby Aolani.

• Verse to memorize this week: Isaiah 26:3-4 ~ You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

When Joy Takes a Long Vacation

Sometimes I find myself dismal. Dismal and looking.

But not looking where I should. Searching for joy -- an uplifted soul.

I catch myself looking... around. At my circumstances. My life. The grind. And guess what? That never cures dismal.

If I really wanted to find joy -- no matter where I am or what I'm doing -- I need to find Jesus in the midst. I need Jesus-spectacles.

Because if I can just see His Hand, His presence, His Spirit at work in me or around me and give Him thanks, then joy comes.

So, if you want to smile, laugh, and, well, be jovial -- find Jesus in your situation. He has not deserted you, no matter how you feel.

Find Jesus. Gratitude flies. Peace overcomes. Joy abounds.

Wide-Eyed and Waddling

• We celebrated our four-year anniversary over the weekend. We went to our favorite restaurant and are planning to see a foreign film tonight about a group of monks that were martyred in Africa.

• Here is a treat to help with all the slackness lately! {At 15 months, better late than never!}

• Verse to memorize this week: Romans 5:3 ~ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

A Message on a Sign

We are elated, no doubt! Let's answer some questions, shall we?

How far along are you?
About 11 weeks

How long have you known?
Since the second week of April

When is the due date?
December 13, 2011

The babies will be how far apart in age?
About 22 months

Was this planned?
You betcha

What are you thinking?
That we want a large family, and God's grace is enough for us

Have you been to the doctor?
Yes, and I am making sure to convey my wishes that this pregnancy goes differently than the previous one (because I am not going to doctor appointments every week or so!)

How are you doing thus far?
Exhausted, somewhat nauseous, ravenous, emotional, but otherwise great! This first trimester is going so much better than my first trimester with Aolani (where I was miserably sick nonstop). I have not vomited from this pregnancy yet. If I feel queasy, I eat and feel better. If I have a headache, I sleep and feel better. Ricky always feeds us girls toast in bed before rising in the morning, which helps. When I was pregnant with Aolani, I craved Italian food, specifically marinara sauce. With this one, I crave all bad food that I avoid - fried food or sugar. But, I do resist. Except for that large order of waffle fries from Chick-fil-A ;)

This is why I have become so slack and late on my blog posts! I have been resting a lot, going to bed early, and end up with very little computer time. I am hoping to regain some energy with the second trimester.

More stories to follow...