Cody, Amanda, Cade, Chloe, and Cora Rose

So, today was our first outing. Just me. Cade, and Chloe. I know, I am brave for venturing out this early, but Cade is BORED and Im just the kind of person to get out and go!
So, we went to the mall. I prayed the whole way there. When we got there I wanted to let Cade play in the play castle but I wasn't sure how I was going to keep track of him and watch Chloe. So, God had mercy on me and when I walked up to the play area I saw my friend Jenny from church and her son Caleb. So, we played with them for a while and ate lunch with them. Then, I did my shopping and just as I was almost done, Chloe woke up STARVING. So, we went to the car and yes, I had to feed her in the car. But, Cade was so good today and that was pure grace....
After I fed Chloe, we didnt even get out of the parking lot and both of them were OUT COLD!!
YEA!!!!
So, really, it was a good experience. Of course there WILL be bad days. And I just have to realize that it's really not that big of deal if they do misbehave. Its going to be ok. If worse comes to worse, you just drop your stuff and get in the car and go home. And if someone screams the whole way home; its OK! Everyone will be fine. Its not the end of the world. I just have to keep reminding myself of that!

God doesn't do things by coincidence. That is not his style. It is unreal to me that someone can not believe there is a Creator who has planned out every second of our lives. Maybe they just haven't seen His power in their own lives. I have. He is always very quick to show me my faults. I am thankful for that.
I am doing small groups right now for Sunday School. I wasn't even sure I was going to do them since I am about to have Chloe. But I just felt a tug at my heart when they announced them at church. So, we are doing John Piper's book, "Battling Unbelief". If you've never read Piper, you need to. God has given that man so many good words. The book is about things in our lives that cause unbelief and sin. ALL of them are powerful, but this weeks chapter just happens to be, "Battling Impatience". WOW. After all of my complaining and anxiousness about when this little girl is going to come, it is just what I needed to hear. I cant count on doctors or science or my body for an answer. All I can do is wait on Him and His PERFECT timing. He planned Chloe before the foundations of the earth, and I certainly don't and shouldn't expect Him to change His timing just because I am a little impatient. I want my will to be in line with His. So, I just wanted to share a couple of sentences that Piper says at the beginning of the chapter. I wish I could type down the whole chapter because it all spoke to me. He says...

"Impatience is a form of unbelief. It's what we begin to feel when we start to doubt the wisdom of God's timing or the goodness of God's guidance. It springs up in our hearts when our plan is interrupted or shattered. It may be prompted by a long wait in the checkout line or a sudden blow that knocks out half our dreams. The opposite of impatience is not a glib of denial of loss. It's a deepening, ripening, peaceful willingness to wait for God in the unplanned place of obedience, and to walk with God at the unplanned pace of obedience-to wait in his place, and go at his pace. And the key is faith in future grace. "

-Amanda
"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him." Lamentations 3:25