email update from my sister

(This is an email update from my sister. )

Hey, Everyone. I just wanted to send out an update. All of my doctor/hospital visits went well last week. I am now 27 weeks and 4 days. When they monitored Kate's heart rate and movement last week, they said that her heart rate was rising in connection with her movements, which is exactly what they look for it to do. But they said that it was really good for her to be doing it already because they don't usually see the correlation very strongly until around the 32nd week. I was so encouraged and believe that God is helping her to develop even more quickly so that when she does come, she'll be ready! Also, my fluid was 8.6 which is great because it seems to have been holding steady over the past two weeks as opposed to dropping like it had been doing before! God is hearing your prayers and answering!!
To steal a line from a hymn, I'M SO GLAD I'M A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD!!! I can't tell you how blessed I have been by all of your prayers, encouragement and support during this time. I have been completely overwhelmed by the multitude of people that are praying for us and for Kate. We have been blessed by church family from Pleasant Grove, FBC Rockwall, FBC Belton, Temple Bible, and our current church family, West End Baptist, as well as my 'Aunts' and 'Uncles' from the mission field, friends from UMHB and Orange, our families, the West Hardin ISD family, Killeen ISD, and the entire community of Saratoga, and even many friends-of-friends, Sunday school classes and other churches that many of you attend. I want you all to know that I pray often that God will bless each one of you the way that you are blessing us right now. James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." I used to think this verse couldn't possibly apply to me because I knew myself way to well to consider myself righteous, but then I realized that it does apply to me because I made one brilliant decision...I accepted the trade that Jesus offered me, my sin for His righteousness. So, I thank you all for your "powerful and effective" prayers!

Faith and Creed are doing so well. Creed seems to have shed his stranger anxieties, and Faith is having a blast playing with someone new each week! It helps me so much as I deal with being separated from them to see and know that they are doing just fine! Thank you for your prayers for them.

Kent is making it...please remember him, too, in your prayers as he is having to wear so many hats right now and often feels very overwhelmed. Their basketball season ended on Saturday morning when they lost to Martin's Mill in the Regional finals. It was a tough loss, especially knowing they were only one win away from the State Tournament, but I am so incredibly proud of him...only eight 1A teams out of over three hundred in the state of Texas make it to their regional finals, and the West Hardin Oilers were among this year's "Elite Eight"! They had an amazing season, finishing with a record of 30-3! He was named "Coach of the Year" in District 24-A.

I am doing much better than I ever thought I could be in this situation. It is so true that God provides strength and peace when we need it. I do not consider myself a strong person AT ALL. Kent and my kids mean the world to me and I thought I would die when I was told I would be separated from them indefinately! I never could've imagined how strongly I would feel the presence of God with me all the time. Many people have asked me if I'm terribly lonely, and I can honestly answer, No. Since my first night here, I have not felt like I am alone. God is my roommate and constant companion!:) I'm not going to say I don't ever cry and get homesick and miss Kent and the kids so much it hurts, but God is daily giving me the strength to keep walking. And I know He will continue to. Thank you for your prayers...they have been powerful and effective in our lives!

I have a Level II Ultrasound on Friday. They will be measuring Kate to see if she has caught up any on her growth. Please pray that God will help her to grow and that we'll get a good report on Friday. Specifically, they have been concerned with how small her head is, so pray that God will touch her and give her the strength to grow!

Please continue to remember us and especially Kate in your prayers. I truly believe that each of you is helping us to give Kate the best chance at a normal, healthy life by lifting her up to the Lord. Thank you!

Love,Mindy