Sing Unto The Lord

Dear Readers,

My sister-in-law, Liz (Philip's wife) and I recorded a CD in Spanish and it is finally ready and available.  The Lord allowed me to translate most of the songs on the CD.

I want to take this opportunity to say how much I love and admire Liz.  She is a godly lady, and she was our pastor's wife for 11 years.  Now that Philip and Liz have moved on to start a new work in the state of Veracruz, we miss them so much.  I am so thankful for the privilege of getting to accompany Liz on the piano many times.  My piano playing is no match for her beautiful voice, but I counted it as a great privilege to get to play for her.  I am grateful that Liz and I were able to record this CD together.

The songs included on this CD are as follows:

• Al Señor Seamos Fieles
• Aún Quisiera Ir (Translated by my sister, Elizabeth Martínez)
• Diré a Cristo
• No Se Deshace del Barro (Translated by Anna Lopez)
• El Nombre de Jesús (Translated by Anna Lopez)
• Mi Dios Es Santo (Translated by Anna Lopez)
• No Habrá Noche
• Qué Bueno Es Dios (Translated by Anna Lopez)
• ¿Quién Soy Yo?  (Translated by Anna Lopez)
• Yo Puedo Entrar (Abigail Miller Ministries, Translated by Anna Lopez)
• Seamos Fieles (Translated by Anna Lopez)

Our greatest desire is that the name of our Lord would be glorified through the songs on this CD, and that others would be edified.  May God receive the glory.  He is worthy.

If you wish to order a CD, please get in touch with me.

~~My sister, Ruth, also recorded a CD (she recorded two:  One in English and one in Spanish). 
 Please go to her blog here to read more about it.

The Greatest Of All

I want to take time to say how grateful I am for my older children, Andrew (9) and Deborah (7), who were such a great help to me throughout my pregnancy, and have continued to be so since our baby was born.  They hear a lot of the following:

• "Pass me a diaper."
• "Bring me the baby's towel."
• "Go turn off the stove."
• "Sweep the floor for Mommy."
• "Run get the wet wipes!!!"
• "Grab the diaper bag." 

...Etc., etc., etc.

How wonderful it is to have good help, and I am thankful that I can rely on them for things I need done.  What a difference it has made with this baby to have older children who truly are a big help!

A few weeks ago, the children and I were talking about the discussion the disciples had among themselves about who was the greatest.  Jesus later told them that the greatest is the servant of all.  I told them that when they are serving others, they are indeed the greatest of all.

I heard Debbie say to Andrew the other day, "You go first.  I want to be the greatest."  I had to smile.  But to my children I say, "To Mommy you are the greatest because you have had such a servant's attitude, and I do appreciate it!"

From one grateful Mommy,
Mrs. Lopez

Andy 'n' Anna...11 Years

Last Saturday, March 23rd, my husband and I celebrated our 11th anniversary.

As I look back over the years the Lord has given us together, I cannot help but just be thankful for all I have lived, experienced, learned with this wonderful man I call my husband.  I feel blessed to be the one who gets to prepare his meals, wash and iron his clothes, pray for him, walk beside him, and rear our three children with him.

I'm thankful his key opens my door, and everytime I hear his key opening up the door to our home, I feel a pitter-patter in my heart, for he is the one who holds the key to my heart.  He deserves my love, my honor, my obedience, my reverence.

And how I love this man!

Thank you, My Sweetheart, for your loving care for me during these eleven years.  I love you more than I could ever say.

Adjustments

We are really enjoying our new-born son.  He is such a delight.  Even the night-time feedings are special to me.  I love washing and folding his itty-bitty clothes...so soft, so little!

Having a new-born baby in the house always brings adjustments for everyone.  It is a blessing having older children, as they are such a big help to me!

We stayed at Mom's house for three weeks after the baby was born.  To say that Mom has been a big help would be an under-statement.  I don't even know how to express my gratefulness for all she has done for us.  She went far beyond what was expected of her.  We made some very precious memories in the weeks we were at her house!  THANK YOU, MOM!!!

Last week we "moved" back to our own house. (I actually wrote this two weeks ago.)  I knew there would be adjustments, juggling house work, getting my husband to work in the mornings, the children's school work, meals, etc.  Praise the Lord, our first week "alone" went very well.   But I know there are very challenging days ahead!!

My youngest, beautiful sister (she is beautiful inside and out...a lady whom I admire very much!...and who also recently gave birth to an adorable baby girl!) wrote something for me, and gave it to me a few days after our baby was born.  It really has been an encouragement and help to me, and I have referred back to it many times!

I would like to share what she wrote with you.  I have a few friends who have either recently given birth, or are expecting a baby, and I know this will be a blessing and an encouragement to them as well.

Things I wish I had remembered...or someone had reminded me...about having a new-born baby

•  Baby takes up 98% of my time.  Going to the bathroom, taking a bath, reading my Bible, doing my nails, etc....it's a luxury I can barely afford.  But after three months, I can paint my nails, read a magazine, drink a whole cup of coffee while it's still hot.
• My sleeping time is interrupted.  I am exhausted.  I am scared I will fall asleep and drop him.  I walk and pace and rock and nurse, but he still won't sleep, so I can't sleep.  But after three months, as if by magic, I put him down one night, and sleep until 7:00 a.m.!  I rush to his crib!  Is he still breathing?  Yes!  He just turned into my precious angel who sleeps through the night!
• Feeding my baby is excruciatingly painful!....I feel guilty because I dread nursing my beautiful, long-awaited, innocent little baby.  But after two weeks, this is the sweetest, most relaxing, tender part of my day...feeding my baby, nourishing his little body.  How delightful these moments are, spent feeding my baby!
• Baby swallows air.  He doesn't know yet how to coordinate sucking and swallowing, and he gets choked.  I have to burp him, then he spits up the milk he just worked so hard to suck and swallow.  One day, after about two months, I don't even notice and he peacefully falls asleep and doesn't need to be burped anymore.
• Baby ONLY wants to be held!  But after three months, he discovers his hands and will lay for long periods of time, playing with his hands.
• I longingly look at my beautiful clothes hanging in my closet.  Will I ever fit into them again?!  Yes, after about two weeks, those darling blouses and skirts will fit again!
• I wish someone had reminded me to always have wet wipes and hand sanitizer in my diaper bag at all times!
• I wish I had had a baby sling the first month of baby's birth.  This keeps people from touching, kissing or asking if they can hold baby!  Also, this sling is so, so awesome, because I can do laundry, cook, sweep and mop, teach, make beds...and baby is happily asleep.  It also provides great privacy when having to nurse in public.
• I wish I had known how much it helps him stay asleep during the first month if he is swaddled...arms by his sides, wrapped like a taco.  (While he sleeps, his hands flail around, waking him up.  If they are wrapped up, they don't wake him up.)
• I wish I had remembered what miracles 4 or 5 drops of Espaven do for his gassy tummy.
• I wish I had not felt so guilty about not caring for my older children.  Children are quick to forgive and forget that you do not hold them and pamper them like you used to.  And, yes, after the Magical Three Month Mark, everything gets back to normal!
• I WISH I HAD KNOWN THAT THERE WAS A THREE-MONTH PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT!  For me, for baby, for older children, for husband, for housework...everything does eventually get back to normal after three months.
• But most of all, I wish someone had reminded me of how swiftly time flies, how quickly they change...and yet, not to long for the days past, but to enjoy every moment, every change...and how each new thing they discover, each onesie they out-grow, each ounce of weight they put on, is a JOY because they are HEALTHY and ALIVE!

Thank you, Little Sister, for these very valuable reminders!!!

...If any of you mothers reading this would like to add your own thoughts, advice, and words of wisdom with the rest of us, please feel free to share in the comments section.   We can all learn from each other.  Motherhood is such a sweet and beautiful gift from God.  Let's learn from each other and share in the joy of this wonderful  part of being a woman!

Here is a peek into the sweetness this Little Blessing from Heaven  has added to our home:

A Baby Poem and A Miracle

Last Thursday morning (January 17), at 2:30 am, I woke up and could not go back to sleep.  As I lay there in the dark and quiet, feeling my un-born baby move within my womb, the following poem came to my heart.  I want to share that with you....

 

Little Baby in my womb

I feel you move within me

A bit of wondrous mystery,

As I wonder how you’ll be.

Miracle of life you are,

My innocent and perfect child

Formed by your Creator,

God Himself in Heaven smiled.

He looked down upon our home,

An heritage celestial, like no other

A precious blessing for our home

Gift of God, wrapped all in wonder.

Perfect little fingers, ten

I long to caress your softest skin

Little toes on little feet

Just little dots now, so small, so sweet.

Eyes of brown, or eyes of blue?

How I long to look at you.

Eyes still closed in silent sleep

I wish to gaze at you, perfect you.

For now I feel pleased and content

To feel you move within me

My darling mystery, growing within me

I wonder at you, Miracle Within...

The next day, at 10 am, I began my labor.  Andrew had a meeting in a near-by city, and Mom left to go to give her radio lesson at 10:40.  I laid in bed for an hour as I timed my contractions...7 minutes, 7 minutes, 7 minutes....5 minutes, 5 minutes...3 minutes (in that exact sequence).  When Mom arrived, I called my Doctor, who told me to come in.   We arrived at the hospital at 12:30 and I was checked immediately.  I was dilated to 2.

40 minutes later, I was checked once again, and was dilated to 4.  45 minutes later, I was at 10.  I was quickly prepped and taken into the "prepping room," because there was a C-section taking place in the delivery room.  I began birthing in the prepping room, which is when I saw my Honey come in.  5 minutes later, I was taken into the delivery room, where almost immediately our Baby Son was born.  

He arrived at 2:50 p.m. on January 18, weighing 7 lb, 8 oz, measuring 19.6 inches.  His loud cries were heard almost immediately, and the pediatrician brought him over for me to see...such a beautiful sight!   My Baby Boy, so desired, so loved, prayed for for so long.

I put my face to my husband's shirt and cried from sheer relief and joy.  

   

Truly, the birth of a baby is a miracle.  From the moment of conception, through the months of growth and development, perfectly formed and created by God's Divine Hands, placed in my womb, entrusted into our care, blessing our home.  Just a miracle.

So this morning, as I rejoice over and over, every moment of my day, at the wonderful miracle of life, I thank God for our Baby.

Rejoice with me.  May our praise and glory be for our wonderful Lord.

Over-flowing with gratitude,

Mrs. Anna Lopez     

A Special Nine-Year-Old

Our Andrew Jonathan turned nine years old on December 22.  His birthday comes at such a fun time of the year, and is usually celebrated with visiting cousins.

The last night he was 8

This year was no exception.  David and Jolene got to come for Christmas, so Davey, Nate, Brianna and Little Micah helped us celebrate, as did Tom and Mona's children.

Little Andrew told us that he didn't really want a big party.  (Boo-hoo!  Does that mean he's gotten too old for birthday parties?!)  He told us he wanted a Lego's toy set, and instead of a cake, he wanted do-nuts from Sam's.

His Do-Nut Cake

He picked out some special candy and his number 9 candle, and Andrew took him down to pick out a Lego's set (which Aunt Jolene and Uncle David bought for him!  Thank you!).  

(Thank you, also, to Aunt Mona, for the Scrabble Dash Card game...a big hit, too!!  And Thank You, Mimi, for the furry slippers...he sleeps with them on every night!!!)

--In the following picture, he's reading the card that Mimi gave to him.  She always writes the sweetest poems in her birthday cards, and I always enjoy reading them.  On Little Andrew's card, she wrote:

"I think you've grown a foot this year...

You've almost reached your Mother.

And it's a good thing,

'Cause you'll need

To hold your Baby Brother!"

I love you.

Mimi 

Proverbs 20:11

Later that afternoon, the boy cousins (and the girls, too!!!) got in on building the cool Lego's airplane.  They spent the whole afternoon working on that.

Little Andrew told me later that night, "Mommy, this was the funnest birthday I've ever had!"

I thank God every day for this little (growing) boy.  What a delightful gift he is!  He is so cheerful, always observant if Mommy needs cheering, and so ready to give a brightening smile.  He wakes up on the sunny side of life every day, and is a very positive-minded little boy.

Yesterday, we were talking about the day he was saved...almost 2 years ago!  He told me he wants to grow more in the Lord this year.

"Lord, I know You have special plans for our Little Andrew.  Please use him for Your honor and glory.  May he fulfill Your perfect plan for his life."

Preparing for Baby

There are few things that are as exciting a awaiting the arrival of a baby.  The joy of planning, the fun of buying new things, and the excitement of setting up a baby bed...what could possibly be more wonderful?!

I wake up during the night and feel the strong kicks of our baby boy, and my heart just over-flows with gratitude to God for this precious gift.  Riding in a car and sitting through a church service are becoming very uncomfortable at this stage of my pregnancy; but ever so worth the discomfort, knowing that soon this little one will be in my arms.

Our Little Andrew and Debbie hug my belly and look up to my face and say, "Our baby will be born soon, Mommy!"  Truly, children are an heritage of the Lord!!!

In preparation for the arrival of this Little One, I got a lovely Baby Shower from the ladies in our church.  It was such a special event, as the following pictures will show.

The ladies worked so hard on the decorations...

...and everything looked just beautiful.

 

"For thou has possessed my reins:

thou hast covered me in my mother's womb,

I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

marvellous are thy works...."  Psalm 139:13,14

 

One of the ladies and her daughters made these adorable favors.

 

It was a very special blessing to me to have had my sister-in-law, Jolene, as the special speaker.  She gave such a heart-touching lesson, and with each point in her lesson, she took a gift out of the bag.  Her lesson had 9 points, so Baby received 9 gifts from his Aunt Jolene!

 

 

 

Besides Jolene's gifts, I received many others from the dear, sweet ladies in our church.  As I opened each one, in my mind I imagined my sweetheart baby wearing them.  We have the most giving ladies in our church.  Each gift is very special to me!

 

 

It won't be much longer now! 

Please remember me and Baby Boy in your prayers as we approach his birth.  Please pray for my doctor, and that the Lord would give me the strength I need to go through labor and delivery.