Walker has come!!

We just got home from the hospital and spending the day with Kara and Aaron and then finally with Walker! He is absolutely precious and tiny and pink and healthy. He spent the first four hours of his life being passed around from grandparent to grandparent to uncle to aunt to mom to dad ..... We just can't get enough of him!
Kara woke up this morning at about 3:30 and thought she was sick. Then around 4:30 she realized it might be labor! So she got up and she and Aaron and the dogs went for a walk, of course! After doing some laundry and taking showers they called the doctor who told them to call him again when the contractions had been 5 minutes apart for an hour. By 8:30 they were calling and the doctor told them to go to the hospital. They arrived around 9:30. Until that point, Kara's contractions were quite managable. However soon they got much harder and she asked for her epidural. After that was given, she was a very happy camper and we all just hung out. Rick and Aaron went to get a burger around 12:30 and while they were gone, Kara dialated from a 5 to a 10. When the boys came back at 1:20 ish she was ready to push. About the time we were escorted from the labor room to the waiting room, Lindsay, Justin and Ben arrived. At about 2:00 because Lindsay and I couldn't stand it any longer, we snuck back into the labor and delivery area and listened at the door of K and A's room. We heard the doctor talking and asking them what the baby's name would be, etc. Then silence, then ---- waaaaaaaaa!!!!! Walker was born perfect and beautiful at 2:04. And that is my version of the story!!! Only 12 more hours till I see him again! Praise the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever!

First you work, then you play

Thank you for your encouraging words to me in regard to a new post. I would love to create a new one for your reading pleasure. However, I have a rule. First you work, then you play. And because of Walker's imminent arrival I have much work to do. I have to study for one last Precept lesson, make a menu for two weeks, buy the groceries for those two weeks, run by the World Market and stock up on coffee, clean my house, ferry Ben to and fro, choose a pastor, and get a pedicure (so Walker will like me better, of course). I also have to decide what to wear to the birthing. I may need to do some shopping if nothing I own seems appropriate. For this reason, I'm going to go to work starting with the studying and hopefully I'll have time for a deeper post later in the weekend. In the mean time, if you have any suggestions about what I should wear to the birthing, please let me know. Here are the requirements. It must be very cute, very comfortable, not at all wrinkle-y, cuddly so Walker can snuggle up against me when I first hold him, and at the same time be slimming. I'd like to wear my brown Merrells with it if possible. Thank you for your help in this matter. Oh my soul and body! Walker's coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You've got to always be thinking.

The comments on my blog are getting increasingly scarce. I'm beginning to think you don't like me better.
Rick says, "You've got to always be thinking." So I've been thinking.
For months and months, while studying the Scriptures, I've been mulling over the issue of "walking by faith." What does that really mean? How does one consistently do it? When a difficult situation comes, I trust God to work it out and I'm pleased with Him when He does. I easily praise Him for that. But here's the thing. He doesn't always work it out in a way that is easy or pleasant for me. And there's the problem. I don't think it's very nice of me to say I trust God when really I'm scared to death of what He might do to me or to those I love. I think what I'm really trusting is that God will make everything turn out great. That can't be authentic trust in God but instead it is trust in the outcome of the situation. So the issue I've been "wallering" in is this: trust God for what? I think I may have finally figured out the words to express what I have to decide. I have to want what He wants. Based simply on God's character, I have to trust His mind instead of my mind. Seems like a no-brainer. But I'm very strong willed. I like my mind. I have great thoughts. I'm usually right. Right? As I wrestle with all this I've come to the conclusion that I must have no will or desire of my own, only His. You know, die to self, put self aside, old man is crucified, not my will but Thine. I know, I know, all of these things are in the Bible and I've read them all my life. Reading and doing are not the same. I want to live real, authentic faith in every situation. I want to be faithful. I want to follow the Lord fully and submit to the Holy Spirit's power in my life. Living this out is complex and very hard and requires much attention. You've got to always be thinking.

"And then he went to look for some parsley."

Okay you literature experts. Who said that?
I do feel just like him though.
We've been eating our heads off. Yesterday we went to buy Ben a suit at the suit store and we didn't eat there only because they don't have food or allow food at the suit store. Then Rick, Ben, and I went to the Great State Fair of Texas. We listened to bands, watched trained dogs do great tricks, longed after all the beautiful cars in the car show, walked and walked, and ate and ate -- corn dogs, Jack's French fries, fried snicker, and funnel cake. You know, fair food. My only regret was that we missed the pig races -- the real pigs not us. Next we came home and my parents had arrived for the weekend. My mom is feeling better and was up to the trip for the church shower this weekend. Of course, I wanted to make a nice dinner so we had molasses grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, big green salad, rolls and of course two desserts so we could have the "George Bingham Special." You know, company food. Then because we had company this morning we had pigs in blankets and Krispie Cream donuts. You know health food. The shower was from 10-12 and we had coffee cake, quiche, banana bread, strawberries. You know, shower food. I'm skipping lunch because I'm full right now. I don't know how long that will last. Tonight we're celebrating Ben's birthday with a family dinner. The menu includes Theta Barnes (from Picayune, Mississippi) Chicken, rice, spinach salad with bacon, rolls, and now 3 desserts. The birthday cake has been added to the line-up. You know, birthday food. I'm not finished yet. Tomorrow we're going to the Cowboy game. I have no idea what we'll eat but I bet we do and I bet it's -- you know, football game food. "And then I'll go look for some parsley."

Today I taught Joshua 6-8. Those are such exciting chapters. They are like a great war movie. The main events are:
Joshua 6 -- Conquest of Jericho because Israel obeyed God's Word and trusted Him for the victory
Joshua 7 -- Israel's Defeat at Ai because Achan did not obey God's Word and there was sin in the camp
Joshua 8 -- Conquest of Ai because Israel dealt with sin in the camp, thus purfiying themselves, obeyed God's battle plan and had complete success.
There you have it. Israel's success in battle depended on their trust in God and complete obedience to His Word.

Achan's sin in chapter 7 is interesting. He saw something he wanted, he coveted it, he took it, and he hid it. Same formula both Eve and David fell into. Same formula for the sin in our lives. The place to stop the sin is at that first step -- see/think. For me the problem is that often I don't really want the process to stop. Sin is actually kind of fun -- until I get caught or have to bear the consequences. My only hope for conquering sin lies in the power of the Holy Spirit in my life, my submission to Him, and obedience to God's Word. Only God can give me the power to stop at temptation and not go on to sin. His strength and His Word are my only hope for success in my Christian life.
Joshua 1:7-9 says (my paraphrase) to be strong and courageous being careful to obey every command of the Law, every word of God, meditating on it day and night. Be strong and courageous, don't tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way
When we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey.
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey.

There it is -- the secret to the Christian's success. I used to like the song because it was easy to play on the piano and had a fun alto part. Now I like it for the absolute truth of the words. Maybe I'm growing up a bit.

A Very Fine Shower

Today Lindsay, Miriam, and Mary gave Kara a very lovely baby shower at Lindsay's very beautiful apartment. Lots of Kara's friends from college and even high school came. It was fun to see everyone and get caught up. And then there were the presents. Baby things are so weet (I left the "s" off on purpose.). We are so excited about Walker's arrival. Only 5 more weeks -- how can it be that we will have a brand new person who will forever be a part of us and right now we don't even know him? Hurry little baby. WE want to hug you and kiss you and smell your sweet smell and love you forever.
My mom's tests were all negative and she survived the testing with no adverse side effects. But the doctors still don't know what's wrong with her. We're waiting and praying.
I wonder how Randy's talks went on Friday.
I wonder how Katie and Justin are coming with their packing. I wonder how Zachary and Brenda are coming with their unpacking. I wonder if Lauri and Caleb had fun in Ouray. I wonder if it will be 90 degrees here tomorrow.