Letting Self Die

I am reading a book. A real, paper paged book. I've read this one before, but it's one that is definitely worth more than one read-through. It's worth digging into and really absorbing. It's called A Life to Die For. I'm almost halfway through, but I feel like I already need to start over again and reread and let it sink in still deeper.

I long to have the abundant life. I desire to have Christ so fill my heart and my life that He is all that others can see when they look at me. I want my daughters to see only Jesus' heart when they see me. All that is impossible while my self is alive. I need to admit that my self needs to die in order for Christ to fill me and live in me. This is the only way to have that abundant life.

Jesus, I choose to trust you when you say, "whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

24 Weeks

Size of Baby: Ear of corn (10.5 inches, 12.7 oz.)

Cravings: Still not having many. Sometimes I really want a Subway sandwich but I haven't given in to that in a while.

What Is Different This Time Around: I think I am gaining less weight this time than I did with both girls, but we'll see how that goes when Third Trimester arrives and baby starts really starts filling out. I can't believe only two more weeks until the end of the second trimester! It seems so soon...

Symptoms: Lots of kicking around, seeing baby move on the outside, heartburn (sometimes), some edema in my legs. My nausea has really pretty much disappeared, thankfully. Also, I have had much more energy.

Appointments: Our next appointment is scheduled for July 12 (easy to remember since it is my sister's birthday). Nothing special at that appointment. Our last one was just a few days ago, and baby is doing well, heartbeat sounds good, and I don't have anything unusual going on. It was a very standard, uneventful visit. Our next one should be the same.

Interviews

I interviewed Hope and Haven today. I think I'll probably end up doing this once a year, but today is the day I did both of them. Hope is almost 4 1/2 and Haven is almost 2. Here are their interviews:

Hope:

• What is something mommy always says to you? I love you.

• What makes you happy? Riding bicycles

• What makes you sad? Having friends leave

• What makes you laugh? Funny things

• How old are you? Four

• How old is Mommy? 100

• How old is Daddy? 700

• What is your favorite thing to do? Go swimming.

• Who is your best friend? David (her imaginary friend), P’Suchee and P’Mim

• What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a doctor.

• What are you really good at? Playing, cleaning up my room.

• What is your favorite food? Potatoes

• What is your favorite song? Grey Squirrel

• What do you want for your birthday this year? A little house with little dolls.

• What is your favorite animal? Little kitties

• What is love? A hug and a kiss

• What does mommy/daddy do for work? Does my learning/goes to school

• Where is your favorite place to go? Ratchaphreuk (the international flora festival here in Chiang Mai)

Haven:

• What is something mommy always says to you? Out of the kitchen.

• What makes you happy? Boobies (I have no idea why she said this!)

• What makes you sad? sad

• What makes you laugh? ahahaha

• How old are you? Five (she’s really one)

• How old is Mommy? Five, one

• How old is Daddy? Five

• What is your favorite thing to do? play

• Who is your best friend? P’Mim and P’Jip

• What do you want to be when you grow up? Daddy

• What are you really good at? Ummm, play

• What is your favorite food? Canun (jackfruit, in Thai)

• What is your favorite song? Grey Squirrel

• What do you want for your birthday this year? Corn

• What is your favorite animal? birdies

• What is love? Butterfly, moth

• What does mommy/daddy do for work? Play/tells about a story

• Where is your favorite place to go? Up-up