A Little Math...

The Clark Family has a little fun math we would like to share with you...

Our prayers and the prayers of many others have been answered! Our little bundle of joy is due in early June next year!

Thank you to everyone who has prayed and walked this part of the road with us! This adventure is just getting started! :)

Soli Deo Gloria,
Dan and Meghan

Book Review: Redeeming Love

I know I'm a little behind the times on this one. I've heard from several friends about how much they liked this book and how I should read it. So when it came up for review, I jumped at the chance to see what I had been missing...

Why had it taken me so long to read this?!?!

"Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a new release of the book that includes a reader's guide. A modern take on the story of Gomer and Hosea set in the California Gold Rush, this story is one that can touch the heart of any women who has had trouble accepting the love of another unconditionally.

I loved this story and quickly soaked it up in just a few days. Francine Rivers weaves a compelling tale and believable characters. I found myself crying as I identified with so many of Angel's insecurities and worries that I have struggled with as well. I would, however, caution readers that there are several sensitive issues that may be inappropriate for younger readers, centering on prostitution, child abuse, nudity, and adultery. All of these are thematically relevant and not gratuitous but still something readers might want to be aware of.

You can read the complete Prologue HERE! :) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars! Happy Reading!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Hardest Words

A couple of months back, I heard some of the hardest words a woman of child-bearing age who wants to have children could hear...

We've been going through some testing to try and find out why we've been unable to have children after more than a year (almost two years) of trying (more on that here). We've poured out our hearts to God about our desire for this blessing and many friends have joined us in approaching the throne of grace with this request.

We decided on a course of action with my doctor. We had blood work done. I had an HSG test (x-ray scan). Everything came back normal with no statistically significant deviations. When my doctor called to discuss the latest results and next steps, we had our initial diagnosis...

Unexplained Infertility.

What my heart heard: "We have no clue why you aren't pregnant already..."

I'll tell you, it's not quite what I expected. It's only the initial, easy tests of course, but still. I guess I thought if there was anything actually wrong that it would come up by now. I assumed it would be an easy issue that would resolve with just a few more pieces of information, more data. I assumed wrong.

So now we move forward in faith. We're discussing next steps with my doctor and will soon choose a path to follow. We've started to discuss at what point we stop any medical treatments and begin pursuing adoption.We continue to pray and lay our hearts out before God. We know that He has a plan for us.

It may not make this journey any easier, but it is reassuring to know that my tear-soaked prayers are heard by the One who loves me most. May God see fit to bless us in His timing.

"She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly." 1 Samuel 1:10

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Book Review: Anomaly

When I get really into a book, I tend to devour it. I take it with me wherever I go and read it whenever I can. This usually means that I finish them pretty quickly once they've hooked me. And this one? Well...I finished it in about 24 hours.

Granted it is a "Young Adult" book, but that's how gripped I was by the story. I had to know what happened!

"Anomaly" is the story of the world post-nuclear destruction. The Scientists are the rulers of the State and they have engineered everything for humanity's survival...including removing citizens' feelings and programming people for complete obedience and submission to the State. But they cannot control everything...

Thalli has never seen the outside world except through the thick windows above her. All she knows is she is different from the rest of the citizens in her Pod...she feels, a fact she must hide if she wishes to survive...

But when she's found out? Well, that's when the real adventure begins! I kept turning pages, wanting to find out what would happen next, losing myself in the suspense, along with losing track of time. :) And in the end...I never saw it coming.

Highly recommended for fans of "The Hunger Games" and other dystopian fiction. However, be forewarned...this is the first in a trilogy, something I didn't realize until the end of the book. The second book "Luminary" won't be released until July 2014.

Is it 2014 yet???

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Moving Day!

It's the follow-up to Closing Day (finally)! :)

The day after we closed on our house, friends descended on our rental to help us move our stuff!

Our moving truck...not sure why NC is associated with Venus Fly Traps...

We rented a truck and one of our friends helped direct the loading of the two truckloads of boxes and things that we moved to the new house. We prayed the weather would hold out since it was pouring earlier in the morning, but by the time everyone had arrived, things had cleared up considerably and there was no rain the rest of the day! What a blessing! Also thankfully, we still had boxes left over from our move out here and about one-third of our stuff was still packed from that move too. :) That made it much easier to get ready for the move.

Mostly unloaded now

Our friends were such troopers! They carried boxes all over the place and no one complained when lunch was a little late (store remade a couple pizzas that got burned). They were truly a Godsend for us. Being new to an area, it can feel hard to ask for help or can feel like no one will be willing or able to help with such an endeavor. But I was praising God that day for all the wonderful friends he has provided us since we moved to Lincoln.

Goofing around :)

Thank you to everyone who came and helped us move into our first home! You made it such a smooth process and a wonderful welcome to homeownership! :) Now to just keep unpacking all those boxes!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan