40 weeks has arrived and yet no baby! A true test to my patience definitely but I praise God that  Naomi is healthy and safe! I have challenged myself to take this free time of mine to spend more in my devotions and yet I find my concentration going everywhere but on that...why is it so hard to do the things that we know bring us the most comfort and joy? Every time I consistently do my devotions I find a sense of peace and yet I struggle to continue!  The world and its worries weigh upon me and the unknown of what it brings but it amazes me how just a few minutes in meditation with God puts everything into perspective again. Psalm 4: 7-8, "You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." Even if everything always went perfectly each day it still would not bring that deep joy that comes with trusting in God and believing that His perfect plan is unfolding in my life even in those imperfections of our days.
And so my prayer today is to embrace those imperfections each day with joy, being an example to my daughter-to-be of who God calls us to become! A scary journey of motherhood lies ahead but one I am so excited about!

I am 20 weeks now and I felt Naomi's first "real" kick! I say "real" because I'm pretty sure I felt them before just not as strong! I woke up this morning and my belly started pulsing :) I realized she was "hiccuping" and then I began to feel her little hands and feet move around! I was a surreal experience and made me realize what precious cargo I carry in there. Around 20 weeks she is about 10 inches long so I just imagine her curled up swimming and stretching around. She can also begin to hear so Romey and I have been talking to her more now (both in English and in French). She will be such a bilingual! Just wanted to share this special moment to you all!

Creating a blog of my own has been on my mind for quite some time now. Writing has always been a healthy release for me and yet I haven't done so in too long. As  I was looking to create my blog I actually found out I had already done so five years ago! Before traveling to Uganda I had set this up but as you will see never kept of with it. So we shall see how this goes a second time around!

The title of my blog seems to be appropriate on many levels. As my description says, Romey and I are expecting our baby girl in January! Her name is Naomi Nadiya which means Beautiful Hope. So this blog will most likely serve as an overflow of my thoughts as I prepare mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically for this wonderful gift God has given us. And yet I feel that this idea of Hope is one that God has been placing on my heart as well. A hope void of fear and worry. On the contrary, He has been urging me, as He has always done so, to trust in Him. And maybe I am slowly beginning to understand what that word "trust" even means. So welcome to my journey if you so choose to follow, a journey of discovering who I am and how that affects God's specific purpose in my life!

Hey Everyone!!!
I'm sitting here in a cyber cafe in the town Mukono waiting for the rain to subside...There's so much to say but very little time since we are supposed to be somewhere in five minutes...internet is obviously very limited so I won't be on much...It's so green and tropical here and yet so many things that are similar to Senegal. It makes me kinda homesick...classes started for us today but my one class the prof didn't show up so a few friends and i went into town to wander around. Anyway, better get going.

Here's my cell number: 011 256 773466475

Well, I'll be heading out soon. Here is my address while I am there and I will post my cell number once I receive it there:

Uganda Studies Programme
Uganda Christian University
P.O. Box 4
Mukono, Uganda

Beginning of my adventure!

Hey Everyone! I just created a new blog to keep you all up to date on what I'll be doing in Uganda this next semester. I'm still trying to figure it out...not the best with technology. But anyway, Hopefully, I will find time to write on here every once and a while. Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!