Baby Moments

So grateful for this beautiful miracle.  We thank the Lord and give Him praise!

Rejoicing for the arrival of....

Keoni Ikaikapunahele Joshua Andry 

(God is gracious; Strong, precious child)

With dad - 1 day old

For you formed my inward parts;
   

You knitted me together in my mother's womb.
 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made

With mom - 1 week old

Wonderful are your works;   

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

 

2 weeks

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

 

in your book were written, every one of them,
 
   

the days that were formed for me,
   when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139: 13-16   


   

For Better, for Worse

I am still settling in with our newest addition, and haven’t made any progress in getting organized or in getting much of anything done.  Thank you for all the love, prayers, and food!! We are so grateful!!

The following was sent to me by a dear friend.  It is a daily devotional sent out by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.  Our family appeared on the Family Life Today radio show with Dennis and Bob Lepine, years ago. This particular devotional features my parents’ story.

Charlie & Lucy in Hawaii  2006

March 14, 2012

For Better, for Worse

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Philippians 2:4

I've been doing daily radio since 1992, and I can recall only one time when I was weeping so hard I couldn't speak. It was the day I interviewed Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer.

At the age of 30, Charlie began experiencing the early symptoms of ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. A successful high-school football coach, he was given one to three years to live.

Even now as I reflect on our time with them in the studio -- with Lucy reading his lips and speaking for him -- the emotion is profound. They recalled a day when Charlie, his care becoming more and more demanding on his wife and children, whispered to Lucy, "Maybe it would be better if I just died."

Lucy took a deep breath, asked the Lord for just the right words, and said to Charlie, "We'd rather have you like this than not at all."

Having him "like this" has meant more than two decades of continual life support. It takes Lucy three hours to get him ready each day!

Lucy is a model of what we promised to each other in our wedding vows. In sickness and in health. For better or for worse. Keeping our covenant means more than avoiding divorce -- it means we'll be there, living out our love, no matter what.

Don't wait until you get in a dramatic situation where you're facing something like Lucy and Charlie before you cement your promise to care for one another through any circumstance. If you don't prepare for it today by submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ over your life and clinging to God's blueprints, you'll be unprepared when -- not if -- your crisis comes.

Discuss
Look each other in the eye right now and recommit yourself to a "for better or for worse" promise. Answer this question: "If what happened to Charlie happened to me, can I count on you?"

Pray
Thank God for giving you a lifelong marriage partner. Ask Him to help you see each other for the blessing you are -- even on days when it's hard.

  

---

Excerpted from Moments With You by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Copyright ® 2011 Dennis and Barbara Rainey. All Rights Reserved. Published by Regal Books, Ventura, CA 93003. 

You are receiving this enewsletter because you are subscribed to Moments with You (a daily devotional for couples).
 

Baby Keoni

This is Keith writing.  I don't want to steal any of Carri's thunder, so I will leave out many details, but I do want to share God's latest blessing.  Keoni  (pronounced Kay-o'-nee) was born March 2, 2012 at 10:03am.  He weighed in at 9 pounds 11 oz. and was 20 inches long.   He does have a full Hawaiian name, but as of today this is the only part of his name that I can pronounce.  His middle name is not confirmed so I won't even mention it yet.  Keoni is Hawaiian for 'God is Gracious' (aka John).  Needless to say Carri is exhausted, but doing very well.  She is taking up residence at the luxurious Good Samaritan Hospital and will be checking out on Tuesday.  She does have her phone with her so she can check her email and texts, if you wish to send her a greeting.  

I have attached a recent photo of him and yes, as you can see he looks like a baby.  God is gracious and we praise Him for this gift.  We have been blessed with yet another arrow for our quiver and our prayer is that someday we will get to shoot them one by one into the world for the glory of God.

        Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
        the fruit of the womb a reward.
    Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
        are the children of one's youth.)
    Blessed is the man
        who fills his quiver with them!
    He shall not be put to shame
        when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
(Psalm 127:3-5)

Keoni at 24 Hours Old