Introducing...

Kate Elizabeth Shank

June 26, 2008

7:18pm

20 inches

8 lbs., 3 oz.

Well, it's "Tante Em" and "Gigi" posting here.  we just got home and are happy to report that little Kate graced us with her presence this evening after a smooth and fairly quick delivery.  Nora, Mom, and I woke up this morning with no suspicions of her coming today--in fact, we decided to go shopping in Scottsdale.  Ironically, we left all the bags for the hospital at home, not thinking anything was going to happen.  However, on the way to the mall, Nora noticed that her contractions were 3-5 min. apart and a bit stronger than before.  After meandering through a few stores, Nora's face revealed that these contractions were a bit different than the previous week's worth.  She then suggested that we quickly get lunch at Nordstrom Cafe 'to go,' and have Travis come pick her up straight from work.  So, Mom and I sent the two of them off to the hospital, while we ran home to retrieve the bags!  We arrived at the hospital around 1pm, to find out that Nora was 6cm and 90% effaced.  By that point, she and Travis decided to go with the epideral, and that soon put her at ease.  Over the next few hours, she steadily progressed.  Nora, Mom, and Travis were in the room, while the Shank family and I waited patiently outside.  At 7:20, Mom rushed out to announce, "It's a girl!"  Joyous laughter and smiles and screams quickly gushed forth, and lots of phone-calls and text-messages were sent. Opa Jansen arrives tomorrow afternoon, and we are simply thrilled that he will get to see Kate, as Grandpa Steve got to be here today before he leaves tomorrow for Denver.  So, on behalf of Travis, Nora, and Kate, thanks for all your prayers and support.  God's grace truly is amazing, and looking at little Kate makes us worship the Lord for His provision and grace through this whole process.  More pictures to come tomorrow...

The strength of the Father's love

I have been meditating on the Father's love this week and Octavius Winslow says it so well in Morning Thoughts: 

Behold the strength of Immanuel's love. Come, fall prostrate, adore and worship Him. Oh, what love was His! Oh the depth! Content not yourself with standing upon the shores of this ocean-enter into it, drink largely from it. It is for you, if you but feel your nothingness, your poverty, your vileness; this ocean is for you. It is not for angels, it is for men. It is not for the righteous, but for sinners. Then drink to the full from the love of Jesus. Do not be satisfied with small supplies. Take a large vessel to the fountain. The larger the demand, the larger the supply. The needier, the more welcome. The viler, more fit. ~ June 26

This ocean of love found in the cross is for us today.

We are confidant of the Father's heart of love... We are still waiting on this baby (which if it doesn't come by itself, we'll consider having my water broken tommorrow) knowing that God has a perfect plan. 

Lost Mail

Every day for the past 30 days we have received a note in the mail.

My brother, Peter, inspired the family to write us a note for the big T- 30 countdown to the baby. Some of them were humorous, some were spiritual encouragement; and most of all, they were a creative reminder of our supportive and loving family back East, who try to participate fully in our lives even though they are far away. I read what I thought was the last one yesterday morning.

But when we got the mail last night, there was a stray that found it's way a little later into our mailbox.

I read T-11 this morning as the manna from heaven that God must have intended that it should be. My dad wrote, "You're in good hands... with the All-mighty God!" His words were perfect, seeing as I woke up discouraged and feeling like God is distant from this situation.

He said:

He is faithful, and will watch over your moves, your quitting, your unpacking and packing, the exams, your papers/projects, your cards, your timing belts, oil changes, your dialation, breathing and birthday, your nursing, your nursery, your waking and sleeping, your crying, your hugging, your diapers and doctor's appointments. There is great upon grace, kindness upon kindness! Ephesians 3:17 : "May he dwell in your hearts through faith...may you comprehend the breadth, lenth, height and depth and know the love of Christ".

God used that passage to remind us that He does indeed love us and have this perfectly timed. From one Father's heart to another, we are reassured that we are in good hands.

D-Day

I was reading the baby journal I started at the beginning of my pregnancy this morning, and I realized that the day I thought of as so far away is now here. How fast it has gone. How quickly time has flown. So many adventures between moving, travel, jobs, and school. And now we arrive at baby.
This delay is good for us. It gives us more to look forward to. We are anticipating this child with even greater joy. Yes, it is hard to wait. There have been moments of tears and frustration. But we believe that this was God's good plan and a sign of his great love and faithfulness.

According to...

Mom. 

On Monday night, we were invited to the Shank's for dinner. Travis was working late and was going to pick up Emily after work. Janis prepared a great dinner with about the only protein I really enjoy right now: shrimp. Must be all those hormones needing cholesterol. 

So we were eating finished eating dinner, discussing the role of older women in the church after their children are grown and other interesting topics. My mom leans over and indiscriminately points across me to where Jordan was sitting and whispers "Can you pass that?"

All I could see was a lone crouton sitting on his placemat.

I burst out laughing, asking her, "You want the crouton??"

I thought, "I mean I know they're good, but to go fishing the crumbs of rejected croutons off someone else's plate is going a little farther than I realized she would go".

She wasn't really looking to snag the extra crouton, but it still made us double over laughing. The poor Shanks-- they must think we're crazy. 

Who knew a crouton could be so funny?