coming home.

We came home as a family of three on Tuesday afternoon. As you may well know Chicago drivers tend to be awful and now with extremely precious cargo in tow, they certainly haven't improved. So the drive alone proved to be a journey of faith.

The world is full of so much uncertainty and danger, but NOTHING the hand of God cannot protect Elijah from. This week has been full of opportunities to surrender to the Lord, ask for wisdom, and trust Him to provide and protect. We have loved this sweet week of growing to know one another as a family and have seen the Lord meet us in a way unlike ever before.

We pray we would continue to abide and find our rest in the Lord as

we believe God for His provision over Elijah.

thoughts from a new dad.

Thoughts from Greg...

As I sat in the hospital holding Elijah I began to recite various Bible verses that I have memorized to him. One of the first verses I learned was 2 Corinthians 5:17, so naturally, it was one of the first verses I shared with my son.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old things have passed away behold all things have become brand new."

2 Corinthians 5:17

Sitting there in the middle of the night thinking about the meaning of this verse as well as the new life I held in my arms, I was struck with two incredible realities. First, God has just given Katie and I a brand new life to take care of. Elijah is totally relying on us for food, shelter, comfort, love, etc. Those are just about the most important responsibilities anyone can be given. One might even ask, what greater responsibility could there be? Then it hit me. Yes, Elijah is a new life from a physical standpoint. But what about the fact that he has an eternal soul that will be greatly influenced through the way Katie and I live as well as how we raise him? Is there anything more important than his eternal state?

It saddens me that so many people only stress the physical nature of raising a child. I understand it is important and difficult. (Elijah hasn't yet grasped the concept of being awake during the day and sleeping at night!) However, the Lord has already greatly stressed to me the importance of his eternal soul and the impact Katie and I will have on it.

I ask you to pray for Katie and I to be accurate representatives of the love that Jesus has for him and for all of us. Pray that he sees the "new creations" we are as we abide in Christ Jesus our Lord. Also, let's pray for all parents to raise their children up in the way of the Lord so they make the choice to follow Christ and receive eternal life as well as the abundant life He promises to those who put their trust in Him.

I'm so thankful for the eternal and abundant life I have found in Christ. And now, so thankful to God for the new life He has given Katie and I in Elijah. God is so good!

elijah dean anderson.

our gift from the Lord arrived on

Friday, October 16th @ 5:45 pm

7lbs 3ounces 20 inches long

he's absolutely perfect

we are amazed by the incredible gift of elijah!

watermelon.

39 weeks along - 1 week from our due date

Apparently, our little guy is the size of a watermelon and

has been for a couple of weeks.

I can believe it. So can Greg. I definitely feel like I'm carrying a watermelon and Greg would probably agree that I look like I'm carrying a watermelon. It is such a miracle and privilege to carry a growing life inside of you and I praise God for this gift. But we must say that we're very excited to hold this sweet watermelon in our arms.