We wanted to give everyone a brief update. Melanie continues to have some contractions but is resting at home. She is being a great sport about the bedrest. Having my family so close is a huge blessing; Melanie’s family is reasonably close which is nice as well. Frequently one of our little sisters will bring their schoolwork over and be Melanie’s little personal assistant for the morning/day. My grandma has become official laundry lady–every time clean clothes come out of our drawers we are grateful (I don’t think I would be getting it done very regularly :).). My mom is over a number of times each day helping out with things here and there, she’ll just see something around the house and take care of it–we are greatly blessed.
We continue to pray that Little One remains where he/she is at for at least a few more weeks. We have met with the surgeon who will perform Baby’s surgery and feel comfortable with who God has provided to handle this issue.
Our desire in all this is that our Lord will be honored and glorified. He has formed Baby this way for a specific purpose. Yes, this has created some trauma and concern in our hearts, but we are learning to trust. God is in perfect control. This is not just something I am typing because it’s the obligatory way to end a note like this but something we are truly internalizing — we are learning to trust. We’ve never been so powerless to affect a situation; we’re troubled at the thought of Baby being rushed to the Neo-Natal ICU after birth, stuck, tubed, and who knows what else. But, God has planned each step of this little life out, that doesn’t just begin when he/she turns 18, it begins when life begins — at conception — far before birth.
Please pray that we will be a witness for our Lord Jesus Christ as we have opportunities to interact with so many different people. We want to be bold in identifying with Christ and communicating where our trust and confidence is.
Nathan and Melanie
Wonderful news and Praise be to the Father!
I am so thankful you are blessed with close family. We too live next door to my parents in the states. Now, in Romania I feel a little isolated but the Lord if faithful and went ahead of us to prepare a place for us to live and work these two years. We will continue to remember the three of you in our prayers.
We are continuing to pray for Baby Maxwell. Thank you for keeping us updated and letting us know specifically how we can pray for you.
We will be praying for your grandchild. I have enjoyed your scheduling book and reading the Moms and Dads corners. We are missionaries in Mexico near the San Diego border who are developing a site where families can come together for a short term mission trip. It is exciting, yet I am sometimes anxious about all it entails for our own 6 children. We would love to have you visit if you are down this way, and we appreciate your prayers that as we seek to reach families in the U.S and Mexico for Christ that our own family would follow Him closely.
Blessings
Jennifer
Thank you so much for the update. I am blessed to read of the loving family support you have, as well as the wonderful way the Lord is moving in your lives right now. Your testimony is an inspiration. We will keep praying!!!
Sarah, for all in the family
Thank you for the update.
You, Melanie, your families, and those you come in contact with along this road have been called for this exact time. May the Lord prepare your hearts and witness and the hearts of those who cross your path. May the Lord bless your families for their sacraficial help. I am grateful that the Lord has given you peace about the doctor who will do the surgery. May He grant you His abundant peace as he did our family during a similar situation with our 5th blessing.
T
Praying for you. Every day that your little one stays in the womb is one more day that he/she grows stronger.
Thank you so much for the update! We are praising the Lord that the baby remains where he or she should be and is using each day to mature and grow to be ready for birth. We will continue to pray as you await sweet baby’s arrival and that all will go smoothly with the delivery as well as the surgery soon there after. We continue to pray for your peace and comfort during these trying days!
Thank you for the update, we continue to pray for Melanie and for your baby to be safe.
Kathy
We continue to pray for you, Melanie, and Baby Maxwell. We appreciate the occasional updates as we try to check daily to be sure there are no new prayer requests.
Family is a wonderful blessing and it’s so nice that your’s is close by to be able to help. We pray that you will always be able to stay close and that your children will also grow up with the benefits and blessings of having family close by.
We are still praying for there to be no need for the surgeon, but that if the Lord chooses otherwise, that He will guide the hands of the surgeon.
Rest in Him…
Doug and Michelle
Thank you so much for the update! It’s so amazing to me that just days ago it looked like little baby maxwell might be coming into the world immediately — and yet, here it is now and God has so mercifully and faithfully kept him/her in the womb, giving them more time to develop! Thank you Jesus! It is so wonderful, too, to hear of your family being so close and such helpful ‘servants’ to you during this time. What a display of the love of Jesus, in the midst of a trial! The way you”re choosing to shine in the midst of this is such a testimony to this world of the goodness and faithfulness of our God! You are weak and not in control, but He is ever strong and always faithfully in control and can be trusted with every area of our lives! We will continue to pray for you as you walk all of this out and await the arrival of your precious little one! May you continue to find strength and grace under the shelter of His wings!
You and your family are continually in my prayers as well as Baby Maxwell.
Thank you for the update as well. I am anticipating the arrival of Baby Maxwell!
Christina B.
Melanie, I too went into pre-term labor with my first child at 29 weeks. I spent a week in a German hospital before they would send me home. I made it six weeks on bed rest. I did a lot or reading and finished three large cross stich projects!! He came at 35 weeks, and though he stayed in the hospital for 3 weeks (a German requirement), he was fine. He is now a very healthy 11 year old boy! I can remember during that time, the only thing I could trust in was God’s timing and His promises. My husband was due to deploy to Bosnia five days before I went into pre-term labor, and I was in Germany with no family and few friends. I’m so happy that you are surrounded by so many loving and caring people. That will help you through this! A friend of mine had a son (their second child) go through a similar surgery that your baby will require, he is now a healthy boy!! They went on to have two more children; my husband and I now have 5 and neither she nor I had any more complications. I pray this time will go quickly for you and will pray that you have several more weeks “in bed” before the little one comes!
With love and prayers from abroad,
Julie
As the proud mother of a soon to be six year old daughter, Hannah, who was born with a severe heart defect, I understand a little of how you are feeling. I had an ultrasound at seven months, but little Hannah’s heart condition went undiagnosed. I was very scared when she had to be rushed to a major hospital where her first of three open heart surgeries could be performed. That is when I truly realized that God was in full control. Even though I did not understand why she was not born “perfectly formed”, God soon helped me see that He had made her perfect, because God doesn’t make mistakes. We soon found out that her pediatric cardiac surgeon was a Christian, prayed before every surgery he performed, and played the piano at the church he attended! God had everything all lined up. He had already prepared for little Hannah’s entrance into this world and all the deatails that her condition would require. I thank God for Hannah because He not only gave her a “unique” heart, He also gave her a sweet spirit. She sings all day long and she asks very specific questions about spiritual things. I think He has great things planned for her future. I know that your baby has been knit by God for a special purpose also. I pray that God will give you His perfect peace in this time of waiting for the baby to arrive. My family is praying for you.
God Bless you all,
Shannon M.
hello. i found your family site and have just been blessed by it. it amazes me how God works. i too am on bed rest. i have been diagnosed with low amniotic fluid. i wanted to let you know that you are already being a testimony to Jesus Christ. by your blog you have been able to encourage me. i have been up and down in my emotions. although i have seen God’s hand move in my life over and over again, i find myself becoming discouraged. thank you for your words of encouragment. a reminder of who is really in control. i will pray for you guys.
melinda (in chicago)