...And the World is About to Turn

In an effort to not completely give in to my baby fever, I am going to attempt to write about other aspects of our lives than just the baby.  This post will be somewhat of a combination.

I play the piano for my church about once a month.  Typically the presider selects the hymns, and I am free to choose whatever I like for the prelude, offertory, and postlude.  I try to select songs that go with the theme for the service. Sometimes I throw something in that speaks to how my life is going. I've been thinking for awhile of a way to share the background for why I chose particular songs, so from time to time I may use this as a forum for "Behind the Scenes Pianist".

About a year ago, our church released a new hymnal.  It is amazing.  It has hymns that speak to our theology as a church and I feel it does a wonderful job of mixing standard four part traditional hymns with modern songs that aren't too contemporary to be sung in a congregation setting.  I never used to use hymns for the songs that I chose, but with the new hymnal, I use it pretty frequently just for the instrumental part.

Anyway, last week was my turn to play.  I found some songs to go with the theme for the prelude and offertory, but for the postlude I decided to use "Canticle of the Turning", CCS* 404.  This is an advent song, but I think it's appropriate at other times as well.  I felt the first verse really spoke to my feelings about where my life is right now.

My soul cries out with a joyful shout

That the God of my heart is great, 

And my spirit sings of the wondrous things

That you bring to the ones who wait.

You fixed your sight on your servant's plight,

And my weakness you did not spurn,

So from east to west shall my name be blest.

Could the world be about to turn?

Chorus:

My heart shall sing of the day you bring.

Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,

And the world is about to turn.

*CCS stands for Community of Christ Sings, the name of the hymnal

9 Days

9 Days.  That's how long I've known that I'm pregnant.  I have to keep reminding myself because it doesn't feel real yet.  I still have the test strip, mainly just because it's the only proof I have right now.  Actually, I should say, I still have one of the four test strips.  Yes, I took four tests - really only three because I didn't read the instructions on one so it was invalid.  I had a really cheap strip that I hadn't used before that I tried first.  I felt the results were inconclusive, so I tried another one.  I still wasn't sure I believed the extremely faint second pink line, so we had to go out and buy a digital test.  I drank a lot of water while we were out getting it.  I didn't hold the first digital test in long enough, so it erred out.  Great use of $5, Ang.  Luckily, there was a second one in the box, so I got that one out and it very quickly flashed "Pregnant".  I was so happy.

Here's the proof, times three.

Matthew had a horrible cold.
He's not actually stoned here.

I called the doctor the next day.  I know there's not much they can do right now, but I kind of thought they still had first time moms come in right away.  Aren't there things I should know?  I guess not, though.  My appointment isn't for another month.

In the meantime, I'm trying not to worry, but it just seems like there are so many things that could go wrong in the next 8 months (and beyond).  I caught Matthew's cold, so I already got over the illusion that I would go the whole time without any medication.  I think I'm mostly better now, though.

So, while I don't really feel any different right now, I'm cruising Pinterest for ideas for the baby room and reading about all of the stuff we have to get.  We're really trying to cut out unnecessary objects around the house, so a baby will be a big test of our commitment to that cause.  I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks when I should start feeling different, rather than have to remind myself constantly that this is finally happening!