They say making lists are a sign of an organized mind.  I definitely like to write to-do lists and even lists of dates, thoughts, ideas, emotions, etc.  I’ve been an avid list maker all my life.  My favorite notebook for listmaking is made by Paperblanks.  It’s ultra slim, has a magnetic strap closure, lined paper, a ribbon to help you keep your place, and a pouch in back for notes or receipts. http://paperblanks.com/si/en/collections/1/filtered?closure_id=3&format_id=82&menu=f3&interior_format_id=1#1904

No list is ever a waste.  They have a calming effect on me, especially when I can’t get everything out in narrative form.  Sometimes I list scriptures or ideas or jot random notes.  In the past, when I  suffered from a racing bipolar mind, I wrote copious lists of cockamamie, crazy hypomanic ideas.  Now that my mind is restored, I make better kinds of lists: gratitude, gifts, prayer schedules, etc.

And of absolutely no use, whatsoever, except for those who like random, slightly related facts…  Author Shaun Uster wrote a book on famous lists called Lists of Note.   My favorite is Johnny Cash’s list:  1.  Not Smoke.  2.  Kiss June.  3.  Not kiss anyone else.  I’m a HUGE Johnny Cash fan.

1.  Favorite phone app:  First 5.  This app sends a bible lesson every morning that can be read in the first 5 mins of your day but can really turn into a one-hour bible study.  I’m currently finishing the 2nd book of Samuel and loving the new insights I’m getting about David.  I highly recommend this app, especially for new believers. It provides life application in a simple yet profound way.

2.  My Dad:  Amazing. He was here yesterday loading my dishwasher and doing sundry other tasks before driving me to the ob-gyn because hubby was working.

3. My Mom:  My Superhero.  She was here with Dad yesterday.  She cleaned my kitchen, the living room, and changed the sheets on my bed.

4.  My Husband:  My greatest encourager in Christ and in life.  He helped me out of bed this morning to the couch then went out to buy brown eggs to make me an omelet before heading out for the day.  He also wrote a second scripture on our wall.  Psalms 34:19.  It’s kind of fun to do this.  Like graffiti but erasable.

5.  Our baby:  Age:  30 weeks and five days.   Weight: 4 lbs. 2 oz.   Heart Rate: 142.   Position: Breech.  But since I’m in a lot of uterine pain, Dr. G. says it’s better that way. I’d be in more pain if he turned.

6.  Latest Doc. News:  Most likely deliver by C-Section so any treatments necessary won’t be delayed, which is why a breech position is fine.  See, God’s hand is in the plans already.   Appointment with the breast surgeon and oncologist is next Wednesday at NYU medical.

7.  My favorite food/drink:  Food: Cheeseburgers! Cheeseburgers! Cheeseburgers! Hubby calls me Wimpy with good reason.  Drink: Ice cold water. Seriously.  This is the only real craving I have as a preggo.  And, no, I do not have gestational diabetes.  I just love H20.

8.  My mood:  A sudden ebb and flow like the tides. I can cry all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, and then snap back out of it because even when my flesh is weak, my faith is unwavering.  As a good friend reminded me, I am not going through this experience but I am growing through it.  I can be hopeful and faithful even when I grieve because the joy of the Lord is my true source of strength (Nehemiah 8:10).  He gave me a new life (2 Cor 5:17) and restored my mind (Joel 2:25).  For that, I will praise him forever.  “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” Job 13:15 (KJV).  For, “he knows the way that I take; [and] when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold” Job 23:10 (ESV).

9.  My prayer for Noah:  Luke 1:13-15 is what I pray over Noah.  But I slightly modify it.

¹³ But the angel said: “Do not be afraid; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him [Noah]. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, many will rejoice because of his birth, [and many relationships will be restored]  ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  He is never to take wine or [smoke or do drugs], and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.”

10.  What I’m listening to recently:  Jimmy Swaggert’s Family Worship Center.  I’m loving “Healing is Here” by Greg Coleman and “Didn’t I Walk On the Water” by Joseph Larson.  Noah is listening to the same plus classical music on my belly buds.  (If you go to my Youtube channel from the homepage you can find these songs under my Swaggert playlist.)

11.  What I’m watching:  On Netflix, I just finished season one of Mossad 101 and I’m now watching Fauda (which means chaos).  Both are Israeli shows with subtitles.  Love Israeli programs and movies.  On TV, House Hunter’s International, Fixer Upper, Home Front, Lil Big Shots, and The Book of John Gray.

12.  What I’m reading:   Never just one thing.   John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life; Nabeel Qureshi’s No God But One: Allah or Jesus?; Jentezen Franklin’s Fear Fighters, and Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort’s The School of Biblical Evangelism.                     

13.  What I’m learning:  How to recite the “Our Father” in Hebrew using this awesome Youtube video: https://youtu.be/qToHoRxz3co   A copy of the poster can be purchased at http://thewordinhebrew.com. Not many people know this about me, s, but I’ve loved the Hebrew language since my early twenties—this was way before becoming Christian and I’ve been interested in teaching myself here and there ever since then.

14.  Some New Purchases/Gifts:  1.  New Pajamas for my growing belly from my mom.  2.  A bracelet that says “Pray” from a dear sister at church to help me remember how many are praying for me.  3.  A sterling silver charm of Noah’s Ark on a chain around my neck to help me remember that I am the ark that is carrying my precious Noah.  4.  A squatty potty from my husband.  https://www.squattypotty.com I’m not going to explain that one.  It was one of the inventions that came out of Shark Tank.  Just for the record, I did not ask for one!  5.  Maternity underwear. 6. NOW Foods Erythritol Natural Sweetener.  We are eliminating sugars from our diet (including carbs) in order to “starve the cancer cells.”  Sugar causes cancer to grow. Will try it tomorrow in my coffee.

15.  Wish list item:  A maternity photo shoot but its too expensive for our limited budget right now.  Asking prices are $250-$400.  I’m praying God will help make a way where there is no way.  I need a better reminder and memento of this trying time while I am on house arrest.  I’d rather not have amateur photos that can be taken and printed at Walgreens.  I’d prefer a photographer who has the ability to Photoshop digital photos and provide props such as a flowy, chiffon dress and garland for my hair.

16.  How long it takes me to write each post before I publish:  Normally, two days to write, edit, and format.  I can spend hours on spacing and rewriting sentences. It’s very annoying.  The original post was approx. 1800 words.  The published post is approx 1450.  I’m trying to be mindful of blog lengths because I know most of us don’t have time to read our own texts and emails.

17.  The thing that is hardest to talk about right now and what others can pray for:  Aside from complete healing, wisdom, a healthy baby, and an uncomplicated delivery, which I know the Lord will bring me through, please pray that I can breastfeed even if only for a month, and pump enough to freeze for another month, and finally find a good source of breast milk donation.  I already have some wonderful contacts with La Leche, my doula, my natural birth teacher, and the lactation specialist at the hospital who is also my friend and sister in the Lord.  But it is my greatest area of grief and the thing I want to talk about the least unless it is with those aforementioned.  So, I ask for prayer and will update when I know more.

18.  What I am protecting myself from and wish everyone knew:  I simply can’t answer every call and text.  Why?  Because I can’t talk about what’s going on, over and over.  Rehashing details is not only upsetting to me, but I know Noah hears me and that he feels what I feel, so I am protecting him, above all, and my heart, secondarily.  So, if I don’t respond to everyone, or in a timely fashion, please know that it is not personal.  I so appreciate how many people love the three of us, but it is an overly emotional time for me and with the addition of pregnancy hormones, talking and texting often lead to me crying.

In love and faith in Christ,

Liz