An Early Arrival...

Well everyone... I got my wish. Baby Sophia Elyse Ross was born yesterday morning at 8:53AM. Pretty unexpected and crazy... Here are the stats:

Sophia Elyse Ross
Born Sunday, June 29th, 8:53AM
6 lbs 12 oz.
19 1/4 long

(Almost identical to Wyndham's... so funny)

4:15AM: Labor began... thought I just had to go to the bathroom
6AM: Got out of bed to pack and tell Randy- pain getting more intense very quickly
7AM: Neighbors arrive to stay with Wyndham
7:15AM: Try to figure out why I can't find any clean underwear to pack and worry that I can't say bye to Wyndham before we leave
7:20AM: Neighbor and loving friends kindly kick us out of the house as I continue to have contractions every 2 minutes
7:25AM: Leave for the hospital
7:26AM: Realize that our car is below E on gas...
7:27&AM: Scream/cry and pray aloud that God will get us to the hospital before we A: Run out of gas and B: Have the baby in the car
8AM: Screech into the ER in Canton and fall into a wheelchair
8:15AM: Arrive in the birthing unit
8:53AM: Sophia is born

Sophie was here at 8:53AM... needless to say, Randy almost had to tap into his Grey's Anatomy skills halfway to the hospital. The unfortunate thing was that because I so far into active labor when I arrived, they weren't able to give me any kind of medication for the pain. Yeah- my worst nightmare. Sure, sure, I had aspirations to have a natural birth...a long time ago...before I had Wyndham. When you are doubled over in the worst pain and the only thing left to do is push a child into the world, you feel a little trapped and without options though. Thankfully, God gave me the strength and Sophia was born healthy, alert and content.

She looks a lot like Wyndham did when she was a newborn. Fuzzy brown hair, cute pouty lips and very alert to her surroundings. As with all newborns, she looks like a cute little old man which I love. She just needs a plaid vest, a derby hat, corduroy pantaloons and a pipe:) Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!

Blogs, Bobs, Babies and Big Decisions

So... if you haven't noticed... It's been awhile since my last blog post. There are a few reasons for this, the main one being that we haven't had the internet until yesterday, and the second being, it's been a difficult time for our family...

Let me begin with lighter fair- Wyndham's hair:) After years of being bald, her hair has finally grown in thick and afro-like (thank you Wood/Ross genes). I have been diligently helping the growing out of the bangs process along this past year, and we've finally reached a corner!

During a recent visit to my parents in MI, we took her to a cute little kids salon called, "Clippers". It is owned by someone I know from Reeths-Puffer, and it is a great place for kids cuts. Anyway, Wyn finally got her first "big girl" haircut... And by big girl haircut, I mean, she actually looks like a KID as opposed to a toddler. I found the video camera last night (in prep for baby #2), and we watched old moves from the past 3 years. I cannot believe how much she has changed over these past 3 years. It is quite amazing. She has gone from baby blob, to mullet girl, and now to this beautiful china doll with chubby cheeks, clear green eyes and long skinny legs. She is insightful, innocent, yet silly and devious all at the same time. She is our biggest accomplishment thus far... we are so thankful God has entrusted us with her.

Speaking of parenting, you can see from the side bar of the blog, we are days away from delivering Baby Sophia. This pregnancy has been such a different one for me as many of you know. I've suffered a lot of side effects I didn't have with Wyndham, and I hate to say it, but I've turned into a whiney pregnant person who just "wants to be done". Between hypoglycemia, mega vericose-veins, aches, pains, acid reflux, swollen ankles and general ickiness, I am ready to meet this little one!

The doctors had some concerns earlier (the placenta was in a dangerous position for a while, and then they discovered that she was breech for a while-- thankfully, both of those issues have changed!!), but now all seems well... on paper. I on the other hand hope that every little twinge is the beginning of labor:) I am savoring these days with Wyn as I know that life is about to change dramatically, but I cannot wait to add to our growing brood. Wyndham can't wait teach Sophie all kinds of things too...

(Please excuse side view... still can't figure out to rotate these things!)

On the future front, Randy and I have been all over the map (literally and figuratively) when it comes to what our next step in life will be. As many of you know, Randy resigned his pastoral position here in Ohio back in mid-April, which has sent our seeming "stability" into a chaotic and painful journey. God is faithful though, and we are certain that He has called us to the ministry. Now, it's just a matter of where we are to follow next....

Our two most promising possibilities at this point are West Michigan (resuming my former job and Randy pursuing ministry/teaching and seminary, and some opportunities in the Chicago area- also an epi-center of opportunity and grad programs for us both). It's been an interesting journey, trying to understand what it means to be "called" and also, what we value for our family as Christians. We are thankful for possibilities, though the heartache runs deep. We will never be the same, but we are growing and learning more about God each day. No one in the bible had or was promised an easy life. These lessons are hard, but every day is truly refining us into deeper followers of Christ.

Today, we celebrate 6 years of marriage... I can't believe how far God has brought us, and pray that we have the courage to keep following...

Stay tuned!!!

A Song of Comfort

As Long as You Are Glorified
By Mark Altrogge
As recorded on Come Weary Saints

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

Click link to hear this song recorded by Sovereign Grace Music

Truth for Life

2 Corinthians 12: 7
"So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness'.

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Ephesians 3: 14-20
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth is named that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen."

2 Timothy 4: 1-8
"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom; preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

Romans 3: 10a-18
"None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands, no one seeks for God.All have turned aside, together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one.

Their throat is an open grace; they use their tongues to deceive.
Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes."


Mark Dever- Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church,
Author of "The Nine Marks of a Healthy Church"
"People will join together to bring about social justice, but not to spread the truth of Christ. 'Redeem the culture' they say- let me remind you brothers... it's God's job to redeem the culture, it is our job to preach the truth. Should the local church be a part of good works? Yes! But only as a reflection of the inner-workings of Christ. Our good deeds only commend the Gospel of Jesus Christ if the Gospel was there to begin with.

We hear the verse, 'Become all things to all men to save some... shouldn't it be our lives , not our services that attract people to Christ? We should not make the Gospel kinder to soften the blow of the truth. Christ came to save sinners, and by our sin, we all deserve death and eternal separation. We should want to see people saved for their own good, but more so, for God's glory.

Music, style, personality- they are NOT more powerful than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is uncomfortable for a reason. We want God and church to be reflection of our own desires- our own truths... God does not exist for us, we exist for His pleasure and through the saving work of His Son Jesus Christ, we live."

Mom my Ride

I saw this video quite a while ago, but find it to be more and more applicable to my life the older our van gets. Enjoy moms!

The Long Defeat

This particular song has been ministering to me in these last few months. The lyrics were inspired by a Christan writer,
and speak to my heart.
Ministry, though rewarding, is also a great burden to carry.
It's truly one that's "too heavy to carry, but impossible to leave".
Cut and paste www.rhapsody.com/saragroves into your address bar and click on "The Long Defeat" if you'd like to listen to the song.

I have joined the long defeat
that falling set in motion
all my strength and energy
are raindrops in the ocean

so conditioned for the win
to share in victor's stories
but in the place of ambition's din
I've heard of other glories

I pray for an idea
and a way I cannot see
It's too heavy to carry
and impossible to leave

I can't just fight when I think I'll win
that's the end of all belief
and nothing has provoked it more
than a possible defeat

I pray for an idea
and a way I cannot see
It's too heavy to carry
and impossible to leave

We walk a while we sit and rest
we lay it on the altar
I won't pretend to know what's next
but what I have I've offered

I pray for a vision
and a way I cannot see
It's too heavy to carry
and impossible to leave

I pray for inspiration
and a way I cannot see
It's too heavy to carry
and impossible to leave

Happy New Year News!