Noah's Ark...Rebuilt

I got an email today from someone in the Sunday school class that we attended the last time we lived in Oklahoma. Honestly, I usually don't read forwards or even look at them. I know that sounds terrible, but I just don't have the time to read them all. Anyway, I looked at this one...probably because it didn't say FW:!

A man from the Netherlands built, with his own hands, a replica of Noah's Ark. Upon my first reading, I thought he built it with the exact biblical dimensions. I was wrong. He only built it 1/2 the original length and 1/3 the original width. If you look at the photos, you will see that the ark is HUGE. And it isn't even as big as Noah's!

The ark was built on a barge that is able to be moved by a tugboat; therefore, it can visit many different places in the Netherlands. Right now, it is on display in Amsterdam.

I am sick that we did not see this while we were in Europe. I'm really sick because the ark's display in Amsterdam began on 5 November, and we had planned to go to Amsterdam the 7th and 8th of November with my dad!!! I'm sure he'll be sick when he reads this too.

If you are in Europe or going there, I think this is a worthy site to see. You can read more about it and find out where it's going here:
Noah's Ark Rebuilt
Click on the British flag to read the site in English.

The builder, Johan Huibers, is now building a second ark with the exact dimensions of Noah's. I can't imagine how enormous this will be. What an amazing thing for my children to one day see!


For more photos: http://www.pbase.com/paulthedane/noahs_ark

13 Weeks and a Sweet Baby

Well, I am SO sorry that I've been absent from the blogging world. My plate has been full and my sleepiness great, so late nights up finishing posts have not been happening lately. In addition, I was without internet for a while and without a computer for a week. I should also mention that my poor iBook is over-taxed with all of the graphics that it was not designed to handle, so it runs VERY SLOW. We may remedy this situation with a new one!

Now, on to better things! I am 13 weeks pregnant today. I still have not been to my first prenatal appointment because we were waiting on some answers from our new insurance. Praise to God, we got the answer we were hoping for. I have desired a midwife-assisted home birth since before I ever conceived Jackson. Although I had a fantastic midwife with Jackson, I was unable to have a home birth because our insurance at the time would not pay for it and we were not in a position to spend the cash when we could have the baby for free in a hospital. After delivering Jackson naturally and without meds, I promised myself that, Lord-willing, we would have this family event in our home if we were ever blessed with another pregnancy. As an answer to prayer and a huge desire of my heart, our currant insurance is going to pay 100% for a midwife-assisted home birth!! We interviewed some midwives last week and were perfectly pleased with them. My first appointment is next week and I can hardly wait!

To rule out placenta previa, we had a first trimester ultrasound done today. It was wonderful to see our sweet baby! We haven't even heard the heartbeat or had an "official" pregnancy confirmation test. This was the first thing we've done to see or hear the baby since learning of my pregnancy. It was precious! Jason, Jackson and I were all there. Jackson got to see the baby move and kick inside of me. It was such a special time for us. Our sonographer gave us photos and a DVD of the sonogram, which I will surely treasure.

The baby looked fantastic. Everything was very normal - fluid levels, blood flow through the cord and placenta, heartbeat, fluid in the baby's tummy and bladder to show its ability to suck and swallow and that its kidney's are functioning, spine development, and size (measured 13 weeks and 3 days). The baby is between 5 and 6 inches long and weighs about 3 oz. Praise the Lord that He controls all things!

Here are some photos of our baby. It's still to early to tell the gender, but I absolutely do not want to know until the baby is born. Jason, on the other hand, wants to find out early. We'll see how we handle this one!




A soon-to-be family of 4!