Pics!

We finally posted some pictures of little Faith, along with some random shots of whatever happened to be on the camera. Enjoy. I knew we were running out of time to post pictures when I got a phone call from my mom today, "requesting" a Skype video call to see Faith, "since I haven't seen any pictures yet". :)

Also, here's a blurb Jodi wrote before the birth, about our decision to name her Faith:

"When I was a freshman in college, reading through the New Testament, a certain verse stood out to me. The disciples asked Jesus, “Increase our faith.” I felt a strong urging by the Spirit to pray this prayer for myself. At the time, I even remember thinking, “This is a dangerous thing to pray! But, it’s something I have to do.” Little did I understand then all that would entail.

Simply put, God has been slowly increasing my faith as the years have gone by. Among other things, there was waiting and wishing for a husband, losing our first child to miscarriage, having a baby when still in graduate school, having another baby just 19 months later, moving across the country, and having another baby less than a year after moving. Not that all the things were bad or difficult. There was also learning more about who God is, finding “family” wherever we lived, and understanding more fully who He created me to be. There was finding the joy in serving and helping others when they had needs. Each of these things slowly worked to increase my faith in God and His promises and provisions.

Then, there came what I thought was the biggest faith challenge yet: moving to another country. I had already seen how He worked at changing my heart to be ready for the move to Tallahassee, step by step until I was prepared and ready to go. I saw Him do the same as we prepared for France. Then, another bombshell—I got pregnant again, even before we moved!

As we’ve gone through the process of moving again, and figuring everything out in a different culture, I’ve been seeing how God has His hand in the process. At times, I’ve been terrified, and have had to face and conquer fear in a way I’ve never done before. By God’s grace, I’m coming out stronger in the end. As we thought of names for the new baby, one seemed to be right: Faith. What other name that shows how, even as I felt my little Faith grow inside of my body, I knew God was growing my faith in my spirit? It’s been a powerful image to me, one that will continue as time goes on. She will be my reminder that God fulfills His promises, and continues to 'increase our faith.' "