Growing Baby Belly!

Some of you have requested pictures of my growing belly. So, here it is...

15 weeks:

19 Weeks:

We're back!

Wow! I am sure you have all given up on me…since it’s been 3 months since my last post! I apologize for the lack of communication, but I have a good excuse – a VERY good excuse. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ll let these pictures speak my excuses for me…

Yes, while Jeremy and I were on the Big Island of Hawaii we found out we are expecting our first child in March!!!! We wanted to commemorate the day by writing in the Black Sands of Waipio Valley, but no words can truly express our joy and gratefulness for this precious answer to prayer. To those of you who have prayed for us in this regard we can only say “Thank you!” and may the Lord be praised!

So, now you understand! I have spent the last three months dealing with “morning” sickness – which for me has meant all day nausea with some intense vomiting – as well as a great amount of fatigue. But as we heard the heartbeat of our little baby all the struggles of these difficult days melted away into an overwhelming gratitude for this miracle of life within me. Because of my past health issues I was never fully sure I would be able to conceive and carry a child. Now my heart cries out with Hannah, “For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him.” (I Samuel 1:27)

We praise the Lord that I am experiencing a “normal” pregnancy (no abnormal issues because of my past illness) and I am 15 weeks along. My official due date is March 9. Only 24 more weeks…but who’s counting?!

Since we have made it past the critical three month mark we are starting to enjoy the preparations for the arrival of our sweet little one.

Even Laddie wants to be a part of the action. We’re not exactly sure how he will respond to having to share his mama but we’ll do our best to make the adjustment as easy as possible for him. He’s a sweet pup!

Now that I am feeling somewhat “alive” again during this second trimester I will do my best to keep you updated. Once “Baby Vegter” arrives I will have more to write about and pictures galore, but I’ll do my best during the next five months to keep you in the “loop.”

A Sunday of added blessings!

On Sunday, June 17, we were able to minister in two churches we had been in last year. That is such a great joy for us!! We are able to "pick up where we left off" and deepen our friendships.

Sunday morning we were with Pastor and Mrs. Ron England at Kukuilani Baptist Church.

We just love this dear missionary couple! We receive plenty of "good medicine" when we are with them – we laugh a lot! We enjoyed ministering again with their sweet church people. We feel right at home.

Their church meets in a school, so they have to set up Sunday morning - move "Cuddles" the bunny and everything! We were able to enjoy the perfect weather through the open doors on either side of the building.
Sunday evening we renewed friendships with Pastor and Mrs. Les Lippincott III and their church people of Kahua Baptist Church.

Enjoying lots of good fellowship is a "given" at this church!! Our hearts were truly blessed to be able to visit and get to know them all better.

One added delight of this church is the setting - they use an open area at a local school, so we enjoyed hearing the birds sing right along with us!

The blessings continue!

Wednesday, June 13, was a real blessing for us as we ministered at First Baptist Church of Honolulu with Pastor Barry Lovett. This church is located right in the heart of downtown Honolulu.

We really enjoyed our time getting to know these brothers and sisters in Christ at a home-cooked meatloaf and mashed potatoes meal as well as afterwards just visiting in the courtyard (pictured below). They were no strangers with us and we were blessed!

Enjoying friends!

Our travels also allow us to see friends in "far away" places!! While on Oahu, Sharon and Carla Hamilton (former MBBC students and former "boarders" in our home!) are graciously sharing their apartment with us the whole time! It is a sacrifice for them to have us and we greatly appreciate their generous hospitality. We're deeply enjoying our time with them - visiting, laughing and just sharing the joy of friendship with them. (as you can see in this picture - Jeremy just smashed a cracker in Sharon's ice cream!!)

We were also able to get a quick visit in with Roger and Becky Olson and their two boys before they headed to the mainland for the summer.

Roger and Becky are from our church in Watertown. They both teach at Hanalani Christian School. Last year they flew back to the mainland and we missed them at both ends. We were glad to catch them just before they left for WI this year. Roger and the boys took Jeremy boogie boarding and to a cool lookout spot. (pictures below) Good times!

We've also been able to see a couple from my home church in New Castle, IN – Mike and Kiley Trado and their three children - ages 3,2, & 1. I used to babysit Kiley years ago – yes, I feel old!!! Mike is in the army and stationed on the island. We enjoyed a nice dinner and "show" at their house – you can see from the pictures!

Bond in Christ

One of the greatest blessings for us in ministering this way is the joy of meeting fellow believers, our brothers and sisters in Christ, all over the country! There is an immediate bond in Christ that just can't be explained.

Sunday morning, June 10, we had the privilege of meeting Pastor and Mrs. Steven Wygle and their granddaughter as well as their very welcoming church family at Lanakila Baptist Church.

In the evening service we were delighted to be able to minister with Pastor and Mrs. Larry Kaneshiro at Calvary Independent Baptist Church. We enjoyed visiting with their dear church people and getting to know them a little better during a fellowship time after the service. This church was an extra special treat for us because it is the home church of people we know. This is Carla Hamilton's and her friend Joe's home church on the island, so it was a blessing to meet their church family and those who are having such a godly impact in their lives. Mrs. Kaneshiro is a "Titus 2 woman" to Carla and it made my heart glad to meet her and see why! Sharon and her friend Joe were able to be in the service as well. (pictured below) We'll be in Sharon's island church this coming Sunday. Also, Jeremy was able to get reacquainted with John Lucina, a fellow BJU Choral member in '94-'95. Jeremy enjoyed catching up with John – it had been a few years. It was also a pleasure for us to see and visit again with Tim Befus, a former MBBC student. He has been through a great trial this year with the loss of his mother to cancer, but it was encouraging to see his increased faith and joy in the Lord and hear how the Lord is taking care of him. He will be teaching history full-time at Hanalani Christian School.

So, yes, we are "giving" at each church but we are "getting" much more in return!

Seeing friends and friends of friends!

Last Wednesday (June 6) we had the privilege of ministering with Pastor John Sass, his sweet wife and five children (pictured below) at Koolau Baptist Church. This is the home church of a dear friend of mine from my home church in New Castle, IN - Marilyn Kendall. So we enjoyed meeting friends of hers from her youth!

We also had the joy of renewing friendships by seeing the Inafuku family at this service. Jeremy knew Kevin Inafuku from his time at BJU. I (Alisha) was able to meet Mrs. Cheryl Inafuku (pictured below) when we ministered at their church last year. (Due due to schedule conflicts we are unable to be with their church again this year, so the Inafukus made a special effort to come to one of our services.) Cheryl is a kindred-spirit in the Lord as well as in suffering. She is in the midst of her health battles, so it was a special blessing for me to be able to see her, give her a hug and assure her of my prayers for her. To be able to say "I understand" is one of the "roses among the thorns" of my illness. If you think of it, I know Cheryl would appreciate your prayers for physical healing & endurance and spiritual strength to keep pressing on.