Pray for Kristine in the Hospital

Well, our baby roller coaster continues! Kristine is now in the hospital with high blood pressure. Her and the baby are doing fine, but the risks with the blood pressure and blood clots are high enough that they will keep in her the hospital until she gives birth! She is currently about 30 weeks along, and the docs hope to get her to 34 before they deliver.
It's been a whirlwind the last few days.
The first couple of days were a rush to get steroids and magnesium in her to strengthen the baby in case they needed to deliver. Since then its been constant adjustment of meds and monitoring of her and the baby.

It's been stressful with plenty of opportunity for anxiety, but we are thankful for a number of things.

• For excellent care by doctors and nurses and amazing medical technology.
• For the support of family and friends and so many others in our network of church and school who have helped me with the kids, provided meals and been visiting and encouraging Kristine.
• For easing restrictions on visitors with the decline of Covid so that I can come and go anytime, and others can go during visiting hours.
• For God's daily grace that holds us up and keeps us going.

Would you join us in praying for:
1) The health of Kristine and baby girl - stable blood pressure and baby's growth as well as the peace of God to help her in the midst of worries and fears.
2) Caleb and Evette - that they would experience comfort and encouragement through the love of many people as well as through God himself. They are definitely missing their Mommy, but hanging in there.
3) Me - that God would be my strength in the midst of logistics and parenting through my own self care and the encouragement of others.

4)  God's using us in this weakness!
I have been reminded that walking through weakness and trial is actually one of the greatest moments of witness.  Not in an active working kind of way, but in a passive natural way.  What I mean is that in times like this just by walking with God and leaning on him and others around us - we demonstrate the reality of faith and God's grace.  Rather than trying to demonstrate our self sufficiency and strength and walking in stoicism, we can receive the help, love and care of others and be real with them. This deepens relationships and points to God because one thing is certain, everyone around us has challenges,  difficulties, needs and brokenness. 
    So pray that in our weakness and neediness, that God would give off the beautiful aroma of Jesus to those who surround us, whether in the hospital, in our neighborhood, in our family, within our social network or in the Albanian community. 

I will leave you with Habakkuk 3 as a verse to pray for us in this!

    [17] Though the fig tree should not blossom,
        nor fruit be on the vines,
    the produce of the olive fail
        and the fields yield no food,
    the flock be cut off from the fold
        and there be no herd in the stalls,
    [18] yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
        I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
    [19] GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
        he makes my feet like the deer’s;
        he makes me tread on my high places.

Thank you for praying and walking with us!

Jason