It's been very beautiful week, complete with a full-blown summer storm that whipped through our little town at about 1pm. We've been outside everyday at least once, both playing in our yard and exploring the delights of some friends' mini-farm. Well, I should take that back. The kids have been playing and exploring; I've been sitting.

I haven't minded the sitting altogether as much these last couple days, since I've gotten a change of scenery. My living room walls were getting pretty boring, I must confess. Being outside to watch the grass seemingly grow greener by the minute and my 80+ tulips explode with color helps remind me that my life has much more blessing than difficulty. (Please don't remind me that it's going to get much, much cooler this weekend.)

Considering a few others who are and have been experiencing hardship and significant attacks of the enemy also stirs me to gratitude and thanksgiving. My faith is grown as I see how He walks with these people through the valleys.

In addition, I've been encouraged by stumbling upon a group of women online who have dealt with subchorionic hematomas in the past. (Don't worry, I skip over the less encouraging stories.) There are too many reports within this group of hemorrhages that have resolved even at 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy for me to keep believing the specialist's prediction that I will deal with this until it is expelled at d-day. There are also a number of "success" stories involving overdue, big babies, which sounds comfortingly familiar and very appealing!

Not to mention, as I sit outside and laugh at the kids' antics, the calendar slowly but surely changes dates. This weekend has some pregnancy mini-milestones, since tomorrow makes 2 whole weeks since my last bleed and Saturday is the official 1/2-way mark. I've almost made it 1 week since my last round of close-together contractions, too.

All in all, I'm genuinely-- not just in word but also in heart-- starting to have faith for and think in terms of an October baby!