Jacob's feet

My sons feet are beautiful.

open my eyes

Freedom is not in options or unlimited resources, true freedom is born out of an eternal perspective which holds the power to cast light on every situation.  The endless pursuit of self fades as the overpowering shine of wisdom and love opens the eyes of your soul to see as God sees, to rest as God rests, to love as God loves.

I hear the knock at my door, the call to come and die, and in the hope of an awakening I see that the frustration of my son crying all night, the endless weight of providing, the colossal pursuit of self is meant to be something else.  All the things of life, all the difficult and easy is meant to open my eyes.  What God sees is offered to us in His Son.  

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  Galatians 5:1

Proud mother- this was her favorite moment so far
We came a couple and left a family
I took my son camping
hiding from the nurses

our wonderful midwife Diane Tandy



Jacob is amazingly beautiful!

He arrived into our crazy world Tuesday December 9th at 6:49 pm.

After 30 hours of non-progressive labor, our wonderful midwife Diane ordered us to the OR where Liz had a C-section and 30 minutes later, our son was born!

He weighed 6 lbs 12 oz at birth, 21.5 inches long and healthy.  

We are still in the hospital, enjoying the time off to get to know this blessing.  Nursing (every 2-3 hours) is going well and we are getting some sleep, we have no complaints, only praise for a God who creates such amazing miracles and allows us to be apart of His life.

We will be at Northside Women's center for another day or two (room 688).  We would love to take visitors, please just give us a call ahead of time.  

Thank you all for you prayers!

Jacob

 Liz is feeling very tired.  

She is being induced with an IV.

She is contracting every 3-4 min.

The nurse thinks she will deliver tonight.

I am really excited about this whole baby idea.

Thank you.

Where the Peddle's are:

• We expect a baby really soon, a son, named Jake and Jacob, He will be beautiful.
  
• We are living in Marietta, and will not be moving to camp, but will temporarily move there during the coming summer.
• We are well blessed by you all, having 68 partners who have joined us and supported us faithfully.  Thank You!
• We are nearing our personal support goal- currently at 70%.  Thank You!!
• We are praying for you all and have been blessed by your prayers.
• During the winter, we work on marketing, recruiting, building projects, summer preparations, and a myriad of other tasks.  
• We work full time, year round with camp, and programs will start again in February.

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In an effort to be transparent, free from the burden of social propriety and share with you all what the abundant life is like for the Peddle family, there is here below a recent blessing bestowed on us through the prayers of you all.  



As it has been for the past few weeks, that God confirms what he told me a day or two before in the books I am reading the following day. A way of reminding me to be humble and believe He cares deeply for my whole being.

Abba's Child- (brennan manning)

That contemplative prayer at its best is done with an empty chair next to you, at a coffee shop or for me in my office with Jesus in my chair and me on the couch. And a child's faith and joy that I get to speak with God in such a simple, non-religious form, in a completely unorthodox manner. Just talking to Him, half looking down, in temporary fear that I might be crazy, then coming to realize in my deepest self that this is good.

Much different than the contrast of almost every previous attempt to have a simple and pure talk with God.

For as long as I can remember I have looked at empty chairs, in the dark corners of homes, of a room, of my house, and seen death, seen demons, seen my greatest fears talking with me, reminding me to be afraid and angry with God. I have been haunted by this for years, never understanding what God is teaching me by allowing me to see horror on such a consistent basis.

But this morning I went out, in the early dark of sunrise and watching Sophie I looked over at a pair of empty lawn chairs in my yard, remembering the fear that gripped me even last night when the the demons were talking again of my demise, then suddenly, I saw Jesus in that chair, and every chair from my past, and all was free, I remembered His power, I saw Him cast out the lies that I clung to for a false security.

I prayed a simple prayer this morning, that I would see Him, I prayed for you all, that the eyes of your hearts would be open, half doubting that prayer has an effect at all.

But half doubting prayers are heard by God, and demons flee in His presence, I am so glad I see things differently. Please know your prayers are not in vain, that God hears us clearly and without judgment and thank you.

-erik
Matt. 7:7-8