Pastorates, science fairs, babies, and a puppy

Its been over a month since I last posted on our blog.  Wow, we've been busy!  It was about that God answered another prayer Josh and I had been waiting on.  Josh was voted in as the new discipleship pastor of New Hope Baptist Church.  This is so exciting for us because we are able to serve in a great capacity at this church.  The people are sweet and wonderful to be around and love the Lord.  Josh is going to be starting a men's ministry class as they study Paul Tripp's book War of Words.  This is such a wonderful book that I know God will use greatly as He will Josh.  Josh is also preaching monthly on Wednesday nights.  I have never seen Madison sit so still as when she listens to her daddy preach. It is adorable  I also have the blessing of beginning a Children's Ministry with Desiring God curriculum.  The people of the church are so sweet and we are so excited to see how God is going to use us!
March has been crazy in other aspects.  Madison had a science fair, in which she got 3rd place!  She was so excited.  We were late to the awards part of the science fair so we had just walked in the door when her name was called, so Madison walked on stage with her coat and everything!  She was so cute jumping up and down  and showing off her medal.  Madison did a model of a tornado, because her uncle is a tornado chaser and he has instilled in her a desire to be one as well.
Baby is growing well, we heard the heartbeat for the second time and we are anxiously awaiting that ulstrasound that will tell us what we are having!  I am feeling TONS better and can even go days without having to lay down and take a nap.  I have yet to go a week without throwing up though :(.  Its all worth it though, I have felt the baby move every once in awhile.  The first time I felt the kick was when Josh was pressing on the baby and he felt it too!  I can already tell the baby loves his/her daddy!
Josh is doing great and keeping busy with his studies, being a great daddy and husband, working, and pastoring.  Such a wonderful man who works whole heartedly for the Lord.
And if things couldn't get anymore exciting, we are adding one more member to our family on March 27th,  A PUPPY!  Yes, we may be a bit crazy getting a puppy 5 months before we have a baby, but we all want one and are committed to loving and training the puppy.  We will be getting a boxer puppy who will be 12 weeks when we get it.  Madison is (hopefully) going to take on a lot of responsibility with this new addition and will gain a lifelong friend.

As the next few weeks, bring ultrasounds, puppies, weddings, and 50th anniversary parties, I'm sure the next post will be very exciting!

here is the website to our new church, Josh's sermons are on there as well.

www.newhopebaptistclarksville.org

This is a picture off my phone from the science, I may post more later this week.

Secrets, secrets are no fun......

I have a confession..the Gerber family has a secret.  Well, a semi-secret.  If anyone has come in contact with Madison in the past month, it may not be a secret but a very excited little girl's "prayer request".
THE GERBER FAMILY IS EXPECTING!!!!

Yes, in late August, we will add another member to our family.  Josh and I informally got introduced to him/her on Friday as we heard the sweet heartbeat at the doctor's office.  What a wonderful and beautiful thing to hear.  I wish I could meet him/her now, but I know that wouldn't be very good.  Josh said it was amazing how this little thing inside of me was a real person, and we had just heard the proof with our own ears! Madison is super excited about being a big sister and gets to even take a big sister class.

We were singing the old hymn, "Because He Lives" in church on Sunday.  The second verse is about how a newborn can have hope because Christ has died and lives and intercedes for him.  We pray great things for our children.  We already have a wonderful daughter who is merciful and desires to know her Savior.  We know God has great plans for her.  As we meet the next member, we pray for him/her.

Because He Lives

---

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.


Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.


How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.


Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.


And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.


Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Words: Bill & Gloria Gaither

We went from something missing to a family.

So today, amongst many special happy occasions in our household, I begin my blogging.  I'm not sure how long it will last but the Gerbers are full of exciting moments and we want to share them to the best of our ability.  Maybe I can even get Josh in on this with his thoughts.

Anyways, I start this blog 2 days after the 2nd happiest day in our marriage, the adoption of Madison. With it, comes a new birth certificate with Josh's name on it and all the rights to him as birth father. It is not any different in the household today than two days ago.  I am sitting happily with my husband on the couch while Madison is cleaning her room.  Yet, it seems we have been clued in on a shadow of God's special work in our own lives.  He has adopted us into His family where we have the ability to cry Abba Father.  Last night, my husband told me, "Wow, God can even change the past."  It took me a moment to get it, yet I realized that God had redeemed Madison's past.  He had changed her birth certificate from being a fatherless child to a girl with a loving daddy who would always answer her and always be there for her.  Her rights as a daughter to him give her a new hope.  She is no longer bound to fatherless statistics that society may have placed on her, but given a new hope and new future.  I think of Jeremiah 29:11 which God gives Israel the same promised in which God fulfilled for my sweet girl.  He has changed the past and given her a new name, new hope, and new future.

After our joyful experience of adoption, it has overflowed my heart for the sweet little children who are waiting for mommy and daddys all over  the world.  We are so thankful for our family and commit to raising our children in a godly manner.  

So as this blog continues, I think I may just write whatever comes to my mind and whatever is going on in our family.

Please enjoy and leave many comments

Sincerely

The Gerbers