Our Senior High students and leaders left this morning for a long haul down to Knoxville, TN for our denomination’s large week long youth conference they have every 3 years. Tim and I missed it 3 years ago because the only day that would work for our wedding was the day after CHIC, or wait a year to get married, which wouldn’t have allowed God to bring us up to Minnesota when he did.

This year we’re missing it because Baby Schmoyer’s due date is 3 weeks and 6 days from today. It kind of scares me to know that it’s coming up so soon. It wouldn’t have been good for me to do a 24 hour bus ride down to TN, and then another 24 hour bus ride back up to MN when I’ll be 2 weeks and 6 days away from the due date. If Tim went leaving me home alone all week I wouldn’t do so well emotionally. I had a hard enough time on Sunday when Tim had the Junior High canoe trip all day, leaving me at home for the day, and he was only a couple hours away. After getting my first and only (hopefully) leg cramp 3 weeks ago I do not want to be left alone in case that happens to me again. We also wanted to be cautious in case Baby Schmoyer decides to make his/her arrival this week. Hopefully that wont happen, but there is no way to tell exactly when a baby will come.

When we first found out we were pregnant we figured Tim could go to Tennessee with no problem, but were advised by our Sr. Pastor and his wife that it would be best if he stayed behind to help take care of me. I am very grateful for that wisdom, although I feel bad about Tim missing out on CHIC again. We’ve had a lot of people support us in staying behind, now all we can do is pray for all the students and leaders. Our new doctor we met yesterday said it was very smart for neither of us to go on the trip too. That was reassuring that she was very serious when saying it wouldn’t have been a good idea.

I am praying that all the students and leaders will learn lots, bond well and have great unity throughout the week. Also that God will move in each of their lives, and that the students wont let this week just be a high, but that it will be life changing week and that they will apply what they learn and experience and carry it with them the rest of their lives.