Third Trimester & Photo Challenge

Yesterday marked Week 28 of this pregnancy, which means I’ve officially entered my third trimester.

Woohoo!

The girls and I spent some time on Saturday afternoon going through all the baby clothes and making piles of boy and girl things.  This baby’s gender is a surprise and as we looked through the clothes I found myself hoping for a boy and then a few minutes later a girl.  Everyone seems convinced it’s a boy, but we’ll just have to wait and find out.

I thought it might be fun to do a photo challenge as I walk through the final 12 weeks of my pregnancy.  This is my last pregnancy (as far as we’re concerned) so I’m trying to savor it and enjoy each phase of this journey.  I haven’t participated in a lot of photo challenges/prompts in the past, but the ones I have joined in on were really fun.

One of the things I enjoy about Instagram are the pictures, yes, but also the words that go with the pictures that encourage, inspire, and uplift me throughout my day.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I occasionally use the hashtag ‘lifewithtruth’.  It’s the name of my blog, yes, but it’s also how I want to look at life and respond to life:  always in light of God’s truth.

Over the next 12 weeks, I’ll be using a photo prompt each week and trying to capture images to interpret that prompt.  In addition, I’ll be using #lifewithtruth and documenting underneath the photo how that particular picture captures something I’ve learned, a reflection, a verse, etc.

Here are the prompts for each week:

1.HOME  (September 13-20)
2. SMILE  (September 21-27)
3. TWO  (September 28-October 4)
4. NATURE  (October 5 -11)
5. REFLECTION  (October 12-18)
6. WORDS  (October 19-25)
7. MORNING  (October 26 – November 1)
8. COMFORT  (November 2-8)
9. PATH  (November 9-15)
10. FOOD  (November 16-22)
11. GATHERING  (November 23-29)
12. FRESH  (November 30- December 6)

I’d love for you to join in!  Just post a picture on Instagram, write a little something under your photo about a truth that intersects with your life according to that photo, use the hashtag #lifewithtruth, then tag it with the prompt for that week.  I’ll choose some of my favorites to highlight every Monday morning.  Post as many photos each week as you want!

Here are two examples from my Instagram feed of words with captions, so you understand what I’m talking about:

“Getting back into reality at home today was a bit of a challenge.  But I’ve been thinking on Psalm 90:14 today “satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” This is a request.  One that I need to ask God time and again when I struggle with contentment.  HE satisfies.  On vacation, in the midst of grief, and even while I cook dinner with the noise of hungry people in the background. #lifewithtruth “

“Most of the time I don’t feel overwhelmed at the thought of adding another one to our family.  But then, arguing and tears and disobedience turn a simple five minute task into a twenty minute drudgery.  And I wonder how I will survive with five children.  But God.  He reminds me in His gentle way that He has been faithful in the past and He will continue to be faithful in the changes that are to come.  #lifewithtruth “

We can’t wait to meet this sweet baby boy/girl!  And I’m going to strive to enjoy these last weeks of pregnancy.

From my Bible reading this morning:
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 106:1

We serve a God who is good and who is steadfast in His love toward us.

Happy Monday!