House Church

When we moved here in June, we joined a house church. This is the first time I have been in a house church so I wanted to share my experience with you. 

Moving somewhere new is a big thing. It can also be very difficult if you don't know anyone, if you live far from family, and if you don't know how to fit in or meet people. It is important to find out ways to connect with people in a new place. When we moved here, we knew we would be joining a house church there...and it has has been the best part of us moving here. 

If you read my first post, you know a little bit about this church. I believe there are 9 house churches that live in the neighborhoods in Memphis. Once a month all the house churches get together at one big service. The other 3 times a month we go to our own house church and then share a potluck meal together. One of the unique things about this church is that most of the other people in the church are also your neighbors. 

The people in this group of house churches decided to move into the inner city memphis which consists of several neighborhoods. One of the neighborhoods is called, "Binghampton". This is the one that Erik and I live in! There were some christian doctors that started clinics in the inner city of Memphis and then decided that they wanted to also move into the neighborhoods where the clinics were to have a bigger impact on those communities. So a lot of people eventually started moving into these neighborhoods and started house churches in those neighborhoods. So we live in binghampton and our house church is in this neighborhood...one block from where we live. 

Most of the people in my house church also live in binghampton. One of those people is Jennifer. She also moved here in June and was pregnant. She had a baby boy about 6 weeks before I had Isabelle. Her husband is an intern this year with Erik, so naturally with those two big things in common we became good friends...and she lives 2 blocks away! Another member of our church just finished her residency and moved here to work in the clinic a few blocks from our house...she is a Pediatrician, and now she is Isabelle's pediatrician! She also moved into the neighborhood and lives across the street from Jen. 

When I first moved here, I joined a small group with Jen and another girl, Lynsi. Lynsi and her husband also live two blocks away but go to a different house church. Before Jen and I had our babies, the 3 of us would get together weekly to pray together and talk about the scripture passages we were reading through (we read the same portion during the week). 

There are 3 house churches in Binghampton, so there are several more people and families that live walking distance away. I find it really cool that when I go on walks in the evening with Erik, we usually see several people we know outside. 

I really have had such an easier time with adjusting to a new place because of the great people that are here. Before Isabelle was born, some people from one of the house churches (not even my house church), threw Jen and I a baby shower...and after she was born, people from our church brought us food every couple days for 2 weeks! It has been such a huge blessing to get welcomed into this church and into this community. I am so thankful to God that Erik and I get to be a part of it now :)

Welcome to the World, Isabelle!

I know it has been a month now, but Isabelle is here! She arrived on 10/11/12 at 2:26 pm. She weighed 7lbs. 6ozs. She decided to take her time, so I was induced at 41 weeks. 

I came in at 5am and the Pitocin was started a little after 6. I was 2-3 cm and 80% effaced when I came in. At 9, my Dr. came in and broke my water; I was dilated 4 cm and 90% effaced. 

I decided I wanted to see how long I could go without an epidural. I had a bag packed of things Erik and I could try to distract me: socks with tennis balls for massage, a handheld massager, good smelling lotion, music, a Bible, pictures...and a lot handouts with different positions to try. Erik was great! He was very encouraging and had me try different things. After the Dr. broke my water, she told me she would check on me at noon. I was trying to make it to noon so I could see how things were progressing, but by 11:30 my contractions were about a minute apart, and I was losing my desire to wait. At about 11:45 I gave in and requested the epidural! I was 5cm at that point. I got the epidural by noon, and it was effective about 10 minutes later. 

After the epidural, I felt great! I no longer cared how long the labor would last...but I was still hoping by midnight so she would have the cool birthday :)

At about 2 probably, I noticed the baby's heartbeat go down, and I asked Erik if it really did...right about then my nurse came in and she said she wanted to check me because she thought something was happening. She checked me and then asked if I was ready to have a baby! I was in shock! I was 10 cm and 100% effaced, and I was now ready to start pushing! I asked how she knew, and she said when the baby is further down into the birth canal, their heartbeat can go down.

The nurse and Erik then both helped me to start pushing. They both were so encouraging. Soon, she had crowned! They had a mirror in the delivery room so I was able to watch her crown :)

The dr. then came in and I pushed 2 more times and then was able to hold my beautiful baby! 

I loved the hospital I delivered in. Everyone was great, and made it a really good experience!

A month old :)