good good father

I've been enjoying this song from the Housefires album:

"You're a good good Father

It's who You are...

And I'm loved by You

It's who I am..."

Getting to know God as the good Father perfect in every way has given so much insight to how we can parent our kids well. I know it can sound all cliche like, because all Christians say that, but I'm so dead serious. Like if I never knew what if felt like to be loved as a daughter, to be cared for, understood, released-- it would make it so much harder to be able to do that for my kids. I mean, it already is hard for me, but being able to relate to being a child helps me to raise my children.

And speaking of children... we had our 20 week ultrasound yesterday and we have a healthy baby boy growing in my belly!! Hooray!  Of course we were just super relieved to know that every thing is going fine for the baby developmentally.  But it's also so nice to be able to anticipate a little man running around the Dufoort house in the semi-near future.  I already sorted through Nora's baby clothes just keeping the things I really liked, thinking that we might need to use them again soon. But I guess not... so I must sort again. :-)

that's our baby!

Also, in light of the new family addition we are going to need to upgrade our car. We've had a faithful Suzuki that has been wonderful, but it's just not going to fit 4 of us & our things.  We started a fundraiser to raise money for a secondhand stationwagon and we're hoping that we'll be able to buy that before the baby comes.  It's a challenge though, because in one way we're excited to see how God wants to provide and take care of us.  And in another way it comes with some awkward feelings because there can be pressure to like "prove" that we need a car in order to be effective missionaries. Could we survive without one? Probably. But it will make our life easier and enable us to continue doing what we do-- traveling to Belgium, leading worship, doing life with our family. It would bless us greatly.  If you are interested in helping us with that, you can click here.

Blessings!!