It's a...

GIRL!            JoAnna Lane Chandler

I've got so much more to catch up on but not enough time right now. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up before the week's over.

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing...Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing. If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow. As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell. Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way....Good friends are like that .... You may not always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.

I JUST CAN'T WAIT

Gatlinburg has become one of my favoritestest places to go. This year we will be going back for our 5 year anniversary. Yes, I know it's hard to believe 5 years already!

I love to hear the . And enjoy taking pictures of the . Of course we will visit Cade's Cove to see the . I am hoping this year I can get a picture that looks like this.... is my favorite image at Cade's Cove and I take a picture of it every time we go...it's my obsession. I would love to wake up and see out the window. And click here to see where we are going to be staying. It's ok to be jealous.

Sneak Peak

I went to the hospital Monday to see if we could find out if it's a boy or girl. Apparently this child doesn't belong to me or Brad because it's bashful. Legs stayed crossed the entire time! But we did get a nice shot of him/her sucking his/her thumb.

Say it with me "awwwww"
My 16 week check-up was yesterday and everything was fine. Heart rate was 142 and doc said there's a lot of moving going on in there. I have been able to feel a few flutters here and there. Next appointment will be October 23rd and they will record the ultrasound.
Tomorrow marks 17 weeks. Turnip time - baby weighs about 5 ounces (about as much as a turnip) and is about 5 inches long. The baby's skeleton is changing from cartilage to bone and should be able to hear things.
That's all for now...I'm ready to go home and pack so I can head north tomorrow afternoon!