So this is how it bodes….
Hello! Much love and greetings from the Porter family “sprig.” If you’ve been wondering, it does indeed bode well. We’ve been off showing Oregon some “Porter” and have officially added two and a half to the Medford population. I consider it a small enough city that this contribution is significant. Danny, me, and little Porter on the way are running loose on this town—and I mean literally, since we are without a car. So we’ve entered the green state involuntarily going green, utilizing our legs and bike like never before. Considering I’m miss preggo now, it’s nice to be whooped right into shape. And Danny manages well getting to work which is about a 20 minute to half hour walk or 10 minute ride.
So with this introduction, you should now be fully aware that we are pregnant, carless, but sweetly employed. And we have been blessed despite the obscurity of this present state. God provided Danny with a job at Harry and David’s retail store here in town. They have national business selling specialty gift packages of candies and fruits. But he works at a local store, much like a market, and enjoys what he does: mostly stocking and organizing backroom, but sometimes on the floor offering samples and helping with sales. It’s been a timely blessing which includes a wonderful employee discount. It looks like he’ll be staying on past seasonal, but we will need additional employment after the season since hours will drop. Danny already has a quite promising prospect with a newer business: Empire Medical. The company functions as an “in-between” for specific medical providers and medical supply vendors. God truly threw this opportunity right in Danny’s lap. His job would involve phone time with vendors and clients, as well as working with the company’s databases. It’s pretty incredible, since this was much of Danny’s job description during his internship down at GFA. God’s ways are beautiful.
Baby’s cooking! If you didn’t know, we’re expecting a “mini us” in late May. No, we don’t know the gender yet, and yes, we’ve been talking over names. We’ve ruled out “Manny” and “Danica.” And, in conclusion, we’re considering keeping the finalized name a surprise. Also, if you must know, this little event was “planned” as far as our planning goes, since God has the sovereign say in the end. There are now those familiar feelings that life brings of excitement, fleeting anxieties, and surrealism. No one’s ever seen a part- Danny- part-Monica. It will be a sweet thing, indeed. I was recently approved for OHP (Oregon Health Plan) coverage, and have been on the hunt for the right practitioner. God willing, I’m hoping to be seen by the end of the month or early January. I will then be due for the renowned “gender-disclosing” ultrasound.
God’s been so good to provide friendships and fellowship. I made a sweet friend over the past month; her name is Petra. She and I connected quite quickly, and, upon meeting, we were astounded to hear she had done an internship at a ministry down in Dallas area over the past two years. It wasn’t GFA, but still! CRAZY! She has been a HUGE blessing to me; I was in dire need of a friend. Danny has also spent some sweet time with a group of brothers from our church. And we’ve met some great people who’ve offered us rides, fellowship, and, one brother sometimes even lends us his car. We cannot forget to mention the Wilcox family (who also moved from Spokane and attended our church there). Their friendship and generosity in helping us get settled has been such a God-send. And we were blessed to be able to help them, earlier on, with some of the renovations on their new home down here.
To get down to the nitty gritty, transitions have been hard. For me personally, this season has provided a lot of time to process things past, which, though good and needed, has been a struggle. Danny, too, desires patience for where God’s placed us now and continues to seek Him for the vision He has for our family. We’re both still learning much about functioning in our roles of “husband and wife.” Yet God has blessed us so sweetly with a closeness that keeps growing. The prospect of being parents scares me, excites Danny (goes to exemplify our different personalities, wink*), and leaves us both anticipating a great unknown. It’s a battle to cling to God’s promises, but they, and He, will always remain steadfast and true. That’s gotta be the handhold when times get “testy”; they have been… I’m reminded of a song: “Oh, no! You never let go! Lord, You never let go of me!”
We miss Spokane and all of you, particularly during this Christmas season. Our hearts will forever remain where there actually is snow. We feel lavished with your love, your support, and your prayers. And we long for our plethora of coffee shop “hubs” with all of the barista family we have grown to love and cherish as well as the bagels. We most definitely await our next visit with great anticipation and longing. But for now, we pray you are well, enriched by the rough roads, encouraged by the smooth (not talking about the potholes), and, most importantly, that you would know, beyond any doubt, that you are dearly. Loved.
Take care & many blessings,
Monica, Danny, and Baby
