A Message from Katelyn!

Hi there! This is Katelyn! I just wanted to thank you all for the warm way you have welcomed me into this world! There are a lot of adjustments I am making, but I have had a great first week of life. Here is a recap... When we got home from the hospital this past Sunday, my MaMaw (my mommy's mom) was here and she stayed for a few days to help out. I really like her! She let me sleep with her my first night home, and we got to celebrate her birthday while she was here too!

I went on my first stroller ride. I didn't like it at first, but once I calmed down, I really enjoyed it! Mommy and daddy really like to go for walks when it cools off in the evenings!

We went to see my docter for my one-week check up (today I am 1 week old!). She said that I am doing great and gave me lots of compliments on what a good eater I am!! Mommy says I am good eater like daddy and a good sleeper like her!

I took lots of naps...my favorite naptimes are with mommy and daddy! I also sat in my bouncer!! It has "calming vibrations" built in, along with music and lights! It is so fun!

Well, thank you again for praying me into this world! I look forward to meeting you and sharing more another time. Right now though, I'm sleepy...time for another nap.

Baby Katelyn is Here!!

Please rejoice with us as we welcome our sweet Katelyn to the world! Born at 7:47 a.m. on Friday, August 24, Katelyn weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 20 1/4". Just as we knew would be the case, the Lord's timing was, indeed, perfect in every way! Not only did she come on her own, as we specifically had prayed, Kristen's parents were both still in town and able to be at the hospital pre and post delivery! What a special blessing! Dave's mom was also able to come the very next day to see Katelyn, as well as many other close friends and family. We came home from the hospital at 12:30 p.m. today, and all is well in the McCurdy family--mother, baby, and father (and Kristen's mom who is here until Tuesday) are all doing great! Enjoy the pictures!

"A Push" for Prayer

OK-I know that's a ridiculously silly pun, but we hear that laughter is supposed to help initiate labor. After going to the doctor today, Kristen is scheduled to be induced next Tuesday, August 28 at 5:30 p.m. The doctor said the baby and Kristen are doing wonderfully, but Little Katelyn is just quite comfortable where she is! We are praying (and asking that you join us) that Katelyn will come on her own this week. Kristen's parents are in town for a conference until the weekend, and it would be a special blessing for them to be in town for the arrival of Little Katelyn. We find great peace and comfort in knowing that the Lord's timing is perfect! He knows her and loves her best, and since He has been bringing people into this world for quite some time, we fully trust Him with the life of our daughter! Thank you for your prayers and for waiting with us.

Where's Katelyn?

Still nestled comfortably in Kristen's mid-section!! As of 9:00 p.m. on her official due date of Monday, August 20, Katelyn has still not made an appearance. And so we continue to wait, knowing and trusting that the Lord's timing is perfect! Until then, we are enjoying our time together as a family of two and cherishing each moment! We go to the doctor for our weekly appointment tomorrow, so we will look forward to getting a report on how things are progressing. Thank you for your prayers!

Fruit from Afar

Although we miss China very much, we have been encouraged to know that the Lord is still choosing to use us in the lives of our Chinese friends we made while we were there. We praise Him that distance is no obstacle to His bringing fruit in the lives of those who love Him and those who don't. Below are excerpts from an e-mail dialogue we thought you would enjoy and be encouraged by between Kristen and Rachel (one of the girls in her weekly study who became a Family member last summer). Kristen asked Rachel in a previous e-mail this summer how her and her boyfriend Joshua were doing (who is not a Family member), and below is the e-mail dialogue that corresponded....May the Lord continue to do a mighty work in Rachel's life, her tender heart, and the people around her.

Rachel wrote:

Well, I and Joshua is not going well these days. I'm a little bit disappointed with him. You know, his family are in the countryside, where most of the people there are believe in the traditional religion as "Fuo Jiao". They didn't believe in the Father. And Joshua tell me, if we are keep on the relationship I must give up my believe. I'm very upset.
Do you still remember the question I had asked you before? That is why a christain should married a christain. Now I know the reason.

For this, I don't think he know me very well. When I believe the Father, I fell quiet good. I should not too care for everything. I needn't think everything too much. Just do whatever I think is good, or I think the Father may think it is good. When I'm hurted, soon I will be recovery. But he just asked me to give up, or chose one between the Father and him. If you were me, which one will you choose? That is, leave him, I may fell upset for some days. But betray the Father, I really want to cry. I want to leave Joshua. But what's your opinion? And praying for you and your baby!

Kristen wrote:

Thank you for sharing about your situation with Joshua. I am sorry to hear that things are not going well. I know that must make you sad. However, here is my opinion...I believe that your relationship with the Father is much more important than your relationship with Joshua. The Father loves you very much and He desires that your love and devotion to Him is greater than any other. He will be close to you always, even in difficult situations like this. Although it may hurt to leave Joshua, the Father will comfort you and give you peace as you spend time reading His Word and talking to Him. I pry that Joshua will see for himself just how much the Father loves him and wants to have a relationship with him also. I hope this all makes sense.

I am prying for you and love you very much. Please keep me updated on how things are going.

Rachel wrote:

I and Joshua had broken out. Although I am a little upset. I agree with that no matter what happen, even something like this, the Father will still behind me. So I think I am brave enough to face the situation. I still have a lot of friends, maybe this is the the Father's way to let me fell better. And how are you and the baby? Hope to see your pictures! Preying for you and the baby girl!

Kristen wrote:

I'm so glad to hear of your decision. I know it was hard, but I also know it was for the best. I am so thankful that the Father has given you friends to support you and encourage you. Will you have the same roommates this year or different ones?

I attached a picture of me so you can see how big I am getting! :) The baby should be here very soon.

I am prying for you and miss you very much.

Rachel wrote:

So I don't know if the next semester I will get the same roommates or not. But I do understand that the Father will make the decision for me, right? I needn't too care it. I think now what I needed is just the peaceful. Can you give me some advices to get some peaceful?

Kristen wrote:

I am prying that you will have a peace from the Father during these times. He says in Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am your Father." He also says in Isaiah 26:3, "[The Father] will keep in perfect peace all who trust in [Him], all whose thoughts are fixed on [Him]! Keep focusing on Him and His love for you and pry that He will give you His peace....I promise you that He hears you and He will give you peace in Him.

I know that the Father will give you the roommates He has planned for you...those you can encourage and share of the Father's love with! I am so thankful that Sarah has kept in touch with you. The Father knows what your needs are, and He will bring people into your life to comfort you.

Picture Time!

Well, Little Katelyn is still nestled comfortably in Kristen's midsection, so we continue to wait for her arrival with joyful anticipation! In the meantime, we are glad to finally share a few pictures with you of our home (living room, kitchen, and nursery) and us (in our backyard in 104 degree Texas heat!) at 39 weeks!

Back Online!

We are now back online thanks to Steve from Verizon who came out to install our Internet today! We hope to get a few more pictures up soon of the house (including the nursery!) and what we're looking like at 39 weeks! Katelyn is officially due a week from today (Monday, August 20), but when we went to the docter today, she was pretty confident that our little one would be coming earlier than that (maybe even TONIGHT!!?--I guess we better get to bed!). For now, we anxiously await her arrival with much joy and anticipation! Thank you for sticking with us during our time "offline," and we look forward to updating you again (with pictures!) tomorrow--if all goes well! We just wanted to drop a note before heading off to bed!

New Contact Information

Well, we are all moved in to our rent house. We had plenty of help (including Kristen's dad who drove up from Austin) and no rain!! Now its time to unpack. Please ask that the Lord would give us patience with ourselves/each other and energy as we work toward sorting through many boxes and settling in to our new home....all before little Katelyn arrives on August 20. Please take note that we will not have access to e-mail from now until August 13, so we will update you again the next chance we get. Our new contact information is:

Dave and Kristen McCurdy
920 Sylvan Creek Drive
Lewisville, TX 75067
Dave cell: 214-499-3764
Kristen cell: 214-499-3695
E-mail: dandkmccurdy@yahoo.com