This is Beth blogging for Heather again ;-)
Here is some pictures of Elijah Phillip and Heather.

Heather kissing her little sweet Elijah

Cute little Elijah Phillip

Elijah Phillip

Kimberly and Elijah Phillip

This is Beth~Heathers sister-in-law posting for her.

Baby surprised us all and decided that he could not wait for his Daddy to come home. Phillip was moved to tears that he could not be with Heather while she was having baby but was praying for Heather and baby all day long. Phillip was preaching when baby decided to come. So Heather got to talk to him after she had baby. Her Mama, Sister(Laura)and Sherry Patton was with her for the delivery. I'm sorry I don't have any picture to put up. As soon as we can, we will get some pictures up. They say the baby is beautiful. (OF COURSE :-))

Elijah Phillip Dickinson was born May 14, 2008 at 9:07pm. 8lbs 3oz, 20.5 inch long

~What?...you are 50 weeks pregnant!!~

A PRAISE!!! Phillip and a youth from our Christian Nation church that he took with him arrived safely in Colombia on Saturday night! God helped them and they were able to take back about 200 lbs of PACES for the ACE school there in Bogota plus other things of ours and lots of holiness Spanish books too!
Lord willing Phillip comes back to us on Saturday, May 17th, and we cannot wait!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, for an update on baby. I'm now measuring that I'm 50 WEEKS pregnant...that would be that I'm measuring 10 weeks overdue!! Dialated to 4 cent. and they measured baby as weighing 8 lbs. 6 oz. (but those measurements could be off by 12 oz. either way! So, he could already weigh 9 lbs!!) I'm having lots of contractions and if Phillip were here we would probably have a baby THIS WEEK! However, I want to wait until Phillip comes back from Colombia (if I can) so we are scheduled to be induced to have our baby this Monday, May 19th (if baby waits that long to make his arrival!!) We cannot wait to have him in our arms! Thanks for your prayers and please pray that all will go well with Phillip (and Gary) in Colombia, with their trip home and with baby and I! THANKS!!

~TONS of pics for you to see!~

(If you have trouble seeing my pics on this post, or it takes a long time to download, I'm sorry. I'm using a different computer and didn't know how to shrink them smaller.)
~2 Saturdays ago I saw a tea room and thought it would be fun to take Laura and her 3 girls and my 2 girls and I and go to a tea room. Then I found out that the local tea room was $20.50 per person for high tea, and that their lowest priced tea was $10.95...and I decided that we would have a tea party at Laura's house. So Laura and I worked together and here is the plate of food we made for our tea party. Laura served real Russian tea that was yummy and we had a nice time for MUCH cheaper than tea room prices. =D~We made some happy girls and are still getting Thanked for our tea party that we put together for them. =)

~That evening Rob and Deanna Kennedy invited us over for a nice hot dog roast. Since it was a chilly night we all enjoyed the heat of the fire.~
~The food was yummy and the fellowship was fun, and our kids had a blast playing together!~
~My dear sister Laura and her precious family. These are the ones that are taking such SPECIAL care of our family while we are here. (Maybe you should say a prayer that God blesses them with 14 extra stars in their heavenly crown for their kindness to us. We are loving being together. =)
~Our dear friend Sherri Patton is a massage therapist and she gave me a massage and really worked on my feet and got a lot of the swelling to go away. Thanks bunches, Sherri!~
~Our kids playing with Sherri's girls.~
~Some friends gave Gram and Gramp (my parents) this turtle sandbox for their grandkids. Here my Daddy is filling it with sand for our kids to play in. Thanks, Gramp!~
~The Mother/Daughter tea that my Moma spoke in at Carthage, IN. It was a special time!~
~Our kids and Gram and Gramp filling up their water jugs at a nice spring near my parents home where they get their water.~

~Our kids and their cousin Isaiah at the park. (Notice my sweetheart Phillip on the slide behind them. Hee! Hee!~
~Michael, Beth (And baby) and Isaiah at the park!~
~Beth (my sis-in-law)and I and our baby bumps. Beth is 3 months pregnant, and I'm 9 months pregnant!~
~Our kids LOVED swinging and spinning on this tire swing. "HIGHER FASTER"! Was their cry! =D~
~Our kids and their cousin Isaiah in the tree!~
~Isaiah turned 2 and his Mommy made him a yummy cake!~
~Our fun and yummy "picnic" on the back porch with Michael, Beth, Isaiah, Beth's parents, and our family!~

~Cousins Noah and Isaiah getting scrubbed up after a long day of playing together.~

Only 17 more days until our baby is due...May 24th! Please pray...Phillip has tickets to fly to Colombia for a week this Saturday, May 10th, returning May 17th. He wants/needs to go to encourage the pastor who is filling in for us and to take a bunch of PACES to the ACE school there in Bogota. We are hoping and praying that our baby waits for his Daddy to come back to Ohio before he makes his appearance. Thanks!

~Visiting family...to keep my mind off of my swollen ankles and wanting baby to come~

THANK YOU TO EVERY ONE WHO HAS LEFT NICE COMMENTS AND HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR BABY AND I!!!
When I went to my midwife last Wednesday...I asked her how she would feel about my going to Indiana for a few days...and she said that she felt comfortable with my going. So, I left Ohio last Wednesday afternoon and went with my family to our last deputation service in Nobleville, IN. God helped us and we had a good service. Then the kids and I stayed with my dear parents on Thursday-Saturday while Phillip went to Shelbyville, IN and held a 3 day revival for the Spanish church there. God helped Phillip with his revival, and we had a lot of fun being with my parents. Also on Saturday my Moma was to speak at a Mother/Daughter tea in Carthage, IN and had invited my girls and I to join her. (My sister and her girls couldn't make it due to back and transportation problems. =( ) Moma did a beautiful job speaking and the tea was just lovely...with about 80 in attendance. On Sunday we attended Daddy and Moma's church in Westfield and helped out some with the music. Of course Moma made a yummy Sunday dinner (all of her meals were yummy =) and we decided to stay over and go to their service on Sunday night. They had some company in after church and we all enjoyed visiting together. On Monday we left there and came to visit our family, Phillip's brother Michael, his wife Beth and their 2 year old son Isaiah. Beth is also expecting another baby in November. We plan to stay here until Wednesday then go to our Christian Nation Church for Wednesday night and back to my sister Laura's house. We're having fun visiting with Michael and Beth, and our kids are enjoying playing with their cousin Isaiah.
As far as news about baby and I...things are pretty much the same. I'm walking a lot, having some contractions, but not much has changed. I needed the family time in IN and here with Michael and Beth to get my mind off of wanting baby to come. =D I have lots of pics to post when I get a chance. Again Thanks for your prayers...and please keep them up. God knows the very right time for our baby to make his appearance. =)

~Just letting you know what is happening...~

Yesterday baby had his non-stress test and ultrasound and he got a 10 out of 10...in other words he passed the test with flying colors and got a 100%!! Praise the Lord! We got some adorable ultrasound pics (which I wish I had a scanner to show them to you) and our baby already has the cutest chubbiest cheeks!!! Today I went to see my midwife Stacy and I talked to her about being induced at 39 weeks...(only because one of my midwives had mentioned that to me earlier)...and Stacy said that she's not sure what to do. She said that all the midwives and their back up doctors will discuss my baby and I and our situation and decide what is best and try to tell me next week their plans. She said that they for sure don't plan on letting me go over 40 weeks. (Since I had the extra fluid and 4 weeks ago thought that baby could come any time...these last few weeks ahead of me look like MONTHS!!) My blood sugar is looking good (God is helping me to control it with diet and checking my blood 4 times a day) and it looks like the extra fluid surrounding baby has gone down some, which is encouraging. I was sad about possibly not being induced at 39 weeks because I am MISERABLE and because I have no small amount of pressure on me since my in-laws have their tickets to fly in from AZ on my very due date (May 24th)...and I was hoping to have had our baby before they arrived. Also, with them coming in on that date...we have already scheduled our baby's dedication for the last Sunday that they will be here. My midwife said that if baby decides to come early on his own, that they won't do anything to stop him. So, please just help me pray that God will help baby to come when he is supposed to come (I want what's best for baby)...and that I'll have an easy delivery so I can be at his dedication planned for June 1st...one week after my due date! (And please don't leave any discouraging comments...for as Anne of Green Gables would say..."I'm in the depths of dispair!" =) Thanks for your prayers...I need them right now!

~The JC Pennies pics of our children and I~

Like I said our JC Pennies pics turned out really nice...and guess what Jesus did? He answered my prayer and they came in on Monday BEFORE IHC! YEA! Here's some of my favorites!
~Mommy reading the Bible to our precious children!~
~All 4 of our children...only one is still hiding! =)~
~Our girls, my baby bump and I~
~I love this pic of Noah with his arms back over my baby bump!~

~Our Sunday and some of this week too~

The Lord helped me and I was able to go to our 2 deputation services this past Sunday. On Sunday morning we were at Daniel and Angie Edwards' church. After church, Noah was on cloud 9 seeing all of the neat farming equipment that the Edwards have on their farm. Here's Sarah and Noah and 2 of the Edwards' kids.~~Angie and I went to GBS together, so it was fun visiting with a good friend. She made a WONDERFULLY YUMMY Sunday dinner that we all enjoyed!~
~Our and their kids had a fun time playing together. Here's Kimberly, Sarah, and Noah and 3 of the Edward's children (Their Timothy was taking a nap, and "our youngest" hasn't showed his face yet. =D) The Edwards' oldest and our oldest were born just days apart. (He looks so much taller than Kimberly because he had skates on!)~
~Noah learning to ride a fun tractor!~
~Our Sunday night service was at the Greenfield, IN church and the dear ladies of that church gave baby and I a nice baby shower!~
~Me opening some fun and nice baby shower gifts!~
~Years ago before we went to the mission field I had to sell all of my baby clothes (for no one had room to store them for us) and I told the Lord back then that if he gave us the desires of our hearts and gave us another baby some years from then...that He would just have to provide more clothes for him/her! =) God has been answering that prayer through dear people just like the Greenfield friends! A lady from the Franklin, IN church (whom I have never even met) made our baby a cute baby blanket and sent a baby gift home with Phillip, and at IHC Sarah Cook gave me a gift too! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN SO KIND AND HAVE GIVEN GIFTS TO OUR BABY! We are sooo BLESSED!~
~Me opening yet more precious baby gifts from the dear Greenfield folk!~
~Baby and I and Dear Sis. Kennedy (who is a close friend of my Moma's) and who I think was the brain behind her church giving baby and I that SWEET baby shower! THANK YOU LADIES FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR BABY AND I!!~

~On Tuesday of this week...It was a beautiful day, so we bought our lunch at Arby's and went to River Front by the Ohio river to have a picnic lunch. (We did this in between my ultrasound and non-stress test for baby at one medical building in the morning, and my midwife appointment at another building that afternoon.) We had a lot of fun being together and enjoying that beautiful sun. Since Phillip and I both attended GBS, met, started dating, got married, and had our first baby all in Cincinnati, we have TONS of wonderful memories here! We are enjoying being back here again.~~ We were glad that Daryl was working close by and was able to join us for a few minutes of his lunch break.~
~A cute picture of Sarah and Darla...best cousins!~
~Then we let the younger kids play at the playground, while the 2 older girls had their piano lessons.~
~On our way home we saw this hot air balloon going up in the air...it was a pretty sight!~
~I went to the non-stress test and ultrasound yesterday and our baby looks good. They measured him as weighing 6 lbs and 7 oz. and being 19" long. I'm 35 weeks along now, and my midwife said that she wouldn't be worried if baby comes now and that I can walk and don't have to be on bedrest. 2 Weeks ago my baby bump measured 42" around, and now I'm measuring 46" around. HELP! My baby bump and my SWOLLEN ankles are so big they are hard for me to deal with, but the end should be in sight now. At the most I would have 4 weeks left until baby comes, if not less. YEA!~

My Dad's last sibling, Aunt Virginia just passed away Sunday evening, so we are going to the grave side service tomorrow and plan to help with the music. Please pray for her boys and their families, for my Daddy as he speaks and for us and the Hausmans as we try to minister to them through music. Thanks!

~Bed rest...AT IHC! =)~

I went last Monday for training on how to check my blood sugar 4 times a day, and what and how much to eat to help with my gestational diabetes, and I'm being careful. This will probably help reduce the fluid over time and could help baby not to get too big. I just went today (Friday) for an ultrasound and non-stress test on baby and he looks great, PRAISE THE LORD.
For those of you who didn't get to attend the Inter-Church Holiness Convention (IHC) and are curious, baby and I did get to go to IHC. =D We tried to use a wheel chair as often as possible, and shared a room with our family in the Crowne Plaza hotel right across from the convention center, which helped baby and I out a lot. It was WONDERFUL getting to be there at IHC and feel GOD'S WONDERFUL PRESENCE, hear great preaching and singing, and see family, friends and fellow bloggers. =) Here are some pics from IHC for you to enjoy.
~Nicole Cassady and I finally got to meet each other...after emailing and checking out each other's blog for MONTHS. Just like I thought before I met her...She's a dear. She gave baby a nice gift of 2 adorable outfits. Thanks, Nicole.
~Noah and Bryan trying out my wheelchair. NOTE THE "IT'S A BOY" BALLOON that I had Phillip buy and we taped to my wheelchair . =D~
~My Daddy just published his 3rd book and this picture is of him showing his book to us. (The book is dedicated to we 4 children, our mates, and our Moma! =)~
~Enjoying a snack in the room!~
~Our kids all ready for Wednesday of IHC...and the younger ones were EXCITED to be heading to children's church!~
~From L to R: Moma, Heather, Natasha and Laura enjoying Women of Worth. We ladies had a very good time laughing, sharing, crying, etc.~
~My sweetheart pushing me in my wheelchair. =)~
~Fellow blogger, Leanna and I. She is due one month AFTER me...look at how HUGE I am compared to her. The difference is that this is my 4th baby and I have the extra fluid which is making me look like I'm carrying an elephant. =)~

~Noah and Bryan eating green frosted donuts in their jammies.~
~Our happy family on Thursday of IHC!~
~Noah and Bryan in line to go up on the platform and sing with the Chapel of the children.~
~Sarah and Darla in their matching dresses getting ready to sing with the children.~
~Kimberly and Brittany ready to sing.~
~The Chapel of the Children... where at least 300 children (including ours) were singing for Jesus up on the platform.~
~All of us eating at the Spaghetti Warehouse. My sister and family, my parents, the Kemps, Sis. Sproles and us.~
~Our kids in the last IHC service.~
~~The Mass choir; which is all of the Bible college choirs singing together.~
~My dear Sister Laura and I...tired after 3 long days of IHC...but VERY HAPPY that we got to attend!~