From time to time, I am convinced that I will have BURNING “fatherhood questions” that I will need the answer for as soon as possible. It is during these times that I will turn to the trusty stevansheets.com readership and ask away.

That said, here’s #01:

Scenario: I’m at Wal-Mart and I’m alone with my freshly-born son/daughter. We’re shopping for “whatever” and suddenly the “I’ve got to go” urge hits me. You know the type – we’re talking EXLAX version here.

WHAT AM I TO DO?

Already thought-of options:

#1 – take son/daughter in carseat into men’s restroom and place carseat on NASTY men’s bathroom floor as I “do the business”.
#2 – (a variable of #1) – place carseat on “changing table” in the “handicap” stall as I “do the business” – therefore keeping the seat off the NASTY floor.
#3 – (this only works in a store like Wal-Mart in a city like Warsaw) find someone that I know from church or jail-ministry (joke) and ask them to watch my son/daughter as I “use the restroom”.

I’m not comfortable with EITHER option – so this is where you, stevansheets.com readers come to my rescue!

Option 1 includes placing a CLEAN carseat on a mini-hair covered, pee-stained, semi-tiled floor in a PUBLIC restroom – I can’t imagine how much cleaning I would have to do after that incident.

Option 2 involves the wishful thinking that THIS public restroom will have a changing table – and that it is INSIDE the stall that I CAN USE (empty).

Option 3 involves TRUSTING someone else ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT WITH THE LIFE OF MY CHILD!!! – I couldn’t carry a list of “pre-qualified” watchers that Jess and I work up with me wherever I go.

So, what would YOU do?

EVERYONE is welcome to give their 3-cents. (I can’t wait!)

Okay, now that the NEWS is out, I’m dealing with “what-do-I-post-about-itis”.

So, I am taking Jess’ advice and posting about something that helped Jess make it through a bad day of nausea!

Introducing: “Preggie Pops“!

Interesting. I’m still waiting to “borrow” one for myself and see what they taste like. I’m thinking that dum-dums are the same thing, only they’ll be cheaper and easier to find!

So there, now you know about an interesting product. Jess actually received these from one of her students’ mothers who happens to attend our church and sent her daughter to school with a bunch of “baby-is-coming” stuff for us to use! How awesome is THAT?!

In “other” news, today I had a Youth Cabinet Meeting over in Ft. Wayne. We had a good time at the Seekers Coffee House planning a year’s worth of district youth events and had a great time chatting about this past weekend’s ADVANCE conference. It is such a good feeling to meet with guys that are of like-minds and like-ministries and be able to brainstorm with similar, yet different, viewpoints!

I got back in the office shortly after 4PM, just enough time to boot up the laptop, catch up on e-mail, and then head home for supper!

Accountability group became “Bible Study” tonight. We’ve decided to nix the question-asking process and get further into actual Bible reading. We’re starting with the NLT’s ONE YEAR BIBLE. We’ll be starting with October 11th’s section and read a week’s worth before our next Monday night. We’ll then come to the table with things that we’ve learned or questions we have and discuss that past week’s reading. It will be a good time and will offer a DIFFERENT-sort of accountability through the reading of God’s Word together. I’m looking forward to it! I haven’t read through the Bible since college – and even then I “browsed” some of it! (How’s that for honest?)

WE’RE PREGNANT!!!

Today in both morning worship services, I put up a slide of what I told the congregation was “My first baby picture.”

When they had time to let that picture sink into their minds, I corrected myself and pointed at Jess, my wife, and said, “I meant to say that this is OUR first baby’s picture!”

The claps in both services brought tears to my eyes!

We’re officially 11-weeks pregnant with our first child and I can hardly keep seated for very long without wanting to tell someone else!

This is the most incredible, awesome, God-thing that I’ve ever experienced in my life!

Jess is doing well – she’s usually sick in the mornings, though we’re thanking the Lord that she hasn’t yet had to throw up. She is EXTREMELY exhausted at the end of each day (even now she’s napping on the couch!) and I promise she has to use the bathroom more times than any other person on the face of the earth! (but I still love her!)

Jess is becoming more and more beautiful as these weeks progress – knowing that my best friend is now carrying our child is an incredible thing to me!

Our families are crazy about the thought of this new addition (just read the comments over the next few days.)

So, this starts a new chapter in the lives of Stevan and Jessica Sheets – one of those chapters that I can’t wait to continue writing/reading!

We’ve placed our lives, once again, in the center of our Father’s hand and have continually asked Him for guidance, strength, and wisdom during this pivital time! We know – and live-out-loud – the fact that God is in control!

Jess sang this morning in both services, “My Life Is In Your Hands” – what a testimony!

Expect updates from the life of an expectant father over the next 6+ months as we journey together down this road!

I promise it will be worth the daily visits! I’m even thinking of starting a “she-used-the-bathroom-again counter!” Okay, I won’t do that.