Christmas Letter

Dear Family and Friends,
Merry Christmas 2009! This year we have been blessed so much by the Lord that we want to share what He has done with you.

In May, Scott graduated from SUNY Oswego with a BS in Computer Science. In July, we moved from Fulton, NY to Pittsburgh, PA so that Scott could attend the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary as a student in the Masters of Divinity program. We received donations from churches and individuals around the St. Lawrence Presbytery toward a seminary fund for Scott, making it possible for us to afford to live in Pittsburgh while Scott attends school. In September, Scott started classes at the seminary. He finished the fall quarter with a 4.0 GPA and is into his third week of the winter quarter. He has been working part time at Home Depot, as well as balancing his studies and family life. Please pray for him, as this balancing act can be difficult.

In August, we discovered after a year and half of praying for another child, that Andrea was pregnant. So far everything looks good and healthy. Andrea had a sonogram in November and it's a boy. This time we're pretty sure there's no mistake, we saw it pretty clearly for ourselves(We were told Abbey was going to be a boy). We are naming him Jonathan Charles, Jonathan meaning gift of God or God is gracious, and Charles meaning manly. Andrea is now 23 weeks pregnant. Jonathan is scheduled to make his debut on April 8, 2010. Please pray for the health of Jonathan and Andrea, and a safe delivery when the time comes. Andrea has been babysitting a 4 year old boy named Joshua, four days a week. Abbey and Joshua have become good friends. It's nice for her to have a playmate around. Andrea is auditing a class with Scott this quarter. In the Historical Writings class they will read and outline Joshua through 2 Chronicles.

In October, Abbey celebrated her third birthday with family and three of her new Pittsburgh friends. She is growing up so fast, both in height and knowledge. She is in the early stages of reading. She is good at sounding out each individual sound in the word, and is getting better at blending the sounds together. Just in this past week she read about 10 words. Abbey is continuing to learn the questions and answers from the First Catechism, and it's so great to hear her pick out the words she's learned during the sermon on Sunday morning. “Mommy, he said covenant like we learned in bible time!” Andrea's convinced that Abbey knows as much theology as she knew at 16. Abbey is so excited to be a big sister, and is constantly trying to touch Andrea's belly and talk to the baby. She's at an age where she can be a big help to Mommy by going to get things for her. She also loves to help mommy with cooking and cleaning.

There's so much more going on in our lives here that we could spend forever telling you about. We have found a wonderful church to attend at Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, and we are getting to know more and more people there and in the seminary community. It's such a blessing to be surrounded by so many Christians. We miss everyone in Fulton, and we had a great time visiting with family and friends over Thanksgiving break. We will be driving out to Wyoming to visit Scott's family for Christmas. It's a 25 hour drive, so please pray for good weather and safety, and a pleasant trip there and home. May the Lord bless you this Christmas as we meditate on the miracle of the Word who became flesh, and may you have a Happy New Year filled with the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalm 34:8)

Love,
The Doherty's
Scott, Andrea, and
Abbey

Two of my favorite Watson Quotes

"The growth of love evinces its truth. If I see the almond tree bud and flourish, I know there is life in the root. Paint will not grow; a hypocrite, who is but a picture, will not grow. But where we see love to God increasing and growing larger, as Elijah's cloud, we may conclude it is true and genuine."


"God is the most adequate and complete object of our love. All the excellencies that lie scattered in the creatures, are united in Him. He is wisdom, beauty, love, yea, the very essence of goodness. There is nothing in God can cause a loathing; the creature sooner surfeits than satisfies, but there are fresh beauties sparkling forth in God. The more we enjoy of Him, the more we are ravished with delight. There is nothing in God to deaden our affections or quench our love; no infirmity, no deformity, such as usually weaken and cool love. There is that excellence in God, which may not only invite, but command our love. If there were more angels in heaven than there are, and all those glorious seraphim had an immense flame of love burning in their breasts to eternity, yet could they not love God equivalently to that infinite perfection and transcendence of goodness which is in Him. Surely then here is enough to induce us to love God -- we cannot spend our love upon a better object."
Thomas Watson All Things For Good

Old Book Smell

We know that there is a characteristic smell to old books. Well, apparently it is a scientifically analyzable smell.
If you have labored to try to articulate the smell, perhaps this description could help it is "a combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8355888.stm

It's A Boy!!!!

Scott's grades

A quick update to let you know how Scott is doing in school. Three of his four midterm exams have been returned. Here are his grades.

Gospels-90%
Greek-A
Intertestamental Period-A

He is still waiting for the return of his midterm exam for Spiritual Development. He didn't have a midterm for Pentateuch, but has received an A on all of his assignments for the class thus far.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Scott's studies at RPTS.

-Andrea

Abbey's 3rd Birthday

The Entire Hebrew Old Testament printed on a spec

My Old Testament Professor mentioned this in class. Here is the article.

Praying Mantis

I found a large praying mantis in our backyard today.
I wonder if it is the one that I found when we first moved here?

Monongahela Inline

Today Abbey and I went on the Monongahela Inline with some friends. It gives you a great view of the city of Pittsburgh. Here is some information from Wikipedia.

The Monongahela Incline, located near the Smithfield Street Bridge in Pittsburgh, is the oldest continuously operating funicular in the USA, and one of two surviving (the other is the nearby Duquesne Incline) from the original 17 passenger-carrying inclines built in Pittsburgh. Its lower station is across the street from the Station Square shopping complex, and is easily accessible from the light rail system at the Station Square station.

Pittsburgh's expanding industrial base in 1860 created a huge demand for labor, attracting mainly German immigrants to the region. This created a serious housing shortage as industry occupied most of the flat lands adjacent to the river, leaving only the steep, surrounding hillsides of Mt. Washington or "Coal Hill" for housing. However, travel between the "hill" and other areas was hindered by a lack of good roads or public transport.

The predominantly German immigrants who settled on Mt. Washington, remembering the Seilbahns (Cable cars) of their former country, proposed the construction of inclines along the face of Coal Hill. The result was the Monongahela Incline, which opened May 28, 1870.

It is operated by the Port Authority of Allegheny County, which operates the rest of Pittsburgh's transit system. Transfers can be made between the incline and the light rail and buses.

Our Visit Home

Abbey and I had a very enjoyable visit home the weekend of September 19th. We spent the night at Emily's house and went with Grandma and Emily to Greco's Orchard for some apple picking. They really enjoyed picking the apples and seeing the goats, horses, and cows. She also got to spend some time with her cousin Alyssa, at the park. We had dinner at Sweet Inspirations with Carol, Joan, Evie, and Emily, and spent Saturday night at Carol's house. On Sunday, it was so great to see everyone at church. Then after church we had lunch with Carol, Joan, and my mom, at Carol's house. Abbey was really sad to go. She said, "I don't want to go back to Picksburd. I want to stay here." Once we got home she adjusted fine, but she loves everyone back home so much. Looking forward to our next visit.

Andrea

Sobering Quote

A sobering quote from Nancy Leigh Demoss today.

I read recently that every year 3,500 to 4,000 churches in this country close their doors forever.³ Let me say this as lovingly as I know how: There are many, many more that may as well close their doors because they have no light. Their lampstand has been removed.

That doesn’t mean that believers lose their salvation or that the church as an institution ceases to exist. It just means that the church or the individual no longer shines forth the light of the gospel. Their light stopped shining. They may keep on meeting, singing songs, taking offerings, preaching messages, having Bible studies. They may still be busy. They may have a lot of activity, a lot of programs for every age group. They may be flourishing as far as the world is concerned. They may be orthodox, but they no longer have the spiritual impact and influence on the community. Lives are not being transformed. Captives are not being set free. People are not being saved and experiencing the transforming presence and power of God.

Whether it’s you as an individual or as collectively as churches, if we will not repent, Jesus says, “I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Going Home

Andrea and Abbey will be in Fulton for the weekend! Woo hoo! Scott has a lot of work to do, so he'll be staying in Pittsburgh. Can't wait to see everyone!

What we've been up to

Scott started classes last week and things seem to be going very well. He is a little hard pressed for time because he is working quite a bit, but he's staying on top of things so far. He can tell you more about it. So far I know he's had to memorize the first four questions of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Greek alphabet, and do lots of reading. In his Spiritual Development class he has to meet with a prayer partner once a week which is really nice. We met many new students and their families at the orientation last week, and are continuing to fellowship with them over a meal on Wednesday nights. One of the students we met is from Kobe Presbytery in Japan. It's very cool to know that this seminary is training people to preach the gospel throughout the world, and that we get to know some of those people. At the orientation, they said that this is the largest incoming class that the seminary has every had. Undoubtedly, many elders have been training Timothy's and are part of why these men are here. The elders in Fulton have surely played a significant role in getting Scott here, as well as so many other people that have supported us and continue to do so. Andrea started attending a women's bible study at the North Hills RP church upon invitation from our neighbor. The group is studying the book of James. Gretchen Robson(wife of Ed Robson), who is a regular contributor to the Fulton church, attends the study. It was nice to finally meet her. She is so nice.:) The church has child care, which is so wonderful! I get to focus on the study for 2 whole hours without interruption. It is something I really look forward during the week! I am 11 weeks pregnant now and so far things seem pretty normal. I have to wait for my health insurance to go through before I can get any lab work done. I had a preliminary visit at the Liberty Family Health Center where I answered questions. Please pray that I get insurance quickly. My morning sickness is mostly gone but I still have lots of fatigue. Other than that I feel fine. Abbey will be turning 3 in a few weeks. Time has flown by so fast. She will be having a Sesame Street themed birthday party. I'm not going to make the party as huge as I normally do, but I will still try to make it a fun time for her. We picked up some decorations I found at Target today. Love the dollar section. I'll have to post pictures from the party on the blog. The G-20 summit is next week here in Pittsburgh, and it's supposed to be crazy busy as far as traffic etc. There are many protests planned throughout the city, so please pray that people stay peaceful and safe. Sorry for the lack of organization in my writing. I tend to just write whatever pops into my head. Well, ta ta for now.

Love,
Andrea for the Doherty family

Sickies

Andrea has been sick with either a bad cold or flu all week, and now Scott is sick. Abbey's been mildly sick. We've been feverish and very tired and poor Scott has to work from 1:30-10:30 at Home Depot today and from 8-5 tomorrow(Andrea is writing this and she feels really sorry for her husband). Anyway we don't want to be a bunch of complainers, but we would really appreciate your prayers for our health. Scott starts classes on Monday evening and will be working a lot of hours at Home Depot because they are short on cashiers. We want him to start the school year out well, so if you think of us, please say a prayer for him. Monday is orientation at the seminary and there will be a picnic for all the students, faculty, and their families. We're looking forward to meeting everyone. Andrea is estimated to be about 9 weeks pregnant now. She hasn't had a doctor's appt yet because we're still working on getting health insurance issues taken care of. So far things seem to be going well. We pray multiple times a day for the baby's health. We call the baby "Peanut" because our baby book said that the baby could fit inside a peanut shell. Abbey is constantly talking about what she will do with the baby when it 'comes out.' She is so excited to be a big sister. Andrea started watching Joshua last week. Things are going well. She is using a sort of homeschool preschool curriculum with the kids that she has made up using various resources from the library and things we already have at home. She is excited to see how much they'll learn this year! For those of you who haven't heard already, the G20 summit will be here in Pittsburgh later this month. It's a good reminder to pray for our leaders. They desperately need the Lord and His wisdom! We'd love to hear how you are doing. Please send us a quick email and let us know how things are going for you.
Love,
The Doherty's

The Lord has heard our prayers

In December of 2007 Andrea miscarried her second pregnancy. Since then we have been praying for God to grant us another child. Many of you have been praying for us for this past year and a half. Our prayers have been answered! Today Andrea took a pregnancy test and it came back positive! She has had morning sickness symptoms all this week, so we thought we should check it out and we were right! God is so merciful and good to us. Andrea cried for a while when we first saw it out of joy and suprise. Then we all got down on our knees as a family and thanked God. This pregnancy means so much to us because we know what it means to lose a baby and we have been praying for so long. Please pray that the Lord would protect the health of Andrea and the baby. We are so excited! Abbey is so excited at the prospect of being a big sister!!!! Praise the Lord. He is such a kind God. We do not currently have health insurance, but PA offers free insurance for pregnant mothers. This is also a great mercy!

Potty Training

Abbey's doing an awesome job with potty training. She's been wearing undies for 8 days in a row now and has only had a few accidents. At the end of the week she gets to pick out a new pack of underwear for her prize. I'm so proud of my baby girl.

Everything you ever wanted to know about poison Ivy. Why? Because I love you :)

There are a lot of ivy plants in PA.
In order to differentiate between P.I. and other ivies :

English Ivy is very prevalent, but it is not poisonous:

img found here

Virginia Creeper is also common:

img found here

But poison Ivy my friends, looks harmless but bites:


img found here

Here is a video.


Some day you'll be glad you read this!!!

More Poison Ivy

One of our friends got a case of poison ivy while working at Paul Martin's house.
Here are pictures from when I went over Paul's today.
Get to know the look of poison ivy because it is everywhere !!!!!
There is even a huge bush of it in the parking lot of our church.

You'll notice how the ones in the first picture are more deeply lobed whereas the ones down below have shallower lobes and some have spotting on them.

The shape of the leaves of poison ivy can vary slightly.

Abbey riding her tricycle

Poison Ivy

We have a big vine of Poison Ivy growing on our North facing wall.


Some close ups

Close ups

If you wonder if you have poison ivy see http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/picqna.html