Today we celebrated with family and friends the anticipated arrival of our daughter, Brooklyn Olivia. She is due to arrive around March 24th, 2011. Just 52 days from now, if my memory serves me well (which it does, on occasion). The blessings that we were showered with were many: gifts of all kinds, from a baby swing, breast pump, and swaddling cloths, to blankets (so many handmade treasures!!), toys, wraps and bath time goodies! This child is well taken care of already...and we are overwhelmed with thanks! But even more so, we were blessed with the encouragement of friends who we know have supported us through prayer in the two years we have been married. Through the loss of our first pregnancy, to the struggle to become pregnant again, these women and their families prayed for us and encouraged us in so many ways. Meredith led a time of discussion exhorting me in my walk with Lord and the many things I have to thank God for; How He saved me by His graciousness through Christ, how He redeemed my life from Hell, and how He has carried me through trials I would never have survived without His grace present in my life. I was overwhelmed during the shower with the love that I was shown through these ladies - when they prayed for me and the baby, and Joel, I was in tears...tears of joy, from how much they care for us. God has been so good to us and I have no idea how to grasp that goodness. I see it and I know it (to an extent)...but it is beyond my comprehension. I don't even know what to do with the blessing of a child after the loss of one. I look back and see how God has used the loss to strengthen Joel and me in more ways than I know possible...and I know He is not done with us. Praise Him for that! I have had more sorrow and more joy in the past two years than I may have ever experienced prior. God continues through the joy and difficulty of carrying a child, to grow and strengthen us in our marriage and our pursuit of a church family. He helped lead us to the decision to attend Sojourn Community Church and graciously blessed us with FRIENDS locally and within the Church (that was a huge answer to our unspoken prayers...) who love the Lord and spur us to love Him, others and each other more. All that I have to look back on gives me hope to look ahead, but even more, it gives me hope to endure each day knowing that God is sovereign over each moment, and He is faithful to sustain us through our joys and our sorrows. My hope and prayer for the next 7ish weeks is to ready my heart to receive a child, to steady my nerves about delivering her into the world, and to focus more on my loving husband when I feel so constantly focused on my own situation of pain or discomfort and anxiousness! With that said, I will leave this post with a piece of Paul's letter to the Philippians (4:4-9)
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.