Seasons

Many of you have been posting about getting ready for fall and all that comes with picking pumpkins, the cooler weather and the beautiful leaves starting to change.

There is a song by Nichole Nordeman called "Every Season" that I have listened to over and over and over since our daughters were born. It is a song that speaks the truth of what it looks like to go through the seasons of life: the joys of summer, the cooling of fall, the harshness of winter and the promise of spring.

We have been through our "winter" so to speak, this past year. Because our God is good and faithful, he always promises spring to come. Spring has come to us! And he/she will be arriving in March! I have been waiting patiently to share my news with you, but I wanted to wait until we knew everything was okay, and more so, wait until after September 4th. Here is his/her first picture!

Honestly, it has been a bittersweet 3 months; knowing that we were expecting but also anticipating what September held for us. Having hope can be exhausting--trusting that what God says He will do, He will do and continuing to wait on His promises. It can also be exhilarating--realizing that yet again, He is the one that is control and not us. And when His timing comes, you can finally rest. We have gone back and forth with these emotions too many times to count the past year but we are so incredibly thankful to Him to bless us with another child.

After the girls were born, and realizing what our "new normal" would be, Mike made the comment about how much we would love any subsequent children we would have. Not only because they would be our babies, but because of experiencing the loss of two. Only God knows if the baby inside me now would have eventually come if his/her sisters had lived. Because of Allison and Emily, we have so much to give.

Many of you have prayed for us this past week and for that, there really are no words for me to say, other than...thank you. It was truly overwhelming when I would read the comments, not even knowing you, about how you were praying and lifting us up. Everyone should be so fortunate to have that kind support.

As we enter into the next several months I am sure there are going to be a mix of emotions (there already has been--pregnancy and non-pregnancy related!), but my prayer is simple and comes from an old hymn from the late 1800's...."Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art, I am finding out thy greatness of Thy loving heart....Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved, know what wealth of grace is Thine, know Thy certainty of promise, and have made it mine."

Job 8:21

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.