Less than 24 hours

Dear Kaleb,
I can't believe we're here.  Less than 24 hours til your dad and I finally get to meet you.  My heart is overflowing with joy and thankfulness and my eyes are filled with tears. The last 3 (almost 4) years have been an incredible journey and the last 9 months are ones I will never ever forget.  Every time you moved, every time I heard your heartbeat or saw you on the ultrasound monitor, I continually praised God for you and was reminded of his faithfulness.  I know it's selfish of me, but I'm almost not ready for you to come out of mommy's belly yet. The bond that we have formed is incredible and one that I know not everyone (who wants to) gets to experience.

I have so many questions about you I can't wait to have answered. Do you have your daddy's chubby cheeks and dark black hair? Do you have mommy's ability to fall asleep within seconds in just about anywhere?  What kind of things are you going to like? The list goes on and on. One thing's for sure - we promised God when we asked for you that we would raise you to love Him and be his servant, and we'll do everything possible to keep that promise to God.

Kaleb, you're our miracle baby, as daddy calls you. We won't always agree on things and times may get hard, but my love for you will never change.  I'll always be grateful for you and know you are a true gift from God.  I probably won't get much sleep tonight thinking about meeting you, so give your mommy a break tomorrow ;)

I love you to infinity and beyond,

Mommy

So many things to be thankful for...

It was about this exact time one year ago that I was sitting next to Heath Farmer listening to Steven Furtick speak at the Global Leadership Summit.  I had finished Furtick's book, Sun Stand Still, a few weeks prior, and had a heavy heart as I thought about mine and Eddie's sun stand still prayer to have a child.  Heath must have noticed because he leaned over and whispered Psalm 37:4 - "Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."  Words that brought tears to my eyes because at the time, I had felt forsaken by God. After 3 long years with no child, it seemed like it would never happen.

For the next couple of months, Eddie and I prayed like we've never prayed before.  I told God over and over that I was going to keep knocking on the door until I got an answer.

In November, Heath and his wife Rachel had their son, J.P.  Eddie and I were at their house the week after J.P was born, and Heath snapped this photo.

Over and over that night, Heath kept saying that it was going to happen soon. Our turn to have a baby was coming.  I nodded and smiled - about 10% of me hoped what he said was true, the other 90% doubted that it would ever happen.

Then, on December 23, I got the news I was pregnant.  Just a little over one month after the photo above was taken.  God had his hand in the timing of every single aspect.  When I look back, I am so incredibly thankful for people who prayed for us and with us.

I am thankful for a healthy and relatively easy pregnancy.  There were so many days I thought I'd never get to even experience being pregnant.

I am thankful for an incredible husband who has been there for every appointment and ultrasound, and through every mood swing and food craving.

I am thankful for a church family that is supportive, encouraging, and rejoicing with us.

I am thankful for a God that never did leave or forsake us, but instead wrote a beautiful story in our lives where we can truly give Him all the glory.

I am thankful that in a matter of days, Eddie and I get to finally meet and hold Kaleb and become a family of 3.

Prayers for a safe delivery and healthy baby are greatly appreciated. :)