Ava’s PlayPen

I really don't know how to begin the story of the past 3 weeks of our life.  So much has happened, so much blessing, a lot of fear, a beautiful miracle, and about halfway we were taught a lesson in Faith and the power of our risen Savior.

Amy and I have been trying to have another baby for the past year and have, like many, had a couple miscarriages along the way.  Each miscarriage itself is a lesson in grace, and the imparted strength of God given to us.  Completely undeserved, but strength and peace given out of Love.  Especially concerning Amy.  I could write a book on the many virtues of my wife, but Solomon already summed them up in Proverbs 31 (verse 25 is particularly fitting for Amy during this time)... So it has been a crazy year, and very trying, for me at least if I'm honest.

So we found out we are pregnant again about mid July.  At this point, getting pregnant kind of is restricted to guarded optimism vs. excitement, and that is probably a generous description.  It is during this time that I began reading through 1 Samuel, and ran once again into the story of Hannah.  I really didn't think much of it at the time, but I've always thought it amazing how she poured her heart out to God and he answered by blessing her with a Child.  Well to shorten things a bit, about 9 weeks or so into the pregnancy Amy started bleeding again.  On top of that, she was feeling absolutely horribly weak, cramping like crazy, and it really wasn't looking good as she felt her body was trying to get rid of the baby.  The week before, my grandma was taken in for a triple bypass, and the week following, my dad was taken to the ER for heart issues.  It was a crazy couple weeks.  Early on that Wed morning I was reading and studying a Bible passage we were going to discuss in small group.  I made it about a quarter of the way through Chapter 4 in Philippians when I ran on vs 6 and 7.  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus".  God really spoke to me through that verse, and through so many similar verses in the bible that portray the intimate Love that God has for us, and the deep interest in every aspect of our life.  There will never be a shortage of things in life that cause us anxiety, but we really don't have to carry them...

Like that very same day, we had a movie come in from Netflix titled "Faith Like Potatoes".  And to make a long story short, God really used the story of a man's great faith in God to inspire me.  At the end of the movie, the lead character (a farmer) feels God leading him to plant potatoes.  The reason for Potatoes, is that you have to have faith to plant and harvest potatoes.  The part of the plant you see, is not necessarily indicative of the harvest you will have, as the harvest is underground...  As I was driving to work the next day, it dawned on me that Amy had a little spud in her!!  I popped out my trusty blackberry, and texted Amy.  "You have a potato in you, we can't see the baby or what is going on, but we are going to pray and believe God has the power to bring us a baby regardless of how things are looking!"  So we prayed, and really gave it all to God and asked for a healthy baby.  Our friends and family prayed for us as well.  The bleeding did immediately stop on the monday following...  On a side note, I have come to the realization that Google just may be one of the great faith killers.  If you aren't feeling well, or you are having symptoms, just search on google and the bulletin boards and blogs that are displayed will convince you that you are about to die a horrible death.

Anyhow, that brings us current.  Today we loaded up the family, and went to the Dr's Office for Amy's first appt. at 12 weeks.  Ava's excited and curious if the baby is going to come out so she can see it (She is still curious as to why there's not a baby in daddy's big belly).  So the midwife (a great Christian woman), took out the heart beat detector, and searched... and searched... and searched.  Finally, we heard the placenta working (which is a good sign), and then about 2 or 3 minutes into looking for the heart beat we heard the little ticker (160).  Ava didn't know quite how to take it, but slice it as you may, Jesus worked in our life and these weeks have been some of the sweetest in my Christian walk.

So, we're expecting number two by God's grace, and we're excited about it.  I apologize if this all seems a little melodramatic to those reading, but a few posts on this blog serve to document times in our life that God works in beautiful ways.  I try to capture what we were thinking and going through as it happens in hope that some day we can read back on this and praise God again for the great blessings in our lives.  And just maybe, someone might read and realize that He truly is a good God, always...