You see, there have been many thought provoking, birth-related events in the past week. Let's begin with the most recent...at this time 29 years ago, my mom was already in the hospital and probably getting ready to undergo anesthesia, knowing that in just 3 hours she and my dad would have a second little baby...me! My dad arrived at 6:30 AM (this is all documented in my baby book). At 8:21 AM I came into the world at 7 lbs 13 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long.
As my mom described me I had "dark hair, a pug nose, and a beautiful dimple in the left cheek I can occasionally catch." Apparently "Daddy was certain it would be a girl and loves Emily Ann as a name." My mom said, "it took me several days to get used to the fact that she was really a girl. I was so ecstatically happy about it!" My mom was 29, the same age that I will be when I deliver our little baby boy. I look at my own birth in a whole new light as I have a very active little boy in my own belly who will arrive in just over 3 months. I'm sure she was excited, but perhaps a little scared, wondering how having 2 children would work and the challenges that would go with it...little did she know that 4 years later she'd have a set of twins to add into the mix. :) On September 13, 1982 my mom wrote the following, "As the baby's mother, my hope is that this baby will mature into a self-confident, independent and able adult with the ability to utilize and lean back on his/her strengths; to cope with (my counselor mom liked that word even then!) and improve upon the weaknesses...I hope this baby has his/her father's intelligence, his ability to listen to others, his patience (not my lack of), his interest in literature, and his continual desire to broaden his knowledge of and his faith in God...From me I hope the baby will develop a sense of humor, zest for life and people, and a love to be with family, as I do...and lastly, someday, I hope that this child may also become a parent so he/she can finally and fully know the love I feel for this child." Well Mom and Dad, I think you did a great job and I think I turned out pretty well, as did my siblings...and being a total mixture of my parents, I think you explained me pretty well, 3 months before I was born! And now it's my turn...
Ever since I first read this entry by my mom I have thought about similar things. There are so many things I love and admire about my husband, Aden, that I hope my children will learn from and inherit:
his warm & loveable nature, his love for the outdoors, his thirst for the things of God, the Holy discontent that is within him when he witnesses or learns of injustice, his amazing gift with young children, his patience (I got my mom's lack of patience!) and laid back nature, his ability to talk easily with anyone, his inability to say an unkind word, and his very strong conscience, something I think I may have lacked as a child...I often think of how different we must have been as children...I just know I got sent to my room and spanked a lot and I deserved it! Sorry Mom and Dad! Being a somewhat fiery person myself, God knew what he was doing when he brought Aden into my life and I am forever changed, by the Grace of God. He has been molding me into His image (a lifelong journey when we are in Christ), and I trust that He will continue to do so throughout my life, but I thank God for the gentleness I think He has taught me through our marriage and the many events and experiences of the last 5-6 years.
I hope that our little boy will have a love for learning and the arts. I hope and pray he has his daddy's ability to remember what he learns rather than his mommy's ability to learn it, test on it and forget it! :) I hope and pray that He will pursue Jesus wholeheartedly, connecting with His Heavenly Father in a way that is deep, unique and personal rather than simply following a faith out of duty or habit. I pray, whether in a public or private way, that he will impact his family, community, country and even world in a mighty way. May he have a love for life, for people, and for God. I pray that he will witness deep love in his parents' relationship and what the exchange of love looks like.
At the beginning of this blog post, I referenced many birth-related happenings...our good friends Spencer & Beth Sweeting just gave birth to their second daughter, Josephine Grace, yesterday evening! I am so excited for all of the new life that is bursting out here in Williamsport and am thrilled that our baby will be born into such a loving community full of friends and other kids their age.
Aden and I feel a stirring in our hearts towards adopting at some point and we have been so encouraged by the recent events with our family and close friends. I will be brief, but last week I had the privilege of attending a baby shower for one of my dearest friends from elementary through high school. She and her husband have been abundantly blessed by God, as he has shown Himself faithful, gentle, & loving, so often in ways we don't expect. He has provided a little baby girl for them to adopt! She will be born in early February and Renee and Doug will be wonderful parents! Along a similar vein, Aden's sister Crista and brother-in-law Chris are currently in China adopting a little 2 year old girl named Mia! Mia will be brought home to a loving family next week, as her 4 siblings eagerly await her in Maryland. We are so excited to meet Mia and welcome her into the family. To follow along with their story and experiences in China, feel free to visit their blog: http://miatravelshome.blogspot.com/
As I've thought about the events of the past week, I have been reminded of the fact that just as Mia and Renee's baby girl are being adopted by loving, waiting parents, we are blessed to have a Heavenly Father who welcomes us into His arms and adopts us into His family.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1a
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. " Ephesians 1:3-6
