A new year sets in, and I find myself doing the same thing I do every year - setting personal goals and making lists of things to finally get done.  Each year the list is similar - sometimes more hefty than others, but always leaning towars over doing it - finish that entire list of Christian books I have not yet gotten to, read through the Bible twice this year, memorize a book of the Bible, write in my journal daily, pray three times a day, etc.  Somewhere in my planning … [Read more...]

Our new little blessing was born just 10 days ago.  This picture was taken just seconds after he was born.  Notice how his fingers are interlaced with one another.  The nurse said she had never seen that before.  I marveled at this little miracle, and wondered about the man he will become.His hands foreshadowed the interlocking of our lives, woven together over time and shared with one another intimately.  Sometimes the fingers slide seamlessly together, interlocking in … [Read more...]

I remember it clearly.  Her warm body, lying on my stomach.  She had been placed there seconds ago, but as I gazed down, I could only see the back of her head and her shoulders.  I had been waiting for this child, this daughter that I began to know in my womb over the last nine months, and here she was.  She entered the world, and I longed to see her.  I asked the nurse, "Can I move her?" - not knowing what to do as a first-time mom, scared that I would somehow … [Read more...]

I have been waiting, anticipating this day. The last nine months of hopeful excitement anticipating the new child in our family, and worry and concern that everything in the pregnancy goes well. It really is a long time – nine months. The day has arrived – my due date, and I am still awaiting this miracle.She waited too, only her wait was much longer than 9 months. She suffered the aching, yearning for a child that lasted years. Through tests, doctors visits, answers that provided more questions … [Read more...]

His head rests gently over my shoulder, his shoulder curving around my neck.  The arm on the outside of his body drapes over my shoulder and I can feel his fingertips brush the back of my arm.  My neck fits snuggly, like his body was created to be cradled.  I rest my head on his head.  He breathes deeply.  He had come over and lifted his chubby little arms up to me, his eyes bright with expectation.  I could tell he knew I would lift him up.  I would hold him … [Read more...]