Track 3: A Baby Makes Three. →
All glory to God! We're pregnant! Baby Valla is coming this November.
Almost everyone we've shared our news with has asked how it was announced to Dad-to-be, so we thought we'd take this opportunity to share more about worship. Because that's exactly what we did.
We have boxes of pregnancy tests on-hand at all times. That's because I could never wait to take one (or two or three) each month! After nearly two years of watching a single line appear, I looked over on the bathroom counter and read the miraculous word: PREGNANT.
I just started bawling, crying out, "Thank you, God, thank you, God, thank you! YOU ARE SO GOOD!" There was a bit of space before "Pregnant," where I typically saw the word "Not" appear. I quickly grabbed another brand (the human in me needed to be double sure). TWO lines. Almost instantly! Before I had only experienced that dreaded single line.
I love that the first test I took that month was one that announced it with that beautiful word versus lines. It made the good news that much more surreal.
Most couples who struggle with fertility can relate to hearing advice from other mommas: "Have you tried an ovulation kit?" ... "It took me a year to get pregnant." ... "Why aren't you choosing IVF?"
I am very regular. Have never been on birth control with my husband. Have a healthy history...with no concern from doctors about my fertility. Track my ovulation on apps, with kits, calendars...
Paul even took a test! (Nailed it!) I can't ever question his love after he went to Walgreens alone and had a conversation with a sweet woman - after handing her one item for purchase: a male fertility test. (HE LOVES HIS WIFE!)
As a fairly new follower of Jesus, I believed more than ever that God was a faithful Father. I knew He would give us a child in His timing - even praying about adopting. While that may still be an option in the future, we both received an answer that we would carry His Creation.
We weren't waiting for God. The word waiting seems to exist in a grey area of maybes; we were anticipating in faith that God is who He said He is: God who spoke the end from the beginning knew when, and we were trusting Him alone. Paul definitely grew curious, but never frustrated. He loves sitting on the edge of his seat in joyous anticipation of movement from the God of all eternity. He is never discouraged over today, but always anticipating tomorrow.
While anticipating, I learned that one of my childhood friends delivered her twins early...and they sadly went to be with Jesus after spending very few breaths with their Earthly parents. I hadn't cried like that in a long time. My heart ached for her so badly, I physically hurt. Paul cried, too. And he's never met this friend. This family is always on our hearts.
My friend is a beautiful Daughter of the King. Jesus has given her so much peace. Peace that is unexplainable; that peace that can only come from Him. I know it's so hard for some to grasp. But it's like that joy Paul talked about in Track 2 - joy that is NOT OF HIM. As a baby Christian, when I fellowship with a Believer, the Holy Spirit testifies to me that they are covered in the blood. My friend Amy is drenched. Her story, her history, is HIS-STORY. It makes her who she is and will always be a part of her amazing testimony.
I rejoiced that she was able to spend precious moments with her twin sons, and we gave all the glory to God that He healed her from this Earthly pain. That He gave her peace that makes people question. HE IS SO GOOD. Such a wonderful Father.
Whatever happens, we are thankful. We have dedicated this child growing inside of me to the Lord.
“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.”
When Paul came home from work that night, we met each other in the hallway, me with a positive pregnancy test in hand and him with the biggest smile I've ever seen on his face. We both had tears streaming down our face and just held each other tight. We had a moment of worship: Thank you God for being faithful. Thank you, Jesus. Crying and worshiping, together as husband and wife, in reaction to who God is.
It wasn't a moment of, "We're having a baby!" It was a moment of putting God first - to acknowledge the Miracle Maker before the Miracle.
“For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”
God is effortlessly faithful.
Even when we are faithless, needing to take that back-up pregnancy test in all our human nature.
“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!”