The Truth

When Josiah was born my Mother-in-Law gave me a devotional book called Prayers for Mothers of Newborns, by Angela Thomas. She wrote the book after the birth of her fourth child. It definitely touches on almost all of the issues you encounter (awe, first smiles, sleeplessness, weight, crying, naps, shots, etc.) and gives some heart-warming words and scriptural encouragement. I love it! (Thank you Kay!)

I wanted to share this devotion:

"Come Look at Her"

Dear God of Great Joy,
Even at 2:00 a.m., I don't really mind the cries and feeding. I truly delight in just one more look. I cannot get enough. I love to stand and stare at her. I love to see her sleep. I adore her yawn. I watch as her eyes follow the mobile, and I am happy. I work around the house for a few minutes, then give in to the urge to go peek at her again. With every glimpse of her perfect face, I breathe a prayer of thanksgiving. My soul rejoices over her.
Her half smile and inquisitive stare entrance me. I call everyone to come and look at her when she is wide awake and curious. thankfully, our whole family loves to marvel at this gift who breathes and sleeps and eats. I want my heart to memorize each one of these moments, things not captured by video or camera--her touch, her smell, the emotion that consumes me when I look at her.
Oh God, I continue to rejoice in the birth of our daughter. My days may be long and extremely tiring, but just one more look can revive my joy. I feel so grateful to You for the wonder of her. I never imagined the breath-taking beauty of motherhood. What a fabulous view! The most spectacular place on earth must surely be our nursery with the priceless treasure sleeping there.
Thank You so much for the privilege of parenting. Thank You for each tender look that warms my heart. My greatest blessing is motherhood. I love You. In Your great name, amen.

May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice! Proverbs 23:25

(Laurie again) When I first found out that I was pregnant, I talked to my good friend Lisi. She and her husband had their first child, Sofi after they had been married for 14 months. She cautioned me by saying "the one thing I really regret is feeling like I had to apologize for being pregnant so soon into the marriage". She told me that she wished she had just enjoyed being pregnant and looking forward to the baby, rather than worrying about what others thought about it.

It was really hard to heed her advice!! Josiah was such a surprise and not in our plans for the first year of marriage that my instinct was to make excuses and to make jokes about having a baby so early, about the surprise and shrug it off like "well, it's happening and we are excited now!". And I did. Although inside I grew more and more excited and dreamed of our life and family, outside I think I tried to hide that excitement because I worried about what others thought.

I think that God really works in our lives to show us, not only His power, but that His plans and timing are infinitely better. I never would have had a baby 2 weeks after our first anniversary, but I can't imagine how the last year would have played out without that. It's been a little nuts, but I wouldn't change a thing! Having a child brings a whole new level of understanding into life of our relationship with our heavenly father and how much he loves us. With an unwaivering love, not a love that is exasperated at 4:00 in the morning!

Without sounding too cheesy, My greatest joys in this life are my husband and my son. With those 2 things God has truly given me more than I could ever have dreamed of! I am so proud to serve a God who knows and loves His children in that intimate a way.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

His ways are definitely perfect. Without question. I am thrilled that He is in charge of everything. I cannot wait for Him to give Matt and I more children! I love being a mother more and more everyday. I still feel like Angela Thomas in her devotion "Come look at her"... like I need to drag everyone in the world through Josiah's little bedroom to marvel at everything that he does. He's amazing! It's very freeing to finally feel comfortable enough to be proud and thrilled about Joey, and excited about more kids. (and for me, to admit that, is also very freeing)