Jesus Saves

I haven't posted on this blog in a while.  I have been getting some things together and taking a break.  But, this post was something I thought warranted my coming out of hibernation.  What could be so important to drag me from my warm cocoon of family, home school, cooking, reading, etc?  That would be my son.  You see, this weekend, he turns 8.  On February 7, as a matter of fact! 

"Why is that so exciting," you ask. "After all, you have 3 other children who have turned 8 ahead of him.  Is he your favorite?"

Maybe but that isn't the point.  If you tell the other 3, I will deny it, point blank.
What has inspired me? Well, at choir practice tonight, I found out that we are singing "Jesus Saves" by Travis Cottrell this Sunday.  That is one of my favorite songs.  The other reason?  My little guy is being baptized on Sunday, his birthday, with the mother of all Christian songs echoing through the rafters.  That is the trifecta for this mom.

You see, Asa should not be alive and neither should I.  He was almost miscarried 5 times.  The warm, nest he was cradled in burst when he was still too little to live on this earth.  We were told that he would be born and that he would be too little and that he would die.  His chances were less than 2% for survival.  But, despite all the odds, Jesus Saves.  He survived despite astronomical odds against him.  But, God doesn't play odds.  God does what God wants.

Fast forward several years.  In our kitchen, Asa begins to ask me questions.  Dad comes in and we talk eternity over with our 5 year old.  He understands.  It really isn't that hard to figure out.  We all have a yearning in our soul for something that we don't understand.  There is a piece missing that only one thing, Person, can fill.  Kids sense it and figure it out so much more quickly.  On our kitchen floor, in my arms, our son ushered Jesus into his heart.  Jesus saves.

This child is a son of Adam(yes, I have been reading Narnia with the kids).  He was born to die.  Jesus came into the world born to die so that my son and I could live forever in Heaven.  Jesus saves.

Happy birthday, AJay!

Happy Baptism, AJay!

Jesus Saves
   

DOUBLE DIGITS! Oh My!

The alarm clock blares at 4:30 am.  She reaches over, hits it, and rests back for a minute.  Then, she turns on her side and struggles to sit up.  Her belly is screaming at her.  Her back is aching and she is tired.  All of a sudden, she realizes why she is awake so early.  She is going to have her first baby.  She turns and pokes her husband and says, "Let's go!  We have a baby to meet!"  He groans and slowly sits up.  When the reality sets in, he, too, gets super excited.  They hop out of bed, get dressed, and brush their teeth.  While he is packing the car, she fixes her hair and puts on make-up.  They exit the house with 1 final look.  They know when they come home, life as they know it will no longer exist.  They will be a family of 3!

Fast forward.....4 kids, 2 states, 3 houses, 1 dog, and 10 years later.  That baby turns 10!  One whole decade!  WOW!  Here are some pics that show part of the celebration......

We took her to Outback

Steak is her favorite food!

She was embarrassed by the singing!

Off on our mommy/daughter adventure!

"What a HUGE Bed!"

The view here is amazing but alas it was raining!

Being silly!

Not too old to snuggle with Mom!

The sign I made her that says 10 ten different ways!

We decorated our own wrapping paper!

Her sister made this!

I made this card!  Isn't it pretty?

The whole family!

Her new kangaroo skin glove for big girls!

She loves the Redskins!  She wants an RGIII poster!

Big girl jewelry!

She only got a cupcake but a surprise party is on tomorrow!

Waiting....

Well, I have been here 2 weeks and everyone is just baffled as to how.  I, however, am not baffled.  I know that my prayers have been answered.  I prayed that my baby would make it to 25 weeks and he has!  With little amniotic fluid!  What are the odds?  Well, the odds are <.1%.  Yep, you read that correctly!  99.9% of all women whose waters break give birth within 2 weeks.  Through God's power, I beat those odds.  The doctors are very optimistic.  I have no infection thanks to 4 very powerful antibiotics.  I have not begun labor.  We are now just waiting.  That may be the hardest!

I have been away from my home and family for 2 weeks.  I miss them terribly but I know that I must do this for my son who is fighting to stay in my womb.  The kids visit several times a week but it is hard for them because I am 40 minutes from home.  We have amazing people keeping them, cleaning the house, cooking, and loving on them in my absence.  My mother-in-law, my church, and my family are worth their weight in gold. 

I get lonely here.  The nurses are becoming my friends.  I do have visitors and there is always the TV.  Mike Rowe and I are getting to know one another much better.  Some friends came and helped decorate my room for Christmas and another brought her new baby by to see me on her way home.  You can't believe how tiring just lying around all day is.  Bed rest is not restful at all.  I am reading like crazy and learning to do Sudoku.  Talking on the phone is becoming a past time and sometimes I feel like I am bothering people but the room gets awfully quiet. 

I am not sure how much more time I am going to have here in Rm 469 but I will eeek out every second to keep my little guy inside for as much time as I can get.  I am growing closer to the Lord here.  I can feel His protection all around the room.  I am finding peace in an impossible situation.  Thank You, God, for the extra time I am having with AJay.  Keep him safe until the day you decide for him to be born!


This is an excerpt from some notes I took during my hospital stay in 2007.  Check out how I ended up in the hospital in the first place here.  Just doing some remembering!