And that wasn’t nice making me think for a second that you were with child…

Love you! Baby girl loves you too.

And the top girl name we’ve come up with in the past 48 hours since discovering her gender is one of Bethany’s suggestions! Maybe it’s a sign…

Autumn Alisabeth

Marla, thank you for your thoughts today on Mary. I almost mentioned pregnancy yesterday in response to your question about making Christmas memorable this year. In the past, I have been very newly pregnant twice around the Christmas holiday. In fact, one time I don’t even think I knew it yet. This year, I will be just beginning the 3rd trimester. Not as “great” with child as if I were about to deliver, but in my 4th pregnancy in about as many years, we all know that I’ll be looking and feeling quite motherly by that point. I’m sure I will be able to relate to Mary a little bit better this year in that regard.

Thank you, also, for mentioning your new book and the idea of expectant moms and grandmothers praying together. Somehow I missed that it is a devotional/prayer guide. (I’m a mess these days!) Even though I’m on my 4th pregnancy, I know there’s always something new to learn, so of course now I HAVE to get it. As a mom of a child with special needs, I can definitely relate to praying over all areas of your child’s development and growth. I think about Mary and wonder about all the different emotions she must have experienced, knowing her child would be the perfect Son of God. No worries about the effects of the Fall on that Child, but talk about pressure as a parent! I know that a lot of moms talk about mother’s intuition, but there is so much to be said for how our Counselor prepares us as mothers as well, especially when you spend time really praying over the baby. I experienced this in a profound way with our first child, John.

I clearly remember about the middle of that pregnancy having people ask me if we had found out yet if we were having a girl or boy. At that point we did not know, but we were hoping for a boy. Most people would respond with a common statement, something along the lines of, “Well, as long as the baby’s healthy, that’s all that matters.” At that time, I could not explain the bristling reaction I had in my spirit in response to those comments. In fact, I’m sure I had said the same thing to other expectant moms in the past. But for some reason this time it was different. Very different. I expressed this frustration and confusing inner reaction to my husband; he tried to reassure me that they didn‘t mean anything by it, but to me, it was suddenly a big deal. I couldn’t really explain why, except that this time it was my child we were talking about. Every time I heard that comment, my spirit inside wanted to scream out loud, “No, it’s NOT all that matters. What matters is that God has created this little life, healthy or not, this child has a purpose and is special to God and to us. THAT’S what matters!”

At about the usual 18-20 week ultrasound, we did find out that yes, we were indeed having a boy. We were ecstatic…the first boy after 9 granddaughters on Steve’s side of the family (and incidentally, still the only boy. He now has two little sisters.) It wasn’t until 32 weeks that another ultrasound revealed a severe, life-threatening birth defect that would require newborn surgery and a projected minimum of 2 very tentative months in NICU. At that point I understood that bristling reaction I had inside. It was the clearly the Holy Spirit preparing me for what we were about to face as parents of a special needs child. The journey still continues with our precious son John, who is turning 4 next week. My desperate mom prayers for his physical needs began something like, “Lord, please heal our baby!” and have progressed to “Lord, thank you for letting us watch you heal and grow your baby.” God is so gracious and is still growing us all.