When we decided to start trying for a baby with Nora, it all came pretty easily. Three months after deciding we were ready, the Lord agreed and blessed us with our first pregnancy. I'm normally a 'fly by the seat of my pants' kind of gal. Not really organized, don't really have to have a schedule or any kind of routine. Since I've gotten older I have gotten a bit better, and definitely since we started doing Dave Ramsey and paying off our monstrous student loans I have suddenly become a Type A planner. I had everything planned, we'd try for #2 when we had x student loan paid off, then deliver around x month.

One year and one miscarriage later we found ourselves expecting our 2nd. The whole process was very emotional, but also taught us to fully trust in the Lord, and know that our plans may not be what is best for our lives. He is working hard to form our family, and we had to let go the control we wanted to have and trust that His way is the only way. It's been a great journey for us.

So, with that said, it took us FOREVER to find a middle name for this baby. I wanted it to be something so special, because of the Lord's hand in this process. I also wanted it to flow, like any mother does, so this was overwhelming because nothing was working. A few weeks ago I prayed (seems like a silly prayer, but the Lord answered) that he would literally drop a middle name into our brains (or at least onto google) and he did.

In a few days, we will welcome Margo Lael into our lives. Lael, pronounced "Lay- ell" is a Hebrew word meaning "belonging to God". We're naming her this because she does. She belongs to God, not us. She's being given to us as a gift and display of God's unending grace for us. As much as I desperately wanted a baby and wanted one on my own time, the Lord is providing on HIS time and we are so grateful. So join us in praying for Margo Lael as she spends her last few days in the comfort of mommy's belly. Well, the comfort is hers, not so much mine, but anyway. We're so excited to meet this new member of our family!

Well, we're just weeks away from becoming a family of 4 and joyfully welcoming this little one to our home.



As I think about adding to our family, I start to reflect on how my first baby is all grown up. I look at pictures of her as a baby and can't believe the beautiful little girl she is becoming. It goes so, so fast.



When I pass by her big girl room it sometimes makes me sad, but I'm excited about embarking on a new journey with her as a "big sister". She'll be so great. She's SO excited about having a baby sister, as evidenced by her constant baby talk. Seriously- it's constant and it's constantly driving me insane. Guess she's practicing??



I love watching the creative side of Nora. She will sit for hours and work on "projects" at home. She loves to create anything, much like her daddy, and it's fun to see that part of her develop. I'm trying to soak in each minute with her before things get crazy. Here are a few of her latest creations.





I can't say enough about this guy. He's been working so hard making sure I'm comfortable, getting things accomplished from my "to do" lists, AND still attending his day job, all while trying to be the best father and husband he can be. Never complaining. Ever. I'm so, so blessed to be married to someone that is daily trying to better himself in every way. Love him.



As I close, I can't help but mention my ambivalence about posting this. Although this is my life right now, I know my longtime friend is probably reading and desperately wishing she was finishing up preparations for her new baby. We were 3 days apart in our pregnancies, but the Lord had other plans for her family. Not that I didn't know this before, but now more than ever, I realize what a gift a child is. It's a miracle from conception to birth, and a gift that none of us deserve. We all, as mothers and fathers, should take this gift just as it is- undeserved- but as another example of the Lord's deep love for his children. These children are not ours, but are put in our care for an unknown amount of time, and it is my prayer that Kevin and I take care of this new gift when the Lord decides to bring her into our lives. Please pray over us these next few weeks, and continue to lift up my friend, Chelsea, as we will both be experiencing different emotions in the coming days.

Balloons for Chase

My friend, Chelsea, lost her sweet baby boy last Sunday. She delivered him Wednesday, and said goodbye in a balloon celebration on Saturday. You can read about their story here. Several friends joined her in sending up balloons to Chase. Nora and I traveled to Nashville to release balloons with the Stites and Sandersons.

First, we all wrote notes to tie to the balloons.



Here are the three families represented minus Kevin- he wanted to join us but had some church commitments that kept him in Memphis.









We played Blessed Be Your Name while Murray read, ironically, the same verse Mark and Chelsea chose to represent Chase's life. David said a sweet prayer, then it was time to release and celebrate!


The release!





We love you Chase and Jacobs/Teague families!

"Earth hath no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal"