"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
(Side note: Nate picked this song on the player to go along with his b-day message...a little heavy metal:) but I like it. Nate, I pray that you always see your need for Christ as this song speaks)
As mothers we can't help but relive every moment possible of the birth of our children. As Nate's birthday approaches, I take a walk down memory lane.
My thoughts quickly trace back to the birth of my precious little boy. I was 36 weeks and 6 days when I started with contractions. I had a fever, some sort of virus in my body which brought on contractions that were coming hard and strong. Off to the hospital we went. I was feeling quite miserable. The nurses started to hook me up to all sorts of I.V.'s getting me situated in Labor and Delivery with hopes of hydrating me and a little Tylenol and I would be on my way home to wait another three plus weeks to deliver. As standard, they hooked me up to the baby monitor and this is where things got a little scary.
After several tries, they were having a hard time getting my babies heart rate. Eventually, the heart rate would show up every once and again but it was extremely high. It would pop up and then disappear, which was indicative of a unsafe, very high heart rate. With that, the doctors and nurses began scurrying around. It very much seemed like a fog, but I remember them questioning me and asking when I started with the fever and how long had I been sick. I began to slowly take in that we were in a serious situation and our baby was at risk.
I remember seeing my sister come in the room and with a sweet but concerned look on her face say that everything was going to be okay and that I was receiving the best care. My sister was working in Labor and Delivery at the time. As the urgency continued, my aunt Barb who was with us for every birth came in and with her reassuring way calmed us down. Aunt Barb told me that Nana had everyone praying for us and the baby and that people had gathered at her house(which was the family hang-out) to pray for us. That gave us great comfort.
We did not know the sex of our baby and did not want to find out. The doctor came in and did an ultrasound which showed, from everything that they could see, that the baby looked okay. He teased me in saying he knew what we were having and did I want to know. We passed up the opportunity. I was then put on a ice bed....yeah, full body ice bed because they wanted to get my fever down and the tylenol wasn't doing the trick. I laid on the ice bed and my fever did start to come down. After many hours of the baby's heart rate bouncing around in the very, very, very highs they grew quite concerned and decided to induce me with Pitocin aka fire water which I have a love/hate relationship with.
Apparently when babies get virus' in the womb it is a very dangerous situation that can take their life or cause numerous complications in their lives. This I knew. Right then, in the middle of all this hoopla going on and the scurrying of the doctor and nurses, Bob and I prayed. Let me just say that I am a worrier. I can worry about anything and everything. It's a sin in my life. But at that moment, I will NEVER forget how the presence of the Lord came over us like nothing I can ever explain or do justice in explaining. It was almost tangible. We prayed to Him and begged Him to keep our precious baby safe and alive. I remember praying no matter what complications this child has Lord let your will be done, I trust you.
It's amazing 13 years later and I sit with streams of tears falling down my cheeks. Not because of the pain of remembering the struggle but because God drew near to us in that very moment, His presence was upon us and His peace came in to our hearts. I never want to forget that moment....because our faith, my faith deepened in a whole new way. A "memorial stone"moment for our family.
Joshua 4:5-7 And Joshua said to them, "Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, "What do these stones mean to you?" then you shall say to them, "Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crosse the Jordan, the water of the Jordan were cut off, So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever."
Our Sovereign, Majestic, All-Powerful, God allowed us the privilege of birthing a beautiful little baby boy, who was born healthy. For the first 24 hours he was kept in the nursery for observation and under the lights because his temperature was very low. This was the way God wanted Nathaniel's story to begin and we are so thankful and will NEVER forget His grace, His love, His mercy for us and for Nate.
Nate, we love you so very much and are blessed by you. God has a purpose for your life. Your love and deep conviction in honoring and glorifying God is evident in your walk. Your love for Him radiates all around you. I love your beautiful heart. I love how loyal you are to your friends and family. I love how sensitive your are to the things that matter in this life. We pray that you will always seek after what is right and pure and what God calls you to. You my son, were born for an almighty purpose, to glorify your Lord and Savior. We love you so very much! Happy 13th birthday Natey boy!!!
Your favorite verse(and mine too!)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who love me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
cousins:)
cute boy
Nate and Danny on our Joni and Friends Mission trip
goofy
you love the beach and ocean
buddies for life!
the sibs
me and my boy
visiting the pre school in Africa
Africa-the orphanage
best buds and brothers too
Nate, Eliud, Robbie, and Dad in Africa
We love you and can't wait to see what God has in store for your life!!!
Yes, today is our sweet baby girl's 1st birthday and she is thousands of miles away. My feelings are so mixed right now. We so wanted to have her in our arms for her first birthday but yet we trust completely in God's sovereignty and His timing is perfect.
Precious girl, you will soon be home with your family. We can't wait to hold you, smell you, play with you, love you. You are missed. Our world and our family will change forever when you come home. We are all looking so forward to that day.
I wonder if you are walking yet, I wonder if you suck your thumb, I wonder if you love music, I wonder what your laugh sounds like, I wonder what makes you sad, I wonder what makes you happy, I wonder if you talk a lot or just a little, I wonder if you feel secure, I wonder...I wonder.... one day very soon I will wonder no more for then I will be holding you in my arms. I find comfort and peace in knowing that our heavenly Father loves you far more then we could. He loves all the little children. He knew his plan for your life before you were born. You are so special to Him.
Psalms 68:5 " A father to the fatherless.."
I can't help but think on this significant day what your mother, the one that birthed you is feeling today. One year ago today your mother gave the most selfless gift. She gave you a life that she felt she couldn't give you. She loved you so much. I'm sure she is thinking and reflecting of what it felt like to hold you in her arms. A mothers love is so special, so incredibly deep. I am so thankful for your mother for carrying you for 9 months and loving you.
I can't believe my little girl is 11 years old today!!!
Oh how I remember that day, when they put her in my arms and said it's a girl, my heart leaped!
I love my boys and was so thankful to now have a little girl. She made us wait for her...and additional 6 days but it was so incredibly worth it!
I remember looking at her and thinking how beautiful! She had a head full of brown hair(the nurses put a pink ribbon in it)and big beautiful eyes that looked all around. Her poppy nicknamed her "bright eyes". What a joyous memory!
Maggie, here we are 11 years later and you are growing into a young lady right before our very eyes! You are beautiful! But your beauty not only comes from your outward appearance but from your heart.
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." I Peter 3:3-4
You love Jesus and it shines all around you. I love how you can create anything out of anything lying around the house, your mind is so very creative and artsy. I'm amazed at the depth of your insight and perceptiveness about life. You are such a sweet girl who genuinely loves your friends and family and always looking out for them especially your sis!
Daddy and I both pray that you love the Lord always and continue to walk closely with Him.
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your your labor in the Lord is not in vain." I Corinthians 15:58
I can't believe it has been 14 years since I gave birth to the little baby boy who made me a mother.
As I look over the last year...these are just some of the highlights leading up to your 14th birthday:
You made a decision to get baptized
played soccer all year
attended as many youth group events as possible
won soccer championship
experienced disappointment in your favorite sport
attended your first Eagles game
signed up for your first "solo"(without mom/dad) missions trip
grew you hair super shaggy long
attended your first and lastballet "The Nutcracker"(hee hee!)
persistently asked for a cell phone every week
watched sport center for updates
independently constructed your own goals to play soccer
goofed off with your friends...aka "BOA"(Brothers of America)
agitated your siblings
played guitar
worked along side your dad
fished your 2nd shark tournament
went on your first family missions trip
started a new soccer season with a new team with a positive attitude
ended your year by spending your birthday in Africa with your Dad, Nate, Uncle Mark & Eliud.
Robbie you are so special in so many ways. You have always been a social director, from the time you were in your high chair and could barely talk, you would try to offer people food and tell them to sit down.
You love people, you love life, you love being funny and making people laugh. You love to be on the go and are always up for doing something. You are extremely competitive(hmm, wonder where you get that?) and love to play games(only if you win), just kidding...well...sorta. You have a very sensitive side and don't always like to talk about your feelings right away but when the flood gates open, your dad and I couldn't be happier. You have a deep conviction for what is right. You share what you learn and experience in youth group, usually late at night and we wouldn't have it any other way.
I love how you love to be hugged and are so affectionate. I love how you love being with your cousins when in fact you are much older then most of them, but it doesn't matter...you think they are the best(which they are) I love that you love to sing and that music speaks to your heart. It is an absolute joy watching you become a man. These teen years can be very trying and difficult, you're paving the way for your siblings and daddy and I are learning right along side of you.
More then all the things that you accomplished this year your daddy and I love you so much and want you to know that Life is about so much more. Making good choices is so important but knowing what motivates those choices is more important. You aren't going to always make good ones, none of us do, but regardless we love you unconditionally. You need to study for yourself why you believe what you believe and understand it for yourself not for us or because you are living in a christian home. You need to own it and live it. You have so many incredible gifts that God has given to you to use for His glory and we pray that your life would be a reflection of his love.
We pray that you will, "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philipians 2:12b-13
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength". Deuteronomy 6:5
1st trip to Africa, hanging with the Massai warriors
Africa 07' with Eliud, slaying, rather mutilating a goat for dinner, personally I would stick with the mangos and skip the protein!
hanging with dad in Africa 07'
your buddy and best friend, Nate
me and my boy
silliness
ewwww an eel
what a special day and privilege for your dad
fishin
The BOA club (Brothers of America)
the "pop-pop face"
So proud of you no matter where or who you play for...you could be the worst player on the worst team and it wouldn't matter one bit!
.jpg)
