Real quick story I'm reminded of every year on this day. I've shared this with a few people, but just to show you how INTIMATELY God has been in every detail of our lives, this will show you that.
While pregnant with Teya, I was about 4 months along and started attending a very SMALL community group in Oskaloosa called "Mothers' Nest." There were probably between 8-10 pregnant mommies in attendance to the weekly meetings set up and designed to further educate on particular topics of mothering, etc. This group was designed to help any and all pregnant moms keep a HEALTHY pregnancy, and in doing so, if you went to your prenatal visits, you took your prenatal vitamins, you quit smoking, etc, you could have your doctors sign off each time these things happened and you'd earn "points" towards a decent size "baby supply store" that all the churches in Oskaloosa donated to to support mothers in the area. It was a really neat program. Anyway, to finish my story, Laine's mommy was ONE of those very few ladies in attendance at that meeting. LITTLE DID I KNOW, GOD had me sitting right next to a woman carrying Laine all the while I was carrying Teya. Little did I know, I would be ADOPTING and MOMMYING her sweet and precious child within, before having ANY IDEA I'd have to give my sweet baby girl up in order to get him!!!!! I'm here to tell you all that God had EVERYTHING to do with that! It makes me weep just thinking and remembering how much GOD LOVES ME! And the best part is that HE LOVES YOU JUST AS MUCH!!!!!!!!!!! It wasn't until AFTER we were notified we would become Laine's adoptive parents that my friend, Julie, Laine's original foster mom, would meet with me to give me just a FEW of Laine's items that he had in his possession at time of removal, that I found out by looking at the one and only picture we have of his birth mom that it was his mommy!! The woman I sat next to in the intimate Mothers' Nest!
To this DAY, we are SO IN LOVE with that sweet little boy that that dear woman was carrying! He is one of the loves of our lives! An AMAZING boy, sweet as can be. We are so PROUD to call him our SON! The most loving, active, sweet little boy you'll ever meet. And to top it all off, I think it's pretty cool he looks EXACTLY like our biological son! :) GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!
Please know, that while we deeply grieve on these birthdays of our children that we are SO LOVED and taken care of by our Heavenly Father. Giver and taker of life! And we are still CHOOSING to say, "BLESSED BE YOUR NAME," because of how God has been in every specific detail of our story and life!!! (Blessed Be Your Name is the song that first original song that plays if you have your sound turned on when viewing our blog. Take a minute and listen to each of the words played in that song! In fact, I'll post the lyrics below for you to read while you listen!!!) Truly, this is the song of Ben & I's hearts.
Hugs to each of you!!!!!!!!!
BLESSED BE THE NAME
Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name
Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name
