God's Ways....and our plans.

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

I'm a planner by nature. God has been teaching us these past few months about His plans. I love to plan ahead and be intentional with the time God has given. One reason I took a blog break was my fear that it had gotten misprioritized with caring for the needs of my family. (that and my slow computer made it impossible to do it efficiently!) God has brought us through some amazing events this last week that I don't want to forget. We are learning life lessons about God our Heavenly Father and his Sovereign control over every area of our life. And that His ways are higher than ours.

‎"That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, That they should put their confidence in God. And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments" Ps 78:6-7

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

Last year, God gave us grace through the trial of our miscarriage of Hannah Grace. The opportunities He has given to testify of His name through that have been unbelievable. The grace He has given has been unimaginable. Just this last February 16, was the one year anniversary of her Home-going. Last September, we were thrilled to find out that we were pregnant again. After the physical effects my body had gone through from the miscarriage, we were thrilled beyond measure, God had chosen to grant us another child. Very early in my pregnancy, I began having some bleeding. When we saw the doctor, he told us this pregnancy had a 50/50 chance. We prayed and many of our dear friends and family prayed with us that God would sustain this life. Little did we know how God would enfold His plan throughout this pregnancy. Each ultrasound or check-up has been a test of faith that everything would be okay with the baby. In the meantime, God has kept us very busy this pregnancy to help keep us from worrying.

Last October, we took a step of faith and put our house up for sale. Despite the bad economy, we knew that having another baby would increase our need for more space, and we discovered we could move to a different area of town for the same rate and get a house that met our needs better. God sold our house the 2nd week of January for our asking price. We found another house quickly that met our needs- and even some of our wants for significantly less than they had been asking. Jehovah-Jireh! We closed on both houses February 28 and lived in temporary housing until March 4. Looking back, moving has been the easiest thing that's happened the last few months. People in the church have graciously served and sacrificed to get things in order for us. I have not had to lift heavy boxes or really even do any physical labor through this whole move. We are so grateful for so many sweet servants.

In December, we received news, Esther's kidney reflux wasn't improving and she would need surgery. So January 28, we traveled to UVA for Esther to have a ureter reimplant. God taught us many lessons through that trial and growing in our trust of Him through that. God taught Esther too, and we are thankful for the speedy healing, and grace He gave her. It was such a hard thing watching her in pain. Stephen and I remarked the other day about how when she was first born, she had jaundice which required her to be in the NICU for 24 hours. I cried and cried at that back then and thought it was horrible. How God has grown us in all of that the last few months. God continually reminds me that our children are His not mine, and He loves them more than I could ever.

That brings us to last week. In our years at Timberlake, they have always desired for Stephen to go to Shepherds Conference, but there's always been a scheduling conflict. This year, even though, we had moved a week prior, Stephen was scheduled to take a missions trip to Guatemala March 18, and even with my being pregnant, we knew we needed to make it happen. We were both so excited for him to get to go and be a part of the good teaching and grace-filled fellowship. Last Thursday, I began not feeling well...and put myself on "rest" most of the day as I was able. I had people coming over to help with the house off and on which helped with the kids. That night, we went to a friend's house for supper who is one of our new neighbors now. I didn't really feel great that whole evening, and when I got home, I gave our dr a call. It was my dr that was on call which was a blessing. I described my symptoms, and he told me to come in. I called my friend (whose home we had been in earlier), and she drove me to the hospital. It was a blessing because she has worked at this hospital for 30 years and knows it well. Her husband sat with the kids until our babysitter could get here. We are so thankful for so many that stood in the gap before our family got here. When I got to the hospital, the doctor said I was 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. He told me Stephen needed to come home immediately from California, and they were going to start all measures to stop labor. God allowed Stephen to get on the red-eye flight from California to get home, and Pastor Brodie graciously accompanied him so he wouldn't have to be alone. They made it on a packed flight which we knew was God's hand. My mom and sister were able to get here on Friday also to help with the care of the kids. We didn't know whether we were looking at an impending birth or weeks of bedrest. Over the next few days, they did what they could, but on Sunday night, God decided that it was Isaac's time to come. I was having regular contractions, and at 3:56 a.m. March 14, Isaac was born by c-section. He cried as he came out. Stephen and I quoted portions from Psalm 139... "You are fearfully and wonderfully made. My soul knoweth right well....How precious are your thoughts toward me O God, they are more than can be counted." We named him Isaac, because as Isaac in the Bible was a miracle for Abraham and Sarah, we felt the same about his birth. His middle name is Elliott, after one of our missionary heroes, Jim Elliott, who said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Isaac weighed 2 lb 10 oz. an amazing weight for a 27 week baby. We are now 3 days from his birthday, and he continues to make progress. We are learning what life in the NICU means and quickly learning all the terms. We are able to visit him daily and I am pumping around the clock to keep up my milk supply for when he is able to eat. They've set little goal lines for Isaac. First 24 hours, 3 days, and 7 days are the most critical. He has made a lot of progress in a short amount of time...already graduated to a CPAP machine and other milestones. We are learning to set our hope in Jesus not in doctors reports or circumstances. I hope to continue to update on Isaac's progress as we are able, but also on how God is growing us through this trial. It was hard to leave the hospital yesterday without our baby, but we know he's in the best place. Esther also cried yesterday when Isaac didn't get to come home, and she was worried he was sad that he wasn't able to come too. This has been an adjustment for all of us. We know that God is going to show himself strong through Isaac's life. He already has and will continue to do so. We are focusing on the promises of God. Here's some that continue to encourage us:

The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11