the miracle of new life

Yesterday I got a glimpse of one of God's most amazing miracles of all time. One of the most wonderful of His creations. A glimpse of the powerful work of His hands. Through the gift of His mighty Hands and the wonder of science, I was able to see deep inside the human body and get my first look at the new life beginning there.

It never ceases to totally blow me away. These little glimpses of a tiny baby forming in the womb. A tiny miracle. Not even 2 inches in length, yet fully formed. New life.

A tiny beating heart. Little legs and arms, kicking and waving like crazy. Eyes, nose and mouth clearly visible. Only 11 weeks into his or her little life and already it is a marvelous creation of God. Fearfully and wonderfully made.

God's mercy and grace nestled snugly inside its temporary home. An amazing gift of God being nurtured by an earthly mother and cared for lovingly by a heavenly Father.

New life.

Perfection.

A tiny miracle. Wrapped up in lots of love.

I glanced at my youngest daughter lying on the table. She was intently looking at the miracle of life unfolding inside her and displayed on the screen. She looked up at me and smiled. I smiled back. A knowing smile of being amazed at God's goodness. Being overwhelmed at His love.  A smile that signifies a love already so deep for the tiniest of miracles.

This gift of life is not new to her and her husband. This is their third child. At the tender age of 21, she is a seasoned and amazing mother of 2 precious little boys.

But the awe of it never gets old. The graciousness of God and His bountiful blessings bestowed upon us is still amazing. Still overwhelming. Still astounding.

The gift of new life. Never to be taken for granted. Never to be looked at as anything less than a miracle. Always to be seen as one of the greatest gifts of our Lord. Created by Him and for Him. Created for His glory.

The miracle of life.

"... all things were created by Him, and for Him; He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17 NIV)

Thank you, Lord, for this amazing gift of life. Thank you for your love and your blessings. We give you all praise and glory for the wonder of this miracle.

family filled thankful thursday

I am thankful for Greg and the ability to join him for our own Thankful Thursday post.

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** I am thankful for all my grandchildren and am very thankful that they all love each other.  They may not always get along, but they do love each other! ha!

(Mercie R. and Bryton H. reading together on Sunday)

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** I am thankful that my daughter Ashlie and her husband, Cody, celebrated 4 years of marriage yesterday. They went out to eat and I got to keep Sawyer while Cody's mom kept Bryton. Ashlie won't leave the boys much so it was fun to get to keep him without her being here!

We played animals.

He played the piano and I'm sure he was praising the Lord.

Came home from church and took a good bath and played until the water was cold.

I got to wrap him up in a baby towel, slather him with lotion and get him dressed in his jammies. There is nothing quite as sweet as a good smelling baby in his jammies.

Ahhh.. no words for this. Just pure bliss. Pure love. Pure joy.....

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** I am thankful for God's word. I have so many verses highlighted in my bible and a stack of index cards on my desk filled with scriptures. I also LOVE my new index card binder! It is so cool!

(did you get one Yolanda????)

I love God's word!

"That they might set their hope in God, and not forget

the works of God, but keep His commandments."

(Psalm 78:7)

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 **I am thankful for my husband. I love being a preacher's wife. I love being married to my pastor. I am so glad that he is an amazing father to our 3 girls and super Papa to our 6 grandbabies.

We've been together 25 1/2 years. We must be doing something right!

** I am thankful that God continues to bestow such undeserved mercy and grace on me and my family. He is the biggest joy of my life. The greatest treasure I could ever find. Thank you Lord for sending Your precious Son to this earth to die on the cross at Calvary, so I could have forgivenses for my sins and thank you for giving me eternal life.

THANKful Thursday is Awesome!

I join Sonya today for her Thankful Thursday and am so glad that she hosts this each week.

Megan, Melissa, Ashlie

1. I am so thankful for my 3 precious daughters. God richly blessed me with sweet girls who love the Lord and I am so thankful that they all call me their best friend.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord.." (Psalms 127:3)

2. I am so thankful that Megan and Ashlie are raising their children (my precious little grandbabies) in the admonition of the Lord. They both began teaching them the truths of God's Word when they were just babies and they continue to help their children grow in Him as they get older.

"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6)

Thank you Lord for the Truth of your Word.

3. I am so thankful for something called "skype" so I can talk to my daughter Melissa while she is in Africa. What a blessing modern technology can be!

Thank you Lord for your mercy!

4. I am so thankful that Melissa is feeling so much better. Nothing is worse than knowing your child is very sick and that she is on another continent, far away from home. She has been so sick for the last week and it was so awesome to answer the phone last night and NOT hear her crying. She was happy and laughing and it did this mama a world of good to hear that!

"For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds",says the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)

Thank you Lord for your healing hand upon my sweet Melissa! You are so good! Nothing is too hard for you!

5. I am so thankful for prayer. There are times when I feel like I am on my face ALL the time and I am so thankful that God hears my cry and that He answers me!

"In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me" (Psalm 120:1)

Thank you Lord for the power and privilege of PRAYER!

Happy Birthday Ashlie & Believing God

As I seek -
I hunger.... I yearn.... I search...

As I seek -
I find... I discover.... I glean....

As I seek -
I learn... I grow... I love...

Seeking the One who created.
Seeking the One who perfected.
Seeking the One who descended and suffered.
Seeking the One who was crucified and buried.
Seeking the One who arose and ascended!
Seeking the One who will return.

Finding Him and
immersing in His goodness,
soaking in His mercy,
basking in His glory.

Finding Him and
being washed in His rain,
cleansed by His blood,
made whole by His sacrifice.

As I search, seek and find -
I am redeemed, restored, revived.
I am forgiven, found faultless, free.
I will Praise Him, glorify His name, rejoice in His presence, sing a new song unto the Lord.

I am believing God that He will come to me and show me the way.


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HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY MY SWEET ASHLIE!

Hard to believe that my precious baby was born 20 years ago. I will never forget the joy that filled my heart when you were born perfectly healthy after 4 months of uncertainty during a difficult pregnancy.

You have been one of the lights of my life. You have made life exciting and sometimes turbulent! You are your own person with your own definite ideas.

When you were born, you came home to 2 big sisters who loved you so much. We all babied you and catered to your every whim. You were everyones little baby. Everyones little doll. Spoiled? Perhaps.

You have grown into a beautiful young woman. Not many girls can become mothers and wives at the age of 17 with the same grace that you did. You embraced motherhood with such passion and the love you have for your little boys just makes my heart swell with pride. You are a wonderful mother and Bryton and Sawyer are blessed beyond measure.

I see you mature spiritually and really seek the Lord. I see you bringing those Truths that your daddy and I taught you into your household and teaching Bryton about Jesus. I see you blossoming into a young lady.

I see all these things, but when I look at you, I still see my baby. My little Ash-ash. My precious child. My miracle.

I love you sweetie! Have a great day! You are NOT a teenager anymore!

Love, Mama

Welcome to the World Sawyer!

We finally got to go see the little - I mean big fella. He weighed 8 pounds and is 19 1/4" long. They think that he got a big gulp of fluid as he was being born and he was having trouble getting it all out of his lungs. He is doing better, they have him hooked up to oxygen and basically just putting the pressure in his lungs. We are waiting for the xrays, but his color is good and they said he is feisty!

I certainly appreciate all the prayers and would ask you to please just keep on praying. Ashlie feels much better now that she has gotten to see him. She and Cody are back there now with him. Hopefully tomorrow I can post a picture where you can see his sweet little face.

In Him,
Beth

Update: Sawyer is here! He was born at 1:34. On his way to the NIC unit. He was having a little trouble breathing. Dejavu. Ashlie is a little upset. Please pray for her. SHe went through this with Bryton and just doesn't want to do this again... Sawyer had a knot in his cord. He was born sunnyside up just like Bryton. Having a little trouble moving air. We should be able to see him in about an hour.

Update: 1:PM

Well, she is now 9cm! She was feeling some pressure and they checked her again. She moves fast from 6 cm on... I am just so excited!!

Update: 12:45 PM

Well, she is now at 6 cm. and when she got this far with little Bryton, it wasn't long at all. She is hanging in there. Had a little bout with her blood pressure about an hour ago. It got to 90/40 and she didn't feel well, but they pumped a little fluid in her and she is better now. She got her epidural a little while ago and she is still feeling some pain, but not as bad.

I am just so excited. I am praying for a healthy baby. When Bryton was born, she didn't get to hold him for several days and I am praying that Sawyer doesn't have any lung problems!!

Well, I am sitting here in the hospital with my sweet Ashlie and her husband. My sweet husband has little Bryton at home and is taking good care of him.

Ashlie got to the hospital around 6 am this morning having some mild contractions. They hooked her up to some antibiotics as a precaution because of Bryton's lung infection at birth. They started some pitocin to kick-start the contractions.

The doctor came in at 9 and broke her water and she was dilated 4 cm. She is feeling good right now. The contractions are coming pretty regular and some of them hurt and some of them don't. I don't like seeing her in pain. It hurts my heart for her so much! But she is doing good. They are coming in about 10:30 to up the pitocin.

Just wanted to let y'all know what was happening. I will keep you updated and when this precious little baby arrives, I will post some pictures!