Baby Bliss

Well, it’s been almost a year since I’ve written a blog post (wow, time flies)! I have a good reason, I promise. We had our fourth child in May, a precious baby boy. Sweet blues after years of pink.

I am no longer a young buck, so pregnancy, homeschooling, and sleepless nights with an infant put me in a phase where my writing had to take a backseat for a little while as I prioritized sleep and my family’s needs.

My son is now six months old, and I hope we are in a rhythm that will continue to trend towards consistency.

I tell you all this because God’s gifts are amazing. His plans are bigger and better than we could ever imagine. When my husband and I married twenty-one years ago, I could never have envisioned the family he has crafted for us. It’s so fun to sit back and reflect on His works.

I’m a planner, and in my twenties, I thought I could plan out my life. My plan seemed pretty good… until I realized I actually have no control over my life. God is in the driver’s seat, not me. If I’m lucky, I get to yell out suggestions from the back seat. When I finally realized this was a good thing, it gave me peace.

To accept (and pray for) His will for your life can be a scary thing. It brought me to homeschooling (something I thought I would never do). Our family is larger than I ever expected (4 kids now). Having a baby in my mid-forties (not on my long-term plan).

While God’s plan has been different than mine, I am so thankful. I couldn’t imagine our life without each one of our children, and especially our brand new son (who I never imagined would be in God’s blueprint). I have to admit I’m a little nervous about how energetic he already is, and what that means for my future. Yet, I will have to rest on my faith, yet again, to let God figure out all those details.

For now, I get to enjoy the sweet baby coos and snuggles (although he’s much too busy to snuggle). I encourage you to do the same. Find contentment and gratitude in life’s curve balls. Thank God for the unexpected turns in your life and marvel at His work. While it may not have been on your five-year plan, trust in His works for your life. And remember… as hard as it is to acknowledge, we are not here to indulge in our own selfish desires. Rather, we are here to follow His plan for our lives.

I think I will end with my grandmother’s favorite verse. She was an extremely faithful, obedient servant of the Lord. Even though she dealt with much difficulty and loss in her life, I know it was her prayers that helped bring me closer to the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”