My Pregnancy Journey... Part 3... This is Really Happening

We were on our way to John's sister's house for a Super Bowl/Birthday party.  I was feeling tired and I ended up sleeping the whole way to her house; about an hour and a half drive.  My back was hurting and I was having a sharp pain "down there".    As I woke up from the drive I said to John, "I just don't know what is wrong with me. I don't feel myself."  Ummm... first clue.

I told Amy about my "symptoms" and she immediately said, "Oh my gosh...you're pregnant.  The same thing happened to me.  You should take a pregnancy test right now."

Whoa Amy, hold the phone.  I wasn't going to take a test right then when the whole family was about to show up!
 I had always imagined I would take a pregnancy test by myself and surprise John when he got home from work.  Well, I did take a pregnancy test the next day, and sure enough it was positive.  It was such a light line, that I took another one the following morning just to make sure.

My emotions were all over the place.
Shock, awe, fear, happiness, panic, endearment...I was going to be a mommy.
 I immediately starting thinking of every possible scenario that could go wrong.  I have a way of doing that.  Why do I do that?  Sigh...

I knew though, that the next nine months would be a test of my faith.  And it was. What an intricate process pregnancy is and how delicate a little life can be.  John and I committed my life and the baby's life to the Lord the day we had the positive pregnancy test.  Again, we had no idea how my body would react to pregnancy.  I had heard stories about women with arthritis who went into a kind of remission during pregnancy but others whose symptoms greatly increased to the point where the pain was unbearable. I felt like I was walking into the great unknown.  I was preparing my self for the worst.

Honestly, my biggest fear was my hips popping out.  I had a double hip replacement when I was 16.  I would always hear women complain about the hip pain during pregnancy.  Naturally, I was worried.  I'll share more on this aspect later. My other fears were preclampsia, blood clots, having to be on bed rest, being so sick I wouldn't be able to teach. my joints not holding up due to weight gain.   I literally had to surrender those fears to the Lord daily.  And he met me every.single.time.  The One who created my inmost being was teaching me so much through the one being created in my womb.

Problem:  Finding the perfect starburst mirror for above our console table.  Not willing to pay some of the outrageous prices @ the stores for one. 

Solution:  Make one myself.  

Thank you Pinterest.  

Thank you Debbie for pinning the pin. 

My Pregnancy Journey... Part 2

In the fall of 2012, John and I visited one of our local coffee shops.  We just decided to get out of the house and go chill for a little bit.

The place.was.crowded.  

We ended up at a long high top table that had about eight chairs around it.  We took two across from each other on an end.  As the people kept piling into the shop, a couple, probably in their late thirties sat down next to us.  We struck up a conversation and found out that they were out-of-towners in for a conference at the local convention center.  We come to find out that it was some kind of Christian conference whose focus was on the work of the Holy Spirit.  We definitely believe in the Holy Spirit and his workings, but this conference seemed a little more charasmatic then we were used to.

Needless to say, we somehow just felt really comfortable talking to this couple. We had shared with them that we really wanted to have a baby, but weren't sure which way the Lord would lead due to my arthritis.  If we were to adopt, we were fine with that.  The couple shared with us that they wanted to pray for us as soon as we were all done eating.  We said great!

As we were eating, three more women from this same conference came and sat near the fireplace that was right behind us.  The couple introduced us to these three ladies.  I had a hard time turning my neck to see the women behind me due to my arthritis.  The one lady inquired.....gotta love the people that are bold to just swoop in and ask about your ailment. I'd rather that though, then the people that stare.  She asked, "What's what with your neck darling.  It looks a little stiff."  I told her I have arthritis, etc, etc, etc.   The lady from the first couple we met chimed in and said, "They want to have a baby. We should pray for them," with a huge smile on her face.

Before I could even say anything else John and I had about eight different hands laid upon us and these sweet people were praying for us right then and there in the middle of the coffee shop.  This would have normally made me really uncomfortable, but I had such a peace and I felt such a power in these people's prayers.  It had been so long since someone had laid hands on me in prayer.  And the prayers these women were praying were so very specific.  I remember at one point the one woman was praying for my uterus and my ligaments to be strong during pregnancy and that my womb would be open.
They all had such faith.
After they prayed the one woman looked at me in the eyes and said, "I believe the Lord will give you a baby."  
This was October 20, 2012.
Aralyn Joy was born on October 9, 2013....almost a year to the day we were prayed for.


I share this story ....

1. to be an encouragement first of all to pray SPECIFICALLY for people you know.  

2.  To publicly thank all the people that have prayed for me over my lifetime, especially my mom: a true prayer warrior.  

3.  When the Spirit leads, listen to him!  Even if it is to pray for a complete stranger.  

My Pregnancy Journey... Part 1

I promised to share some of my pregnancy experiences with you. The fact that I got pregnant in the first place is a miracle itself...but aren't all pregnancies miracles? For those of you that don't know, I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis since I was three years old.  I was on many medications when I was younger that had the possibility of making me sterile.

I honestly had no idea if I was ever going to get married.  That's a whole other story.  Find it here.

I was recently looking through my bedside table (you know, that place where you store a lot of "stuff") and found this prayer that I had written on Valentine's Day, 2012.  I have a journal that I write in, but for some reason I wrote this prayer on a single sheet of paper.  I share it with you to relay to you what my heart desires and fears were at the time.

Dear Lord,

So as you know, John and I have been thinking about trying to have a baby.  I laugh, because when we say "trying to have a baby" it sounds like the power is in our hands.  We know that you are Sovereign and have our best interests in mind. You also know the areas that I worry about: finances, teaching next year.  But I have to laugh at that too because what better position to be in than parenting if I am looking to teach.  So, basically I have complete trust in you to lead us how you want to.  You've always been faithful, and you know what is best for us. If you want us to have a baby at this time, then I ask that you open my womb. If it is not the time, then o.k. You know best.  I pray that if it's time to be pregnant that you take away my fears about being pregnant.  I pray that my body will react positively to pregnancy.  I pray that my knees and feet will hold up and be strong.  I just pray that you will sustain my whole body.  I pray for John as it might be stressful for him as well.  You know our needs.  We love you.  We trust you! 

Prayer played a huge part in my pregnancy....it has played a huge part in my LIFE for that matter. I think the greatest gifts (other than my salvation) have been the prayers that people have offered up on my behalf.  I have another cool prayer story that I will share in my next post that relates to my pregnancy. 

Our Newest Obsession

John and I have been to Italy and have tasted some of the best gelato in the world, but since we can't stroll the streets of Florence everyday, we have settled for second best.  Oh.My.GOODness. 

Ladies and gentlemen... our newest obsession.