Waiting. He is coming.

This advent season has been one of waiting. My heart has been in a deep place where prayers have few words and deep feeling. I am so glad that the Holy Spirit can intercede for us during these times. Advent. Celebrating the coming of a baby. This year my heart has been so thankful for that first baby, Jesus, and for what God did at that manger. Love, sacrifice, humanity, hope...

This song has really spoken to me during this time. Andrew Peterson's Labor of Love:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQZmni-oeg4
If you have time, please listen to it.

My heart has been holding on to two babies who were on their way. My cousin's baby was born first.






This is Gabriel Ray. He was well loved. He was born without several vital organs and passed away after 35 minutes of life. His mother, my beautiful cousin Samantha, and his father have been so brave and courageous. They have had to make so many heartwrenching decisions in this whole process. My heart is grieving with them in their loss. I am so thankful they got those precious minutes with him.

The next day my nephew was born.






Xavier Alan is HUGE and healthy, and I hear he is a love. I cannot wait to meet him. I am so thankful he arrived safely and that his Mamma, Missy, is recovering well.

I don't have any answers for the hard questions, living and dying. I am so thankful for Jesus, that he came to stand between us and a Holy God, and that he will make all things new again. He is the resurrection and the Life. I am looking forward to meeting my little precious cousin some day soon, and I am trusting the Comforter of all souls to be with his sorrowing family right now.

Advent. Coming. Already, but Not Yet. Waiting.


This I know. God keeps ALL his promises to us. We can trust him. I will keep looking towards that rising light in this present darkness.

Update

Things have been up and down this week. Gavin had a high fever one day and an achy ear one night, but seems to be holding his own. We got to go to 2 Christmas parties this week.

Today we had an adventuresome day going to see the Nutcracker. This was the boys first experience with ballet. We learned a little bit about the story, musical, music and composer, and reviewed ballet etiquitte. We saw the second act, and when it was over Seth looked at me almost in tears and asked why it was over already. We saw it on a small stage and the costumes bere beautiful, we could see all the faces, and there were a lot of children in the performance. In the prep materials they hinted at a visitor from the North Pole, so Seth was very excited that he had guessed correctly that Santa would make an appearance. Gavin loved the sheep. It thrilles me that they enjoy performances as much as I do, and that we can get inexpensive tickets for school performances to so many amazing things.

Pictures sometime soon. I need Andrew's computer to do some major work on that front and he has been hard atnwork on his masters program. we are so proud of him for working so hard on this goal.