So, here’s how we got here...
We began this journey of “trying” in late fall of 2009. We were so excited to hopefully become a family of three someday and went into it assuming it would take just a few months, as it seemed to be the case with most of the friends around us. We had planned it out perfectly, went on our big “Babymoon” to Europe and thought it was just a matter of time. Well, time came and went and month after month it seemed that our dream was not becoming a reality.
Fast forward to January 12 2010, when Haiti was hit with the terrible earthquake. My sweet husband’s heart broke as we heard the news of the devastation and he began looking for airplane tickets that day to fly down there to help the people in any way that he could. But as you might remember, all of the airlines cancelled their flights and he knew it would be a while before he could get down there. In the next few months he began planning and partnering with an organization called Jesus in Haiti and forming a team of sweet people who were also itching to get down there and help. So plans were made and a date was set to go down for a week in July...
...are you wondering what this has to do with our baby story yet? Stick with me, I promise it’s relevant:)
I was so excited (not to mention proud!) of Kevin and his heart in taking the initiative to plan this trip but from the beginning we assumed it was safe to say I wouldn’t be going with him since SURELY I’d be pregnant by then. So the months continued to come and go and God taught us so much about joy in the midst of sadness and drew us close to Himself on the days when we didn’t understand why this wasn’t happening.
A couple of months before the trip we thought, “Well, maybe we need to start thinking about me going too since I’m not pregnant yet and just trust God as we live our lives instead of just waiting.” I distinctly remember coming to a place early this summer where I just said, “Lord, if you want us to get pregnant we will - no matter what we do...and if you don’t want us to get pregnant than we won’t - no matter what we do. This is completely in your hands.” What an enormous weight that lifted off of my shoulders! I mean it’s so true - He is in control and has a much better plan for our lives than what we could ask for or imagine!!
So in July we went with a team of 8 others to Haiti and it was amazing. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that I was able to be a part of this trip. Kevin and I learned so much and absolutely fell in love with the people of Haiti. Kevin is already beginning to plan his next trip down there - what a blessing it was to get to experience that together. Here are a few pictures from our trip.
Kevin playing with kids at Jesus in Haiti's school for homeless children
Me playing with kids in a village
The garbage dump where people live and survive off of the garbage - JiH provides a meal for them every day and tells them about hope in Jesus
Our sweet sweet team
Sweet family in front of their new home
So we got back from our trip as changed people who had learned so much (too much to try and write in this post so please ask us about it sometime!) and with hearts for the people that we said good-bye to in Haiti, praying for them daily.
The next few days we spent trying to process our time there and readjust to America again. And after five days of being home, we found out I was pregnant. Could God have actually done this? Could He have blessed us in a way so beyond anything we could have asked for or imagined? In His infinite wisdom, God timed it so perfectly that I could go to Haiti (knowing how much it would change Kevin) and then get pregnant at the soonest possible time after that!
I’m fighting back tears as I write this and am reminded of what a sweet, personal God I serve. I have never in my life felt so humbled. We are so undeserving of this blessing but we are thankful...so very very thankful. And as this journey started only by the hands of God, we pray that we would keep this little one only in the hands of God.
I am 13 weeks along and due March 31st. Here are some fun pictures we’ve taken since we found out...
