Adults Only - A New Milestone

This weekend, our family hit a major milestone in life! Our youngest son turned 18 which means that all 3 of our sons are now adults. We took some extra time reaching this milestone because God wrote our story a little differently than we had originally planned.

Over 18 years ago, we were a family of 4 - dad, mom and 2 sons. Perfect size, perfect space between children, living a full and active life. After the birth of our boys and after we suffered 3 miscarriages we figured our family was complete.  But God wasn't done writing our story!

During a season of life filled with some challenges, God brought us a miracle - a pregnancy, a renewed vision for life and family and a test of faith that built a deeper trust in the Lord. 

I love looking back at that time of life now as we can so clearly see the hand of God in it. I share more about in the series Visionary Womanhood. But a quick synopsis began with a layoff at my husband's place of employment. Training began for a new career for him and after years of myself working part time around the boys school schedule, I took a full time job. Hubby worked nights, I worked days, we only saw each other on weekends. Grandparents stepped in to help with transporting the boys which was a life saver. Our lives consisted of work, sports practice, dinner in the car as we rushed home for bed to start it all over again. 

Asking the Lord for clear direction for our family, my heart was stirred to be at home again, where I could keep the home and minister to the family.  My heart was at home but our life was still running wide open. Until.....I became pregnant....unexpectedly!  It was a precedent set early in our marriage that when our children were small, I would be at home with them. This was God giving me the desires of my heart and I purposed to cherish every moment of this 'one more chance'. 

But the pregnancy began with complications and fear immediately took hold of my heart. I waited before calling the doctor, guarding myself against another miscarriage. It was almost 4 months before even allowing myself to consider this pregnancy would turn out ok and I remember that day buying a baby blanket and a seed of hope cautiously rising.  

The pregnancy was a battle between fear and faith. The doctor I chose to use had constant chaos in his office, there was a continual turnover of staff and at 28 weeks of my pregnancy, his office lost privileges at the hospital we were scheduled to deliver at.  It was too late to change doctors, questions never got complete answers and the last few weeks were simply a walk of faith - not in doctors, but trusting that the Lord was in control.  

But how thankful I am that God goes before us. Hubby was driving a truck all week and home on weekends. My labor started at 6:00 AM on a Saturday. We called to see which hospital to go to, we didn't' know until that day where we would deliver. While in triage, but baby's heartbeat stopped, but started soon after and we were quickly admitted. We met the doctor who would deliver the baby for the first time. During the birth, again the heartbeat stopped and our baby boy was born with the cord wrapped around his neck, but alive, breathing and healthy.



Life continued at a beautiful yet different pace!  I was back at home and loving every minute. Our boys continued to be active in sports and school activities while we followed with a newborn in tow! Holding true to my vow to cherish another child, this baby was so loved! Although each moment was savored, the days flew by. He quickly grew and enjoyed following in his brothers footsteps. We had years of school, home schooled for a season, sports, travel teams then jobs, friends and time just keeps flying by.



This weekend the baby turned 18. Our older boys are living and working and are responsible adults. In a few weeks, the youngest will be leaving for college and our nest will be empty. A new season of life is upon us, but one that is a natural part of the paths of life. A milestone that allows us to pause and look back to enjoy the memories and then turn ahead with expectation and excitement for what is ahead. Looking back at the faithfulness of God and His blessings, we can look at the future with confidence and say "the best is yet to come".