Joy

When I confessed to my dear friend Camon that I needed her prayers, and all of her family's prayers, she told me what she prayed for me. She said, "read Isaiah 26:3." I got my Bible, which was too far down in my pile of books in my nightstand, and I found the verse. I found it already highlighted in green and circled. I've prayed this before it seems.

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you," and then I had highlighted verse four as well, "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal."

Well, Camon. I thank you. I thank everyone in our life right now. Forever.

I went to sleep on Friday in a fog, certain that all the awful feelings I had on Friday would only multiply. But, somehow, only God knows why, I was in some kind of peaceful state.

...

We had always planned on having a BBQ on Saturday afternoon. It wasn't supposed to be anything too special, too big or too fancy. We simply like BBQ and our friends, and we thought we'd combine the two. We had decided however that since we would be finding out the gender of our baby earlier that week that we'd let everyone know that day, in a small simple, no-show kind of way, just as I've been doing everything  since the beginning of my pregnancy. We invited only a few friends, and were telling our family earlier in the week.

Then all of this happened...or at least we became aware of what was happening.

So, after leaving the doctor on Friday I told Kevin to drive to Fiona's and buy a cake, because our little girl deserved  a party and a beautiful cake with her beautiful name upon it. So we did, and it was beautiful.

Then, after leaving Fiona's for that delicious and lovely cake we went to the party store. And we got out our credit card, and we bought all the pink and purple our eyes could stand- streamers, ceiling decorations, table cloths, bedazzled jewels, cups, napkins, plates, and a pinata..the works. Our Nora was going to have "banging party," we said. Then, we got candy to fill the pinata...and some shooters for good measure. 

Then, slowly, we told all of our friends and family what was happening. And we cried and cried and cried. And then, we smiled, because we were having a party for our baby! 

So, we woke up Saturday morning and made bacon. Bacon is good for everything.

Then we walked the puppies around the lake. And we didn't talk about anything sad. We just walked and enjoyed the sunshine. And then, we decorated our house in all the pink we could imagine.

All the while, I was smiling. I was at peace, and I was OK. Somehow. 

So, all of the friends and our close family that could, came from near and far to celebrate Nora Grace. And it was AWE-SOME. I loved every minute. I loved that for those hours we were allowed to just be happy. There were questions and some sadness throughout, but by golly we laughed and ate cake, and we had a "banging time." 

There are no more words to say other than THANK YOU. I know that I am not at peace forever. But I was at peace then, and I can't thank everyone enough for helping me do that.

Nothing else to say, but here are some images from our celebrations..

We still have a kicking, squirming little girl.
Party on, Nora Grace.