Baby makes 6

I wrote a post early this year entitled 'Enlarge' on this blog. I had been contemplating how miraculous it is to have children, what a blessing it is, yet our culture most often views children as a burden, a limitation. Of course there are limits that come with children, and burdens, but I realised how tragic it is when we get stuck at that point of understanding. If we fail to see how incredible new life is and how blessed the one is who brings that life into and up in this world. I had a revelation of this and hence wrote that post, little did I know what God and his sneaky sense of humour were up to. Shortly after writing that post I discovered 'surprise'! we are expecting child number 4!! I had always claimed the ambition of having four children. However, after having two girls and a little boy, it seemed that we had such a delightful little family and I felt very satisfied and was coming to the point of reckoning we had reached our full 'quiver'. I was pretty close to calling it quits on the baby game, but as often is the case- 'man makes his plans, but God directs his steps' (Proverbs 16:9) and I LOVE that he does because his plans are monumentally better than my own.

And so, we welcomed Zipporah Pearl into the world on November 7th 2012. Wow. She is an incredible blessing.

I surprised myself with how quickly I went from 'pretty sure I am done having kids' to 'Weeeeeeee, i get to have another one!!' I really was almost instantly ecstatic with the idea. For some strange reason a lot of that was tied up with the fact that it was a bit of a surprise to get pregnant. For me there was something absolutely wonderful about having the planning taken out of my hands. It made me feel affirmed in my mothering (that God saw fit to give us another child) and was so freeing in a way to know that I really don't control these things. There is somethign so wonderful about giving your life over to God and allowing him to direct your course. Since becoming pregnant with Zipporah, its like the floodgates have opened in my heart. Ok, floodgates might be a little dramatic... BUT, I just feel so overwhelmed with the privilege and joy it is to have children and be a mother. I feel so RICH! I also feel determined to stand against the cultural tide of opinion that would speak of parenting as a burden, as a taking-away of our own dreams and personal desires. What we receive is so much greater than what we give. Being a custodian of dreams is far greater than just being a dreamer of dreams.

Another fulfilment of a dream occurred in our family this week as my sister and brother-in-law got 'THE call' from the adoption agency about their long-awaited for filipino son- his name is Sancho! We can't wait to meet him! God is so good. He puts dreams in our hearts and carries them to fulfilment.

I always dreamed, or desired to have four children. Even when I was ready to put aside my dream and be content with 3, God was at work making Zipporah. Now one dream is fulfilled, I guess its time to dream again! I am so glad that God's got dreams for me and will keep pushing me on to fulfil them even when I think what I have is 'enough'. It's amazing what will happen in our lives as we let God in to enlarge our vision and encompass our dreams.

Children are a blessing from the Lord.