Big News for the New Year ~ The Grace Between

Big News for the New Year

Happy New Year to you, my people. I am so thankful you choose to join me here in my cobwebby corner of the internet.

I have big news for the new year ….

My dear friend and blogger NJ at A Cookie Before Dinner used the hashtag #restandmerry for the holidays and it has been settling in my soul in a sweet way over the last three weeks.

Let me back up … so over the last ten years, we have experienced a major life event about every six months. Moves. Deployments. Training separation. The loss of friends and family. Miscarriages. Living babies.

It. Is. Exhausting. According to most stress tests, I should be dead.

Most times, anxiety over what’s coming trumps rest or merry.

But THIS year, THIS time, I am claiming merry. (Rest is a fleeting thought at best, let’s face it. I have three kids seven and under.)

Our pregnancies, especially the first weeks, are often fraught with fear. I tiptoe carefully around the house, on edge over every twinge. We hold out on public announcements for fear of loss.

Not this time, not this baby. 

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You heard me, THIS baby. The best Christmas gift a girl could ask for. Four days before we celebrated THE Baby, I learned of our new baby. And friends, I am merry. I refuse to be afraid.

I will celebrate with joy the new life we longed for. 

Our fourth child will debut at the end of August, (in a new town because of course we are moving this summer), and it is so early to speak of, but I want you to celebrate with me, and for me. Because if the unthinkable happens, I know you who love me would mourn with me too. 

I am reveling in this new life. I will revel in this new year, full of joy and promise and grace. I will not fear the valleys.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.  ~ Psalm 23

With much love and joy,

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~M.

(Also, you should read my friend NJ’s blog.)

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