My Moses Basket Baby

In September of last year Josh and I found out that we were pregnant with our second child. We were over-joyed and began the planning process and all that goes with it. I told myself I would wait to make any announcements but I couldn't! I called our close friends and family and let Macie, our at the time three year old, tell that she was going to be a big sister.

Unfortunately, at eight weeks pregnant, I miscarried. The sorrow was overwhelming. But, the Lord graciously showed me the depths of His love. As I tried to hide He gently reminded me that neither death nor life, angels nor demons, present nor future, nor any powers, nor heigth or depth, nor ANYTHING else in creation could separate me from His love. (Romans chapter 8)
And He began to heal my broken heart.

About a month later I felt that I might be pregnant again. I took a test and saw a faint positive. I needed to go to the Doctor to make sure. I remember it was a Thursday morning that I took the test. Worry and fear automatically began to creep in.
I was at home that morning with my daughter. She had shared with me that at Church the night before they had learned about Baby Moses and how his big sister had taken good care of him. We decided to get on youtube and see if we could find a video to watch about Moses since she was so intrigued by his story.

I know I've heard the story of Moses at LEAST 50 times. This time, however, God made it NEW. Never before had I focused on the mother in the story. Moses's mother prepared a basket for her son and placed him in a river. The NILE river!
What amazing FAITH! To say,
"God, I trust you."
"I place this baby in your care."

How did she do it?

Did she weep as she wove the reeds together for what may very well be her child's casket?
Or did she sing praises to the Lord for the future she believed God had in store for him?
Or both?
Did her hands bleed as she tightened the weave to make sure her baby would stay a float?
Did she stay up all night rocking that sweet boy, taking in every inch of his precious face, softly kissing his head and singing soft lullabies through her tears?

How do you place your beloved baby in the river and watch him float away?

The only answer I can accept is Faith.

In that moment, watching the retelling of the story of Moses on my computer with my daughter in my lap and a precious new life in my belly, my God reached down and placed His arms around me and said "give this life to me and know that whatever happens, I AM everything you need. You can trust in me."

I have since referred to Mollie as my little Moses Basket baby. There were a few scares along the way to get her here and each time I was reminded to place her in the River of the Lord and trust. I am sure that with both of my children there will be many more of those moments and I can only hope that I will be faithful.

Moses's mother was right to trust in her God.
Even if that would have been the last time she had seen her baby boy this side of heaven I have to believe that she knew, that no matter the outcome, her God was trust worthy.

The Ministry of Motherhood

A book titled "The Ministry of Motherhood" caught my attention online a few weeks ago. I was still pregnant with our now 6 week old and struggling with the attitude of my four year old when this title called out to me. I have to say I have never internalized that motherhood is a ministry, not purposefully at least, so I began searching for this book and had it special ordered.
I now have it and have begun reading it and will probably blog about it quite regularly. The big gist of the book is to intentionally disciple your children using the example that Christ set for us with His disciples.

So... you know that battle you have when your four year old decides she really doesn't want to nap, but you know that she still needs it, not only for her to finish her day well, but for you to finish her day well...

well... let's just say I've been nursing my fair share of battle scars from our on going war and I found myself after nap time harping on her about the struggle she gave me before she fell asleep. She would awake from her nap and come downstairs to the following:

"You know I'm very disappointed that you didn't lay down and take your nap like a big girl."

or

"Mommy really doesn't like that I had to get on to you to get you to take your nap." (and by "get on to" I mean spank)

Now, with my NEW outlook of ministering my children like Jesus would, one of my favorite scriptures was thrown in my face as a great starting point, it's the one I named this blog after.
The scripture comes from Lamentations chapter 3 and it states that the "Lord's compassion's never fail. They are NEW every morning." I love waking up every morning knowing that I have a fresh day to try again and here I am not giving that to my daughter. I am so the servant not forgiving the small debt when I've been forgiven of so much more. If I am going to disciple her and teach her about the Love of Jesus through my parenting I need to offer to her the same mercy and compassion that Our Heavenly Father extends to me every time I begin again.

When she woke up from nap today I greeted her with a smile and a hug and the compassion that was graciously given to me.

1st Post

Well, here is something new. A blog about the "newness" in my life. It seems I am always wanting to share about "something new" that I've found or discovered and here is my little world to indulge myself without overwhelming my husband and friends. I love the scripture that talks about God's mercies being NEW everyday. I find such peace and comfort in that, but this blog won't be all spiritual... some posts may be about a great new website or recipe I've found or just something I want to rave about. Isn't blogging grand? It can be anything you want it to be! Oh, I'm gonna have fun!