Monday, September 15, 2008

overwhelmed, humbled, blessed, thankful, and so much more. . .

Words cannot begin to describe how completely overwhelmed I am by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received since first letting everyone know about our precious little baby! There has not been a day that's gone by without several emails, messages on my phone, posts on my facebook wall, or comments left on my blog!!! I read someone's blog the other day where they talked about five things they were thankful for . . . with each passing day I find myself overwhelmed with thankfulness. This is what I'm thankful for, in no particular order:

  1. The Body of Christ - how does one go through a trial, large or small, without the Body of Christ holding them up in prayer???

  2. My family!!!!!!!!!!!! They have been just as awesome as I thought they would be! Thank you for helping us carry this burden to the Lord in prayer!

  3. My dear, sweet friends, who don't have to be here for us, but choose to! Thank you!!!!

  4. The Word of God!!!! What a source of encouragement it is to hear the Scriptures! Here are a few of the verses that have touched me . . .

    1Peter 5:6-11.
    "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

    Philippians 4:6-9 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you."

    "
    In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Pet 1:6-7)

    Romans 8:18
    "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

    Romans 8:26
    "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
    Romans 8:37-39
    "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death not life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God who is in Christ Jesus our Lord"

  5. I am truly thankful that there is nothing that I can do right now - that God has made it abundantly clear that this is HIS and NOT mine at all!!! He has given us this baby for a reason unknown to us, but I can truly say, today, I am thankful for the opportunity to grow and watch my Creator at work! The peace that passes all understanding is truly at work here!

  6. I am thankful that Ellie is in school and that our days are slightly busier than they have been in the past allowing less time for me to be at home wondering WHAT IS GOING ON????
I am sure that there is far more that I am thankful for, but for know that is all my little (cold-filled) head can produce!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for loving us enough to pray for us!

6 comments:

Mommy Roth said...

Thank you for sharing what the Lord is teaching you as you ponder His character during this time, it is certainly an encouragement to my heart. I am so glad that I saw your blog today and can be praying for your baby and your family as you walk through this trial with Him.
Love,
Elizabeth

Megan Miller said...

I was so sorry to read of this trial you have been given! We will definately be praying for you in this uncertain time and for the healing for your sweet little baby. The way you have readily accepted this from our Lord's hands has already given God so much glory!

Love, Megan

Chris Kim Kinsley Cooper said...

Michelle,
This is Kim Kollmann and I just read your blog about your sweet baby. I just wanted to share a tid bit with you about what had happened with us and our two pregnancies. Our situations are not the same but they are similar. First off, I am so sorry about the hole in their heart. I will be praying that the Lord heals that and he/she is born with it completely gone. But about the kidneys and the cysts we had something similar. With Kinsley they found cysts in the base of her brain and they told us that is a common side effect of Downs and Trisomy 18. They told us that after my 19 week ultrasound. We did the genetic counselor as well and felt the same as you about the amnio. We had to see a specialist and they continued to do ultrasounds and finally one ultrasound, the cysts were gone. Praise the Lord. Then with Cooper, his kidneys weren't doing what they were supposed to be doing and they wanted us to go see a genetic counselor as well because that is a side effect of Downs and Trisomy 18 again. We opted not to go that time since we knew what they were going to say. All that to say, we have two completely healthy children and thank the Lord for them daily. I know that our stories are not the same, but I hope you found some encouragement. And we will be praying that with the next 20 weeks of this pregnancy everything heals up. We will also be praying for you both and your girls.

Cindy said...

Michelle,
Thanks for sharing your heart and what the Lord is teaching you, it's very encouraging. We will be praying for you, your family, and the precious child in your womb. May God continue to give you the grace to rest in His perfect plan. Here is a verse that I said to myself a million times, and still do, as we went through our trial. Hope it brings grace for the moment. "I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken!" Psalm 16:8 Praying.....

Wendy Penberthy said...

praying for you guys!

Daly Family said...

hey- I have had a card here with your name on it- how can it be that I don't have your address!? Anyway I just want you do know that i'm a great babysitter, so please don't hesitate to call! I know you must need me :) love ya!