God Bless Them All and Give Them Peace...

I've had babies on my mind a lot lately...
As with most deployments - in the months after there is a bit of a "baby" boom. One of my neighbors recently had a precious new little one and the neighbors on each side of me are expecting. I'm excited for both of them, but just a bit more for the one who is expecting twins...
I SO remember those days! Hearing her news has found me reminiscing quite a lot about that time. One day I even found myself feeling a bit envious - at which point I thought I needed a psych referral because really? No way! could I ever go through THAT again...Especially not at my age.

Anyway. The past few weeks I have been talking to another friend about infertility. She already has a daughter but very much wants another child and it's not going so well for them. Having been through it not only myself, but having been through it here in Germany ,specifically, - she has a lot of questions for me and I hope I am able to help her as she goes through this process. It's a very difficult and emotionally draining journey that I wouldn't wish on anybody - but that I hope works out for her and her family.

You know - you read the news and the hear the stories. If you didn't know any better, you might think that becoming pregnant and having a baby is a simple thing. It's SO not. And just because you DO get pregnant - doesn't mean you always get to bring home a baby. And THAT is the hardest of all. I was blessed to bring home 2 of 4 - and I love them more than life itself - but it is the two we didn't get to bring home that I frequently find my heart aching for...
If you get a chance - check out the following blog: www.ourjourneywithbabystafford.blogspot.com

This couple and their enduring faith is just incredible! It is the blog of Johnna and Jeremy from my hometown. Johnna is pregnant with their first child. This is a much longed for pregnancy that has become heartbreaking. During an ultrasound it was discovered that Johnna's baby is missing some vital organs that will not allow it to survive outside her womb. The baby is thriving inside her, but the most they can hope for is a few precious hours together after delivery. Or a miracle.
Johnna and Jeremy believe in miracles. They have made many hard decisions over the past few months. The biggest, though, is their decision to leave it all up to God's will and to "parent" their baby as much as possible during the pregnancy.

During pregnancy - we long for the day of birth so that we can finally meet and hold the life we nourished within. Remember all the hopes and dreams we had for our unborn babies? The plans we made? I don't know her personally - but my heart breaks for Johnna. Can you imagine dreading your baby ever being born? Knowing that so long as that precious angel is inside your body - it is alive and well, but the day it is born is the day it will die?

This blog post today came about after reading Johnna's latest update. I started crying not too far into it - when she is telling about how she and Jeremy didn't like the caskets they had to choose from when they were planning the baby's funeral, so Jeremy has decided to make one himself for their baby.

It's so hard to comprehend - While my expectant friends and neighbors are all planning nurseries and putting together cribs - Johnna and Jeremy are making funeral arrangements and Jeremy is putting together a casket...

This family is amazing. And brave beyond belief. Their faith is SO strong....Please pray for them and think of them. Follow their story and offer any support you may feel called to give. And while you're at it? Keep all the other expectant parents in your prayers also - pray for safe, uncomplicated deliveries and healthy babies and Thank God for those blessings as well!