another wonderful boy!

We just found out today that we are expecting another boy! We are so excited that Caleb will have a brother so close in age to him. As we were looking at our new little one on the ultrasound screen, we were amazed that we could sense that his personality is different than Caleb's. Matt and I walked outside afterwards and he commented on this one having a more thoughtful, pensive personality, whereas Caleb is very social and outgoing. I felt the same thing.

It really is amazing to be expecting another boy! I had to overcome my surprise initially. This one threw me a bit, because the Lord was speaking to Matt and I both about having a girl. But looking back now, I know that was a promise that He will give us a girl someday!

My friend's response to our news today, was "Of course, isn't that what you were saying when you were delivering Caleb? God had this little boy in his heart as you were giving birth to your first boy!" I was so grateful for the reminder! I did have a dream during labor of our 2 boys working together, building, for the Kingdom of God! At the time I thought it was funny timing, but even then the Lord was preparing my heart!

Another friend's response was to read Psalm 127: 3-5 and the Lord really spoke to me:

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.

How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;

they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate."

This is such a wonderful promise from the Lord! Thank you Lord for the gift of children and the miracle each one is in your hand!

my little cutie...

our 5-month-old!

I can't believe I am the mother of a 5-month-old! Wasn't it just yesterday I had a watermelon for a belly? I feel so priviledged to have such an amazing son! Everyone who meets him remarks on how special he makes them feel for always smiling at them. As my mom says, "he's our angel baby!"

I was sitting across the table from a friend who was pouring out her heart, confessing that she feels like no one wants to listen to her, even the Lord. And I looked down at Caleb, who was sitting on my lap just looking at her, listening intently with a look of concern. I wish I had a camera to capture the moment. Caleb was a picture of truth for my friend. Just a glimpse at how God really listens to us, especially in the point of crucial need. Mothering is definitely a challenge, but those challenges are smothered by moments of true amazement and joy!

Caleb Love

behind a name

I am a harvester of grace, that is the meaning of my name. It has taken me over 20 years to discover a deep appreciation for the name I have been given. When I was little, my parents had hung a picture in my room of Ruth in the Bible, gleaning after the wheat harvesters, and something about that picture still clings to my soul. It spoke of seasons; seasons of planting and seasons of reaping, seasons of joy and of pain. It spoke of an appreciation for land and its produce; it spoke of a much bigger spiritual truth and the Lord of that harvest.

GRACE, what an amazing word! The dictionary has a multitude of definitions, here are a few; "the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God; moral strength; elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action." The fact that one of the definitions has the word "strength" in it dissipates my previous feelings toward this part of my name. To me, the word grace did not summate all of who I felt I was. I feel a passion and fire within me, which is too great to deemed "grace." But I understand that this word holds within it much more than the weakness I had thought. It is easy to be a passionate person who unleashes its manifestation wherever and whenever it seems necessary. But put that passion under control, under teaching, under selflessness, and you have grace! It does not mean that grace is void of passion, but it is passion under control. It is passion under the hand of God, who in the same way brings fragrance from a crushed flower, also brings grace from a broken and contrite heart!

I believe a person's name holds within it the key to their nature and destiny. God has changed the name of so many characters in the Bible, that it makes you stand back and ask the question, "Why?" Or at least it did for me. One example is of Jacob, his name means "Deceiver"; God changed his name to Israel, "Prince of God, one who wrestles with God." With that name came a destiny, for Israel had 12 sons from whom God formed a nation. I love the discovery of destiny for my life. God has called me Grace Harvester and I am in pursuit of the Harvest!