A
month has gone by, and I still can’t help but be awed and amazed over the birth
of our little Jacqueline Grace . . . Wow! Our God is SO good! Psalm 139:17-18 declares, “How precious also
are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should
count them, they are more in number than the sand . . .” How very many thoughts
our Lord had concerning this Tiny Bundle!
And how perfectly incredible that our God – the God of the entire
universe- takes the time to THINK about US!
Having kept a
careful watch on our ultrasounds, my doctor had already been concerned about
our daughter’s slow rate of growth, and warned us that she might have to face
some time in the NICU. I had wondered
about the details of Baby #2’s delivery, and played endless scenarios through
my mind, but only the Lord knew the events that would unfold. Jacqueline came into the world exactly 3
weeks before her due date. When I think
back upon it all, now, my heart wants to sing with the words of King Solomon,
“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time . . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We had good health insurance, and a doctor
whom I greatly admire . . . Our 18-month-old was able to be lovingly cared for
by her Grammy, while we were in the hospital . . . A dear relative had brand
new preemie outfits shipped to us, immediately, when she heard that our Baby Girl
would be so tiny . . . And even though she was born at 37 weeks, Jacqueline
weighed JUST ENOUGH to keep her from requiring a stay in the NICU! We were able to start out the new year by
going home from the hospital, as a family!
Psalm 31:19 says,
“Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee;
which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”
And that’s exactly what our baby’s arrival was like – like taking carefully
stored presents off a shelf, one after another – each one, a special blessing
and answer to prayer. Some of the Lord’s
answers regarding our Baby Girl had been “yes” or “no”, some had been “wait”,
and some were greater than anything we could have imagined!
Was there a reason that God closed all job possibilities in Virginia,
last October, and gave us peace about staying here a while longer? Yes, indeed!
If we had left in OUR OWN TIMING, Jacqueline would have surprised us before the
60 days that it usually takes for a new health insurance plan to go into
effect! More than likely, we would not
have even had time to choose a new doctor, yet! Isaiah 55:8-9 declares, “For my thoughts are
not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts.”
Things are quite busy 24/7 in the Kelley
Household, right now, but my heart is just so full of all that God has done for
our newest Baby Girl! In Mark 5:19,
Jesus told a man, “ . . .Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things
the Lord hath done for thee . . .” What
has God done for us? He has blessed us with Jacqueline Grace!! Weighing little
more than a 5lb. bag of sugar, at her birth, she went from sipping milk
on a plastic spoon, to drinking with a preemie bottle nipple – no IVs
necessary, praise the Lord! A month later, now, she is growing, eating, and
doing great! Usually gobbles down 3-4 oz. at a time, and lets you know
REAL QUICK when she's suddenly starving! SMILE! Her big, beautiful eyes
warm the heart, and make this mommy want to touch
her hair, kiss her little cheeks, and rub noses with her, for all eternity! And
this is only the beginning! Jeremiah
29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil . . .”
What wonderful plans God has for your life, Little Jacqueline! What wonderful plans He has in store for EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF US!!
God Bless & Happy New Year!
I was "blog-hopping" yesterday and came across your blog. I don't know if you remember me from Crown, but I remember you. :) I was reading through your blog and it was such an encouragement!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the birth of Jacqueline! It was neat to read how God worked out all the details surrounding her birth. :)
Hi. I just saw your article and blogspot address in an old issue of Above Rubies. We lived in Knoxville for a year and 5 months after we were married in Dec. 2011. Now we moved to Athens, closer to our church, now that we have a baby, but my husband is still going to grad school at UTK. I sometimes come to Knoxville with my husband and spend time there while he's going to class, seminar, etc. Would love to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI just read your story in a back issue of Above Rubies and wanted to check out your blog. I hope you're able to update soon...congratulations on your newest baby! :) Have a good weekend and God bless.
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