A BIG Announcement

When we counted our blessings last night, Bryan and I shared a special one with the kids.  Now we'll let Simon share this blessing with you...

We're SO excited!  The Lord has decided to bless us with another bundle of joy.  Another little one to train up for Him.  

I just finished the first trimester, and our estimated due date is February 5, 2015.  We are hoping to deliver at the birthing center again.  That worked so much better than the hospitals when we went there with Simon. 

I know many of you are thinking...why so many kids?  How many do you plan to have? And since many won't be rejoicing at the news of our seventh child, we wanted to share some of our reasoning. 

We truly believe the words given to us in Psalm 127:3.

^" Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

Children are a gift from the Lord.  They are a BLESSING.  We don't turn down other blessings from God, but for some reason society has lowered the value and worth of little ones. They've decided that they are an inconvenience, a burden.  They get in the way of selfish dreams and fulfilling ones self.  It's really quite sad. 

Our children have helped smooth many rough edges away.  They've helped us learn to focus on others instead of on ourselves. They've taught us how to serve and love in ways that we can't even begin to describe. 

So, after much prayer and study, we have decided to trust God with how many children we should have.  We know that the Lord opens the womb and the Lord closes the womb--there are numerous examples of both in scripture (Abraham and Sarah being the first to come to mind--her womb was closed until she was in her 90s and had Isaac to fulfill the promise that God gave to Abraham.)

Know this--if we never have another child, we will be truly blessed with the ones we do have. We don't have a number in mind that we are aiming for--we don't think that having more kids will make us better than everyone else.  We are just sinners, saved by grace. 

If He does send  us more, we'll welcome them into the family with open arms and much love.  

Love multiplies--it isn't divided.  And when God provides a blessing, He also provides all that we need to raise that additional one up for Him.

And so we are EXCITED about this new addition. 

What a great way to start the week!