Five years ago (September 3) I became a mother and my life was forever changed.


(Obviously I'm not a "makeup" girl! HA!)

That week will forever be enshrined in a golden glow for me. Five years...it has caused me to reflect a lot on that day, events leading up to it, and the wonderful five years we've enjoyed with our beautiful daughter.

One of the biggest things that I see upon reflection is that God is in control - and I need to continuously and consciously give God control.

We decided, after 5 years of marriage, that we were ready to have a child. After months of charting, timing, etc - everything I could do to make it happen - it took the month when I stopped trying and prayed to God that in His timing I would become a mother for it to actually happen. That was 1.5 years after we decided we were ready.

The "control thing" seems to be a running lesson in my life and something God continues to teach me. Amara was born 10 days late. What an agonizing wait! Again I turned to every possible old wives' tale to induce labor. Well..except castor oil...I couldn't bring myself to that. While I did have an induction at 10 days post date, really the lesson was that only God's perfect timing works. And boy, was she worth the wait!

My sweet Amara at 1 day old -- look how bright, full, and perfect!

Even as she grows, God is using her to teach me lessons on control (or my lack of it). Someday I'll tell you about her potty training adventures!

This song about hope and trusting on God is especially appropriate and poignant to me:

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.




If you've never heard the hymn, listen to it...now back to the story...

In late November 2003, my wonderful Grandmother (paternal) passed away. Two weeks later, on my Dad's birthday, we discovered we were expecting. What perfect timing. What a blessing from God that, in the midst of despair and sorrow, He plants beautiful, sweet hope.

At Christmas in 2003, we broke the news to my family (we had already shared it with Jon's). We gave my parents bibs as Christmas gifts that said "I love Grandpa" and "Grandma you're gorgeous." My whole family was there, and it was such a fun and exciting way to share the news.

Two weeks later, my Grandfather (paternal) passed away. I'm SO thankful I didn't follow conventional wisdom and wait 12 weeks to share the news. My Grandpa's face, at the news of his first Grandchild's pending arrival, was pure joy. I only wish they'd have had the privilege of meeting my children...and vice versa.

And now the reason for this post... HOPE! And specifically, Amara Hope.

People often ask us how we came up with her name.

The short answer: we found it on the internet.

Hold on for the long answer...
With the passing of my Grandparents, and the long before passing of Jon's Grandpa, we wanted to honor them and the faith legacy we are so blessed to have in both our families. We wanted the middle name to be Faith, Hope, or Grace, so the first name needed to go well with one of those, and had to have significant meaning. We also wanted the name to be unique and somewhat uncommon without being outlandish.

I got online and typed in definitions to see what names came up. After many attempts and discarded options, I discovered "Amara: of Greek origins, means unfading, eternal."

Perfect!

Partner Amara with Hope and we've got Eternal Hope.

Her life-verse, and my prayer for her quickly became 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."

Hope - as stated in the verses above, is gracefully given to us by God. If hope is God-given, and it is -- what great confidence we can have in that hope! It is only because of our faith that we can have hope. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

(While I was reflecting on my daughter's life, I was led to a website called (in)courage, whose theme this month is Hope. They inspired this post. Please go visit them and be (in)couraged!)

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