Archive for December, 2006
favorite pictures from 2006.
Sunday, December 31st, 2006vacationing in Maryland.
Wednesday, December 27th, 2006I do not see how any child
Is cross on Christmas day,
When all the lovely toys are new,
And everyone can play.
K. Pyle
We are safe and sound in Maryland, visiting with the other side of the family during the holidays. This past Thursday night was my family’s Christmas party and it turned into a lovely evening as we laughed, partied, and had merry times. Friday evening and Saturday morning were full of concert rehearsals and I finally managed to finish all of my shopping on Saturday. Sunday was slam-pack full as we had our morning worship service, the evening concert and then a party at Pastor Jeff’s house that night. We didn’t get home until after midnight and then had to get up and trek to Maryland on Christmas Day. But the trip went well. Daniel did all the driving (in the rain, no less!) and we managed to keep each other laughing in between the impromptu singing, radio dramas, and constant bathroom stops.
We arrived to find the Bergey’s had waited to serve Christmas dinner until we arrived (which was around 8pm)! It was so sweet to be gathered with family, eating wonderful food. The PILE of gifts under their tree was overwhelming to see and as we added our stack of gifts, I couldn’t help but grin at the obvious difference of being raised in a house of three people verses a house of ten (counting Hobo, the dog).
Yesterday was mostly a relaxing sort of day for me as I came down from the holiday high’s. Daniel, however, was busy as a bee trying to complete a deadline (or slay a Dead Lion as he likes to say) for work. He finally crawled into bed around 3:30 this morning, having slain it with a vengeance.
I imagine that the rest of this week will be more relaxing times, finishing the lovely stack of books we have to read, board games, coloring with Sarah, watching movies with the boys, playing pool, and giving Hobo backrubs with my feet while during supper (he crawls under the dining room table and sits at my feet). And much needed sleep.
all seems just right.
Thursday, December 21st, 2006I’m curled up in our red chair in the living room, hymnals stacked around me, Elsa burning the pillow in my lap, and my Christmas concert notebook in front of me. We are just a few days away from the concert and I’m also working on a PowerPoint presentation that will play during the evening.
Daniel is at the dining room table, coding away like a little monkey. We have beautiful music playing and all seems just right.
with a babe inside.
Friday, December 15th, 2006About two weeks ago, Daniel and I have found out we are having a boy. Needless to say, we are excited, happy, and also overwhelmed as the weeks move closer to April. But as these days swirl by, I am mostly somber at the responsibility of raising a child.
Before we found out the sex of our baby, I often heard the question, “so do you want a girl or a boy?” Honestly, neither Daniel nor I were that set on one or the other. And so we tended to give the expected answer of “we just want to have a happy, healthy baby.” But that answer troubled me. Is it really my place to tell God that I will only be happy if He sends us a perfectly healthy baby? What if His plan is for something more dramatic and possibly includes long hospital stays, surgeries, or things we dare not mention? Will I trust those possibilities to Him? It has been many days that I have paced the floor with my hand on my stomach, tears on my cheeks, and secretly praying that God would give us the strength and grace for whatever amazing journey He is about to send us on. If the Lord does give us a healthy baby boy, then praise His name. But if He chooses to send us a little boy whose physical needs are overwhelming, then I will praise His name too. This next chapter is truly one that only the Lord knows.
I suppose as the days draw closer to Christmas, my mind has lingered on the Christmas story almost daily. While working on a Christmas concert at church, I have spent much time contemplating the Christmas story from each of the different character’s points of view. And of course, being pregnant, I keep finding myself focusing on Mary during these days. While searching for some good Christmas music, I ran across this familiar song that echo’s what Mary must have been feeling as a normal, average woman called to be apart of something so Grand and Glorious.
I have traveled many moonless nights,
Cold and weary with a babe inside,
And I wonder what I’ve done.
Holy father you have come,
And chosen me now to carry your son.
I am waiting in a silent prayer.
I am frightened by the load I bear.
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now.
Be with me now.
Do you wonder as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place,
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong.
Help me be.
Help me.
Breath of Heaven
I love the question, “do you wonder as you watch my face if a wiser one should have had my place”? Respectfully, I know I am not carrying the Christ child but I find myself asking the same question in my heart. Does the Lord really know what He’s doing in giving me the opportunity to raise a child? Am I capable? What about all the mistakes I’ve made? The ones I’m still scrambling through? How can I teach a young boy and see him grow into a young man? I feel somewhat helpless but I find myself whispering the same prayer of the song. Be with me now. Help me be strong. Help me be. Help me.
And as this journey continues, I will pray for the little one I carry and for all that the Lord has for him. I am looking forward to April when I will finally hold little Andrew Paul Bergey in my arms. Little Drew.