Monday, May 19, 2008

The Other Side of Barrenness Part Two

Boy! What a hectic week this has been. Grace had two performances of her ballet recital last Saturday. Wed. thru Fri. has been intense practices. So if you've been wondering where I've been, there you have it! I have a lot of catching up to do with all of my blogging friends, but at least I'm back in the saddle again! This is a long one so grab your coffee and snack and more coffee if you need to!

Grace's class was the first to perform in the opening act of the full-length ballet performance of Coppelia. They were so cute and did excellent. All of their hard work paid off. Here she is in her tutu. When she put it on, she thought she was in heaven!

To top it off, Sunday was Grace's birthday. Happy Birthday my beautiful 7-year old! Lots of presents, friends over for a barbeque, tons of hugs and thank you's, and we crashed by 11! Fun time! But soooo tired!
No, she didn't sleep in her ballet costume...but she sure wanted to!




We were suckers to the media and bought Grace the 3-D chalk that's been advertised. You have to wear the funky 3-D glasses, but it does really work. Only you look like a nerd wearing them!
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And one more makes four (family of four, that is)!




In honor of Grace's birthday, I would like to continue my story about my journey through barreness. God is so faithful! (For any who haven't read part one, you can catch up here)...

I would love to say that, after having my first girl, I didn't have any trouble conceiving the second time around--but then there wouldn't be a part two, now would there?! I know in many times this is the case. Seems like once the childbearing ball gets rolling then you have a hard time stopping it! Not so with us.

So this story continues with that pesky word 'barrenness'! I won't go into detail, because then I'd just be repeating Part One. Same emotions, same anticipations, same letdowns. Only this time it took 12 and a half years. (You might ask why I don't round those years off? To a woman who has a hard time conceiving, every month counts.) But Part Two has a fun twist!

After so many years, we realized that Chelsie just might end up being our only child. And, you know what? we were ok with that. We raised her to the best of our ability. She wasn't 'spoiled' as sometimes is the case with only children. She had plenty of friends, so she wasn't necessarily lonely. She was just simply a joy to us. My concern was for her. She did want a...ahem...brother...(don't tell Grace)! And once in awhile she would ask me if we were going to have another child. So that alone would help us not to give up or let go of our faith. After all, God did it for us once, He could do it again!

The twist in this story was Chelsie's faith. She kept on believing, even when, at times, we felt like throwing in the towel. Not in a resentful way, but in an 'it's ok, life's good' kind of way.

Every Wednesday Chelsie would spend the afternoon at her best friend's house. When she was 12 and unbeknownst to us, by faith they began making little baby items--big bibs, little bibs, etc. She never told us. This went on for about six months or so. Then one evening, out of the clear blue she asked me, "Mom, do really think you'll ever get pregnant again?" She hadn't asked me that for a very long time. The awesome thing about her question was God's timing in it-- because I actually DID think I was, but it was too soon to get a test yet! So I was able to encourage her with "Oh, I'm sure one of these days, Chels!" Five days later, and appropriately, on Labor Day weekend 2000, I had a +plus+ on my pregnancy test! HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY AGAIN!

At home, on May 18, 2001 and after 13 and a half years, our Grace Marie was born. (By the way, Chels was not in the least disappointed with having a sister, she was ecstatic!) Grace was named after her Gramies and two Great Grandmothers. A couple of ironic tidbits of interest about both girls: I was eight days late with each of them, and they were both born at the same hour in the evening. Chels at 8:21 pm and Grace at 8:15 pm. However, the irony stops there! Other than a slight resemblence, they are two completely opposite sisters!

This is a long post, so I will have to continue later with a part three (maybe a four as well). I"d like to tell how we told Chels I was pregnant and the story behind the bibs!
It's all HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE MARIE Good!

23 comments:

  1. Man...I guess that is true in the bible...if you have faith as small as a mustard seed....congrats on your second child for sure!

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  2. Happy Birthday to your beautiful little ballerina! I loved it so much when my girls were litte and in ballet. Fun memories.
    Your "Barrenness" story is so lovely and touching. I can't wait to read the rest of the story, although we already know the happy ending. :) God is faithful and He's so good to us all the time!
    I'm finally back in the blogisphere after my monthlong absence, so come by and give me a hollar.
    :) Brenda

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  3. I loved reading part one and was thrilled to see part two in print also! Yes, God is in the business of answering prayers, just not always in the time frame we'd like. I'm looking forward to a part three and four...

    Happy Happy Birthday Grace!

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  4. Oh how beautiful that was Brenda. She is so gorgeous and I love her name. It is so fitting for her. What a blessing in your life. I am so glad that it all worked out for you. I have been there and understand it completely. Thanks for sharing this powerful story of faith and hope and miracles. God is so good. Happy Birthday Grace and have a wonderful week.

    And you are just stunning too..

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  5. Yes, yes, I want to hear more.

    Your story is beautiful, and so are your daughters.

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  6. You are doubly blessed! I love the name Grace, by the way.

    Welcome back to blogging - you've been missed! I'll be "missing" some this week as this will be our hectic, wrapping up the school year week!

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  7. After reading all the comments I can't think of anything that has not already been said. I hate repetition so I won't do that. Just know that I was here for a visit. Connie

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  8. I hope that I will be able to have another baby too....If not, I am so happy that God blessed me with my little angel and saw fit for me to raise the three other beautiful girls in my life. I think that knowing this will help me not to be as disappointed if we should decide to try again and not be successful.

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  9. What a wonderful sweet story of God's faithfulness and timing. Happy birthday to your lovely daughter.
    Susan

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  10. Happy birthday to the little lady.great photos.I hope that you are having a great day!

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  11. What a beautiful story and both your girls are so very special. Happy Birthday to Grace and I love her ballerina outfit - she looks wonderful.

    Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.

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  12. Even though I've heard this part also, it's still a smile bringer on for me. Such simple faith children have and how great it is when that faith brings forth fruit. Luv ya sis, carry on... reva

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  13. What a pretty little girl and Happy Birthday to her. Brenda, you told me you want to loose weight, but you don't look heavy to me. You look nice. Anyway, the weight thingie is not about what others think but about how you feel about yourself. Good luck as I know how difficult it is.

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  14. I have one more semester left until I'm completely done FOREVER. I'm taking a class this summer as well. I've been a student for as long as I can remember so it's going to be weird!

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  15. Cool about the 3d chaulk, I have never heard of it before

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  16. Love both stories of Faith , children are a miracle but especially so in your case. I'm still waiting on a Brenda picture. You have beautiful girls I bet they take after Mom. Happy birthday to little one.Be blessed!
    Lorie

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  17. Great story...thanks for sharing. Grace's costume is adorable.

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  18. As with your first one, your story is very moving. Thank you so much for sharing, and happy birthday to your beautiful ballerina!

    Hope you're having a lovely holiday weekend! Ronda

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  19. Little Grace looks so cute in her outfit! And what a great big sister.
    It is so cool how close they are.
    Love ya ll
    Love amber

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  20. What a beautiful story of faith and hope and.....Grace! I'm so happy for you. God is so good. Thank you, Brenda, for visiting me. Kathi

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  21. oh my laws gracie mary, since today is sunday, i will share my faith, we took four years to get our first, karen, drove through a canyon; car's generater gave out coasted on july fourth to a service station, after my visit it just diappeared...no station there,i ask if he was open...nope holiday...ask if he had auto parts...nope...our car wouldn't move, i said no generator for a 66 chrysler as a i laughed, nope... oh wait a minute i do have one generator...let's see it is for a a a 66 chyryler...i don't have money...now this was weired, he said i wouldn't charge you...i said then why are you in business?? got to the hospital when my premature daughter was born four years into our marriage when the doctor's said it wasn't going to happen

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  22. So very exciting and suspenseful!!!
    Susan

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Thanks for taking the time to visit with me. I enjoy your comments very much. :)