A time to say thank you!

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has prayed for us in the past 3 years! We have had an amazing journey filled with grief, but also amazing joy! As I sit here thinking about how we are at full term with this little boy right now, and it just makes me soo humbled and thrilled at the same time. Our little boy is going to be coming very very soon! I can't believe it!

I remember being diagnosed with PCOS and hearing the words "it may be incredibly difficult to ever get pregnant," and just feeling devastated by the news. I remember back in July 2012, after we had lost our sweet Gabriel that we only knew about for a few short days. I remember the hurt just like it was yesterday. I still think of our baby Gabriel, and especially after watching "Heaven is for Real" this past weekend, it just confirms to me that I know my baby is just fine in heaven. I know he or she is safe and in the arms of Jesus and someday we will be a family together again. I also think about the precious letter from an amazing woman in our lives who also gave us this beautiful penguin wood carving (see below).

She had told us that the Holy Spirit told her when she saw this carving, that it was a promise for me and Todd. I was truly at my lowest point in life, and right then and there, the God of the Universe talked through her to comfort us in that moment. While at the time, we were still grieving, I often thought about that promise. I often wondered if and when that would happen for us again and if it did happen, would we be able to keep that baby? The grief I held onto was soo strong and it took such a long time for me to heal. And little did I know that in late August, this precious little boy would come into our lives and hearts!

And ever since the moment that I thought I was possibly pregnant, my sister told me that they prayed for this boy! And even after I got negative tests, my sister continued to pray because she believed it had to be wrong. My husband was the same way. And when I found out for sure, my husband and I prayed every single night for this child - and we still do! And when we finally told family and friends, the support became even stronger and more and more people (like you) just sent us words of encouragement and prayers.

We were blessed with a baby blanket that my Dad received from a kind woman on an airplane. I will never forget that story. He was talking with this woman and she was knitting a blanket at the time they were talking. He mentioned they were awaiting a grandchild and told a little about our story. Before they get off the plane, she hands him this sweet little turtle blanket that she was working on during the plane ride to give to us. That story still brings tears to my eyes. In fact, it just so happens that Todd LOVES turtles. So it was just so amazing how that all happened.

We have had people all over the country share words of support, encouragement, and love to us, and from people we didn't even know were praying! I still hear about people I don't even know who are praying for us because of people like you who asked them to pray. And when I submit my weekly celebratory Instagrams of love to Caleb, I have had people (people I never expected would pay any attention to those updates) comment how much they love seeing these updates. I feel overwhelmed and humbled with the love and support people have shown us! It's amazing how much prayer this little boy has received already and he isn't even out of my womb yet! To say we appreciate your love and prayers is an understatement. I don't think I could ever convey how much we appreciate your love, support, and prayers! I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I believe those prayers and support are what has helped make this pregnancy go as smoothly as it has! I know we aren't all the way done yet (still have another 2.5 weeks or so), but God has blessed us with people like you! I truly believe he has used people like you to be His Hands and Feet to us during this time! I truly believe that your kindness and prayers will also be returned back to you as well!

So really this post is just to say thank you! Please know that it is because of your faithfulness to praying for us and love that has helped make much of this possible.

So in just a few short weeks - this little rainbow baby will be here! Stay tuned for the exciting news!

Another onesie I made for our rainbow! 

Much love to all of you!