Learning to be a Mommy

More on William's birth day coming soon. Until then, here's a photo I love of Alison's in her first hour of being responsible for a new life.

To God be the glory!

Zambia Bound!

Mrs. R:

Since she was adopted from Russia at age seven, our daughter Sarah has dreamed of working in an orphanage. Even before Sarah was fully fluent in English, she began to articulate that she wanted to return the love and care she'd received. She has also dreamed of telling children without hope about the eternal hope she has as a child of Jesus. Sarah longs to share the good news that her Savior loves little children and even has a special place in his heart for fatherless children (James 1:27, Isaiah 1:17,18).

Although a desire to work with orphans has been in Sarah's heart for years, for a long time she didn't have a sense of where the Lord might be calling her to serve. All that changed last year. Sarah and I attended the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) Summit in the spring of 2013. At this international gathering of those involved in all types of orphan care, Sarah had a rare opportunity. She was able to meet and talk with both Zambians and Americans involved in caring for the fatherless in the AIDS-ravaged Zambia. Sarah's heart was won! She left that encounter crying tears of joy. The puzzle was solved. She knew the Lord was calling her to serve in the African nation of Zambia.

And today, after months of preparation, the day to begin chasing her dream arrived. Sarah left our home packed for a four-month stint. The three of us were in agreement that working there for four months will give her enough of a taste to see if she wants to return for a longer stay.

Here is a link to the the orphanage where she will be working: Kazembe Orphanage. If you click on the "Our Children" tab, you'll see some of the children with whom Sarah will be working. Apparently four-year-old Peter, pictured on that page, has been inquisitive about the new teacher. Sarah was told that he asked, "Is she a kind Sarah?" Our daughter is very tickled that she will be working with the toddlers and preschoolers.

We'll miss the sunshine Sarah brings to our home. She is a walking smile that brightens each room she enters. Sarah laughs often and readily welcomes others into her sphere of happiness. She looks for the bright side when problems occur and is eager to serve when opportunities present themselves. 

Sarah's love of Jesus has given her a tender heart for anyone whom she senses is suffering. She cries especially easily over the plight of orphans.

Knowing how the Lord has knit our Sarah together, we share her excitement over the opportunity that lies before her. Sarah's dad has worked with her during the past year or so to help find just the right place for her to care for fatherless children in Zambia. Today all of us made our way to the Omaha airport to see her off. Her daddy will see her all the way to Zambia.

Since the two of them were traveling internationally they had to arrive at the ticket counter three hours before flight time. An upside of this requirement is that there was no line in which to wait.

Once Sarah and Mr. R were checked in, Sarah focused her attention on making sure her electronics were ready. The two have a long trip ahead of them. They flew from Omaha to Chicago. as I write this they are on a 14-hour flight from Chicago to Dubai. That flight alone is 7,521 miles! They'll have a 12-hour lay-over in Dubai and then fly to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Whew!

After topping off her phone, Sarah called her oldest sister Anna to say good-bye.

Soon Sarah had switched from traditional phone service to Face Time so that she could watch the antics of her nieces. 

Finally, though, the long wait following check in was over, and it was time for Mr. R and Sarah to make their way through security in order to board their flight. We each had the difficult task of saying good-bye to Sarah.

As happy as she is to finally be following her dream, the goodbyes were heart wrenching for Sarah as well. Tears fell on both sides.

As those of us who are staying home walked through the parking garage, we had this view of the plane our loved ones were on. It felt surreal to know what an incredible adventure lies ahead for this much-loved father and daughter team! I'll update our readers as I get news from the other side of the world. Your prayers would be much appreciated.

The Lost Posts: Watermelon War

This past year has swept by so quickly that I've missed some significant moments in the life of our family. Tonight I share 2-year-old Brielle's interactions with summer's classic icon.

Ultimate winner of the Watermelon War? Brielle!

An Exceptionally Happy Moment

Denise:

This week has held so many joys for this grandmother. One of the reasons for my bliss has been having Alison's older sister, Anna, here for the birth of the family's newest addition. Anna's husband, Aaron, kindly offered to take four days off from work to care for their little girls. Even though her daughters are in such capable hands, Anna has really missed the duo. Thanks to today's technology, however, she has been able to "see" them several times a day. Here two-year-old Brielle had just enthusiastically chirped, "Hi, Mommy!" upon seeing seeing her mama as Anna held her nephew in Alison's hospital room.

Welcome to the World!

William Eric

9 pounds, 6 ounces

20-1/2 inches

Very happy parents: Eric and Alison

Very happy grandparents: Jim and Denise

Eric and Alison: Update

I'm not really certain why I picked this photo for an update on Alison's labor. Perhaps I feel a bit like the dog pictured her. I feel a bit like a caged animal after a day of waiting for news. I know the other grandparents do, too! We yearn to know that our grandson is safe and healthy and that Alison's agony is over. Waiting is hard!

I don't have much to pass on. We know that the young couple has been at the hospital for about an hour. We haven't heard from Eric since they arrived there. Our hope is that Eric's texting silence means his wife is in very active labor, and he's just too busy comforting her.

Eric and Alison: Today is THE Day!

Eric and Alison would be most grateful for your prayers. God be praised, she went into labor about 2 a.m. eastern. She has been laboring for about 13 hours but hasn't yet progressed enough to go to the hospital. I will post as soon as possible after their son is born!

Eric and Alison: While They Wait

Denise:

What do you do when your first baby is a full week late?

You visit a dog shelter...

...knowing that now you will be far less tempted by big brown eyes to bring home a four-footed friend to your tiny apartment.

Eric and Alison share a deep love of dogs, and I was so happy to be invited to join the two of them on their outing today as they sought some way to take their minds off the wait for our grandson. However, the canines' doleful eyes were hard for this adoptive mother to endure. Each dog had his own way of crying out, "Please adopt me!"

This fella even had ears that communicated, "Please take me home...please!"

The pups that tore at my heart the most were these noble-looking brothers. After all, the Lord has made it my life mission to rescue orphaned sibling groups in His name.

It was a good thing I'm traveling or we would have suddenly had as many dogs as kids!

While I was losing my heart to a couple of brothers who are likely to be separated, Eric was in an adjoining room having his heart strings pulled by a pup named Buster.

Alison watched on, practicing the comforting, calming "shush" she'll use soon to quite her baby boy.

Before long one of the volunteers offered to let Eric play with the 10-month-old pure bred. He was a sturdy dog, just right for my son-in-law's enormous "paws." The rescue worker also happened to be Buster's foster mother so she was able to fill us in on how far this energetic, active puppy has come since he was rescued from Tennessee where his death was immanent due to over crowding in a shelter there.

A few minutes of playing ball together...

...and the two were fast friends.

I love the eye contact here!

However, today couldn't be the day for an adoption, not with a baby due any hour now. So Eric and Alison cast a final glance at the dogs and headed home. They left happy, having learned that the dogs cared for by this organization all live in foster homes rather than being caged or being in danger of being put down.They're only in the cages for the length of a weekly open house.

I suspect Eric and Alison will be returning to Forever Home Rescue before too long with their infant son in tow looking for the Lord's leading on choosing a pet for their growing family.

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If anyone in the New England area is interested in this immaculate and lovingly-run dog shelter, here's a link: Forever Home Rescue.

Eric and Alison: When the Wait Drags On

Denise:

After a fabulous 30th-anniversary celebration last week with the love of my life in Maine, this week I'm in Massachusetts with our second daughter. Alison and her husband, Eric, are expecting their first child ~ a boy. The little guy has thus far been reluctant to make his entrance in the world. He was due five days ago on September 27th.

This morning I went with Alison to her weekly doctor appointment. This week's visit started with an ultra sound since Alison is over due. The goal was to check the baby's health and make sure that he is still surrounded by enough amniotic fluid. The little guy passed the various tests with flying colors. Alison and I were treated to so many evidences of the God's amazing handiwork. We got to see a clear picture of the valves opening and closing between the four chambers of Little Man's heart. We were treated to a sharp picture of his beautiful spine. His kidneys were cute and his profile was perfect. Alison and I were overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord for the wonder of His work.

After the sonogram was finished, Alison saw her doctor who informed our very pregnant daughter that her body still isn't ready to give birth. Alison left the appointment discouraged that it looks more and more like a medical induction might be the path to her first child's birth. She called Eric who knew just what his wife needed to endure the wait for their son's birth.

We met Eric for lunch at a Five Guys near Eric's work for hamburgers and fries. Eric provided just what Alison needed...

...a listening ear...

...and a bit of reassurance that he stills loves his wife.

After 30 minutes with her husband, Alison's discouragement was replaced by steadfast determination, and she was ready to face a few more days of pregnancy...

...and Eric was ready to return to work.

On Sunday, Eric and Alison will celebrate their first anniversary. Today I got to witness a husband's devotion to his wife bring hope to her heart. As I watched Eric impart his strength to his wife, I couldn't help but think of this verse, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25 ESV). Eric loved sacrificially today and was the very picture of Jesus loving His bride.

I thank God for Eric and Alison's one-year-old marriage. I thank the Lord that our daughter is in such good hands as Eric cares for her. And I thank the Lord that one way or another Alison's physical soreness will soon be replaced by the emotional and spiritual joy upon becoming a mother.