Four months

A lot has changed in the almost two year hiatus I took from blogging.  Namely that we increased by two kiddos!  Annabell's story is one for the record books and one I will tackle in what will probably be several posts, but since Elin what just born in October, I'll tackle hers first.

It's been almost a year since I found out I was pregnant with her...a year this week.  Some things had been off, and I actually thought I had early onset menopause.  Then another option crept into my mind.  But it had been two years since we had initially started trying for another baby.  Two years without getting pregnant so you can't blame me for thinking that wasn't it.  I decided that I could at least find out one of what I thought were the two possibilities so I randomly bought a pregnancy test and took it one night while Sean was working late and the kids had gone to bed.  When I first looked at the results, I didn't see a positive.  No big deal, I thought, I've taken more tests that have been negative than positive.  Then something caused me to look again.  And that's when I saw it...not one, but two pink lines.  I fell to my knees weeping very loudly.  It's amazing I didn't wake up any kids because of how loud I was.  I couldn't believe it, but yet I could at the same time.  Because isn't that like our God, to show off how amazing He is!  "I'll not only give you one child you've been desperately praying for (Annabell), I'll give you the other one you've been desperately praying for as well." 

Sean wasn't set on four kids.  After we had Annabell, I clearly remember him standing in the kitchen saying, "I feel good, Stacie.  Our family feels complete."  I chose then to tell him that while we were in the hospital with Annabell, I had heard the Lord mention four kids to me.  I was holding Annabell, crying and thanking Him for the promises He has made to us through our kids.  His promises of faith, hope and trust.  It was then He whispered, "and your fourth baby will be the promise of My extravagant love."  My breath caught as I thought, "Did I hear You correctly, Lord?  Did you just share that we will have a fourth?"  Indeed, He had.  And indeed, we did.

We decided not to find out if we were having a girl or boy.  So we waited 9 long months until October 7 when Elin Frances born made her debut.  Sweet little girl born in the midst of a lot of boys!  She was 7 pounds 7 ounces and 20 inches...totally a gift from the Lord. 

Elin means "light" and Frances means "free".  I thought her name was very fitting and accurate for her specifically regarding her promise of the Lord.  Light free, free light...the Lord is referenced over and over in the Bible as "light" and His love is free.  She being the promise of His extravagant love bears a name that is a constant reminder of how free His love is, how free the Light is.

Now four months later, it's as if our life has always consisted of a 6 year old, 4 year old, 18 month old and 4 month old.  We've started figuring out our new normal...chaos most of the time, but peace in the midst of it.  A lot of tears, usually from me, but a lot of smiles and laughter and praise and dancing! 

And as for how the rest of the clan is adjusting, they all think she is just as wonderful as her mommy and daddy do!

Elin Frances, we are overjoyed the Lord picked us for you and you for us!  You have brought a wonderful new dimension to our family and have marked this season as one of His extravagant love for all of us.  We are excited to see you grow and become a marked woman of the most high King!  You, sweet girl, are beautiful and delightful and loved and cherished by your heavenly Father and your family and friends!