The Sweetest Surprise

I'm sure most of you have heard from our families, friends, or facebook, but Josh and I are thrilled to announce that we are having our first baby!

To fill you in on all the details, I'll share a journal entry from the day we found out we are expecting..

Lord, I don't know if I can find the words to praise You. I certainly cannot find the words to express how I feel. We're pregnant! A baby certainly wasn't in our plans for the Philippines, but all the while we've been praying for Your will and trusting Your sovereignty. And we trust You still today, Lord. We believe You'll provide every physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental thing that we need for this new addition to our family. Lord, the way You worked out all of the circumstances is incredibly perfect. After 3 negative at-home pregnancy tests last month, we were beginning to wonder what exactly was going on in my body. As we waited for the mission team trip to end, our (especially my) anxiety built. Today after my prayer and not a few tears, we decided to go to Premiere Hospital in Baler. We prayed for effective communication skills and an answer. We vowed to trust You. With every meter that the tricycle got closer to the hospital, my heart beat harder. I was nervous in so many ways. What if something is really wrong with me? What if I'm pregnant?! After navigating our way around the hospital, I took the test and waited for the longest 10 minutes ever. Then we heard, "Congratulations, mam. It's positive." Josh and I just laughed and looked at each other in shock as the Filipinos around us all sheepishly grinned. We had to have been a sight to see. 
God, You truly gave us the Tagalog vocab to communicate our needs. Thank You. Next, we visited a home-based maternity clinic and discovered that I am 8 weeks and we can expect a baby in late February. Again, you gave us the Tagalog to communicate and gave her the English to express medical terms. What a blessing. We were given some instructions and an appointment next month and we were on our way. Josh took us to celebrate with lunch on the beach and we overwhelmed ourselves with questions and decisions and laughter at the reality that just didn't seem real! Lord, thank You for blessing us today and for trusting us with a precious baby. 

"I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your books were written, every one of them, the days that were numbered for me when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:13-16

Thanks to everyone for the congratulations and well wishes and prayers. It seems like the news has finally sunk in for us. We love reading about how the baby is developing. It's truly been a worshipful experience. I can't wait to feel the baby move, to name it, and ultimately to have it here with us. In many ways I am humbled that the Lord has chosen this time for us to begin our family as I feel so underprepared. But I know He equips His children and I'm excited to see the transformation in myself as I become ready to be a mama.

Join us in praising God for this little one's life and praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery. We will remain in the Philippines to have our baby as the Lord has not directed us otherwise, so pray for wisdom and discernment on decisions that are specific for here. Thank you all for loving us and reading along with our blog!