Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Gracie...

Gracie is due to arrive in the middle of April.

Gracie is a miracle.

Molly and Joe are preparing each day to become Gracie's parents. Their first baby.

Joe is our son and Molly is our daughter in law. Their journey to April has been long and tedious and at times seemed nearly hopeless... But God...

Background... Joe & Molly met at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Molly went to Bolivia and served in missions for 3 years. Joe went on to seminary in Fort Worth, graduated, and they were married and both went back to Bolivia for a year. When they returned, Joe pastored a church and during those few years, with Molly working right by his side, she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Right from the start, they knew they wanted a family. Molly went through chemo and radiation, lost her hair, and was sick, and during most of it she continued to teach school. Chemo and radiation however, pretty much destroyed their chances of pregnancy. But God...

After her hair grew back, and it ALL came back... (and Molly has the thickest curly beautiful dark hair you can imagine!) and her health returned, they began to do the background and work to prepare for adoption. During this time they were learning about 'snowflake babies'. (Click for more complete information.)

Molly's doctor said he thought her ability to implant and carry a snowflake baby with a normal pregnancy should work fine for her. It did. And so we are all waiting with real joy and anticipation, for Gracie.

On March 4 we are giving a baby shower for Molly and Gracie. These will be the favors. I ordered 250 of these tiny buckets years ago when I was in a creative phase and the company was ending this product. I've used these buckets for everything from 'soup to nuts'!!

I can't wait to share the good news when the big day arrives, and Gracie is home!

God has so much ahead for this family who is so precious to all of us, there are aunts, uncles, mimi, poppa, grandpa, and a boatload of cousins who can hardly wait for Gracie to come home.

She's been hoped for and prayed for by all of us for a long time, especially Joe & Molly.

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.





26 comments:

Sandy said...

Little Gracie really is a miracle for sure! Brought tears to my eyes just reading this. I pray the Lord would bless this child throughout her life with health, peace, and a true revelation of the love God has for her. I ask also that Joe and Molly would stay strong and healthy and that He would bless the work of their hands and prosper them in every way!
How wonderful!!
Hugs!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Okay...this faith talking grandmother to be, is now in tears. I am celebrating with you all!! Gracie...oh my!, what a delight and what a miracle.

You know I can speak from experience those April babies are just treasures....there are three April babies in our household. With spring comes life and those April babies seem to always be full of life!!

Wiping my tears and keeping this grin on my face for the rest of the day!!

Maryann said...

But God...
That says it all doesn't it!

Thanks for the smile today...will be looking forward to the announcement that Gracie is here

Debbie said...

Well I have joined the others in tears over here....God is just sooo good! I am so happy for all of you. God has something very special in mind for little Gracie. How blessed she will be for starters being born into such a family as yours. I just LOVE stories like this. I will be smiling the rest of the day. Joining you in prayer for her safe delivery! HUGS!!

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Well, if that's not one of the sweetest posts I've ever read. And, I so know what you are feeling. Our son and his wife were unable to have children so they did choose the adoption route and our little miracle girl was born on Oct. 7, 2009. We were all there for her birth as her birth Grandmother handed her over to our son and DIL. It was a moment that is forever etched in my mind.

They used the verse, "for this child we have prayed" on their birth announcements.

Your little happies are just too precious, wish I was getting one. :o)

Thanks for making my heart smile this evening.

Farm Girl said...

I am so happy for you and March fourth is my daughters birthday I will be thinking about you and God's wonderful gift to you and your family.
I love those buckets they are so cute. God is so good!

BARBIE said...

I am so excited for your son and daughter-in-love! What a beautiful testimony you've shared. It really encouraged me. But God....!!!

Felisol said...

I love miracles.
I know lots of miracles happen without me really noticing, but the rare ones, the "God was here" miracles make me stunned and happy at the same time.
Come to think of it; every new born child gives me that breathtaking feeling.
Now, I have said my prayers for Gracie too. May her life become grace over grace.

Denise said...

This post brought such joy and a smile to me this morning; what a testimony of genuine faith and God's grace! Many blessings to your son and daughter-in-law, and to beautiful Gracie; there is so much joy and thankfulness in the days ahead! :)

Blessings and hugs,
Denise

Debbie said...

I want to cry right now. Really, I have that thick tightness in my throat that you get when you read something special, if you know what I mean. For all babies, we have prayed... but when it's a story like this one, it just seems so much more pertinent to apply that passage of scripture. There's praying, and then there is PRAYING. What a wonderful gift from a wonderful God.

Just Be Real said...

How ever so lovely Sonja. And what a lovely name. Blessings to you dear one.

Debbie said...

I was going to ask if Janette had seen this yet, and I see that she has. I know that I'll be rejoicing with that grandma-to-be soon too.

I'm a big old believer.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

What an incredibly beautiful story! Gracie is already a gift to this world, and I can't wait to see her precious face.

Like a snowflake falling from the sky, so is Gracie, straight from the hands of Jesus.

peace~elaine

Sarah Jane said...

Sonja,

This is a beautiful post! I am so encouraged by Joe and Molly's story. What an amazing God we serve... one who holds new life so close to His heart. I am adding this story to my list of miracles the Lord has performed to remind me He CAN when all else seems hopeless!!

The buckets are beautiful, and you have chosen the perfect verse to put on them! I plan to put that on our birth announcements someday... and maybe even on the wall of our nursery!

Blessings,
Sarah Jane

Marsha Young said...

Oh, Sonja

Isn't Gracie just the perfect name for this little girl who is such a gift of grace?

What a wonderful example of God's blessings!

Vee said...

What a beautiful testimony. God. He's so good. He does so much more than we can even ask or think. Gracie is a wonderful name for this much loved child. Keeping you all tucked in my prayers.

Those favors are wonderful btw!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Miracles are real. I know it.

And what a perfect name: GRACIE.

My sweet mum's name was Grace and she lived out every bit of the meaning of that word. May YOUR GRACIE do the same, and remind all around her that God's grace is all we need to make it through each day.

Dearest, I WAS MOVED BY YOUR COMMENT TO ME. Do you know that I was a theatre major and performer? Perhaps that explains my tendency to write and compose my posts in a THEATRICAL fashion. But my next project somewhere down the road is to make a YOUTUBE!!!!!!! I will practice there first, but yes, I do hope to create a story not just in book form, but in a visual way. Thank you for your comments....bless you! Anita

Walk In Truth said...

Hi Sonja,
thank you for sharing this very special post. Your son and daughter-in-law sound like wonderful people.

God bless you friend~
Hugs~ Michele

Sharon said...

This was a beautiful celebration of God's love! I am so excited for you and your family. I had to google "snowflake baby" to find out what that was. How precious...

I'm kinda partial to April babies - being one myself. I will pray for a smooth and uncomplicated last two months, and for a joyous birth. Only God could show His grace through a child named Gracie!

GOD BLESS!

Jackie said...

Hey Sonja! I'm back to bloggin' and I wanted to stop by for a visit and am soooo excited to learn about Gracie! I remember when you shared their journey with me and I shared Mark and Anne Marie's miracle snowflake baby...born under very similar circumstances. What an awesome God we serve!!

On that note....My son Chris and DIN Laraine lost their 9th preg. recently....we hv been very heartbroken but continue to believe and stand upon the promises of God for a baby!! My daughter, Katie, is on fertility treatments now and we are also trusting that she conceives very soon....I'll keep you posted.....we are believing for miracles!!

Hope you are doing well!

HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Jackie

Jackie said...

Sonja....I almost forgot....I love the shower favors! I think I'm gonna use your idea for when my miracle grand babies are born!!!

Thx!!

Debbie Petras said...

What a miracle Gracie will be! Praise God for this little one about to be born. How thrilled I am for your son and daughter-in-law.

We have so many parallels Sonja! My niece Kristin and her husband Kevin are expecting their first child in April. Kenzie will be the first grandchild of my brother and my great niece. We are also so thankful.

I will be praying for a safe delivery for your Gracie. I love the buckets; so cute.

Love you,
Debbie

Just a little something from Judy said...

Oh how I love stories of special little miracles from our Heavenly Father. This story made my day! I can't imagine the joy in your hearts and the anticipation that you all feel for a precious Gracie. I am included this dear couple and all of you in my prayers as I too look forward to her arrival. What good news in today's world.

The "but God" is what says it all. What an amazing God we serve!

The buckets are perfect favors. From one grandmother to another, I wish you patience and great joy as you look forward to this little girl.

Just a little something from Judy said...

Oh how I love stories of special little miracles from our Heavenly Father. This story made my day! I can't imagine the joy in your hearts and the anticipation that you all feel for a precious Gracie. I am included this dear couple and all of you in my prayers as I too look forward to her arrival. What good news in today's world.

The "but God" is what says it all. What an amazing God we serve!

The buckets are perfect favors. From one grandmother to another, I wish you patience and great joy as you look forward to this little girl.

Nancy said...

What a beautiful testimony to God's faithfulness and love for His children....

I love your buckets and I know the shower will be fun celebrating Gracie's arrival...

John_Hoelzel_Sr said...

Wonderful tribute to Gracie and her parents! Thanks and much appreciation for your support of them and Faithie with prayers and practical support visits. May Gracie experience James' root of her name: God resists the proud, but gives GRACE to the humble. They are now experiencing the blessed benefits of the balanced combo of LOVE and its cousin DISCIPLINE as Gracie is doing a little practicing for the "terrible Two's." Love, John and Jan