DECEMBER 2017
To hold a newborn infant, fresh from the realms of our Heavenly parents is one of the supreme joys we will experience in this life. We hold a baby close, nuzzling the soft new skin, drinking in the pure light emanating from the spirit within. We listen to the baby’s cries, earnest and pleading or mild and gentle and we can sense already the intelligence, distinct and individual, housed in this new body. Gazing into that baby’s eyes brings heaven close for the eyes not only seek already to understand their new world of faces, sounds, and touch, but they also, very evidently, see the world of angels that we do not see; angels that linger, and attend to mother and baby.
What really goes on, beyond our scope to view, when a spirit leaves it’s pre-mortal home to come to this world, and willingly enter a body of flesh and bone? We read of the angels of Glory that heralded our Savior’s birth, filling the heavens with music and light. Might not heaven and angels also sing for joy when others of the family of God descend to this earth, claim the privilege of a body, enter their second estate and take one more step to immortality? Heaven will mark a victory, but hell must mourn.
We were graced with the arrival of four newborns into our family during this year of 2017. The following are four miracle stories:
Doug and I joined my daughter Sally and husband, Bryan in Greenville, Texas on May 17th, the day Sally was to give birth to a daughter. Doug had a bad toenail and Bryan, a podiatrist, had promised to take it off sometime that day. As we waited for Sally to make progress towards delivery, Bryan suggested Doug go downstairs with him and he would remove the toenail. Doug declined the invitation, knowing how quickly things could change. Another hour went by and still no baby, so the two men disappeared to go take care of the toenail. Within five minutes of their leaving, Sally’s baby was on her way to a quick delivery and Bryan was called for. Bryan removed Doug’s toenail with lightning speed and before the numbing effect could work from the medication just administered. But Camille Elizabeth made her entrance into the world with such ease, that the only complication was Doug’s throbbing toe.
It was early in the morning on October 5, when my daughter, Katherine raced around her house in a panic of pain, for her baby, not expected for another week, was evidently coming today; and judging from the closeness of the pains, could arrive at any moment. She felt as though she would be fortunate to arrive safely at the hospital before the baby did. The children, Trey 4, and Lydia 2, still needed to be deposited to a neighbor across the street. Trey beholding his mother in tears, but showing no concern, asked his mother: “What is that music playing?” “What music?!” responded Katherine impatiently. “I hear music!” insisted Trey. Katherine could only respond by hurrying Trey out the door. Before an hour had passed, Caleb Daniel was born. New dad, Tyrell, wiped away tears of relief and happiness, while Katherine lay quiet, wide eyed with disbelief that she was already holding an infant son in her arms.
Early in the morning on December 4, my daughter Jayni, called me to say she was headed to the hospital in labor, and could I come? Well this was two and a half weeks early and yes I would come, despite the fact Doug and I had just returned home from baby Caleb’s blessing only hours before. In the night, our first snow storm in Thatcher had deposited snow and icy conditions just in time for me to make a slow and careful 4 a.m. drive down the highway. The world was glowing from the new blanket of snow and my quiet, gliding sojourn through Thatcher was still and peaceful; my heart full of prayers for the coming newborn. I arrived from a snowy 4 hour journey in time to witness the arrival of Gwenyth Isabelle, second daughter to Jayni and Craig.
I stepped outside into the bitter cold, Thatcher morning of December 14. It was five a.m. and I had spent a sleepless night and stressful evening throwing items into a suitcase for an unplanned plane trip. My daughter, Livvy was in labor and close to delivery, two weeks ahead of schedule, in Seattle, Washington. Were there no newborns in this family who had any respect for work schedules, plane tickets purchased in advance and Christmas?? I had spent the entire previous day trying to change those schedules, and those tickets. Christmas and it's carefully planned celebrations were now officially “on hold”. By the time I climbed into the car for the journey to the airport, my body was weighed down with fatigue. Concern for Livvy was mounting because her firstborn was not making much progress, even with the increasing labor pains and pushing efforts. Tension and anxiety strummed tight little tunes on every nerve.
Before getting into the car, I glanced up at the sky. It was fantastically lit with brilliant stars and a sliver of a silver moon hanging low in the east. The heavens were stunning; numerous “shooting stars” kept me counting as I made my way down Thatcher's highway 34. My thoughts turned to the night of the Savior’s birth and I thought to myself that these Thatcher skies could certainly be mistaken for the midnight skies of Bethlehem. I was filled with peace and awe from the shimmering spectacle until the break of dawn.
Just after the plane landed in Seattle, I received the news that Livvy and Aaron were new parents to Rosalie Katherine, after a difficult laboring process and then a C Section delivery. I learned of miracles and tender mercies surrounding the birth of this baby that brought me to my knees with prayers of rejoicing. Listening to the carols of Christmas presented me a sweet new understanding and a heart overflowing in gratitude's tears.
With the birth of each precious infant, I thought of Mary, at the birth of her Son, how she "kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Like Mary, we had experienced those things that defy our ability to disclose and reveal.
A baby is Innocence. Purity. Newness. Hope. Love. Each newborn brings heaven’s light down, and just as experienced on the night of our Savior’s birth, we just may catch the light, or the sound, of miracles, awing our senses and surpassing our understanding….All for a baby. Camille, Caleb, Gwenyth, Rosalie. All for you.
For unto us a child is born......
Merry Christmas!
I just loved your stories and again the beautiful pictures of you and your family. Your 2017 crop of newborns are beautiful! I'll bet your family parties are awesome.
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