Treasuring My Ponders

Several people have asked me if I still notice when BC kicks and moves.  Others have laughed and told me that with this pregnancy I may love all the kicks, but if I am every pregnant again, I probably will not even realize the baby is moving.

 My alarm went off this morning at 7:30am.  I decided to lay in bed for a few more minutes - just to think.  As I lay there, my arm started jumping.  Sweet little BC was kicking my arm.  I continued to lay there - treasuring those kicks in my heart.

I find myself doing this often.  My Heroic Husband frequently looks at me and asks if I am okay.  Apparently, I tend to hug my baby bump and let my eyes glaze over.  Yes, I am okay - I am just treasuring every single kick, roll, hiccup, and pat that BC gives me.

Luke 2:19
But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. (HCSB)

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. (KJV)

I believe this is one of my very favorite verses in the CHRISTmas Nativity Story.  The famous song asks, "Mary did you know?" - and the answer is quite simple.  Yes.  She did know.  And she treasured every moment in her heart. 

After dealing with some health problems many moons ago, I was not sure if I would be able to get pregnant.  HH, who truly is my HEROIC Husband, stood by my side - just as an Ephesians 5 husband is called to do.  We had plans to try and have babies one day - but if God did not open those doors, we were going to adopt (which we are still considering).  But God surprised us with BC.  Every little life is a miracle, but this one is especially miraculous and precious to us. 

I will never forget the face HH made the first time he got to feel BC kick.  His eyes shone like the stars.  My heart jumped.  I am meditating on that moment too.  My heart bursts with joy when Fabulous Friends get to feel BC kick - and their eyes begin to tear up as they realize this is the first time they have every felt a baby move.  Cousins and sisters who "fight" over who gets to feel BC move thrills me to the bone.  

(NOTE - I just took a blogging break to feel BC jump around : )

Even when BC gives a karate-chop to my rib cage, or a roundhouse kick to my bladder, I still CHOOSE to treasure those moments.  Yes, God may bless HH and me with more children, but I will never again have BC in my womb.  I will not have the opportunity to feel BC's kicks.

Yesterday was Sanctity of Life Sunday.  Personally, I think that we should celebrate the sanctity of life every day... but anyway - this year, sanctity of life has new meaning to HH and me.  As we worshiped the Author of Life at church, BC "joined in" by kicking and punching for Jesus.  Lincoln Brewster's lyrics

You hold my life
You know my heart and You call me by name
I live to say
God, You reign

almost brought tears to my already emotional self.  Earlier in the week, I saw this video: Life is a Miracle - and I did cry.  To see the handiwork of God - to see His amazing creation - to see the LIFE that He designed - it takes my breath away.  To feel little BC's kicks - to see little baby body parts suddenly appear through my skin - to hear BC's heartbeat - I cannot fathom how people venture to say that this precious gift I carry is not a life.  This little blessing has been alive since before I even knew it existed.  This LIFE was planned before it was even conceived. 

Psalm 139:16
Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.

Not only during this "sanctity of life" time of the year am I going to treasure LIFE moments - but I am going to CHOOSE to treasure them all the days of my life.  In 60ish days, when I am in the Labor and Delivery Room, I CHOOSE to "praise You because [this "tissue" has] been remarkably and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14).  When BC wakes up ten times in one night, I CHOOSE to sing a song of praise, as Mary did in Luke 1:46-55.  When I am so tired and exhausted - and I can barely carry on - I CHOOSE to "cast [my] burden on the Lord, and He will sustain [me]" (Psalm 55:22).

Thank you Lord, for this wonderful, precious little LIFE.

BC at 8 weeks, 18 weeks, and 28 weeks - what a miraculous LIFE this is.