This Time Last Year... Continued

... During our time in Lexington with the family during that weekend, it wasn't uncommon for most people to comment on the state of my condition.  Apparently, I had that "look" to most people, and they were afraid that I would go into labor at any minute.  I remember as all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, and Mema were getting situated to receive friends and family at the funeral home that Saturday evening, Kyle insisted that he couldn't stand in line next to me.  Why?  He didn't want his shoes getting wet if my water broke!  I guess neither of us realized how real of a possibility that was during the weekend.  Why, going by my due date of September 29th, I had at least 11 more days to go...  Or so we thought!

On the way back home to Calhoun Falls from Papa's funeral that Sunday night (around 9:00'ish), Brantley made a joke as we passed the road that leads to Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.  It went a little something like this: "You better holler if you want to stop now, because I'm not coming back this way until your ultrasound appointment tomorrow afternoon."  Good one, Brantley!!  Much to his surprise (okay, mine, too), we were on our way back to Self within the next five to six hours ready to bring Baby #2 into this great big world.

I'll try to spare the details, but there was no doubt that it was showtime when I woke up at 2 AM the next morning (Monday).  I had the strangest little sensation when I rolled over in bed.  Within seconds, that little sensation was followed by water.  Lots of water.  I gently woke up Brantley and told him the news.  This time, I figured it was best to skip the shampoo, shave, and hair dryer.  I'd only been asleep for about four hours, so the usual bed head look hadn't quite settled in yet. (Thank goodness.  I wanted to look good for my second delivery!)  By 2:30, Baylor was whisked away across the cow pasture to the grandparents and the little Chevy Equinox was doing close to 70 with the hazard lights blinking all the way to Greenwood!

I think being a woman is a privilege, especially because we have the opportunity to experience giving birth to a child.  That is one of my most favorite things EVER.  During my four hours of delivery and taking it all in, we were all so excited to finally find out; boy or girl??  My main L&D nurse kept referring to the baby as "it."  Not long into the process, she asked if we'd picked out a name because she thought "it" sounded so bad.  We informed her that Baylor had been calling the baby "Jesus" for several weeks.  As it got down to the last few minutes of pushing and the excitement of the baby's arrival, the nurse shouts, "Jesus is coming!"  Right on, sister... I'm all about evangelizing and reaching a lost world!!

At 6:37 that very morning, Dr. Beudrot delivered an 8 lb. 1 oz. baby boy with a head of strawberry blond hair.  We decided to name him Joseph Cain.  (To those of you wondering.  Yes, we realize that Cain was the world's first murderer.  It was just a name we both liked, and believe me, those names weren't easy to come by this time around.  We are doing everything within our power to teach our Cain that slaying his brother over crops and sheep isn't in his best interest.)  God had given us another handsome and healthy baby boy to add to the family!

With all of the emotions of that weekend last year, God held true to his promises.  He always has and always does keep his promises, but this was an instance of life season's that I will never forget.  The old testament book of Ecclesiastes has a beautiful poem which even non-Christians probably know (just listen to the Forrest Gump soundtrack); "For everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die."  During the short season of mourning Papa's death, God redeemed the heartache and tears of sorrows with wonder and tears of joy as he brought forth new life.  Sometimes the seasons change slowly, and the winters of our lives seem to stretch on and on.  But there's the hope of knowing that spring isn't far away.  God rocked my world and took me from winter to spring in four days.  Seeing God's hand throughout each season of my life; that's one of the reasons I love to reminisce.