A Baby Changes Everything

I love Faith Hill’s song, “A Baby Changes Everything”. It is so true – especially when that growing little baby inside the Mama’s womb is getting new body parts and new features week by week while the Mama’s body is changing on the outside and inside.

God's glorious birthing plan! Please don’t try to convince me that little being isn’t a baby. I know otherwise. From the very beginning, God had a plan for that little darling’s future. I know that from my own experience. I also know it as I delight in following a precious, young couple’s FB posts. Their prayers to conceive were answered and now I rejoice with them as I watch the radiant, exuberate mama taking pride and joy in showing the growth of her tummy bump week after week. Literally, a baby is changing everything about their lives.

Every day I send short, early morning text messages to my four darlings (my two and their spouses). Nostalgia consumed me as I sent my son’s text message yesterday. While looking for photos to display for my daughter’s recent birthday, I found a treasure in an envelope. The treasures you see here. I sent this message to my son: “Look what I came across. Your original birth certificate and the baby bracelet you wore in the nursery. And on the top right corner of the birth certificate is our home address. I looked it up on Zillow. Daddy and I had to move out of our one-bedroom apartment to this sweet little 800 sq.ft., 2-bedroom, one bath house that could accommodate a baby boy coming to live with us. We had your room all decorated before you were born. I would go in there and savor the smell of your baby clothes and picture that precious little baby coming into our life. It was the sweetest little house. We lived there until dad’s uncles helped us to get into one of their trade-in homes for one of their houses. We paid $7500 for that one. We were officially homeowners. Just a reminder of how blessed I’ve been with you, my sweet son. We’ve spent a long time together. Lots of sweetest memories to hold onto. Oh, the joy you brought to us. Thanks for going with me on a trip down Memory Lane this morning. I love you so much!” That little boy did change everything in our lives.

Speaking of a baby changing everything -- the birth of Jesus changed our world. The One who was born in a Bethlehem stable came here to Planet Earth to make every heart His home. And, it is our privilege as followers of Jesus to share the amazing good news of His love with our broken world in every way we can. That’s why I write a daily blog to partner with you in spreading the Good News that came with the birth of that sweet little Holy Child – lying in a manger -- Who was our Lord and Savior in the making.

At the end of her Christmas song, Faith Hill testifies, "My whole life has turned around, I was lost but now I'm found, a baby changes everything." Doesn’t that compel you to want to help as many people as you can so that their lives turn around from lost to found? Let’s be a bearer of “Good tidings of great joy to all people"! The Lord has come so everyone can experience the transforming love of Jesus! Gloria in excelsis deo!

The Blessing of My First-Born

On the road again! Yesterday the boys and I traveled back from Frisco to Austin to be here today for the traditional birthday breakfast where we celebrate another birthday of one we love. It’s the dad’s (my first-born’s) birthday this time. We’ll enjoy the usual: biscuits (plus cream & chocolate gravies), eggs, bacon and fruit. His will be served in the “You are Special” plate and we’ll each go around and tell him why he is so special to us.

This #1 child (in order of birth debuts) – my first-born -- and his birthday, makes me even more nostalgic than I already am daily. That's what happens as the years go by. Our love for them and all the memories, indelibly imprinted on our mind, continue to give us such pride and joy. And, all you mamas and papas out there, you might as well realize you'll never get over the awe of the accomplishments and abilities of your kids, and most of all, that you were in partnership with God in bringing these amazing human beings into this world.

Our Ryan Keith, our first-born was the “test-case” for two inept amateurs. No prep-training classes in those days. All we had was a Dr. Spock book, “Baby and Child Care” to give us “baby” tips. I remember the hospital staff showing me how to nurse this little human being. It occurred to me: “This baby is dependent on ME!" Oh, the responsibility that hit two very novice kids. I remember being shown how to change his diapers, take care of his tummy button, how to bathe him and THAT WAS IT! We were on our own. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No formal training in baby care? Fortunately, we had our two mothers that “knew the ropes” and they guided us in becoming experts.

The first-born shows us an unconditional love that is beyond explanation. This little first-born gave me the incredible gift of my cherished title – ‘mother’. My first-born and I were partners as we navigated all his first-born challenges like blow out diapers, sleepless nights and keeping him alive when he was so sick. We are still partnering as we navigate MY life. It’s definitely a role reversal. I’m so thankful for my partnership with my first-born. He was the first time I did all of the “mom stuff” and I certainly made a lot of mistakes along the way, and I (and his dad) have been his first time in his opportunity for “son stuff”. He reminds me each Valentine’s Day that I was his first love. His dad, me and God created his first heartbeat and my heartbeat was the first one he heard.

He was my first time I wore maternity clothes, the first time I watched my body change and grow to accommodate a person, the first time I threw up for mornings for three long months and experienced the crazy ride of pregnancy highs and lows. The first time I nursed, the first time I planned a first birthday party. The first-born teaches us so much. My boy gave me the confidence to be a mother. It didn’t happen right away. But over time, through mothering him, I found out who I was and am in this role. My strengths and my weaknesses. My highs and my lows. He even gave us the courage to do this thing again. And, we had his little sister two and a half years later.

Yes, I’m nostalgic, but mostly I’m so grateful God blessed us with a remarkable, talented, compassionate, giving, tender-hearted and loving first-born. Not only am I having memories on this day, but I'm counting my blessings that continue to bring my life so much joy and pleasure. My greatest blessings call me Mom and Nana -- and on this day, I'm especially thankful for that little man that kick-started us into parenthood and continues to make me so grateful when God was handing out “Motherhood” – He picked me to be this man’s mother. He survived our youth and inexperience and he rocked our world and I think to myself.... what a wonderful world it is!

Happy Birthday, my first-born, Ryan Wuerch! What a difference you’ve made in my life!

The Cray Cray Love of Parents and God

I’m watching you, moms and dads. You’re the ones who continue to post photos and videos of your child or children receiving awards for their intellectual achievements and athletic abilities (even though some of you admitted that your child’s team never won a game – they still received an award). You are the ones standing on your tippy toes, on the floor at the front of the crowd, capturing it all on video or camera. You are leaning in and shushing anyone around you who is taking away from their moment on the stage. Your child crosses the stage to receive their diploma or award and your hands are waving wildly and you are screaming out their name with pride and joy.

You don’t give up and you don’t even consider yourself looking a little cray cray. Your eyes are locked on your child and there is nothing that will stand in your way. You are so crazy proud and crazy in love with this child – you just can’t help yourself.

And if you think you have an indescribable love for your kids -- it no way compares to how wild God is for us. He is on the front row and if He had a camera, He’d be taking pictures and videos of you, too. Here’s why I know that’s true. God is among us. He’s everywhere, but right here close to us. Don’t miss it. He wrote all about His love in His Holy Word and His wild display of affection for us is written there -- living and active. "He appeared to me saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness, I have drawn you. (Jeremiah 31:3) He’s eager to be near to us when we believe no one else wants to be. (Psalm 34:18) He draws near to us and sticks with us as we go through our day.

Jesus’ love looks crazy. What did people say of Jesus as he showed crazy love and said He was God? “He’s crazy, a maniac -- out of his head completely. Why bother listening to him?” (John 10:20) He was so crazy that He gave up His own life for you and me. Jesus’ crazy love is still after you and me. It doesn’t care about mess-ups and our past. His love is way beyond you moms and dads who are so crazy in love with your kiddos. He is waving at you, desiring you and moving with you throughout your day of joys and sorrows, comforts and discomforts, acceptance and rejection, wins and defeats.

Your kids may get a little embarrassed with your audacious display of affection and may even look away thinking “Maybe if I don’t look at them, no one will know I’m with them!” But, DON’T be embarrassed as God’s kids. Let’s embrace His crazy love and not look the other way. Let’s embrace His pursuit and His affection. Jesus is crazy about you. Just know that. Receive that. Sit in that. Dwell in that. Bathe in that – and receive His indescribable, unrelenting, reckless, crazy love.

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine.
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.

Welcome to the World – Our New Baby Foal!

There is nothing to compare with the joys of new life – of a baby – and, in my grandson’s opinion – a donkey baby (foal). What the family didn’t know when they added two little miniature donkeys, Firecracker and Molly Grace, to their family in January, that one of them could be “expecting”. They only hoped that there would be an addition to the family sometime in the future.

As the days went by, it looked like Firecracker’s middle was growing bigger and bigger. Last month, while I was there, a vet came out and assured us, that a baby foal was on the way and could be here anytime from then to December.

Friday night, Shawntel and Bryson went out to check on the donkeys and they could only see Molly Grace (the other donkey) by herself and she was loudly hee-hawing. It was like she was calling for help and it wasn’t like her at all to be away from Firecracker. They are always side by side. Then they saw Firecracker and another little shadow, and there was our new baby – all legs and ears and as Shawntel put it, that “he’ll have to grow into”. There was no rushing Firecracker to do anything she wasn’t ready to do – her baby’s debut came when the natural process of birthing was ready. Oh, the miracle of God’s creation.

My first thought, when I saw the photos yesterday morning, “How in the world was that big baby in that tiny mama, and how in the world did she deliver that baby all on her own?" Again, oh, the wonders of God’s creation. Needless to say, there is joy and celebration in the Wuerch household. Baby immediately knew where to go for nourishment. The family gathered up the baby with mama and put them in the barn for safe-keeping.

Yesterday morning, in the light of day, the family Face-Timed me and I was able to see my new little grand-donkey firsthand. Witnessing Bryson cuddling and loving him brought such joy to my heart. What a wonderful birthday present for Bryson – he turns 11 this Friday, on November 17th.

There are few things in life that are as sweet as a birth. We ooh and aww at newborn babies – both human and animal life. We recognize the miracle of birth and as those little ones grow up, they’ll soon crawl and before long, they’ll walk. Not to be a boasting Nana, but DID YOU NOTICE my little pride and joy, grand-donkey was already walking at one hour of life? How’s that for something to talk about? LOL! What a glorious job God does with His creation.

That little Mama donkey has such love and care for her baby. She nudges him along ever so gently. There’s so much we can learn from the animal kingdom. I’m quite sure they are closer to God than we give them credit for. We like to think that our ability to feel and understand emotions is unparalleled, but watching God’s timing of the seasons, the instincts of animals and other creatures, I’ve come to realize His perfect plan for everything gives us a sense of confidence and peace that all things will work out in our lives.

I’ve watched Bryson and his love for his animals and have been so impressed with his understanding of responsibility and accountability. Not only have his animals taught him to be compassionate, but it has had such a direct effect on who he is as such a sweet, caring, compassionate, and tender-hearted boy. I tell him often, “You are going to be such a great daddy someday!” And, I know he will. In the meantime, Bryson will continue to grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man……and all of his animal kingdom friends.

Babe Magnet Captures This Babe

Day 3 of 365 days of "Seizing the Moments" in photos this year.

What could be closer to our Heavenly Father than the purity and preciousness of a baby? This little angel was across the aisle from me on my flight from Seattle to Dallas today. His shirt said "Babe Magnet" on it. He was. He captured my heart and drew me to him the entire trip. I haven't had a guy flirt with me like that in a very long time. LOL. He was a happy and peaceful baby all the way which made everyone around him fall in love with him, too.

As I watched the pride and joy that his daddy had in Him, I thought about the pride and joy we must bring to our Heavenly Father. This little charmer on the plane today was so loved by his daddy and that love was in no way performance-based. That little guy couldn't do anything on his own, to merit any more love than he already had from his daddy.

Did you know the love our Father has for us isn't performance-based either? We can't do enough to settle the score, to merit His favor, or to deserve the ultimate price of love He paid for us. He loves us just because we are His kids, the sheep of His pasture, His pearls of great price, the apples of His eyes. There is no gift we could ever give Him that could repay His love, except for one gift. We can give him ourselves, totally and utterly devoted to Him.

I think I'll slip on my "God Magnet" shirt so my devotion to Him keeps on making Him smile big at me as I bring Him pride and joy.

Never a Birth Announcement Like This One

We've all received "Birth Announcements" from friends and family telling us about their new "pride and joy".   But can you imagine a birth that a mere photo or card could not contain the magnificence and grandeur of THIS birth?   Not even a baby born to England's royal family received this sort of announcement.  This announcement was so colossal that all you had to do was look up at the sky and you saw it.  And, that, my friends, is the way God rolls.   Of course, that's the way that He Who created the heavens and the earth, and all that's in it, would announce the birth of His SON!

What a MASTER Plan -- put ONE special star in the sky to let us know that He was giving us mere mortals the STAR OF THE SHOW!   Oh, there were always plenty of stars that lit up the skies to declare His glory and His grand and majestic creation, but THIS night, He placed a brilliant, glorious STAR there that would point the way to the ONE TRUE LIGHT.  All other stars in the sky, and all those who THINK they are "stars" on this earth, pale in comparison to that ONE TRUE STAR.

And this STAR, was also a travel guide that gave directions to the maji and led them to where THE STAR lived.  Those Wise Men knew that this STAR was the promised gift from heaven.  Yes, they brought gifts to Him to show their worship, but they went away KNOWING their gifts were insignificant to the GIFT He gave them.  They received HOPE for their future, JOY for their journey, PEACE for their soul, and LOVE that exceeded anything or anyone.

And the foremost point of this post today is..... that ONE TRUE LIGHT shines ever so brightly for us -- leading and guiding us.  Yes, this world has lots of darkness in it, but no worries -- because THE STAR and LIGHT shines brighter than EVER.  And, like the Wise Men leaving wih greater gifts than they brought to Him, that HOPE, JOY, PEACE, and LOVE are our gifts, too, FREELY given, and as we stay close to the STAR's brilliant LIGHT, and accept HIS gifts to us, we'll NEVER be in darkness.