Blessed

This morning the pastor at our church, The Vineyard, spoke about peace.  Not peace on earth, but peace in our lives.  He shared a story about a new widow who essentially shut people out of her life.  And then one day she got on the phone with her friends asking for help.  Without hesitation they came to her need.  They all gathered at her house for dinner on Christmas Day.  The care and support of her community brought her peace that she hadn't experienced in a while.  I instantly thought about the community Taylor and I have spent the last 6 years or so building .  I began to cry out of gratitude because of the immense  peace I have experienced during this triplet pregnancy.

 Our community of friends has embraced our family, particularly the triplets.  I know that among my closest friends in Baton Rouge as soon as they learned the news they developed a sense of urgency on my behalf.  Weekly they ask what I need.  My friend, who is in her 3^rd trimester with her 3^rd baby, has come 2 evenings to build shelves in a closet and organize my bathroom.  One morning a crew of friends and their kids came for a morning of cleaning and setting up the family closet.  They all willingly pitched in to cover the cost of a babysitter.  They have offered to take my girls for my really long OB appointments. 

Not only have my closest friends rallied behind me but so have countless other friends, some of whom are friends just through Facebook that I’ve yet to have the opportunity to meet.  A stranger donated a second fridge and a new friend’s husband picked it up and delivered it.  A group has pulled together resources to pay for a professional organizer to help with our house.  Although, in turns out the organizer wants to help us for free.  One friend has donated her photography services for the birth and even follow-up pictures through the year.  A friend in New Orleans has offered to organize the volunteers so as to not burden me with that tremendous responsibility.  Countless friends have already committed to providing my family with meals three times week beginning in February!  February and March are already filled.  Wow!  Friends have offered to run errands, fold laundry, hold babies and, take kids for playdates.  Breastmilk donations have already begun.  Someone dropped off high protein cookies earlier this week.  Another friend brought me delicious raw milk.  This afternoon a mom in my local ICAN chapter, whom I’ve really just developed a relationship with via Facebook, threw me a baby shower, she herself is 38w pregnant.  Some of the attendees drove an hour to be in attendance.  Blessed.

 I am daily reminded by God’s love, faithfulness, and His kindness.  He has blessed me with an unbelievable network of support.  He provides.  This pregnancy will get more difficult and bringing triplets into our family will be challenging.  But for the most part I have had a great sense of peace because I know that my friends and God will not let my family drown.  If you are unsure about whether God provides talk to the nearly 200 individuals in the Baton Rouge area who in some way want to offer help to my family.  All I can say is God is Good!