Giving Thanks for Surprises
Seven years ago, Checkered and I were overwhelmed that the Lord had blessed us with three children. Three! We were blessed beyond words. We were “complete.” We were doubly-sure that there would be no more Flag babies.
Six years and 10 months ago, I decided to clean out the closet in the bathroom. Behold! There was an old pregnancy test. Into the trash it went. But I am a teeny, tiny miser and out of the trash it came. “I should at least use it before throwing it away! Ha Ha.” And so I did, set it on the counter, and took a shower.
Six years ago and 10 months ago, I got out of that shower, glanced at the old pregnancy test, froze, unfroze, screamed, shook, found enough clothing to leave the house, loaded the kids into the van, and for the first time in my life, went to a superstore to buy only one item: an expensive and new pregnancy test.
(Here we omit the part where Caution fails to tell Checkered the news for two weeks. Here we omit the part where Caution visits the doctor and announces she is very ill – but most certainly NOT pregnant. Afterall, there have been no symptoms and two methods of birth control. Here we omit the part where the doctor laughs after reading the results of the pregnancy test.)
Six years ago today, during the biggest snowstorm of the year… Six years ago today, when my three children had the honest-to-goodness full-blown flu… Six years ago, when my parents were still hundreds of miles away from my home…Six years ago today we made it to the nearest hospital with only minutes to spare.
And six years ago today, that part of my heart which, unknown to me, was missing - was put in place.
Happy birthday, dearest boy.
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