I know that I keep saying it, but it has been a long winter for our family filled with lots of viruses, tiredness and sadness. We really seemed to identify with the dark season of advent season this year. It is the season of waiting. We looked forward, with much hope, to Easter and the season of renewal. We longed for Resurrection... waiting and waiting. Hoping and praying. We knew it would come, but it felt like such a long wait. We were waiting for warm weather and sunshine, waiting to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, waiting for healing, and waiting for new life.
Jenna and Brian were waiting for the arrival of their 3rd child and first daughter. I was anxious for her arrival too, especially since I was to be at her birth. Jenna was growing tired and uncomfortable and we knew the day must be coming soon. Saturday afternoon, Jenna called to tell me that she thought things were happening and by late that evening she called to let me know she was definitely in labor. Amy and I met her and Brian at the hospital at 12:30am Sunday morning. Easter, what a beautiful day for a birth. After about 4 hours of much hard work, (I am leaving out so many beautiful details here, because it's not really my story) Jenna gave birth to Solaya (from the french word for Sun) Jubilee at 4:30am in the darkness just before the dawn on Easter morning. I have been so blessed by the whole expierience and I am so honored to have been invited to such an intimate event.
Solaya Jubilee Chisholm
Weight: 6 lbs 6 oz of sweetness
Length: 18 inches
So at 7am I finally snuck into my bed, praying that I would not wake my children and hoping for at least an hour or two of sleep before it was time to get up for church. I was exhausted, but I made it to church at 10:30am and sat with Amy and her Father, who one year ago was dead. He had a heart attack and was pronounced dead. Then he came back to life. It was a very emotional Easter. The resurrection is here and feels close and very real. The LIGHT of Christ shown brightly!
After church we got together for Easter dinner with Rich's family. The kids played Red Rover outside in the sunshine and we had a very fun egg hunt. I found myslef praising God for my beautiful children, my neice and nephews and how much they have all grown over the past year.
After church we got together for Easter dinner with Rich's family. The kids played Red Rover outside in the sunshine and we had a very fun egg hunt. I found myslef praising God for my beautiful children, my neice and nephews and how much they have all grown over the past year.
Daisy
Rosie
Cody, who was born last January weighing only 3 pounds and spents weeks in the NICU
Lily and her cousin BrieanneI hope that your easter was a memorable one too and that you are enjoying this new season!
3 comments:
I love that you are sharing these things for which you are so thankful! It makes me feel full of gladness too.
What a beautiful Easter you had! And I can identify with the feeling of waiting in the dark. Winter has seemed long to me, too, even without all the sickness that your family has dealt with. Knowing that the light is coming does not make it less dark while you wait. But thankfully, it does come in its time. I think you are right that we value it and rejoice more greatly after we have sat waiting, feeling sad and worn, in the darkness of not knowing.
Thank you so much for sharing your rejoicing! Praise is good. And you remind me to praise the Giver of all good gifts.
I am honored to have such a beautiful daughter too!
Love you,
Mom
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful post. The picture of Solaya is amazing - I'm sure you took it! Yes, there is no better way to celebrate Easter than with bringing in new life. Wow.
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