Prayers, Please

I have many updates to make...Our first of many family Christmases last weekend, school Christmas parties for the girls, and Braden and Caleb's Polar Express party.

But, tonight, my heart and mind is on only one thing.

Eli Chase Henley

Our precious nephew {with the most beautiful middle name} will be born tomorrow and Cassie and Austin will become parents once again. They are heading there in just two hours to begin the journey to meeting their second baby boy.

So, tonight, I am prayerful. I pray for the health of this precious baby and his precious mommy. I pray for an easy day for Cassie, as she endures a day of labor. I pray for peace for all of us and deep JOY as we meet baby Eli. I pray that we are all able to be back in the same hospital...the same waiting room...seeing the same doctors and nurses...and, still absolutely rejoice about the blessing our family will receive tomorrow. Even though many things might remind us of what we lost 11 weeks ago, and tears may be shed, I am praying that the sadness is not overwhelming or even present for long, as we meet this precious boy.

Of course I wish that Chase was with us tomorrow, waiting with us to meet his little cousin buddy, and pose for pictures with his newborn friend, as Cassie and I had dreamed and planned for. But, he's not.

And, even though that breaks my heart again and again, I do not want that fact to make tomorrow anything but happy and joyful for my sister.

But, what I love the most about my amazing family, is that we talk about it all. We have prayed about it. We are prepared (as much as we can) for it. And, I know without a doubt in my mind, that whatever emotion I feel...whatever emotion any of us feels...is welcomed and okay. That alone gives me such peace.

So, please join us in praying. Pray for God's presence and peace to be incredibly evident. Pray that He is near to our family. Pray for my sweet sweet sister and her husband. And, pray that Eli Chase is healthy, happy, and as perfect as we all imagine him to be.

We can't wait to meet you Eli Chase...to hug and kiss and hold you...and to tell you all about your precious little cousin buddy.

For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom OUR whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen us with power through His spirit in our inner being.

Ephesians 3:14-16

May the joy of the Lord be our strength!