“Every good and perfect gift is from above,coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”James 1:17

We’ve just come through a season of giving and receiving gifts, and ultimately commemorating the greatest Gift that has ever been given. It’s always a time of reflection for me; a special season, and a very joyful season.

This year it was easier to identify with the mother of our Lord, as we read together, the story of her journey to Bethlehem. I could sympathize with her anticipation and I was very thankful that when it was my turn to meet my baby, I didn’t have to travel to the birth center on a donkey. It seemed like the children related more to the story too, because we were all filled with anticipation for the day when we would finally get to meet our baby.

Ever since Elizabeth was tiny, Oliver has prayed and prayed for a baby brother, and when we found out we were having another baby, he was sure that this baby was a boy. We chose not to find out, but I too had a strong feeling that he was right.

My babies have been notoriously late, so we got a surprise when this one decided to come just two days after his due date! That morning, I was thinking we probably had another week to wait, but that evening, a little after 6pm, our baby boy (yes, a boy!) was in our arms!

Some of you might remember that we had a bit of a “scare” following an ultrasound earlier in my pregnancy, where we were faced with the possibility of some pretty serious genetic conditions, some of which were potentially life threatening for both baby and mama.

We had a follow-up ultrasound with a specialist who assured us that it was a false alarm. While we had peace that Gods perfect will would be done, and were trying to prepare our hearts for the worst, we were certainly grateful and relieved to find that our baby was perfectly fine and growing normally.

Knowing this gave us peace, but I think there was something about going through that week of heaviness, and seeking and finding the peace of God, to face whatever would come, that made the moment of meeting him even more special.

We named him Harrison Holt and he’s absolutely perfect. A good and perfect gift, from our Father who most certainly knows how to give good gifts to his children. We are so grateful and so completely head over heels.

One of our children’s favorite songs to sing, is “God is So Good.” We are singing it with our hearts and hands full.