My husband and I were college sweethearts. We met in an Old Testament class our first semester of college. We got engaged during the summer after our freshman year and got married the next summer. We didn't plan to have children right away since we still had a few years of school left and with both of us in school, we were poorer than poor.
I graduated college while pregnant with my first baby. We decided I would stay home with him and I thoroughly enjoyed being a mom that first year of his life. I started my teaching career when he was exactly a year old. When he was 2.5 years old I became pregnant again and knew right away there was no way I would be able to leave my infant with a caregiver. I knew that I would have to quit my job. It was a very difficult decision since my income was quite a bit larger than my husband's. But God provided. Not only in a financial way, but by giving us the faith to trust Him.
I settled into the role of stay-at-home mom and began homeschooling my son, who was now 3. Homeschooling was another large change for us, since I was a public school teacher and had NEVER thought I would homeschool. (After all, homeschooling is for weird people!)
It was in this season of our lives that I decided that I had my hands full with 2 children and we would not have any more. At least not for a long while. I had big plans for myself to get completely involved in our homeschool group leadership. I really needed a place to dedicate my time and energy into a worthwhile cause. *chuckle* I'm not sure why I never saw the extremely worthwhile endeavor God had literally placed right inside my own walls.
As usual, God had a plan in mind for showing me this very worthwhile cause that was right before me. I decided to sell all my baby things in a yard sale since we were "done", at least for several years. I just needed to take a quick pregnancy test to be sure before I did it. I was certain it would be negative. WRONG! I was pregnant! I couldn't believe it! This was NOT what I had planned. I spent that entire pregnancy in complete denial. I was even trying to think up field trip plans for our group to take place the week of my due date. Then I would catch myself and think, "No, I can't do it that week. I have to have a baby." Boy, did God have some real changes ahead for me!
My sweet baby girl was born on a beautiful spring day in May and within an hour I had a tubal ligation. I regretted it before I even woke up from the anesthesia.
**To Be Continued**
Read Part 2 here.
Link-ups:
HI Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI actually found your blog via a link-up at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home. Your story is really interesting...and I'm glad you've got seven little blessings now ;) :) I'm 37, never been married and no kids. I'm still praying that God would grant me a husband and children. I've wanted to be a mother for so very long..but until then I'm happy with crafting, living life etc ;) :) God is good and I've got a lot to be thankful for :) Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather ;)
p.s
Thank you, Heather! Praying that the Lord would grant you your desire for a husband and children. Don't give up hope. I have a friend who did marry, but never had children, although she wanted them. She was widowed for several years and then in her early 50s, the Lord decided to give her a new family. She remarried and instantly became the mother of 5 young children!
ReplyDeleteAndrea
I never wanted more than 2 children myself, but God had other plans (we now have 10). I went to a pre-op appointment for a tubal ligation and discovered I was pregnant with #4. Several of our babies were born at a Catholic hospital, where the surgery could not be performed. I know now that the Lord was protecting us from making that foolish mistake. Thank you for sharing your journey. I am your newest follower and look forward to part 2.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cheryl! It's amazing how the Lord works differently in people's lives. As I was going through my whole reversal process, I thought a lot about how God could have prevented the tubal ligation from taking place. But He is sovereign in all things and even in what I considered my biggest mistake, He was at work. He truly works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to reading the rest of the story! Mine is different, but God showed me His plan for my life was very different than my own...and I'm so glad He did!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I love your story! It is just like our Lord to show us a different path when we trust Him with all our heart!
ReplyDelete