It is 5:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. Something is weighing heavy on my heart and I need to share with all of you who have read our news about being pregnant and may be coming back on here again. All my life I have struggled with fear of men and fear of people taking me the wrong way. God has set me free from this , well He has been working on my heart about this in the past 2 years. Fear has welled up it's ugly head once more the past few days and I need Jesus to set me free of it once again!
This blogger allows me to track how many people come on my blog and where and when they do. I have had 1000 tracks since we posted about our exciting news of being pregnant. We are really not out to get every one's approval or to get sweet comments, but I must say it does hurt to get mean ones or family just not responding at all. This is where I need to be on my face praying for my Heavenly Father to be ALL I need! He is the one who has given us this precious life and I should not care if everyone else does approve. But I do and I need His forgiveness and his love at this time. God Has saved me and He loves me and He has a plan for me:) I can rest in that even as I type these words I feel the tears welling up and the overwhelming Love that He has for me. A sinner, who has been saved, redeemed and set free!!!
Sean and I never set out to have a "big" family at all. We had Hunter, our first born son, and then Sean Peyton, our first born daughter. We were so over joyed with just the two of them. God had another plan and blessed us with our second born son Noah after having a horrible miscarriage. 4 months later, I was pregnant with Isaac and we were just as excited with the news of having another child to love. My mom always said that I loved babies growing up and would probably have many myself:) Well after Isaac came Anna Grace, Treasure, Farah Beth, Josiah and Eden. Before we get pregnant, Sean and I are in prayer about it, seeking God's face about whether it is his will for us to have another child. The Bible says that children are a blessing and we 100% believe this but we also know that we are called to train each of these precious children up in the Lord. With each one, that is what we are seeking the Lord about. Can we add another child into our family and train, love, nurture, and afford one more is always a thought before we ask the Lord to bless us. We are NOT perfect parents, and we fail daily in a lot of these areas but guess what? Our Father in Heaven does not fail us EVER!! He gives us grace every day. We can only make it by His strength.
Having children is not easy work. Having just one child is not easy work!! Each child is a unique soul that God has entrusted you with. Wow, we don't take that lightly at all. I don't want anyone to feel that we think every family should have lots of children. God has called us all to different things. My calling is first to love my husband and then to be a mommy and also to share with the world about Jesus! But, if you see a family who is larger than normal, please do not judge. Every family should have the right to be what they want to be and to raise their children how they want to. Love on your child today and thank God for him or her because they are a blessing and an inheritance from the Lord!!
God is always faithful! When we come to Him and lay our burdens down at his feet, He will take them and He will comfort you and strengthen you. I praise Him for that or otherwise I could not have made it with just Hunter. No, I could not have made it as just a wife to Sean. Jesus is my ALL and my EVERYTHING!!
So all of you moms wanting to know how we do it there it is. We can only be the parents God has called us to be by knowing Jesus and by communing with Him daily! So, if you think we are crazy for having another, that's ok. We have days where we think so too:) But then God reminds us that He has a plan for each of our children and He is in control. I can rest in that and in His love this early morning.
Joli
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you, but more importantly I know that Jesus is proud too. oxoxox
ReplyDeleteJoli, your family is such an inspiration to us. We have such GOOD memories of the time we spent with ya'll a few years ago. I know you take your responsibilities with training your children very seriously and I believe they WILL rise up and call you blessed. We are also eagerly anticipating an addition to our family through adoption. I will keep you in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day.
~Judy
Leaving a heritage for Christ is one of the most important things we can do in life, whether it's through birthing or adopting kids. You guys have many holy seeds that God will raise up and use for His Glory in their generation. Such an awesome blessing! "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are children born in one's youth." Psalm 127:4
ReplyDeleteJoli, these words or just BEAUTIFUL, I am so proud of you and want you to know that you are an inspiration to me and all.I am also glad you wrote what was bearing on you're mind like this; I love you and all the beautiful Hardwicks today and all days ahead given to us from God.
ReplyDeletelove always, jill
Joli, that was well put. Thank you for sharing your heart. People are so quick to share worldly wisdom in this area . If it's a random person who makes jokes, it doesn't bother me...I just laugh too. I assume they don't know God's word and I wouldn't want to hurt them for anything. I'm sure you feel the same way too. It is really difficult though when people who you know have been believers for a long tome share that same worldly wisdom as a non believer..... It's just discouraging. It really makes me sad and I have a hard time getting over it. I look at each one of my children with their unique personalities and individual souls and wonder which one they think is not worthy of life. They were all planned by God and so were your precious children. I am so glad you're having another baby. When I saw you fb post, I thought you were going to say you're having twins!!!! I was going to be so jealous. Keep going Hardwick!!
ReplyDeleteJoli,
ReplyDeleteYour words were beautifully said. No one should judge anothers choices. You have gorgeous children and you are bringing them up in the Lord's word. Congratulations to you!!
Gina Phipps Anderson
Hope you feel better.
ReplyDeletebeautiful. I wish I could lead my life with a fraction of the faith that you and sean lead yours and your family's
ReplyDelete