Dear Natalie...

Today is your due date! I can't begin to tell you how excited and anxious I am to meet you...but I must wait for you to be ready to enter this world. When will you decide to introduce yourself? I just can't wait, sweet girl. I anxiously await...
I pray for you so often throughout the day. I pray that you will be born safely, healthy. I pray for your salvation...I pray that you will know Jesus and that He will be your Savior. I pray for your protection. I pray for your happiness. I pray for wisdom as a parent. I pray for your future. I think about how Mary must have felt carrying Jesus...and how special this time of year is...and how we will be celebrating your birth during this exciting time of year...
Sometimes I do not know what to pray for you. There's a song that I listen to often...it captures this feeling quite well...
"I do not know how I am to pray for this child
as a mother I don't want my baby denied
but in the waiting in the waiting
I learned...
every instinct in me wants to shield her from pain
take the arrows of misery, heartache and blame
but in the sorrow in the sorrow
I learned to hold on...
...I only have two eyes - be all seeing
I only have two hands - be everywhere
I do not know enough - to be all knowing
I give this baby up into your care
I do not know how, how to pray for this child
I want to guard her from everything wicked and wild
but in the trial, in the trial, I learned to hold on
And in the trial I learned to hold on to the heart of God." (Sara Groves)

Come and meet us soon, little Natalie!