Not in This Alone

Today is Caylie's birthday.  Her ninth birthday, I might add.  Nine years.  Nine years of smiles, giggles, and joy.  Nine years of trials, questions, and worries.  March 19th, 2002, God made it abundantly clear to me that Darin and I could not make it through life on our own. When Caylie was born, she weighed in at a whopping 3 lbs. 14 oz.  The doctors could give no explanations.  She was just 4 weeks early, so she was diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction....which basically means she was very small, and we don't know why.  For some reason, all of the nutrients that she needed weren't getting to her in the womb.  She looked very much like a premie.  But, other than her size, praise God, she was perfectly healthy.  After 4 days in the NICU, they sent her home, still weighing less than 4 lbs.  The only issue was some jaundice, so she was attached to a bili-blanket for the first week.  Not too bad! 

But, the biggest miracle became apparent to us when we drove in to the driveway.  You see, Darin and I had lived far from our families all of our married lives.  And now that we were having a baby, we were a bit, shall we say, terrified?  This was something new and different.  We had our parents there for the first couple of weeks, but when they went home, we knew we would need support.  Not necessarily support in the way of babysitters (although that would be needed, too), but support in the way of prayer and encouragement. So, as we pull in to the driveway of the parsonage, we see a huge banner that says, "Welcome Home Caylie!  We Love You!"  It was made by some ladies in our church in Kinston, NC.  And that was the first time I realized: we are not in this alone. 

Over the years, God has proved faithful.  He has taken us on a journey that led us from being first-time parents who were terrified to bring home a newborn to a family of five.  We have been encouraged, supported, loved, and prayed for in countless ways.  Our churches have become our "family" since our family is so far away.  Please don't get me wrong...we get awesome support from our parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, etc.  But our churches have provided a different kind of support.  Lifelong friendships have been formed.  But the word "friendship" almost seems too weak.  There is a bond that is formed by people who worship together on a regular basis.  And who earnestly pray together.  And who pray for one another.  And who serve others together.  And who just share life together -- especially when they help you raise your children! 

So, back to the birthday girl.  She is spunky.  She is contemplative.  She is generous.  She is loving.  She is punctual.  (Ask her daddy about that one!)  She is growing everyday in her knowledge of her Lord.  And she is a product of churches that rallied behind her parents.  She is the result of what happens when people say, "No, they're not related to us, but let's love them anyway!  Let's pray for them, and let's demonstrate what it means to truly be a church family."

If you see Caylie this weekend, wish her a happy birthday!  She will probably smile and act bashful.  But, I promise, it will mean the world to me.  Thank you for loving our children.