again. and again...

again.

he amazed me with his grace.
he wowed me with his creativity.
he humbled me with his mercy.
he reduced me with his greatness.

again.

he proclaimed his faithfulness.
he demonstrated his patience.
he whispered his sovereignty.
he revealed his glory.
 
i. am. undone.

again.

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It has been an emotional week since I last posted.  Our first grandchild, Hudson Jude Hedger was born on May 7th at 8:01 a.m.  The only births up to that point that I had witnessed were our four children's...well...not exactly "witnessed" because I was working so hard to birth them!  

What a gift it was when Bethany and Peter invited me to participate in Hudson's birth.  It was an amazing experience that I'll never forget.  Bethany was such a trooper and Peter was the best cheerleader!

I wasn't sure what kind of emotions I would feel while watching my daughter endure labor and delivery.  I knew the pain she would feel.  I knew the discouragement that would creep in over time.  I knew the descent into "the valley of death" and the temptation to fear.  Sweet husband asked me if I really wanted to subject myself to watching our daughter endure one of the biggest challenges she would ever face.  He encouraged me to seriously think about if I would be able to handle it.

Seriously think about it, I did.  And my conclusion was, I wanted to be there for her.  There have been too many times I should have been there for her that I wasn't.  I didn't want to add to that list.

It was a 19 hour labor including three hours of pushing.  Bethany and Peter arrived at the hospital around 11:00 a.m. and Dr. Vick broke her water around 1:00 p.m.  From there on out we walked around the labor and delivery floor...ate popsicles that had really corny jokes on the sticks...tried to breathe through contractions...ate more popsicles with some ice chips mixed in between...got an epidural...tried to rest...ate more popsicles...you get the picture.

Bethany worked so hard to make sure Hudson arrived in the safest manner possible.  She asked great questions of her doctor (who was absolutely wonderful!!!) and each nurse who cared for her (Becky was our favorite...36 years on the job...what a jewel!!).  Nothing was done just because it always was.  Bethany and Peter took nothing for granted and routine was thrown out the window.  It was a lesson on taking your medical care into your own hands.  It was awesome!

Around hour 15 we were all tuckered out and high on adrenaline.  Bethany and I would doze off between contractions, but it was no time for sleeping!  

She started pushing at 5:00 a.m.  It wasn't long before we could see the top of Hudson's little head.  That was when I had to start fighting to keep my composure.  We would see some dark hair and my eyes would fill up.  I would bite my lip and grit my teeth...it worked for awhile.  Then his little head crowned and then his head was born and we could see his precious face and then the rest of him was born and he had ten little fingers and ten little toes and a precious little button nose and the cutest little ears and his slightly muffled whimper was enough to rip my heart out.  That's when I quit fighting and I just let my eyes drip...okay...gush. 


The doctor drew our attention to God's faithful care of Hudson upon examining the umbilical cord and seeing a "true knot" in the cord.  This is a situation that more times than not results in a stillbirth, because the knot gets pulled tight and the baby's blood supply is cut off.  It was a gentle reminder that God is the creator and sustainer of life...that it is he who numbers our days before there is one.


It was also a gentle reminder that as much as I love Hudson...God loves Hudson infinitely more.  As much as I look forward to teaching him fun finger plays and silly songs, playing games of kick-ball outside and making messes in the kitchen...what I look forward to most is telling him about God; and how his Heavenly Father who carefully protected him in the womb did not protect his own son, Jesus, from dying a heinous death on the cross...and how his Heavenly Father who wonderfully and fearfully knit him inside his mother's womb crushed his own son, Jesus, and put him to grief...so that Hudson might be accounted righteous and adopted as a fellow heir with Jesus Christ.

My prayer for Hudson is that God will continue to chase him with his goodness and mercy...that God will save him early in his life...and that Jesus will be his supreme treasure.

Bethany and Peter...thank you for trusting me to share this experience with you.  Hudson...to Life!

Here's the little man fresh out of the womb...wishing they'd put him back!

Proud Daddy Peter and Dr. Vick with Hudson.

We praise God for Dr. Vick!  What a godly man and a wonderful doctor!

Yep...you're reading that scale correctly... 9 lbs. 13 oz.

He's a hoss!!

Bethany holding her son, Hudson.  He only has eyes for her!

The "true knot".  

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!

Nothing sweeter to behold!

Welcome, Hudson Jude Hedger!