Blessings

There is this song I have loved for a long time, but it seems to be a theme for me this year - through the tough pregnancy and now long road that lays ahead of us - Blessings by Laura Story.  You'll have to take a listen and read the lyrics below. Basically, she talks about how sometimes God uses the hard times to shape us and make us stronger, rather than giving us what we ask for. Lately, every time I hear it, it makes me cry. But it is a good reminder that this is not my story, it's God's. We continue to lean on Him and believe He has our best interest in mind.

At the same time, we have experienced so many blessings over the last few weeks. I wanted to take a moment to capture some of them before they are forgotten in the busy-ness of the next week.

• Spencer is alive!
• Spencer is doing really well
• Matt went to get his oil changed/tires rotated at Honda of Lincoln. They noticed that he had on a bunch of wristbands from the hospital. After striking up a conversation and learning we had a new baby in the NICU, they gave us almost all of our services for free that day!
• The staff at Methodist is amazing - I have several stories. First, they offered the Ronald McDonald House as a place for me to stay, as well as free rides to and from the hospital when I wasn't allowed to drive. They also give  me free food vouchers every day so I don't have to leave the hospital to eat or spend money.
• Second, the lactation consultants have been so helpful. They called my insurance and found out I could get a new pump paid for. They also "upgraded" the kind I received, free of charge.
• Third, the hospital has a full time staff member whose sole job is to help us apply for financial aid for the parts of the hospital bill that insurance won't cover. She filled out all the paperwork for me and submitted it on our behalf.
• Fourth, all the NICU staff is amazing! So caring, genuine and patient.
• Aside from all the wonderful people who we do know and love - Several people that we don't know have reached out to us with cards, gifts and offers to help. Many of these families have previously spent time in the NICU.

"Blessings"

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise