a three-word phrase divided into thirds and then expounded upon. . .

ONE MORE TIME

Oh, this one just makes me laugh!  I must say this phrase at least one-hundred and twenty-seven times a day.  Even as I type this, the kids are in the sandbox and not doing their best at listening to instructions.  The words coming out of my mouth are, “If I have to tell you one more time…”

Maybe my kids should write this post.

One

I am glad we didn’t have just one child.  After we had G, we debated having another child for about a year.  Our great fear was going through postpartum depression again.  It was awful, enough to scare you from doing a lot of things ever again.  Including having children.  Especially having more children.

One weekend, we finally decided we were done.  We just could not do it.  We were happy with our family of four:  Chris, myself, G, and our dog.  Yup, happy.  My friend, Mindy, had just found out she was pregnant so I packed up all my pregnancy stuff for her.  They were coming for dinner and I’d hand it all over.  It seemed like a momentous moment in life.  Really, just one?  All done?

We told Mindy and Shawn, laughingly, that we were done having kids, we were happy with one, and handed over all my pregnancy paraphenelia.  That was Saturday night.  I relieved.  The decision was made.

God laughed.  You see, never tell God your plans  Your plans.  He is sovereign.  I am so glad.

The very next morning as I was getting ready for church, I dimly realized my period (sorry, men) was pretty late.  Wait, were my breasts still hurting?  Huh?  Nooooo……    I fumbled under the bathroom sink for a pregnancy test (infertility helps you stock up on these things).  I had one left.

No three minutes necessary.  It was instantly positive.  I didn’t read the instructions only one time.  Nope, I read them a hundred times.  As if I hadn’t read them a hundred times before.  Sheesh.  My breath left me and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

One more?  Really, Lord?  

I stumbled to the living room where Chris was entertaining G.  It was 6am.  ”Um, honey, I think I’m pregnant.”

“No way.  It’s got to be wrong.”

“Uh, nope, they aren’t typically wrong when they are positive.”

I still went to the 24-hour Walgreens and bought two more tests.  One more wasn’t enough.  I even bought the dummy-proof digital response that said “Yes” or “No.”  I didn’t trust myself to compare a plus or minus or circle or square or read directions a hundred times again.

Instantly positive.  Yup, we were having one more child.  One more pregnancy.  

I was terrified, excited, terrified, and in awe.  A surprise pregnancy after needing medical assistance to get pregnant the first time is quite an unusual feeling!  I didn’t feel so broken!

We are blessed beyond words to have our daughter S.  It wasn’t easy, but wow – her zest for life is contagious, her energy is enormous, and we are thrilled that God has better plans for us than we do.  

She is my one today.  

More

Nope, no more children.  In case you were wondering.  Snip, snip.  All done, with acknowledgment that God is the author of life and can even work past snip, snips.

Time

Time to grow.  I keep waiting for my kids to grow and for me to grow.  I keep thinking I’ll finally get something and I still need more time.  I’m so glad my God is so patient and faithful to me even when I am not.  I am glad for time, but time is also precious.  We don’t have as much time as we think we do.

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