Some moments the competition can be strong. You have no idea how alike you really are and that can make for some clashes.
But you can’t stay annoyed long because you need each other. You have this bond creating games out of thin air together. Laughing in hysterics over movie quotes repeated for the 19th time in a row but still absolutely hilarious to you both. You have jokes only you two get. Story lines that entertain you talking for hours on end about fantasy castles, imaginary animals and lists of future pets. You have such similar interests, similar play needs and similar attention spans.
You both have zero barriers or hesitancy to play with anyone: young or old, regardless of whether they speak your language or ever will. You both don’t see barriers, just opportunities. And yet you always play together with a new friend. Always inviting each other to go meet the new friend. You are a pair that comes together naturally.
And how I love to watch you both play. You can always create a game anywhere.
Sisterhood is truly a gift from the Lord and I’m so blessed to see how He has given you to each other.
And how you have received His gift with joyfully open arms.
I absolutely love getting a front-row seat encouraging your love.
Sometimes you annoy each other. You sure know how to push each others buttons like no one else can.
Sometimes you just want some alone time. Time to learn and discover who you are as independent people.
But it’s a treasure to see how you always come back together after your short stints of “human nature”. 😉 You always seek each other out to share your thought, hearts and dreams together. You constantly choose depth and togetherness over the easier options of selfishness and competition.
I love that you both don’t remember a time without each other.
Sisterhood is truly a gift from the Lord
and you both choose to wear it so well.
I absolutely love getting a front-row seat encouraging your love.
One week has never felt so short and so long. You’re so tiny, but haven’t you been in our family forever?
Happy one week young, Eliyanah! Here on Christmas Eve with all the excitement right around the corner the girls still say you are the best Christmas present ever!
How quickly you’ve become “one of us” and it’s hard to imagine our daily lives without you.
This past Friday, December 17th our six officially became seven.
Just in case anyone doubted I was “super pregnant” 😝
After 3 days of labor (2 of early labor that didn’t progress) she finally decided that yes indeed she, who had initiated the labor, would indeed reluctantly like to come out. 😂
She did need some extra induction encouragement at one point, but, by the grace of God, she and I were (and still are) in good health and strength upon her grand entrance.
Due to COVID restrictions is was a quiet, though kindly short (due to good reports), stay at the hospital for our small fraction of the family. We were able to have video chats with the big sisters and grandma back at home. And yes, it was a time to recover from the eventful previous days.
We chose to keep quiet to “the public” until our four could meet their newest little sister first. After years (for many) and then specifically the past nine months of praying for this little, she is as much their baby as she is Matt and mine.
We carried on with our family tradition, though with a COVID respecting adjustment. We picked up the girls and drove “the rest of the way” home together as an expanded family so the newest little could be welcomed to the back seat sorority.
There are no words to describe the emotional depth of these faces.
These past months have been adventurous and, while very gratefully full of good health reports, still an emotional road for all of us as we awaited sometimes unavailable information and adjusted to a “quieter” pregnancy in the developing world. We didn’t get to see this little one’s full face at all during scans of this pregnancy and while we are BEYOND grateful for the information we were able to receive and that it was all good news, it was a very different and sometimes weighty experience for our family unit. We all learned and leaned together all the more into Christ in our hearts and prayers these past nine months.
After everyone got their turn to hold her and marvel at the reality that she is really our baby (some with tears in their eyes at the relevation of all our prayers), I would like to now introduce you, dear friends and family, to:
Eliyanah Rebecca
Born at 38 weeks gestation: December 17 at 8:10p. 8lbs, 8oz and 22 and a quarter inches long (for all you US people 😉).
Her middle name is after our foremother in the faith who left everything in pursuit of God’s purpose for her life. The spelling, Rebecca, is in honor of my best friend.
Her first name, Eliyanah (Ellie-yah-nah), is Hebrew for “MIGHTILY the Lord has responded to our prayers”.
Eliyanah, indeed! Welcome to the family, baby girl. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God!
