Miracles DO happen

Hello,

I recognize it has been far too long since my last post. It's already February...I am constantly amazed at how the time passes so quickly and with Christmas, New Years, and a new school year starting for me it's been a bit busy. I won't go into detail of how wonderful all those things were as I wanted to write about something a little more on the serious side.

Honestly since the new year things have gone by so fast for our family. Peter was back to work in full force after his holidays, I was heading back to university twice a week and starting up teaching again, and also coping with the symptoms of 1st trimester pregnancy. Yes....I'm expecting AGAIN!!!!!

Peter and I are so excited that baby number two is already on the way. Honestly I feel SO blessed to be able to carry another child in my womb and that God has entrusted me with another precious gift. I wanted to write about something that is such a confirmation in our lives right now and that I've felt very strongly on my heart.

For those of you who don't know 3 years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). Meaning my hormones were off and I had multiple cysts on my ovaries. I literally remember the day my doctor told me it was highly unlikely I'd ever be able to have children, or in the least part that it would be very difficult. I remember going home and crying and crying and crying. Being a mother was something I always wanted so deeply in my heart, I felt crushed, breathless. But as you know and can see Peter and I were blessed with our miracle baby Isaac Michael last year, and here we are again expecting our second in another 5 months.

I've had people tell me "You're only 21 years old, already married, one child, and another on the way....what about being young and enjoying these years? You're missing out...." Honestly I look at the them and with a genuine smile and heart I can say "I wouldn't change ANYTHING for the world". God has truly blessed me and I am eternally grateful for an amazing husband, a beautiful son, and another child on the way. I believe that God knows all things and all things work together for his purposes for those who love him. I love the Lord with all I am, and I think he knew that with my PCOS that having children for me had to be done at this young age. A part of me wonders if he knew that when I was 30 or older I wouldn't be able to have children, and that is why he has given me these gifts now. This revelation in my life has made me that much more appreciative and that much more confident in the things that are happening right now. Yes, finishing nursing will take a couple more years, but in the big picture what does that matter? At the end of the day everything comes down to love, and I can lay my head to rest and say with a Spirit of peace "Thank You Jesus for your perfect timing, for your plan, and for your blessings".

How is it possible that all I was told is that something couldn't happen? Yet, it did happen for me. The only answer I can come up with is to look above to the one who makes the impossible possible.

Miracles do happen. 

Isaac is living proof of that, and so is this beautiful baby growing inside me. 

Isaacs Baby Dedication

On October 21st, 2012 we dedicated our son Isaac to the Lord. The child dedication service was at our church, Centre Street. It was such a special day and time for Peter and I to make a public commitment to raising Isaac to know Jesus. We were so blessed to be surrounded by friends and family.

Peter and I feel so blessed to have such an amazing community and church family around us. It truly does take a village to raise a child and we openly are grateful for those who are here to walk the journey of parenthood with us.

Time and Change

         A Time for Everything 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens
Ecclesiastes 3:1 

I've been thinking a lot this fall about change. About how every day of our lives things change, people change, circumstances change, our cities change, our churches change, our world changes. 

Of course, some of this change is positive and good, but other parts of change are not so good. 

Change: to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc of (something) different from what it is or from what is would be if left alone. 

Since our world is constantly changing I find it incredibly difficult to remember one of the most important things I believe a Christian needs to know...God never changes. He stays the same through anything and everything. God doesn't get stronger or weaker. His knowledge and wisdom won't increase or diminish. God doesn't compromise or change his values. And he definitely doesn't have mood swings. 

Thinking about this deeper reminds me that life's uncertainties may shake me, upset me, change me, but the Rock of Ages, our God, Jesus does not move. His strength will sustain us through the times of change. 

Like the verse above, there is a time and a season for everything under heaven. 

For those of you who don't know this, I absolutely love the season of fall/autumn. I think there is such a beauty in it. The leaves and grass which were green and lush all summer now began to lighten to yellows, oranges, browns and reds. They fall to the ground as we prepare ourselves for winter, yet another season. I went on a beautiful walk with my husband and son last night and just reflected on so many changes in my life this past year. 

I thank God for his sovereignty in my life, his faithfulness despite my mistakes, and his constant love which stays the same through all the ages. I am blessed to be a daughter of the most high King. 

Crazy Month of August

August was such a busy month for the Doner family and especially for little Isaac. With two trips to Vancouver Island, a week in the States, and a long weekend in Northern Alberta for my sister in laws wedding, it was quite the month. I can definitely say it's a blessing for September to be here. 

For the past four summers some of my closest girlfriends and I go to Sylvan Lake for one weekend. It's been a tradition and we hope to keep it up for many years. This year was a little bit different since I'm now a mother, so I only went for one day but still had such a great time with these girls. I honestly don't know where I'd be without them in my life. 

This is my best friend Candace and I at dinner in the town of Sylvan. 

This is my sweet Isaac and I at the beautiful pacific ocean.

On Peter's week of holidays we decided to do a family road trip to Vancouver Island. It was a lot of driving for such a little guy, but we took stops when we needed to. One of Isaac's favorite things is his lamb skin, given to us by a dear friend Nadine at my baby shower. Isaac loves to cuddle with it, lay on it, and sleep on it. So at the Ferry Terminal we took him out and he just chilled in the back seat!

Peter and I both had the privilege of being in a wedding party of our friends Nick and Gemma this summer. It was so great to celebrate with them and to be able to walk down the aisle together. I think it brought back memories of our wedding which was really special.

And to finish off our month we drove up to Grande Prairie for Peter's sisters wedding. I got to meet one of peters cousins and aunts which was a blessing. A lot of people who are important to us got to meet Isaac for the first time too. 

Isaac got all dressed up for the wedding too, he is such a handsome boy!

All in all it was a CRAZY and busy month, but we are thankful for all the friends and family we were able to spend it with. 

I can now say that as September is already well on it's way I'm trying to slow things down for our family and start to get Isaac on a schedule.

I can't believe summer is almost over, but the more I think about it I'm really looking forward to the beautiful season of Autumn. Leaves of many colors will fall, I can start sipping hot chocolate, cozying up on the couch with my boys, wearing hoodies, and maybe even go snowboarding this winter! 

Trip to the Ocean

August long weekend was a very exciting one for our family. We were off to visit my mother in law on the west coast. It had many first's for Isaac. 

Our trip started off with an awesome first airplane ride for Isaac, but not a so awesome time in Vancouver. Unfortunately some employee with Air Canada decided to throw our metal stroller around and broke it. Our flight was also delayed so we were stuck overnight in Vancouver. Peter and I weren't very impressed, but to say the least Isaac slept most of the time! 

On Saturday once we were in Nanaimo we were all off to the ocean and had a wonderful time soaking up the sun, splashing in the waves, and laying on the beach. Isaac enjoyed himself too! At least until Daddy dipped him in the ocean, he didn't think that was so fun. We got a good laugh out of it too. 

On Sunday we had a relaxing morning and then went to Lake Cowichan to swim in the ocean. Peter and I were even able to swim together since Grandma was able to watch Isaac. It was such a treat and 

blessing to be able to just go in the lake with Peter and play around. We then enjoyed an absolutely delicious dinner at our Auntie Joani's house with peters cousins. 

All in all we had an awesome long weekend filled with many great memories. One of the best things of our weekend was that Isaac began to smile at us and respond with little coo's. It filled my heart with so much joy to see my son smile back at me and respond. It was Isaac's first holiday and a successful one indeed. The last photo attached here is of Isaac and Peter on the plane ride home. He liked looking outside and was holding his head up all on his own. 

He's growing up so fast and I'm doing my best to savour every moment and day with him. 

Plan B

Have you ever had a plan or an idea of how you wanted a situation or circumstance to go? You prepare yourself, educate yourself, and even wait patiently for it. But somewhere along the way something happens, a change out of your control that manipulates the situation, and instead you're on to Plan B.

This is what happened on April 19th, 2012 when I began to leak fluid when I was pregnant. My husband Peter drove me to High River Hospital where they did some tests and found out I had a tear in my amniotic sac. I was taken by ambulance to Foothills Hospital and started on steroids and antibiotics. I was told I could no longer deliver in High River Hospital and that my pregnancy was now high risk. Being only 32 weeks pregnant I was faced with a huge change and many fears. I was in the hospital for one week where I lost weight, was sick and had numerous scares where our babies heart rate would drop and we would be rushed upstairs to Labour and Delivery thinking we would need an emergency C-section.

In the early hours of April 30th, 2012 the rest of my water broke and I began having regular contractions. Not knowing how my labour and delivery would go I had to trust in God. He was ultimately in control and I would just have to take one contraction at a time. At 9:44am I finally gave birth to our beautiful baby boy: Isaac Michael Doner. Weighing 4lbs and 13ozs. I couldn't have been happier in that moment. It truly was the second best day of my life. (Marrying my husband being the first).

I write this blog and it's been almost three months since that day. I've had time to reflect on my experience and how things turned out. Isaac was in hospital for three weeks, we moved twice in one month and are now finally settled into our new place. I'm getting used to being a mom and the changes that come with having a baby. I'm still learning how to juggle everything including how I spend my time, making sure I'm resting and keeping healthy. But mostly I look back and see how Plan B, which I originally thought was upsetting and hard turned out to be the best thing for me in many ways.

I realize that the week I was in hospital brought my husband and I closer than we've ever been, it brought us together in a way that we probably needed before beginning our journey of parenting. It caused both of us to rely solely on Jesus, trusting in him no matter what. It reminded us to surrender and that God was always in control, we never really had that. And in the end I was blessed enough to be able to achieve an all natural birth, like I had originally wanted. The three weeks Isaac was in the NICU were very trying and difficult, but again I came out strong and God, like he promises, always provided me the strength I needed.

To finish off this blog entry, I want to remind anyone who is reading this, even though it may be few, that sometimes when our Plan A, no matter what that is, doesn't work..God's got a Plan B that truly is better for us. His word promises that All things work for the good of those who love him. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that our ideas and plans aren't always God's. We need to surrender to him, trust him, knowing that he is always faithful, and in the end we will come out blessed.

Expectation

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord 

I must say that with every waking day I am filled with a pure joy and excitement for my son to arrive.

Peter and I are expecting our first child in the middle of June. 

What a season this pregnancy has been for me. Mostly it has been filled with eager expectation and excitement, but also filled with an amount of trial, spiritual growth and understanding. 

God continues to show me his mercy, his love, his grace, his freedom, and that I am clothed in righteousness because of Jesus.  

My son is a gift from the Most High, a gift which I already cherish and love. 

I truly can't wait to meet him face to face. Only ten weeks to go. 

Can you tell I'm excited? 

Thank you Lord for this season of waiting, patience, and expectation of greater things to come.