Happy 10th Birthday, Sweet Mazy Grace!

A whole decade of loving you, sweet Mazy Grace! Yesterday our pastor was talking about a passage in James and one little part of it was about anointing with oil. I can’t help but think back to 2014, at Unity CRC in Prinsburg, Minnesota, when our friends Bryan and Perry, and Pastor Steve, circled around us and prayed. Pastor Steve brought out some anointing oil, put some on my forehead which was a first for me, and prayed that at this time that next year, we would be holding a baby of our own. When I heard those words, I wasn’t sure what to think. For so many years, we had been told no, and really had lost hope. I knew God could make those dreams come true, but I fully admit, I had much doubt.

After the heart ECHO, as my doctor reviewed my test results, she said that my mitral valve was only mildly to moderately leaking. That came as a bit of a surprise since for years I was told my valve was moderately to severely leaking, being on the brink of needing surgery. She went on to explain that everything looked very good.

For those few seconds we wondered how a leaky “faucet” (my valve) was leaking less. Usually leaks only get worse, right?

Dan quickly looked at the doctor, then me, then back at her and asked, “What does this mean for pregnancy?”

Her next six words knocked us out of our seats.

“I SEE NO PROBLEM WITH IT.”

Six words that seemed medically impossible. Words that we had longed to hear for eight years of our marriage. Words filled with so much hope. Words filled with so much grace. Words that God used to remind us that He was faithful and never done, even when we had lost all hope in having our own children.

We were speechless. Joy-filled tears ran down my cheeks as I muttered to the doctor: “We have been waiting eight years to hear this.”

The look on her face was one of, “What just happened here?” She had no clue. She had just met us and all she did was report the test results. She had no clue we longed to have children. That, of course, wasn’t in the notes. She thought she was telling us news that we expected to hear.

Dan gently grabbed my leg as we looked into each other’s eyes and realized our hope of being earthly parents was restored. It was another story of renewed hope.

And here we are, 10 years later. Our sweet Mazy Grace, still in our arms. Our little miracle. I can’t help but squeeze her a little tighter and a little longer, reminding her of the goodness of God. She can’t wait to meet her siblings in heaven, and oh I can’t wait either, sweet girl! You have been one of life’s greatest blessings. You have been through so much in your 10 years of life with your mama’s health, but as you told me recently, “Mommy, I’m glad you got cancer because it made me braver.” Yes it did, sweetie, and that is the God we serve. He doesn’t waste a thing.

Happy 10th Birthday, sweet Mazy Grace, we love you to the moon and back!