My Website

I want to tell you a story.  It’s a story about faith.  About fear.  About what it means to trust God when everything and everyone says that it’s hopeless.  It’s a story about a family that chose prayer over defeat.  That chose joy over sorrow.  That chose life over death.  And in those choices they discovered what it really means to have faith in the midst of the storm and what it looks like to see beauty in ashes.

I met Julie and Dennis about 4 years ago.  Their oldest daughter was just a few months old and my first impression of her all stemmed from how tiny she seemed.  You see, Julie’s daughter Kaitlyn was born at 32 weeks gestation.  By the time I met them, Kaitlyn was home from the NICU and doing just fine, but as I heard Julie recount the harrowing tale of Kaitlyn’s birth, I remember thinking how hard it would be to give birth to a precious baby and then have to leave her in the hands of strangers at a hospital.  (Shout out to NICU/Maternity Ward nurses!  You rock!!)

As our friendship grew and our families because friends, I heard Dennis and Julie speak often about their desire for a second child.  I watched as they prayed and longed for another baby.  I listened to Julie cry as she shared with our small group how much she longed for another baby.  For three long years, Dennis and Julie brought their desire for another child before the Lord.   It’s funny sometimes how we think we know what we want.  What we need.  We feel like the big picture is in our hands, but really “He’s got the whole world in His hands.”  After three years of waiting, wanting, and trying, Dennis and Julie felt the Lord calling them to adopt.  I saw their faces light up with excitement and anticipation when they talked about the child who would soon be a part of their family.  God had other plans.

I remember it like it was yesterday.  Julie’s surprise.  Dennis’ elation.  Everyone’s shared joy in their miraculous news.  JULIE WAS PREGNANT!!!!  Against all odds and completely against the grain of their own timing, God, in His perfect knowledge had granted them their deepest desire and greatest hope.  I wrote a message to Julie the day she shared her news (excerpt to follow), “Seriously, though, Julie, I am so so happy for you. I could only guess that there might be fears about all the “what-ifs” associated with a second pregnancy, especially since your first was so abnormal. I am going to be praying specifically that God will guard your heart from all fears and will give you a peace and faith that it will all work out perfectly in accord with his plan for your family. Love you guys!”

I had no idea as I typed those words that a storm was brewing.  A furious storm that would expose and bring to surface the very fears that I was praying against.  A storm that would leave this precious family with a choice: fear or faith.  Life or death.  Despair or hope.

The first ultrasound came.  A heartbeat.  A life.  Alive.  Very much alive.  But something was wrong.  Something serious.  The doctor told them the baby had Turner Syndrome.  And a heart defect.  And a very large cystic hygroma. Her chances of survival? 1-5%.  But HE had a plan.  A bigger plan.  A plan for hope.  And a future.  A plan for Beatrix.

The doctor advised Dennis and Julie to terminate the pregnancy.  Try again.  It’s hopeless he said.  These babies, they die.  Spare yourself the heartache.  But HE had a plan.

So, they decided to wait.  And to pray.  They asked everyone to pray.  All around the world voices were being lifted up to heaven begging for healing and for life for this precious little girl who was already so love and so wanted and so cherished in her parents eyes and in the eyes of God.  So we prayed.  We cried.  We asked “why?”  We prayed some more.  HE had a plan.

The second ultrasound.  The hygroma was shrinking.  It was a miracle.  We kept praying.  Praying without ceasing.  HE had a plan.

The third ultrasound.  The fourth.  The fifth.  It kept shrinking.  The heart defect was gone.  By 16 weeks the doctor gave Dennis and Julie the news that their hearts dared to hope for.  Their baby was going to make it.  It was possible that the Turners Syndrome was still an issue, but they knew that God doesn’t just heal half way.  He makes ALL THINGS NEW.  WHOLE.  COMPLETE.  BEAUTIFUL.

Finally, against all odds Julie’s due date arrived.  Her own words follow, “On October 8th, after 32 hours of labor, Beatrix Abigail made her long awaited arrival via c-section. We were so scared. We didn’t know what to expect for her health to be. We didn’t know if she have Turner’s or Downs. Just having had the hygroma meant she had a 60% chance of having some kind of chromosome abnormality. We heard the sweetest cry ever and the doctor smiled. She was perfect, scoring an 8 and 9 on her apgar test. In the awesome way that God works, the doctor who had originally counseled me to terminate my pregnancy ended up being the same doctor who delivered my sweet baby girl. The only two times I’ve ever talked to him. God is so good! He timed everything out perfectly!”

I share this story because 1) it’s amazing.  2) it’s all about God.  And, 3) it’s all about life.  Did you know that 55+million babies have been aborted in the US.  That’s more than the population of any state in our country.  It’s murder.  It’s genocide.  It’s evil. This is what happens, though, when a child of God chooses to uphold the value of life.  When we choose to say that life is worth protecting no matter the cost.  I hope that this story will remind you, the reader, that each one of us is created in the image of God and that each one of us has a purpose.  A plan.  A divine destiny knitted together before we ever took our first breath.  I believe that God has BIG BIG BIG things in store for this little girl.  Join me in celebrating a life that was saved and, in so, saved the faith of a family, a church, and a community.

4/5′s of the Bean Family made the drive down to Pawleys Island, SC this weekend for my sister-in-laws baby shower.  Unfortunately, Mr. Bean had to stay in North Carolina to catch a flight down to Alabama for a Coast Guard school he has to attend for the next couple weeks.  My sister, Marcia, specified on the shower invitation for the kids to wear their Halloween costumes, and our boys were thrilled to have a reason to deck out in their pirate garb.   I didn’t take to many pictures of the shower itself, mostly because I was sans-hubby and was busy kid wrangling the whole time.  I did get some shots of the boys in their costumes, though, before the shower started.

My wonderful SIL game us a sweet surprise when she brought out a cupcake for Little Mamma and had the attendees sing “Happy Birthday” to our 1 year old.  Avenlea did have a birthday cupcake a couple weeks ago (thank you Ian and Alyson!), but I forgot to take pictures of her eating it.  So, here are some obligatory baby-eating-a-cupcake pictures and some more from our fun weekend…

 

I made Banyan’s costume for Noa a few years ago.  Banyan has worn it every day since I pulled it down from the attic a few weeks back.  Noa has a hand-me-down costume from a friend, i.e. I dont have to sew him one!

That eucalyptus branch didn’t stand a chance against Banyan and his sword of fury.

My brother-in-law is from Romania and his backyard is like a little pocket of rustic paradise in the middle of a neighborhood.  He used his legit wood skills to fashion the boys a couple of swords in a startlingly quick amount of time.

 Needless to say, he’s kinda their favorite uncle now.

Pretty creations from Papa God <3

As if the sweet DIY swords weren’t enough, Uncle Ovi had a handmade bow set up for the little pirates to try out.

Ready, Aim Fire!!!

See what I mean!  Rustic old-world goodness for the enjoyment of all!

The s’more making set up held them captive for awhile.  Noa took on the harrowing role of roasting marshmallows for anyone wanting one…..so selfless…..riiiiiight

Six year old awesomeness!  It’s so cool to have a kid who is old enough to do exactly what I ask when I want to take a picture of him.

And now for the cupcake shots…….  Yes.  Those are pieces of sticks and grass in the icing.  Just keeping it au naturel 

She started walking this week.  So precious.

She had some little admirers <3 <3

In an effort to make his pirate look “authentic,” he added a little blood to the getup.  

This morning after dropping biggest brother off at school, the littles and I took a day trip to the Morris Farm Market.  It’s located in Currituck, about a 25 minute drive from our house.  I have driven by this place for years and never stopped to check it out.  After all the fun we had this morning, you can bet we will be going there again soon!

The market is open seasonally, from April until the end of November.  They sell all kinds of local foods, crafts, products, ect.  In October they offer a pumpkin patch thing for kids and it’s a ton of fun!  The cost for adults is $3.00 and kids are $6.00 (the extra $3.00 is to cover the actual pumpkin).  Avenlea was free.  The tour started out with a apple cider press demonstration and a tasting for all the kids and adults.  Afterwards, we were guided over to the ice cream making area and the kids got to watch an old tractor powered ice cream maker.  They each got to help out turning the manual ice cream maker too.  After a sampling of their frosty goodness, the kids had a blast stuffing scarecrows in a big hay covered area they had set up for the kids to play.  Next, it was off to story time and the woman who read the story was so great with the kids.  After the story, the kids got to try their hands at shucking corn and then they had a few moments to play in a HUGE sand pile with buckets for all to enjoy.  Lastly, the group piled on the tractor pulled hay ride off to the pumpkin patch.  Each child got to pick out a pumpkin and then we rode back to the parking area.

Overall, the whole tour lasted about 2 hours and it was very nicely operated.  There wasn’t too much wait time in between activities and there were so many things to do and see in between events.  Banyan was not bored at all and I dont think any of the other kids were either.  Even Avenlea seemed to really enjoy the whole thing.  She had so much fun, in fact, that she even took the opportunity to take her first steps today!!!  She took four or five steps on the hay ride while it was moving.

If you are looking for something fun to do in the Albemarle area this time of year, I cant recommend Morris Farms highly enough.  I have heard that, if you arent with a group, the tour looks a little bit different, but im sure you could call ahead and jump on with a preexisting tour.  We had about 10 people in our group and we jumped on with another group.  You can contact Morris Farms by calling them at (252) 453-2837.  Have fun!!  We sure did!!

 

 

I loved seeing all the different varieties of pumpkins they had for sale.

 

The kids were so smitten by the big black bunny rabbit.  There was also an adorable miniature pig <3

Vintage tractors galore!  I would love to do a photo session here sometime.

Watching the apple cider demonstration.  All the kids were so attentive.  

Making ice cream!

She was pretty happy in her stroller, but eventually her compulsion to climb became to hard to ignore. 

Stuffing the scarecrow

She loved crawling around in the hay!

Story time

The market had a big antiques section that I took advantage of!

I love this swing made from old wine barrels

Shucking corn!

The hayride was definitely his favorite part of the trip

I actually got pictures of her first steps!!  Yay, Avenlea!

 

More to come soon!  I was so blessed to photograph this sweet gift from God <3  Wait till you hear more about

this amazing baby and her precious family!  Welcome, Beatrix!!