Meet Samantha Paige Eaton!

Ruth and Todd have learned that they are having a little girl! I would like to introduce you to her.

I can't even begin to tell you how much this impacts me and my idea of what God is doing in our family.

I'll try. (Did you think, for a moment that i wouldn't?)

I see Smantha and I begin to think about the fact that God already has a plan for her life, a far better plan than I or Kelly or even her loving Mom and Dad can ever devise or implement. I think about Psalm 139 and how the magnitude of this truth seldom reaches us:

13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

To know that no matter what may happen, God has planned for it and we are in His hands, walking His path, going where He wants us to go. To paraphrase Job, "..this is too wonderful for me to understand."

I think about how all this is true, not only for this baby, but for our children as well. God has them in His hands and will never let go, no matter what. That in itslef brings me a joy and a comfort that overwhelms my fear and doubt of what I perceive to be the unknown. None of it is unknown to God.

I think about the day Ruth was born and they handed her to me. I remember how my entire life changed in the "...twinkling of an eye" and how I finally understood how miraculous and complete God's promises are. I remember thinking that there would be another change someday, just as quickly and now I know that it's all possible because I've just experienced it.

I remember grieving that day in 1983. I knew there would come another day that this little baby would leave to spend her life with another man. Now I know that grief was nothing more than my own insecurity because God already had a plan for Ruth and it was magnificent. I pray that Todd receives the same blessing of seeing his daughter grow up to become a godly woman seeking a godly man. God answers those prayers!

As I add Samantha to my daily prayers, she has become real to me. Another tranformation made in the twinkling of an eye as I gazed at the picture on my computer screen. Another affirmation of God's beauty and power.

I also remember another, beautiful baby Samantha from two years ago. We have yet to fellowship with her but there will come a day when we receive that blessing. Meanwhile, God used that delay in introducing her to teach all of us a tremendous lesson of faith, trust and courage in the way her parents walked through a most difficult time, all the while, pointing back to God and His great mercy, glory and grace. What a beautiful model for parenthood.

Yes, God is good and His mercies endure forever ! I like the promise of that! I depend on it. May little Samantha Paige enjoy the same blessing and assurance wherever God may take her!