Speechless

Yesterday afternoon a large bunch of ladies from my church threw me a surprise baby shower. I have to admit that I suspected something strange was going on, not necessarily a baby shower, I just felt something was up because getting me to this ‘woman’s group’ was not all that easy and these gals were WAY persistent. Looking back on it I am finding it a bit on the humorous side.

I was hesitant to leave my husband with our 5 boys because he had tons of studying to do for flight school. The school he is in is very short lived but very intense and I felt a bit of joy in being able to sacrifice time with new friends to serve him. That is why I kept telling these wonderfully generous ladies that I would not be able to attend their gathering at this time but would love to participate after Ryan’s school was finished in a week or two.
They were not taking ‘no’ for an answer and one of the husbands started calling my husband to make sure I got where I was supposed to be.
That was weird.
I was more than a little curious about my new friends and their motives.
Still reluctant to leave, I was pushed out of the house, along with my 13 year old daughter, by my dear husband who had about 2 hours of serious studying he still had to get to. I honestly didn’t feel right leaving him with the kids.

A friend down the street picked Kait and I up and away we went. Still feeling a little guilty about leaving I settled on just having fun. Fun is an understatement!
When I walked in I heard a large bunch of ladies chatting and while I said hello and set my purse down everybody yelled surprise. It didn’t dawn on me at first. I guess my pregnant brain is really slow. I just stood there wondering what was going on and why everybody was chanting. It took a few seconds for it to all catch up. The pushiness to get me to show up, the secret husband to husband chatter on the phone, the persistence from my husband that I get out of the house, and of course, bringing it all together was the momentary silence and then the ‘surprise’ shout.
I have to admit that I didn’t jump up and down. Number one, that isn’t my style – my husband has always been disappointed at his lack of ability to get me worked up, though I always tell him that it isn’t that I am not excited, I am just not able to jump out of my skin like he is. Number two, and the main reason I didn’t show much emotion was that the sheer shock of it all was more than enough to leave me speechless.
These ladies, many of whom I don’t know the names of because we are still so new to the area, came together thinking of me and my family’s new baby. It has to be obvious that after 6 kids we probably have everything we need for the impending arrival. Some of the sweetest gals I have ever met didn’t let my lack of need deter them. They just wanted to do something sweet. They wanted to give me something from their hearts. Their desire was to serve me, one of the newest members of their church family.

What most of them don’t know is their gifts came at a time when my husband and I are financially strapped. Our house across the country is just not selling. Our savings is gone. Our bills are due. We have been relying on God to provide these past few months and He has been so faithful. Money is coming from nowhere just in the nick of time. We haven’t hurt for anything and I can state with complete faith that we won’t.
I can turn this into a very long story but it really isn’t necessary.
The ladies at that baby shower provided my family with $300 in gift cards and cash. We won’t have to worry about diapers (I use cloth during the day and disposables at night on our newborns) or replacing worn out baby clothes when I go through the stash. I have no concern for any of those baby needs you always forget you need – a new thermometer, more laundry detergent, wipes, etc… It’s all covered by my church family’s generosity.

It is enough to bring me to tears while writing this. I have no words to thank them. I have nothing to say. I am still speechless over the whole thing. I can’t even wrap my head around the awesomeness of the entire situation.

I am unbelievably blessed. And that is an understatement.

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