Miracle 3's

Wow. Wow. Wow. That’s what I’ve been repeating these past three days. Just wow. 

Wow, because I am shaking my head over the way God seems to do things like this. Long days of quietly waiting and then—WAM. All things happening all at once. And honestly, I wonder sometimes if God is grinning from above, saying…

“This ought to give her a good story to write.” 

And no kidding. 

Besides that, He clearly likes the number 3. 

3/3… as in the third day of the third month… March the 3rd… 

Already birthday to my firstborn and my youngest sons. Grant and Jimmy, birthday buddies, and what a fun surprise when Jim and Sid announce they’re pregnant and the due date is Daddy’s 3/3 birthday! Of course how many babes really arrive on that exact day? So throughout his gestation we talk about Baby Tiago and we think—wouldn’t it be fun?—but probably not. 

And then it happens. Just like that. But not all that easy. Not easy for Mama who labors hard and does everything in her power, but Little T needs some extra help by way of a C section. And not easy, either, for Daddy who’s watching the whole thing unfold for the very first time, and who knew it would be so crazy?? Goodness. 

Not easy for Papi and Nana either. Not to steal the show from the actual players. But seriously, bringing babies into this world is not for the faint of heart, and that does include the grandparents. All night and next morning, glued to the cellphone, trying to discern the situation from cryptic texts. Waking up Tuesday morning with news about things progressing and the baby on his way… and yes it’s March 3rd, and we’re all a twitter. And then… 

Heading in for emergency C section… 

Followed by the longest hour in the history of man. 

And a whole Anderson family praying their hearts out.

Just BEFORE the emergency text, God tells Papi, “Get on your knees” and he does it. And later birthday brother Grant says it’s the closest he’s come to praying in tongues. And I don’t even know how or what I was saying to God; all I know is it was wholehearted and then some. Banging hard on the door of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

And He delivered. 

Special delivery, a bundle of joy, the most beautiful birthday gift ever. 

“He’s here.” 

Sighing, laughing, tears and trembling. Welcome to our arms, precious Tiago. 

I’ve been waiting a long time to hold the babe of the son I never held as an infant. When the gender was revealed and we knew it was “he” I immediately thought, “I’ll finally get to snuggle a baby Jimmy.” 

And last night that dream came true. 

I snuggled Tiago close and I fell in love. Amazed once again by the miracle of birth, and the indescribable blessing of being Nana.  

Infant son has lots of Daddy’s features. Longest fingers and toes. A dark head of hair. Eyes, and nose. Of course there’s Mama and Daddy all mixed together, and we’ll spend the next years sharing opinions about who takes credit for what. But one thing is for sure. Mama gets the credit for growing a small human inside her womb and letting her body be ripped wide open to give that boy his very life. 

Here in the season of Lent. As good a connection as you’re going to get. Three days in tomb. A body ripped open. Miracle life. The story of God told in 3’s. 

And March 3rd will live on forever in the books of Anderson history. 

Because there’s more to this story. Just a hint for now. The rest will have to wait for a future day. 

But…would you believe it? While we waited out the longest hour of our lives…

During that exact hour…

God was working out the sale of our house. Moving us closer to our grandkids. 

How’s that for a teaser? 

Three Anderson Birthday Buddies