I'm so in Love

Today I'm going to a doctor appointment with my daughter Alyssa for an ultrasound. She's in her 8th month of pregnancy and thinks the doctor is going to change her due date from April 5th further into the month. Lord please no.

I'm so ready for her to have this baby.

The reason I don't want the due date changed is because I'm already crazy in love with this little girl. The new love of my life is the same baby I didn't want my daughter to be pregnant with last August. Now I can't imagine life without her and we haven't even met yet.

The day we found out of Alyssa's pregnancy, August 16th, Thursday at 5pm to be exact was the coolest day ever. Not at the moment, but 8 months later I can honestly mark that day in my '07 planner with hearts.

Around 5pm that evening Gene and I received a call from our friend asking if Alyssa was okay. As far as we knew she was at volleyball practice and was fine. He asked because when he dropped off his daughter at practice he saw Alyssa leaving the school in tears. Concerned I called her to see if she was okay. She said practice was hard and she was heading to the gas station to get a Red Bull when our friend had seen her, but she was fine. Gene called our friend back and thanked him for his concern and told him all was well.

Minutes passed and another call came from him. His daughter said Alyssa wasn't in practice at all. So again, we called Alyssa who said she was at practice. She said since she's was on Varsity and the other girl played on JV that maybe she hadn't seen her since the two teams practiced in different gyms. We again thanked our friend for his concern.

A few minutes later another call. His daughter practiced with Varsity that day and Alyssa was not at practice. Called Alyssa back and no answer. Getting her voice mail clued these clueless parents into the fact that she knew we were on to her. We just weren't sure as to what we were on to.

She mentioned earlier she was going to my sisters house after practice, so I called my sister and told her of the mystery of Alyssa's whereabouts during practice and asked her to get me an answer.

The next call changed my life and within moments I was an emotional wreck as my sister's words were, "She's pregnant."

"NO!" I screamed...she's not pregnant,

she's

A 17 year old Senior in high school.

A starter on her Varsity volleyball team.

A College-bound girl with dreams to achieve.

A know it all teenager that knows nothing about raising a baby.

Me. Oh my God, she's me.

I took this so personal because ever since her pre teen years I had tried to prevent her from becoming "me" as I shared my testimony of being a young single mom. Although having her was the one of the best things that has happened to me, I wanted her to choose differently. Were my words of wisdom wasted on my daughter over the years? Having a baby at 18 was just not a desire I ever had for her. Nor did she.

So this is where it gets really cool. Our friend who kept calling us that day was over at the house not too long ago and we got to talking about that day. He wouldn't give up on uncovering the truth with Alyssa. He didn't know why, but he knew something was just not right and was persistent. He kept bothering us. Why?

Years ago, before meeting his wife our friend was in a relationship that resulted in a pregnancy that was aborted. A decision he knows God has forgiven him for, but he himself calls it his "gorilla on his back" as he wishes he could go back and change the decision. Who knew God would use his past in my daughter's present.

Alyssa only had a few hours to keep this "secret" before God revealed it. She herself has said that she was so relieved she had gotten "caught" because she doesn't know if she would've had an abortion or not. Even though she doesn't believe in abortion, she doesn't know if she would've swayed in that direction to keep her life the same. God knew if she would've ended her babies life her life would've never been the same.

I'm so thankful for our friend listening to God that day to keep calling us even though at the time he didn't realize what he was doing. I'm thankful he noticed her tears and cared enough to ask her if she was okay, but not believe her answer. To believe his daughter was telling the truth about Alyssa's absence. To keep calling her "content with her answer" parents until they were discontent.

I really believe that God squashed any plans Satan had of convincing Alyssa that abortion is her solution. God has plans for this baby girl and He has plans for Alyssa and no enemy was going to get in His way that day. This is not the end of Alyssa's life, only life as she knew it. If she had aborted this baby girls life, that would've been a gorilla on her back that she would've never gotten over. Gotten through perhaps, but not over.

We've shared this with our friend since then and together we praised God. Shaking his head with tears falling to the ground he said, "I was hoping some good would come of this." It did my friend, on God's timing.

So see, my sweet sisters, I await the birth of this precious baby girl chosen by God to be born to my young teenage daughter with much excitement and love. Wasn't God's plan for Alyssa's life as she clearly took a different path, but she didn't shake her Creator up a bit with her choices. He just has different plans now. For two.

We never know when the gorillas on our back will be used by the King in a mighty way.

Give Him your past.

Be prepared to say Yes to God.

Be usable.

Be available.

Be trusted enough to let God say, "Come here girl and let me use YOUR past for MY glory."

You never know whose life He will save when you cooperate.

On August 16, 2007 it was Amiyah Elizabeth's life God chose to save that day as He spoke these words from the book of Jeremiah over my sweet granddaughter's life...

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.

I can't wait to meet you my little Princess!

I love you!

~Many Blessings~

Lelia

UPDATE: At the appointment today Little Girl is 5lbs 12oz so far--they guessed her to be in the 7's when born. And the due date stayed April 5th! Everything looked good, but the baby's heart is beating out of rhythm. Doc says these kinds of things usually works its way out, but he wants to watch her. So, next Wednesday another ultrasound. So ladies, please pray.

OH, and she"lots of hair" :)

Thank you. Love, Lelia