HappyMama

The big part of our Christmas celebration is over. We will continue to light white candles on our wreath until the feast of Epiphany on Jan 6th. I will try to find ways to keep a spirit of extra celebration within our home until then!

This Christmas I shared with our family & friends the news that we are expecting our 4th child. It is always a joy to share this type of news - “I’m having a baby!” “I’m getting married!” “I got a promotion!” People always say congratulations. In my own mind and soul, I know that my role bringing a new life into the world is one of the most amazing, noble, and worthwhile things I could possibly do. Like all human endeavors, however, nothing is simple. My pregnancies (like those experienced by many women) are marked by many unpleasantries - most notably, perpetual nausea. So even as I’m sharing the good news and receiving congratulations, all I’m really feeling inside is an urge to vomit.

Life outside of heaven is marked in every moment by contradiction. I know that God did not intend the bliss of new motherhood to be marred by nausea. I’m learning with every passing year of my life to recognize how many contradictions there are now, to accept them as sufferings to be endured, and to try to see them for what they are. The current season of my life involves a lot of time on the couch and food in the fridge that I just can’t bring myself to cook or eat. I know that this season is passing, and before long we’ll be holding our new little one in our arms and getting back on the road to strength and energy once more…