We're having a daughter!

"Wow" is all I can think after finding out we will be having a girl in just a few short months. Never thought in a million years that I'd be expecting my first baby at this time in my life.

I just want to say that I'm in no way shape or form saying that a baby solves your problems, fixes relationships or is the right thing to do before marriage. I'm not advertising premarital sex as “good” or “OK” because you can get a baby from it. It doesn't make your life easier, in fact, it makes it harder! An unplanned pregnancy before you're ready is quite the challenge but that's not going to make us quit on each other and if anything, it makes us try that much harder because now we have a baby to think about too. It's no longer about "me" and that has been fun and hard to learn. We are growing and learning together and it's not the road we wanted to take, it's not the road God wanted us to take but He is not giving up on us either. This is simply a detour. We had it easy before we got pregnant- and now we have a bunch of other responsibilities and decisions to make. We don't know what we're doing but we're doing our best. When you're driving and come to a fork in the road, you don't turn around and go home you take the detour and eventually get to where you originally planned to go. It might take longer to get there, you will probably get frustrated along the way but you'll get there. And you may as well enjoy the scenery while you're at it! That is how I look at my life. We made a choice and now we are taking the detour, it's hard but entirely worth it.

 I am so SO excited to be a mom. That is why serving an awesome God who forgives, restores and blesses makes it so worth it. A baby is a gift from God- period! At first I was nervous to publicly enjoy my pregnancy because I'm that "Christian girl who got pregnant before marriage." But honestly, who can throw the first stone? The story of the adulterous woman is a well known and great story and obviously I can relate to it. The world wants to judge me and say hurtful things but Jesus wants to embrace me and love me unconditionally. He wants to love and embrace our sweet angel too! We are sooooo extremely blessed and thankful for the many many people who love us and are excited about our amazing baby that is on the way! The support we have received from our loved ones has been the best thing we could ask for.

 I am beyond honored to be the vessel that which our baby girl will grow in until she is ready to come out. In many ways, I wish I was planning my wedding instead of my baby's arrival but in the end, I would not change one thing about this. It is now our job to raise this girl to be a woman of God and it will be tough- she will fail at times and we will fail at times but I can promise that this little lady WILL know the Lord. Clearly I'm not perfect and have made mistakes but our daughter was not one of them. I will persue her heart until it hurts and lead her the best way I know how. I cannot express the amount of fear I have knowing that one of Gods most precious gems is being placed in our arms.

There will be tough times but God has already conquered the world. Through Him, we can do all things!