Through the many long years we prayed for a child, we prayed specifically for a girl. I had always known I wanted a girl and David was also inclined to pray that way. When we found out on our ninth anniversary that we were finally expecting a baby, we were naturally very excited.
But the wait to find out what we were having at the twenty week ultrasound was tough!
By the time we went to the ultrasound, we had made peace with the fact that perhaps God would send us a son and not the girl we had long prayed for. We knew that if God sent us a boy it had to be for some very specific reasons. We believe that God delights in giving us the desire of our hearts as often as possible and to send us a boy instead of a girl meant He had special plans for that boy. We had even talked about some boy names to prepare us for the idea of a son.
When the ultrasound technician told us it was a girl, I felt so many things. Joy, relief, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude. We asked the technician if she was sure it was a girl. She told us that they aren’t allowed to guarantee anything, but if it wasn’t a girl it had some serious problems. LOL!
Each year we celebrate It’s a Girl Day on the day of our ultrasound. We thank God again for giving us the girl we had prayed for all those years. We take the time to remind Caroline how special she is to us and how she is a specific answer to prayer. And not just our prayers, but the prayers of many people who interceded on our behalf for literally years.
More than anything I desire to impress upon her that she is the child God sent to us at that particular time. He has reasons for sending her to us when He did, especially after we waited so long. In her room still hangs a sign from her nursery that says, “i am a dream come true.” She is both a dream come true and an answer to prayer.
We celebrate It’s a Girl Day a bit differently each year. Usually it includes going out to lunch and either doing something special that she would like to do (like going to a museum or other place) or buying her a small gift. We don’t throw a party or anything that involves other people. It is a special day just for the three of us.
We use the time to remember that God answers prayer. Not always in the way or timing we expect, but that He does hear us and for that we are thankful and celebrate.
merrilyn mcelderry
Oh I am in tears reading this again, as I had a few years back as well. Such a testimony of God’s love and promise to give us the desires of our hearts. What a beautiful child.. an angel for sure. And such a gift to your yearning heart. You are an amazing woman, a genius for sure and a loving homemaker and wife and am sure daughter as well to your loving mom and dad. When I read something like this it shows me what HARMONY in a family is like. I never had that. I had every material thing an only child would want , but not harmony. And here I am , finally finding it late in my life with a family I married into who accepts me as I am… I got the straight A’s, looked letter perfect all the time. honors at two colleges and high school, was popular and all that….. but it does not matter at all . I have found that out. I was teacher of the year twice… and helped all the time pleasing people, but …that does not matter either. HARMONY in LIFE is peace…. and people who can get along with simple things, like baking, talking, sitting doing nothing.. telling stories or just respecting one another although you might not agree….. all that matters yes… So I love coming here to this site. I have had a lot of trauma with my son and his liver transplant the last three years, and five eye surgeries here in U of M of MPLS but it all has been a true healing gift of GOD YES!!!!! Just what you said here… my prayers for Erick to be healed … happened!!!! he is fine, he is healthy , he sees better than he ever did..and he is such a wonderful writer, artist and human being.. given to me by God for this journey of our progress of knowing God always provides the answers to our prayers if we have FAITH and TRUST in HIM… I just got married too, to the love of my life.. who also is a true example of finding that harmony after all these years. I am so blessed as well…. and stunned with a GOD OF LOVE leading us all the time. Thank you for being on here for people to find you, and rejoice with you and in your family . Blessings and Love, Merrilyn Mc Elderry in Northfield Minnesota. .. PRAISING GOD WITH YOU FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE WORKS FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM… Merri