Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Praise the Lord, for His goodness never ceases

Today is December 1st, and in many ways it is the day that gives me more reason to praise God than any other because of what it symbolizes in my life. I praise God because I am a different person because of the past two December firsts God has ushered into my life. I praise God that through these two days specifically, and many others collectively, He has shown me that He is real, good, gracious, and loving. I know that more today than I used. I believe it more today, not because I didn't believe it before, but because I didn't have the capacity for believing it as deeply as I do now. God is good. He is always good. But this day highlights his goodness in my life like none other.

Most of you probably know that today is Poppy's 2nd birthday. It was on this morning two years ago that we got to meet the miracle that God blessed us with. I say that now, two years later, with conviction. We were blessed by Poppy. She was such a gift, although one I didn't always recognize in the months leading up to her birth. I saw the disease of trisomy 18 as the enemy. Now I see that in a way, it was her sickness that allowed God's glory to shine all the brighter. Poppy was beautiful, and perfect, and loved, by us and most of all by God. She looks down from heaven. From heaven! I don't believe that today she is sad because of the sickness that shortened her time here, and though I will always miss her, I am no longer consumed with sadness. This was God's plan for her, and His plan for us, and over the past two years God has graciously let me see even more glimpses of His perspective by showing me the big picture of how He uses our tiny baby to cast His light on the dark, hard places of different peoples' hearts.

That's why today is a day to celebrate and praise.

One year ago today, something else significant happened. God orchestrated something beautiful for us when He allowed Adrienne's official adoption day to be December 1, 2008. On May 29th Adrienne came into our home, but the law requires a six month waiting period before adoptions can become official. That is how it happened that last year, on Poppy's first birthday, we gathered at the courthouse to sign the paperwork that would make Adrienne a part of our family forever. Another reminder that God is good.

God is good, but not just because He allowed us to adopt Adrienne. Please don't walk away thinking God was only good because He did something for us. The truth is, whether we were chosen to be Adrienne's family or not, God is good. God is good despite the circumstances of our life. If you don't believe that, then believe me, you will go through circumstances terrible enough to make you doubt God. If you don't believe that God is good no matter what, then you will compare your life to the lives of others and walk away feeling God has not been very good to you. Please, please, don't believe that lie. Instead, I hope that you will see God is good, in the good and in the bad. Good because that is His essence. He loves us, He has given everything for us, and whether or not we are going through something difficult or coasting through on an easy road, He is good.

December 1 reminds me of that. That is why today is a day for celebration and praising.

I want to share with you again a few of the moments captured on film and video on Poppy's birthday two years ago. What we shared with her during those three hours, I will never forget.




17 comments:

Laurin said...

How sweet and gracious is our Saviour Jesus! How I praise Him that He does allow our capacities to stretch that we may gain Him more. I bless Him for Poppy Joy!

Rachel said...

Such a sweet day it was! I thank God for faithfully carrying you through. I am so grateful for the 3 hours we had with sweet Poppy and will forever see those as a precious gift from God. I'm so grateful for the infinite ways that God has used Poppy's life for His glory.

Anxious AF said...

Happy birthday Poppy. Thinking of you today.

Just Me said...

Happy Birthday Poppy Joy, and Happy Adoption Day Adrienne Christine! I am so very grateful for all the blessings "meeting" Poppy Joy has brought to my life.

:o) Amanda

asplashofsunshine said...

It is a good thing I am sitting down. I think I would have been brought to my knees. Happy happy happy birthday to Poppy! She has reminded me to relish the joy in today. Thanks sweet girl, and thanks for sharing the precious moments that you shared with her.

Paula said...

Because I knew someone who knew someone who knew you, I started reading your blog when you were pregnant with Poppy Joy. I have followed you all this time and cried with you and rejoiced with you and prayed for you even though I don't know you. And even though I don't know you, I feel like I do. I just want you to know what a testimony of God's grace and love and faithfulness you have been and are. Thank you for allowing others to see your pain and joy, and therefore, see what a great God He is.

KrazyMom said...

Happy Birthday Poppy Joy! You have touched so many hearts! :)

Anonymous said...

Only God could use such a short sweet life to touch so many hearts.

Happy Birthday Poppy Joy!

Melissa Moss said...

Today is a special, although sad, day for me too. Today would have been my daughter Emma's 5th birthday. She was born on December 1, 2004 and passed away on December 5, 2004. She was born with MIDAS syndrome and Hypo-plastic Left Heart Syndrome. We knew of this diagnosis before her birth but knew that it was not our decision to end her life. We feel so blessed to have spent 4 days with her. Although it was devastating to lose her I wouldn't change a thing. I believe that Emma and Poppy are in Heaven together celebrating their birthdays. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPY JOY!!

Anonymous said...

What a blessing I have received reading your blog and watching the video today! Truly God is faithful and true. His grace is more than amazing! I bless his Holy name for you and your family standing in the good and the tough times. What a testimony!

Victoria Miller said...

Poppy's little face always brings a beautiful sense of peace and awe into my life. She radiates the love she is surrounded with in every image . . . Keeping in her all our hearts today and every day at Trisomy 18 Foundation . . .
Victoria Miller
for all the staff and volunteers who remember Poppy with you always!

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

Much love...

And if there were ever two prouder parents (and I mean "proud" in the best sense of the word), I don't know who they'd be. :)

Loved watching that video again.

Anonymous said...

Sweet Angie,
I sat here and wept as I remembered that day. God has truly been good., So good to bring sweet Poppy into our lives. We will never be the same. And then to bring precious Adrienne to us. God has been so gracious. I am especially grateful that you did not allow bitterness to harden your heart. Instead, you flung yourselves into the arms of your loving Heavenly Father, and as He comforted your hearts, we were comforted as we watched in amazement and awe at your strength and courage.
I am forever grateful for you, Angie and Nathan. With much love, Mom

Rachel said...

Happy Birthday to your precious girl celebrating in Heaven and Happy Gotchya day to your other little miracle girl. I have watched the video before but am still amazed by the smile on your face and Poppy having her eyes open getting to know you all. Surely the Lord's presence was in that room that day.
God Bless you all.
Rachel in PA

Anonymous said...

Dearest Angie: How great is the grace of our God! I remember with gratitude and joy the life of Poppy Joy! She's rejoicing with Jesus, her PaPa and our little baby Philip.

I'm so grateful for the faith and testimony of you and Nathan. God is greatly using you. I praise God for Adrienne! Much, much love, Grammy

Five Musgraves at Ten Oaks said...

Dear Angie,
I haven't been on your blog in a few months, so had to "catch up!" I am so glad to be reminded of this precious little life and see the many victories that have come since her conception and birth. Thank you, thank you for taking the time to share on here. We just sang "Victory In Jesus" at the end of the service on Sunday and it had been waaaaayyy too long!!! We do have so much to be thankful for, and I praise the Lord for Poppy Joy, afresh and anew!

Anonymous said...

Interesting post... Looks like solid state memory is finally starting to become more popular. Hopefully we'll start seeing decreasing solid state harddisk prices soon. $5 32 gigabyte SDs for your Nintendo DS flash card... imagine that!

(Posted by Nintendo DS running [url=http://quizilla.teennick.com/stories/16129580/does-the-r4-or-r4i-work-with-the-new-ds]R4i[/url] NetServ)