finally told the fam

We wanted to wait until the weekend, but it didn't quite work out that way. My parents called for my birthday and we were doing the usual chatting. I was trying to casually convince my mom to stop by our place this weekend, but it would be 2 hours out of their way (each way), and they were figuring on seeing us in a couple weeks anyway. So she was being excruciatingly non-commital about coming by. That and they were making all these plans about the big trip in the middle of January that we were figuring on skipping.

So considering all this, I got all excited about telling her. We made eyes and other motions at eachother, and we both knew it was time to spill it. So I got back on the phone and said something like "We wanted to tell you this earlier, but we don't think we'll be able to make the trip in January. But the reason is that MICHELLE'S PREGNANT!" The reaction was relatively predictable: "WHAT! WHAT?! ... holy crow!" which is a classic mom phrase.

It was the usual reaction: initial complete disbelief, followed closely by bewildered mild disbelief, resolving into general hysterics and excitement. Dad was suspecting because I enlisted him to get mom over here this weekend, and he figured the reason why. Apparently neither of them slept well at all that night (fortunately we are these days), and mom cried just about every time she told someone.

Then came one of the hardest calls I've ever had to make. I needed to tell my sister, who has had quite a few miscarriages, and the most recent being particularly emotionally painful. Since I know it means so much to her, I've always wanted her to be able to have a kid before we did, but it seems as if that's not going to happen. So I called her up, and she thought it was funny that I was calling her on my birthday. The initial humor of that moment made it even harder. So I said something like, "We've got some good news that may be hard for you to hear: Michelle is pregnant." I may be wrong, but I remember it being rather quiet. She was brave however, asking the usual questions for a few moments. I said something about us wanting her to be first. After a short while, with her voice breaking up, she said she needed to go. I cannot begin to imagine the struggle she's going through. We just pray that God will bless them with a child of their own, and if that's not the plan, that He'll give them comfort and joy in Himself.

I also called my grandmother (dad's mom) and grandfather (mom's dad) and they were of course surprised and excited for us too.

It's so good to be surrounded by such loving and supportive family, and such a rich blessing to have a heritage of faith and love for our child. We pray that the baby will grow to know and love Jesus and have a strong and living faith of his or her own.