Gideon

We have a son! I've taken so long to return to blogging that you probably knew that already, but just in case you didn't...we do: Gideon, thus named after the Biblical figure (see Judges 6). We like that the name means "mighty man of God" or "warrior," and the Biblical Gideon was clearly a man humble before the Lord. Check out the story, as it is worth the read. You can find it online here. Cade is his middle name: we just like it with Gideon, and it turns out to also mean "warrior," which seemed cohesive. I should say - I'm not expecting Gideon to necessarily be a physical warrior, but I like the meaning for attributes like strength of character, the ability to confront/challenge life, etc. Above all, he was humble before God and obedient to Him - qualities we hope for with regards to our Gideon. It was an awesome experience to hear him cry, have the doctor announce we had a son, and give him his name.

And yet again, with Gideon's birth, God proved his timing is infinitely better than mine; after all my complaining that I was STILL pregnant, I ended up delivering him at 41 weeks on a Wednesday, and my mom arrived in town on the day I left the hospital - it just worked out that way, no change in flights necessary. Good thing, too, as all my previous illusions of being somewhat self-sufficient in the days after delivery could, in hindsight, more accurately be called delusions. And, it was wonderful to be able to share Gideon with both sets of grandparents so soon after his birth - something we also would have missed out on if I had my way originally. I stand humbled, provided for, and blessed by the Lord's timing.

Gideon is one of the calmest and quietest babies I have ever come across, initially leading me to believe that we were going to have the world's easiest baby. And then I realized, sleep is his achilles heel. Thankfully, at two weeks he is now sleeping in 1-3 hour increments, so I'm getting some sleep as well.

All in all, we love parenting Gideon. We're still amazed that he's here and that we're three, no longer two. We are mesmerized by his every facial expression, convinced his ability to move his head around is a sign of future Olympic athlete status, and delighted by the activity of labeling his various actions and noises. For example, he "tree frogs": alot of his little outfits are green, and when you hold him up over your should to burp him, he slumps and wiggles until he is significantly lower on your chest with arms and legs all bent and splayed to the sides...just like a frog hanging onto a tree. And, he turtles: when rooting around for food, he opens and closes his mouth and sticks his neck way out...just to check and make sure he isn't missing the opportunity to eat by one inch :) Yes, yes we are new parents; you're SUPPOSED to be this delighted by the baby. Otherwise, you might remember how tired you are...

Delighted, tired, and humbled: probably my three adjectives of the week. Especially in the middle of the night when I'm up with Gideon and all is quiet, I think...you are made by the hand of the Lord (In Him all things were made. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. John 1). You are made to reflect and convey something about the glory of God (Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...Genesis 1), a God who is faithful and will equip you and give you purpose (For you are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do Ephesians 2:10), to his glory. You are both temporal(All men are like grass, and their glory like the flowers of the field Isaiah 40:6) and eternal (For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16). You are called by the Lord to repentence and humility before him, that you should have peace and joy abiding in him; but, you have the opportunity to disobey (For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:17-18). And, I have been entrusted to prayerfully raise you up in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord, attributes which only God himself can instill, but which we are to teach and model. (Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength...Impress [these commands] upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up...Deuteronomy 6:1-13; ...Bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Eph 6:4).

How precious and awesome a responsibility is raising Gideon, and how great and merciful and glorious and completely sufficient is our God. And so in conclusion, I rejoice in the words sung by Christians since Thomas Ken penned them in 1674...
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.