Birth

It never ceases to amaze me at each new life we help bring in to the world here.  I can't imagine how rewarding it is to be a labor and delivery nurse with all the excitement and fulfillment you get when ushering a new babe into the world.  There's just a sense of awe and wonder, and absolute amazement.  I am feeling that way today and have been feeling that way since our animals started delivering this year. 

I had to assist Bo in delivering a very large calf the other day.  Now I know I don't look like the type to be a farmer's wife...which is what everyone tells me.  I'm not sure what a farmer's wife is supposed to look like???  Do I look like a city girl???  Well anyway, I had been watching this heifer all day long.  She would lay down and stand up and was fidgety.  I walked out to her and saw the water sac coming out.  It is what proceeds the front hooves.  Once it bursts, you can almost bet that shortly you will have a calf.  Well, I let her be and came out to check her a while later.  Still nothing.  I could tell she was getting very uncomfortable.  And usually by this time several things could be the problem.  Bo thankfully pulled in the drive from work and walked her into the corrals.  He checked and figured out the baby wasn't breech, so that was good.  But, it wasn't budging either.  I helped him get the chains wrapped around the hooves that were sticking out and then when she would contract, we would pull.  After about 10-15 minutes of pulling, we finally had the largest calf I've ever seen. 
    

                         

Typically, a calf weighs about 70 lbs.  Well this little bull calf weighed a whopping 120 lbs.  There was no way this first time mama was gonna push that monster out.  Praise the Lord Bo came when he did, because otherwise he would have suffocated in there.  There was no way I was gonna pull him myself.  Well as soon as he hit the ground, I was cheering and screaming and crying all at the same time.  Brody was watching in a bit of fear.  But started cheering with me when he saw she was okay.  What a great feeling.  LIFE! 

I was thinking what a celebration it is for each one of us that are re-born.  We get born into the kingdom of God and He is probably crying with joy over one more who gets to spend eternity with Him.  How amazing!  This life is so precious.  It makes me want to roam the streets proclaiming that our time is so short.  The Word says it's like a mist...here and then gone.  It makes me ache with longing for my loved ones to know the One my heart yearns for.  To have that relationship that makes all the difference in the world.  Our time is short, let's share life with the world, eternal life.

You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  James 4:14

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.   John 17:3

Under Attack!

At 4:00 yesterday evening, our 10 month old Gage, woke from his nap.  Earlier in the day he had a little runny nose, which I attributed to teething.  It was clear, there was a low-grade fever...all normal things.  I think as a mama you are constantly assessing the situation and praying you have it under control.  He woke up moaning and I went to get him.  He just laid his head on my shoulder and closed his eyes.  This is not normal behavior for Gage.  If you have seen him at all, the child doesn't sit still.  He is what we call a wallower.  So while I was enjoying the moment of him resting on me I could feel he was somewhat warm.  I took him downstairs and laid him on the floor to change his diaper.  His little arms and legs started turning blue and his face was beat red.  And he was acting like he couldn't breathe.  I immediately picked him up and started checking him.  Something was not right.  His eyes were closed and if he tried to open them they rolled back in his head.  We took him to Children's and they told us he had a 104 temp.  He had some kind of a virus that was causing the fever.  And Gage and fevers just don't mix.  A few months ago he was having seizures from fevers.  The child has never regulated his temp well.  It's been that way since the beginning when he came too early and was in that little isolate for 5 weeks. 

All that to say, I am feeling broken today.  It seems like this week the enemy is trying to gain a foothold.  I prayed and cried to God last night to bind the enemy and make him leave.  It has just been one thing after another.  I feel like I have been attacked personally, emotionally, spiritually, and now my family physically.  But it's nothing new.  He is always trying to find little ways to puncture our walls.  Maybe he can get something to give way and find a way in.  I ask for prayer from you all.  I'm just tired of fighting at this moment.  I need renewed strength. 

As I was praying this morning I was thinking of how horrible it is to see our children suffering.  And it just made me think how our Father sympathizes with us when we are suffering.  Jesus is praying on my behalf to the Father.  How comforting.  Jesus, the son of God, loves me that much to remember me and pray for me.  So I am holding on to this today...Psalm 27:1-2 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of Whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell...

Here are some other scriptures to help during attack.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. Ephesians 6: 11

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6: 12

You shall not fear them, for the Lord your God shall fight for you. Deuteronomy 3: 22

[And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver and draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve and bring me safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
2 Timothy 4: 18
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. ~ Luke 10:19