Tongue-tied, Rejoicing, and On My Knees

I seem to have been experiencing a strange kind of writer’s block lately. It comes at an inconvenient time—when I have both wonderful news and a great big prayer request I want to share with you. But I can’t seem to get the words out of my mouth—or, more accurately, into my word processor.

I think I’m beginning to understand why. I think it’ a special kind of mama writer’s block that seems to come upon me when my heart is overflowing: overflowing with either joy or anxiety—or, in this case, a strange blend of both.

But here I am—trying anyway. First the great good news. We have a new granddaughter! Hannah Grace Anderson was born on May 16 to her delighted parents Lars and Kelly and very excited big brother Bengt. Healthy and happy at 8 lbs 5 oz and 22 inches, she is a beautiful baby. (Of course you knew I’d say that—but she is!) She was named, I believe, primarily after Hannah in the Old Testament (my soul mate, as those of you in Mom to Mom know) and the great grace of God. But she also bears the names of two great great grandmothers—Woody’s grandmother Hannah and my Nana, Grace. Oh how we rejoice over Hannah’s safe arrival!


But here’s the glitch. Hannah’s daddy, our son Lars, leaves for Afghanistan this week. A C-130 Aircraft Commander and Captain in the Marines, he is scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan for at least five months—possibly as long as ten months. You can imagine how this fills my mama-heart. Not only for Lars—a huge prayer request which every one of you mothers understands. But also for Kelly and Bengt and Hannah. Sometimes I’m not sure whose deployment is more challenging—Lars’ in Afghanistan or Kelly’s on the homefront...

I’m reminded of something Kelly shared when we visited them in March. She related how a friend of hers, another Marine wife who had just had a baby while her husband was in Iraq, shared her “deployment verse” with her. It was Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” A window into the soul of amazing young Marine wives and mothers. I encourage you to pray for all these brave military wives.

And I’m asking you on behalf of my family: Please will you pray for Lars as he goes (most likely May 28) and Kelly as she stays with Bengt and Hannah. May the joy of the Lord truly be their strength! And may this mama-heart be full of that joy even as I walk through these next months on my knees . . .

Lars ends all his emails with these verses. May they bless you as they do all of us:
May the Lord bless and protect you.
May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you his peace.

Numbers 6:24-26