her beginning.
July 30, 2012 
This time three years ago, Rick and I had only been married five months. We talked about having children, but we were still in college and knew careers would be a smart prerequisite. Together, we had made the decision to wait five years. Yet every time I saw a baby, I dreamed of the day we would have our own.
Little did we know, it would only be a few weeks until that day came... the day that changed our lives forever.
That summer, Rick was gone every week playing music at different camps. I only saw him on the weekends, long enough to pack him a suitcase of fresh laundry. Luckily, our best friends lived next door to us, so I never felt totally alone during the week.
One week in early August, I felt weird. Not sick, but something was not right. Rick was gone in Missouri on his last week out of town. I didn't want to tell him anything, so I wouldn't worry him while he was away. I had some pregnancy tests in our closet that my girlfriends gave me as a gag gift at my bachelorette party. I thought, I'll just take one just to see.
I followed the instructions thoroughly. I didn't want to mess it up. Immediately, two pink lines appeared across the test. My knees buckled underneath me. I didn't know how to react, what to do... my mind just went blank. I couldn't think.
I sat down on the couch, then thought of Rick. He was so far away. I never dreamed of telling him on the phone; it just didn't seem right. I wanted to see his face, his reaction. He was a dad and didn't even know it!
Then I thought of my baby. I was scared out of my mind. I didn't know how to take care of a baby... let alone a baby in my belly! I stopped drinking my pop laying on the kitchen counter. I had just cleaned our bathroom with strong chemicals that afternoon. What if I had hurt my baby?? I couldn't handle my thoughts. I had to tell someone.
I immediately went next door. Abby was studying to be a nurse. We use to be roommates, so I had watched her study for hours and hours. I knew she could help ease my thoughts and direct me on what to do next.
We sat in her living room for hours talking and talking about this little baby in my belly. We dreamed of how I could tell Rick and then made plans to go to the clinic in the morning to make sure this was really true.
After the test at the clinic had confirmed that we were really parents, I made plans to visit Rick eight hours away in the hills of Missouri.
We never thought this day would come so soon or so unexpected. I had no idea how Rick would react. I met him and the band up at a baseball field where they were playing. While they were on stage, I went and asked the people if they wouldn't mind leaving the lights on the field for a little while longer after the event. I told them I had big news to tell my husband and pointed to my belly. They smiled and were happy to help.
As the crowd cleared out, I went to the car and grabbed a gift sack I bought for Rick. Inside was a little girl shoe and a little boy shoe. I told Rick I got him a gift and wanted to see what he thought about it. He pulled out the shoes, totally confused. I hinted by saying, "Well, I brought someone with me." He replied thinking I brought my dog and left her in the car. "No, like I brought our baby. You are going to be a dad. Rick, I am pregnant."
I explained everything that had happened in the last 48 hours. We cried together in unbelief that we were really going to be parents! We were scared and didn't know any answer to any of the questions running through our heads. Yet, we knew the Lord had already planned out the days of our baby's life and this was no mistake. We had an overwhelming sense of love realizing this was the beginning to our family. Rick held my belly knowing somewhere inside was his child.
Reader Comments (1)