AMAZING GRACE

We arrived back in Tasmania at the end of June, six weeks before the expected due date of our precious baby. We were so excited for our little ones arrival, and after traveling and staying in different houses for over three weeks since leaving Pemba, we finally settled down in our child hood town, Penguin. Here we have been so blessed to be able to house sit for some family members for a few months. The small coastal town of Penguin is really close to James’s and my heart. It is where we both grew up, went to school, first started dating at 15 years old and had our first home together. It’s where we became Christians, our lives were changed and priorities challenged. We sold our house in Penguin to volunteer overseas in Africa and to now be the same town for the first few months of our baby’s life is so special.

Our due date was the 4th of August, and quickly the date was approaching. On the 2nd we went on a date to Guide Falls, a beautiful waterfall where we celebrated our first year of dating when we were both 16, 12 years ago. We took our last baby bump photos, me being over 39 weeks pregnant expecting our little one to be coming soon!

Little did we know, that next morning we would be heading into the hospital at 6am! Before leaving the house we took communion together and prayed. We were so excited, the thought of meeting our baby was overwhelming, we were so ready to say hello! When arriving the midwife commented on how calm I was, and that most likely I’ll be sent home as it must be early labor. They put me on a machine to check my contractions and to the midwifes surprise they were off the charts, lasting a minute and only 2-3 minutes apart. Which is consistent to active labor! We were laughing and had so much Joy. Another midwife checked to see how dilated I was, and again surprisingly I was 8cm! “your definitely not going home this morning” she said, “let’s get you to the birth room!”

The experience was amazing and we felt so close to God throughout the whole process. In total, there was only 1hr of what I’d described as a ‘intense workout’, and no pain relief was needed at all! We had been praying and trusting God leading up to the birth, and it couldn’t have gone any smoother! No complications, no stitches, no intervention needed and there was a tangible presence of peace in the room.

At 11:59am Friday 3rd August, our baby Girl was born. Grace Joy Brewer. Weighing 8 pound 5 oz, 51cm long, she was a very healthy alert baby with big blue eyes.

Coincidentally enough she was born to our favorite song playing in the background, a song that we had been meditating on from the beginning of the 9 months. United pursuit, “You Will Keep”. It’s all about trusting God, the theme of our whole pregnancy, especially while being in Africa for nearly half the time and having little access to medical facilities etc.

I remember a midwife staying “this is incredible, this is textbook stuff. All births should be like this!”

We stayed one night in the hospital, and then came home the next day. The staff were absolutely incredible too, everyone to the midwifes to the kitchen staff and cleaners.We felt like we were at a hotel more than a hospital! We felt so looked after and loved.

I have heard so many people express how becoming a parent changes you, but never did I expect our hearts to grow so much in one encounter. We are so captivated by our precious little girl and the gift she is to our lives. Just like all babies, She is a miracle! I can’t help but reflect on how God has designed us all so perfectly… It’s such a mystery how he does it. Again we have fallen deeper in love with Him and are bewildered by the depth of human life. We are so grateful for our little Gracie, for her health and life! That we have the privilege to be her parents and God has entrusted her to us!

We can’t wait to see what’s next for our new little family, and to introduce her to everyone back in Africa!

What a Joy!
How amazing is His Grace…