Today a Facebook memory popped up from seven years ago:

I still can’t believe Nora is here sometimes. The wait between Lucy and Nora felt excruciatingly long, probably because at the time I had no idea if there ever would be a Nora. But it was a terrible two and a half years of grief, fear, uncertainty and deep longing for more children, not to mention the two early miscarriages and adoption loss.

I looked back at my journal from that year and read today’s entry, November 29th 2013:

So today, from my view here in 2023 I just want to acknowledge the beautiful ways that God answered my prayers from 2013. Whether those prayers were whispered or begged or sobbed I don’t really remember, but I do know they came from a truly broken heart.

“Oh Lord, come and satisfy my desire in this scorched place and make my bones strong. Lord, please come and strengthen me. Give me endurance and patience.”

My God heard me. Every single prayer was gathered and acknowledged and answered. As I mentioned in my Facebook post from 2016, Psalm 10:17 says that God inclines His ear, He hears the desire of the afflicted and strengthens their heart. He did strengthen me and give me the endurance to get through those years.

And as I wrote in my journal ten years ago:
Isaiah 58:11 And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Over the past ten years God has continued to guide me and satisfy my desires and strengthen me. I give Him all the praise, all the love and gratitude. Thank you, God, for the beautiful ways you have answered my prayers and brought me from a place of loss and grief to hope and life, like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.