"YOU'RE BRIGHTON'S MOM!"

 

January 29, 2024

We had our 18 week anatomy scan today! It was really great because the tech talked a lot about what she was seeing and my doctor even came in during it to watch (this is normal for her – she likes to see everything in real time) which gave us confidence things were good.

Our baby is breech with its legs over its head so there were some things they weren’t able to see well. I’ll go back in 4 weeks for another scan but they didn’t have any concerns. This baby has the sweetest legs and toes! The profile looks great too and the heartbeat was 156 and strong. So, so thankful!

Kyle told me afterwards that it was hard for him today (nervous?) and I told him I wish he had shared that with me before so we could have shared that burden together. Lassen loved watching the baby and they even printed him his own picture that said “Hi Lassen!” He held it the entire way home. Thank you God for this baby. Such a joy already!

February 4, 2024
Today at church, one of my friends on staff said that the worship pastor (who has a son named Brighton!) had asked if I would share our story at the next worship night on March 10^th! Slightly overwhelming to think about talking in front of that many people but what a privilege! Kyle and I were talking about it and how the focus should be on how God was in the valley with us and not just about us. Praying that God gives me the words to glorify Him!

February 13, 2024
Lassen will be 4 in one month! Just crazy to me how time flies even when I’m trying to soak up each day. I feel really grateful that there has not been a single day since I have had him where I haven’t woken up excited to see him and be his mom. I am so far from perfect but I love being a mom of two sweet boys (maybe 3?) so much!

We have been down in Florida for almost a week and it has been so great. We have seen dolphin babies doing flips in the ocean and two bald eagles somersaulting in the air as they fought over a fish! Lassen fed flamingos out of his hand at Jungle Gardens in Sarasota. We watched the sunset at Sharkey’s pier. We have gone swimming and gone to a few beaches. Dad and I went hiking at Sleeping Turtle Preserve. I have gone on several walks, but only one run as I had Braxton Hicks the rest of the day and it made me kind of nervous.

Lassen has been so sweet and talks to the baby (he says it’s “a boy named Anna”). Our baby has been kicking and moving a lot! I am so excited for this baby yet there is a bitter-sweetness there too and it feels like joy and sorrow intertwined again. If Brighton was here, we probably wouldn’t have tried for another baby. Yet God knew our family would be bigger than we planned. Five babies. Thank you Lord for this life inside of me. Please stay by my side and protect my heart with all of the emotions that are sure to come. Just so grateful for this baby. Just a beautiful reminder of God having a plan for our lives. Please let my life honor You!

February 16, 2024
A few weeks ago, I received a letter from Agape Flights about Brighton. They are based in Venice and Shelly and I had emailed and she invited us to stop by. Today, we did and it was the most beautiful, God curated experience. I have cried several times just thinking about how good God is and how He can intertwine our stories.

We got there and asked for Shelly and she came downstairs and immediately gave me a big hug. She was so happy we came and told us Brighton’s story had really impacted their entire team. They hear lots of stories from missionaries, but they said some stories touch their lives more than others.

Then shortly after, a man named Tim came downstairs and his first words were, “You’re Brighton’s mom!” I about lost it because I don’t think anyone has referred to me that way before. Tim said they were so happy we had stopped by and how Brighton’s story is just a testament of God’s goodness. Then he asked another question no one had asked me before. What would you like us to know about Brighton? I teared up and just said, “He was perfect. His entire life was full of answered prayers and miracles that other people might not recognize as miracles.” We talked about some of those things and just all of the God winks along the way. Just really powerful to be able to share my son with them.

I was just overwhelmed by the generosity of these two – they were in a big meeting for their Pie in the Sky fundraiser and said, “we were stopping whenever you got here!” Wow. Their hearts are so beautiful. 

They gave us a tour and told us all about their mission and Shelly had made Lassen a gift bag and gave us all hats and t-shirts too. Just so special and I felt really loved.

Afterwards, we just went to the beach and rested. The water blended in with the sky and Lassen played on the beach in holes that people had dug. It was wonderful. We even saw a few manatees!

Thank you Lord for not letting people forget my son.