The other day I grabbed the peanut butter out of the fridge and turned toward the counter. Micah, whose favorite place to stand in the kitchen is directly on top of my feet, had moved right behind me. I managed not to crash into him as I spun around, but I did end up dropping the peanut butter, which exploded on the floor into a dangerous, gooey mess of peanut butter and tiny slivers of glass.
After a major cleaning session, I gave the kids pretzels instead of PB&J’s and we headed out to the grocery store. At the checkout line, Sky decided to help me load the groceries onto the belt, and reached for the jar of peanut butter. Before I could say, “Wait a minute, that’s breakable!” we’d broken our second jar of the day. “Oh that’s okay,” the checker said sweetly as she sent us to the next row so she could clean up the mess. (God bless the workers at Publix. Seriously, aren’t they the nicest people?)
The bagger offered to get us another peanut butter, but brought back the wrong kind. Since by this time Micah was screaming to get out of the cart and there were several people lined up behind us, I told him not to go looking for the right kind of peanut butter. We would just get it another time.
But as I loaded the kids and groceries into the car, I started thinking about how picky Micah is and how peanut butter is one thing he actually eats, and before I could stop myself I started to cry. And I cried the whole way home.
Yes, that’s right. I cried over peanut butter.
But I actually have a very good reason for being so emotional over such a little thing: pregnancy hormones. We are expecting baby #3!
We consider this new life a miracle. Have I mentioned that we struggled with infertility? Five years ago we’d just finished in vitro fertilization, which hadn’t worked, and we were trying to cope with the idea that we might never be parents. If you’d told us then that now we’d have a two-year-old, a one-year-old, and a third baby on the way, what would we have done? Laughed? Cried? Both, I’m sure. Sometimes God lets pain linger in our lives year after year. But sometimes, all at once, He takes it away forever.
I know with all my heart that if we were still without children, God’s love for us would be the same. His plans for us would still be good.
At the same time, I just about tremble with gratitude when I look at my kids and try to imagine my life without them.
My due date is still almost seven months away and we take nothing for granted. We had an ultrasound a few weeks ago and saw our baby’s tiny heart beating, which was reassuring. But we still include lots of words like “hopefully” and “God willing” when we talk about the future. It’s overwhelming to think of all this next year will hold. And it’s exciting. We believe God when He says He’s in charge of life and we choose to trust Him one day at a time.
By the way, the day I had my peanut butter meltdown, Adam walked in the door after work with a fresh jar of it that we actually managed to eat. Knowing he is by my side makes whatever might happen next a lot easier to take.
How wonderful!! In every sense of the word.
Congrats to you and your growing family, Linnea. May you enjoy an uneventful pregnancy, a safe delivery, and a very healthy baby! BTW, this post appeared in my feed just above one entitled “Amazing News” … about friends who have just received a summons to go pick up their long-awaited baby girl. 
Thanks and congrats to your friends on their miracle baby! God is good!
Love the line, “Sometimes God lets pain linger in our lives year after year. But sometimes, all at once, He takes it away forever.” We don’t understand the “why’s” behind his actions, but the “hope” is forever strong.
And… Adam, your great gift from God, is absolutely a prince.
CONGRATS!!! GRATTIS!!! :)…. I’m happy for you.. I remember 2 years ago when you told your family about Micah and now your expecting another
GREAT!! (The family gets bigger, I like that…)
Love, Malin
God is so good! I am thrilled for you Linnea and I’ve loved watching the Lord move in your life the past few years!
Thanks! It’s fun being pregnant together. Can you believe our due dates are 2 days apart? Our kids might have the same birthday!
How exciting! I’m so happy for you all!!! What delightful news! Thanking God with you for another miracle!
From infertility to a homegrown preschool! ahahahaha!! Oh God – You are SO amazing!! Linni – I am crying tears of joy for you – I think God is so incredible and so very humorous to blow you out of your box and bless you beyond measure! Children are a blessing – and an added benefit for the Kingdom! Blessings to you and Adam as you walk these next 9 months together. Praying for you and just oh so excited for you!!! xoxoxoxo
A homegrown preschool! Ha ha! You’re right–God definitely has a sense of humor. I hope you and your family are doing well.
Oh, Linni and Adam, how excited we are for you, and yes I know how you are feeling. god is so good and we know He has a great sense of humor.
WOOHOO!!!! That is so exciting! Hugs to you my friend, you are an amazing mama and woman!
We got your letter and I had tears in my eyes–and NOT just from pregnancy hormones!
It’s so amazing to see you and Andrew faithfully walking through the process to bring home your little girl. We can’t wait to hear that she’s finally in your home. She will be so blessed to be part of your family!
Wow! Such fun news! Praise the Lord for another blessing! Thanks for sharing.
Congrats! I am so happy for you.
I just love all your stories. You are a fabulous writer and storyteller.
And you know what Bill Waterson (William Boyd Watterson, American Author of the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes, 1958) says “If you can’t control your peanut butter, you can’t expect to control your life.” And we can’t. God is in charge of life. Thank goodness He sends us angels to help us along the way.
Best wishes, Linnea.
I am truly excited and praising God over your newest little one. You have a wonderful family.
God has blessed you with being a good writer, Linnea.
So very excited for you! Oh the adventures you will have to blog for us!!
Congratulations, Linnea (and Adam, too, as well as all the Curingtons). Reading this blog, when I got the part where you cried all the way home, I thought to myself, “I wonder if she could be pregnant again.” WooHoo, ain’t God good?
Linni, Fabulous news!:) I’m so grateful for your precious little answers to prayer.:) (Skylar, Micah and Baby 3) And, yes, it is an awesome responsibility and delight to raise them for the Kingdom of God. Just think of the fun in store for these two younger ones with Skylar as their older sister! Take your vitamins; you’ll need to keep up.:):):)
With love to all!
Sue P.S. Good for you, Adam! Finally, PB!
How did I miss this??? Woo-hoo! Really happy for you guys!