Miles' Story ~ God's Marvelous Favor

I've tried to write this post several times, but have met with
little success or much pleasure.
It is a story of great peace.
Of waiting and not knowing and yet resting patiently in contentment.
It is a story of God's overflowing favor poured out on my life once again.

I find I can't relate just the facts without making this story about me.
In reality, there is so little of me in this story.  It is all Him.
Let's see if I can recount the birth story of Miles Favor reflecting
on God's great glory and His enduring mercy and grace!

My pregnancy was a gentle one.  I can't explain it better than that.
My body was large and cumbersome in the usual way ones body
makes sacrifice for another growing life, but my aches were minimal
and my emotions not violently swayed.

In many ways, I can honestly say this was the best pregnancy I've
experienced yet.  There may be physical factors involved, but I
know better than to turn those tangible efforts into a formula.
Above all, was the ever present breath of the Holy Spirit living through
me and the reason for all this blessing remains a mystery known only
to Him.

I've known such peace from the time we found out this baby was
on the way.  All the questions that begin with "how" which
are so quick to plague the mind of a mother in the middle of
child-bearing-training-raising years; those questions did not rattle me
as they sometimes have.
Then at 15 weeks I was sure we were losing this tiny person,
yet God stayed His hand and saw fit to let us meet our son.
Again - His favor.

Many of you know that we are somewhat transient, sharing time
between our mountain home in North Idaho, some travel,
as well as a little time near Denver Colorado where my husband's
work is based.  Because of this, finding doctors and such can be
a challenge, and few are eager to work with people so unconventional
as we.
The midwives who attended my care and were present at the birth
of Miles are a story of God's favor all their own.  I was blown away.

As the time for delivering grew near, I was getting nervous flutterings
in my stomach and the Lord provided Valentines Day with the perfect
reason to dive into the letter of First John (which is about love and
what love is, and how it manifests itself) where I rediscovered this verse:

1 John 4:18
"...perfect love casteth out fear... fear causeth torment..."

I was struck fresh by a couple truths I already knew:
I had no control over what events would transpire;
worrying about the unknown would only produce torment to myself;
perfect love is God Himself  (1 John 4:8)

and it would be by His power I could be free from fear!

I clung to this verse and meditated on it whenever thoughts of
impending travail came to mind.

Then, not a couple days prior to Miles birth, my eyes lit on a verse
in Psalms which blessed my heart so very much.

Psalm 34:4
"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

Wow.
It was King David's song, but when he penned it God knew it
would be my song too!
I rested in that verse and marveled over it.  That God hears me.
ME!  He heard and doesn't want His children to be in bondage to fear.
I was delivered of my fears.  It was so precious not to be bound up
with anxiety as my time drew near.

The day he came was a Sunday.

The laboring for his birth was unusual for what I've known
but it was soft and without pain until Transition which was a
fast and furious half hour.
My beloved husband caught our little person and I recognized
that we had delivered another son!
What joy and relief and flat-out marvel to see his complete
body, his large hands, his pudge!
What laughter and exclamation!

One of my favorite things in all the world is watching
pure joy just bubble forth from my best friend
as the relief of the finished race floods over him.
I can see then, it was work for him too and what camaraderie!
I often say (and this was no exception): "WE DID IT!"

I hope the Lord received all that celebrating as pure worship
because my heart was aching from sheer fullness, and hasn't ceased yet :-)

I can't describe the afterglow adequately.  My children came in to
meet our Miles.  I was tucked neatly into my own beautiful bed
under a quilt I'd made while dreaming of this baby; and my husband
rested his presence near to me as the midwives measured and weighed
my already-deemed-perfect little son.  I never thought to count his toes.
It never occurred to me that he could be anything but perfection
no matter what number they added up to!

After all had left and the house was still, AJ popped up some
Pop Corn and we sat side by side munching in a late-night
celebration party.  I didn't sleep that night.  There's no time
for sleeping when those first moments pass like a fleeing bandit
and freshly-birthed baby hair doesn't last - even for a few days.

So I was initiated into motherhood one more time, with a crick
in my neck from burying my nose in that hair at whatever
angle was necessary to reach it :-)
I lay awake recounting all the details of Miles Favor's story
marveling and alternating between tears and laughter.
It was a sweet night.

Favor upon favor...

So that is where Miles gets his name.  Favor has been the story of
our life together - mine and AJ's - and in this season more than ever.
We don't deserve this amazing grace, and are entitled to nothing
good at all - and yet.  Yet God's laughter spills over upon us as
He gives and gives and gives us good gifts just because He can
and apparently wants to.  imagine that!

Miles' middle name is an alter for a memorial for us that God has blessed
our family more than we ever hoped or could dream.  We will recall these
stories to His glory and for our edification when the season comes
which is dark and uncertain.
He is good today, but when that time comes we know He is still good.
He is always and forever good, and today His favor is great upon us.
May we not ever forget.

"Thank you Lord, for our precious son Miles Favor! 
To You Lord, be glory and honor and praise both now and forever. Amen."

Psalms 34:1
"I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise will continually be in my mouth."

Another Chapter in our Adventures

Too much to recount, so many changes and adjustments, lots of thoughts, ideas, and emotions.

This summer found us pondering the possibility of spending half the year in Colorado so we could all
be closer to AJ's Denver office.  The prospect offered more face-to-face interaction at work and less
travel, as well as the hope of music and swimming lessons for the children amongst other things.

The first three weeks of December finds us actually settling in to a spacious home here in Colorado.
With little more than clothes, school books and a Christmas Tree, we've been eeking
away at making this place comfortable to live in.  Lots of fun, but very surreal and hard
to wrap my mind around still. Mind boggling for each of us I think.

We did not intend to "escape" a North Idaho winter, and miss the marvelous Marvel Hill
our heartstrings are tied securely to.  However we decided to embrace this opportunity
not as a detour, but an adventure!  In relinquishing  6 months of Idaho, we decided to let go
of the cold ones and try to be home again for the Summer and Fall when berries and hunting
abound, and outdoor living is an all-consuming passion.

It's hard to give up the known comfortable for the unknown - no matter how good it appears.

As much as my heart longs for the family homestead; a nest that is never uprooted, I realize that
my desire is a probably a misplaced longing for my real home with Jesus in a perfect Heaven.
Because of that, I want to embrace letting go.
Anywhere I travel in the earth, I can take everything that matters:
my relationships, a heart of worship, zeal for living.  In this case I have my little family gathered
within reach, and the Holy Spirit is with me whatever my geographical location.

So all is well.
Idaho life is still ours, and for now the package includes more... diversity. More interest.
More Complication.
Adventure.

I'm pretty sure it's as good as what we'll make of it!

To help you ease in to our new niche, I'll bombard you with some zillion or so pictures.
I hope you'll keep with us for the ride, and good luck with your own adjustments!

Our Arrival. Colorado - December 1, 2012
No furniture. Not a bit - excluding the 9 mattresses we had pre-ordered
and brought sheets and pillows for.  Breakfast on the kitchen floor.
Who looks concerned to you?

First order of business was to set up shop so my men would have a place to build furniture.
One of the hoped-for perks of living where there is lighted indoor space on a concrete floor with power.

Besides bedding, bath towels, dishes, and food in the pantry, a couple mugs and a french press
were also high on the list.

Power and coffee - work can now commence :-)

So glad we packed the dress-ups and a few things to draw with!

This dress was a surprise I packed at the bottom of the dress-up bin.
Olivia discovered it, and I have to say it's a bit shocking to view this possible shadow of my girl in the future!

We have a 7 acre lot at the end of the development, which spreads into s bit
of untamed land.
The boys were quick to do some exploring which provided satisfactory results.

Elk sheds - 3 lefts. I wonder where the place for shedding the right antler is?
They're ready to go again :-)

The girls got out too.

Our first piece of furniture gets assembled in a trial run.

It will have to be disassembled at some point to finish up a few things, but...
It works.

And Mom is very happy!

Cool design, building a bench into one side.  That man O'mine is brilliant!
Am I the only one who's children perch on (then fall off of) chairs?  No more.
At least... now there's no excuse for the seat getting away. Ha!

There really was no furniture.  We did bring Christmas with us though, and I was thrilled to put
our California tree immediately.  Lots of floor to spread out on in this house.  That's been nice.

Then... we went shopping.
And there were delivered some things to sit on!

And by bits we begin to get comfortable.  Cozy even.
And we find ways to make this place ours. Messes really break things in, don't you think?

Being Christmas season, move-in season, and also battling sickness through these almost three
weeks, we've not yet found our momentum.  Sometimes my I feel I've completely lost my
bearings, but we're finding our groove.  I'm kind of looking forward to the turning of the new year
just to get back into school.  To figure out chores. Meals.  Bedtimes.

In case you were wondering, I did have the pleasure of choosing colors for the walls.  The kitchen
cabinets too.  They were black and now they are a light, bright white that makes my heart happy!

I must confide, I love playing house! I'll certainly make the most of this unusual life.
Thank you so much for the visit.  Thanks for enjoying my gypsy-life with me.

It is a wonder!

Soaking it all in

It's not that I am so organized, or diligent, or amazing.
I get these recent pictures and posts up for two reasons:
1) For the grandma's and aunties and all the family far from us in body.
2) Because AJ and the children are running the home so I can rest.

Which is what I've been doing.  Rest is good.  Aloria is pretty good at it too:-)
She's been nothing but a pleasure.  Well, that and a wonder.
Each of my other children too, as I see them rise to new challenges and embrace things that are hard
or not fun (such as doing the necessary chores to keep things afloat).
Zachary has been cooking for us.  He even made a grocery list and Dad took the 6 big kids shopping
(everyone knows that grocery shopping with dad is FUN!  It's a whole different ball game.).
Here's last night's dinner of fajitas - well done my son!

Tonight he made hamburgers and green jello and took them up the hill to share with cousins.

The Bugletts climb up on the bed all through the day to cuddle and read, and admire sister.
It's been delightful to see their love and devotion to her already.

I am soaking in every moment with Aloria in these first few days.  I love it.
There have been the usual hormones and pains that go with the package,
but these are the memories to savor.  They are the ones I want to keep with me always:-)

It All Started... (the story of Aloria Mercy's arrival)

It all started on the first sunny day of our slow-to-come Spring.
It took me some time to dig out the "mud season" clothes and help all the little ones
into their shoes, jackets, hats...
Then I found a spot in the sun to watch from and to sip frothy chocolate from my red mug.

Over a largely rounded belly I watched as the kids, all dressed in varying pieces of camouflage,
scurried into the woods armed with buckets and shovels.
"We're prospecting for worms!"  Susanna tells me.
And they were.
Imagine if you will, six-gallon buckets full of dirt and a mother lode of worms.
It was impressive.  And entertaining too!
There was much talk of Summer time fishing, while Bryce in his last day as baby
scouted for sticks and bugs...

 ...and talked Tractor with Daddy.

Carolina had an ambition to climb a tree.
This was as far as she ever got,
but that's okay.  I think that watching her made my hot chocolate taste even better!

One of my favorite things to see from that sunny spot was this precious man
meeting my needs in such a gracious, tangible way.

Here he builds my co-sleeper (a crib to set up next to our bed) and tells me when I thank him:
"I have little choice when I start getting bashed on the blog!"


































*Sigh*
He loves me ;-)

I think he has reverence for the good opinion of all you - O' friends of mine - who know the
joys, pains, and hearts desires of a mother.  So be complimented, and I thank you too
for contributing to the timely arrival of my coveted co-sleeper :-)

Then there were little people who getting into the spirit of things,
built a table and bench...

It was a VERY productive day - for every one!

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A week and a half ago I predicted having this baby on Saturday night, the eve of Easter Sunday
(which is April 24th this year - my due date being April 26th)
because I think babies like to double up on special dates.
Remember Bryce was born on our 12th wedding anniversary?  A Saturday night labor nonetheless.

I thought I'd better make the special Easter dinner preparations ahead... just in case.
So after soaking in the sun  for a sufficient spell, and sipping the last from my red mug
I made jello, and hard boiled eggs for the Clayton-requested deviled eggs.
Carolina helped me mix up the egg yolk filling, and there was no indication of not being able
to complete the rest the next day.

It's amazing though, how quickly things can go from this "my baby":

to this the newest edition of "my baby":

Now I will recount a few details of the hours between making jello and smooching on these chubby cheeks
but first I warn you, that this is for the posterity of our blogging journal
(which I hope to one day have made into a book).

If you will feel a strong desire to throw tomatoes at me or boo me out of the house where labor horror stories are told
because you shortly find I went into labor at 9:00pm on Saturday, and was holding my darling three and a half hours later... 
you've read far enough-and-thank-you-for-visiting this post. Come back next week :-)

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For those who look for reasons to rejoice, and for those who love a story that gives hope...
carry on.

Although I had been having more frequent Braxton Hicks contractions during the early evening hours,
they were not abnormal for me.
It wasn't until 9pm when I felt that first "real" contraction that I knew it was time to buckle up for the ride.

(Up 'till that point, I was still hoping to be one of that minority who goes through an entire
labor and birth pain-free.  Haven't you heard those stories?  One can dream anyways.)


AJ called Uncle Char and had him come pick up the kiddos for a slumber party with the cousins
so I didn't have a deadline to accomplish my work by
(morning light and the pitter-pat of little feet, in this case).

With the Bugletts packed off AJ called the midwives; and I posted briefly on my blog divulging my fears
for the upcoming unknown.

I asked the Lord to help me worship Him.
I held close the knowledge of His death and power over it; His resurrection and the fact that death to myself was bringing forth life.
I wanted to receive this work as a privilege and accept it with joy for His names sake.
And yet...
I was fearful.

I am not proud to say it, but it was very difficult not to wander into the future, to predict how long
I'd be fighting to relax through painful contractions.
To resist anticipating Transition - that place where there is no hope of backing out!


Alas...


I found my laboring groove, sat on my birthing stool, and heard the midwives arrive and set up.
My face was in a pillow as I leaned over the back of my chair.
I had large breaks in between contractions with time to relax and regroup. It was fairly peaceful.

Amazingly, my water broke at 12:05am.and after that I turned to the midwives and said
"Okay.  Another couple good...bad...hard...contractions to bring the baby down and I'll need 
to move to the bed on the floor to push baby out."

I am convinced that I was fully dilated when my water broke, even though I hadn't been checked
at any point prior to that.

It was at this time that I became excited!  I got my second wind and knew the end was near.

It went just as I had predicted to the midwives.
12:10am I moved to a reclining position,
a couple pushes and a head;
A lusty cry.
Another couple pushes

and then a baby.
12:20 am AJ caught her beautifully -
he announced with a laugh "We have another GIRL!"

I was just so relieved. SO relieved. SO thankful, so grateful and so thrilled to be holding that wet
slippery, vernix-covered little girly, who soon quieted once she was handed up to me.
I didn't hear an unhappy squeak out of her the rest of the night and she latched on beautifully
shortly after her cord was cut.

To be completely honest (and humble here), I could not BELIEVE it went that quickly without
being a furious labor.  I mean... I STILL can't believe it.

I really didn't think we could top Bryce's labor and delivery, and then... O' marvel of marvels,
to see this baby for the first time - we hadn't any ultrasounds this pregnancy - and realize that
everything I saw appeared perfectly formed and health-filled.

To realize that the Lord God had blessed me above my wildest hopes in the mercy of His grace!
His unmerited favor has been great upon me and AJ.
We were confident even before-hand that He would faithfully glorify Himself in whatever form
our labor, our child, our story... took.
I just did not expect that glory to be in such a manner that would make our lives so filled
with ease and uninhibited joy once again!

So... a couple hours sleep for my Fella, and I lay sleepless beside him, Aloria nestled into the crook
of my arm - close enough to my face that I could bury my nose in her hair.
Breathing in that sweet new-baby-smell I waited for the morning light
and watched the first rays of sun touch our south hill treetops, then break over the landscape little by little
proclaiming the resurrection of our Lord!
Proclaiming new life FOR us, and proclaiming our own new life.  Glorious! 
That calm spring sunshine spoke all the volumes in my heart without me ever saying a word..

And that is the story - our story of how Aloria Mercy came to join this clan -
short, sweet, and with a happy ending;
which actually, is only the beginning of other wonders to be opened to us as we watch God
write the rest of our Aloria's story.
We are confident we will watch Him weave into that account
many many evidences of His wonderful Majesty and grace!

My heart wells up with Hallelujahs!  Thank you LORD, for your mercies.  I am in awe.

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