Eliana Grace

Today is "Samuel's Day" in my heart. Today I "should" be planning his first birthday party but I'm not. It is so hard in the midst of grief to try and see the big picture and as humans still impossible most of the time.

Isaiah 55:8-9

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 

 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

I would have never planned to  loose my babies but if not for their loss I would not be holding a infant and trying to type this at the same time. I don't know why I had to loose my Samuel and Rena but I do know that it would not have happened if God did not allow it. His plan  for my life is always better than mine. This fall we welcomed to our family Eliana Grace Hughes. 

Eliana is a Hebrew name meaning "my God answers". God answered our tear-filled prayers and blessed us in His grace with a daughter to bring home and raise. Does she replace Samuel or Rena? No. She doesn't replace them any more than any new baby replaces a big sibling but she is the bright spot in our lives right now. SO much healing has happened since her birth. Rainbow babies are babies born after a loss as the bright spot in the midst of the storm. God didn't have to bless us with a baby but He did. May I always remember just how blessed we are.