"His name is Alder. Can I tell you why?"

I spoke these words in my sleep last night; they woke Sam out of his nightmare and into the reality of our hospital. Into the land of God's peace and comfort. Out of darkness and into the light. I opened my eyes to see Sam looking at me, startled, and I didn't understand why. Then he repeated the very words I'd just spoken to him in my dreamy state. And my heart leapt for joy. 

These words are the doorway to testimony. Simple, no frills, pedestrian words. Words that make sense even to a child. And yet, these words are dangerous: a sword against the very enemy attempting to thwart the life of our precious son. For I have been dressed with the "beginning words"--the words that start the sharing of the wonder of our Father in heaven, the loving, redeemer God who did not spare even his one and only Son, with the nations. 

These words hold power. They hold hope. They hold story. They have penetrated deep into the very core of my being: I cling to their promises even as I sleep. . .

I'm Gina, wife of Sam, mommy to Brooks, Evelyn Rose, and Alder. Alder's name was put on our hearts a year before my pregnancy with him began, during a trip to the Scottish Highlands with some dear friends. There we learned of the ancient structures built from alders, the strongest trees which thrive by the water and become rock solid when submerged. Later, we stumbled upon Psalm 1:3, "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." The name seemed chosen for the son we were sure we would someday be given.

August 11, 2017, our son was born at 24 weeks 5 days. This blog is a place to record our family's journey through these days, with all the ups, downs, all arounds and pleadings for prayer that come with valleys such as these. Through the recording of God's daily faithfulness in our story, I hope to read, remind, and re-remind myself of His powerful work in our lives, and to encourage the hearts of others that we serve an ever present, ever loving Father who "works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28) So walk with us, and I will show you how Jesus, the Son of the Living God, is walking with us and upholding us during these, our darkest hours.