The Sabbath

Elijah,

It's been a busy couple of days. We've only been home since Friday but already you've had so many visitors - people who just couldn't wait to lay eyes on you. The response is unanimous - they all know what a miracle you are!

Some say you look smaller in person than in the pictures. You are still such a tiny thing, even though you're eating so well and growing right before my eyes. Some cannot get over how much you look like daddy! Isn't that just like God?!

Son, today is Sunday, the Sabbath, the Lord's day. We weren't quite ready for the crowds of people at church so we decided to stay home. But you and I had our own little church service! We watched Thomas Road on TV and sang "Blessed Assurance."

"This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior, all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior, all the day long."

Baby boy, I held you and sang those words to the Lord with tears of joy and thanksgiving streaming down my cheeks. This is our story - you, Elijah Riley Barnhouse, are now part of our story. The intricately woven tapestry of my life that God allowed to join with your daddy's life and now He's knit you together to be perfectly part of our story. Praise You, Lord!

It is fitting that we watched Thomas Road on TV because it was started by Dr. Jerry Falwell. He's in heaven now with Jesus, but he has played such a huge part in our lives. I was born and raised in church at TRBC and that is where I learned all the bible stories and knew I wanted to give my heart to Jesus. I was baptized there and now mommy works at the University he started. Daddy came to Liberty and didn't even know Jesus. He accepted Christ there and went to school there, too, and that is also where he works. Mommy and daddy met at Liberty, as a result of the ministry Dr. Falwell started. And you, baby boy, have come out of this ministry too.

Dr. Falwell believed there was nothing more important than saving a life, so he started the Liberty Godparent Home where pregnant unwed girls could come and live. When mommy and daddy found out they couldn't have their own children, it only took two days before we knew that we were called to adopt. We decided to go through the Godparent Home.

Elijah, your birthmother came to the home in February and there she made the choice to place you in our arms. Isn't it amazing how God has uniquely knit our entire family together through the life and legacy of these ministries?!

Don't ever forget, sweet thing, that today is the Lord's day. Today is the day we give Him praise. Today is the day we pause, we rest, we reflect on what the Lord has done for us...praising our Savior all the day long.

Love,
Mommy