Our Quiver-Full Story - Part One

Yes, I am one of those "quiver-full" people! Now this will be a big surprise to many who know me in person (not as much the blogger world) - The family & close friends, who know that about 4 years ago my husband had a vasectomy... and have never heard any different! This story has been awhile in the making and one we have kept pretty confidential. It is a story that I do not want to forget the details of and I believe it is worth sharing! So, it is now that I want to begin to share our quiverfull story. It will likely take many posts as I want to go back to many years ago to show how the Lord has brought us to where we are today.

Part One - A closed womb.
You would think I would have always been quiver-full minded. After all as a young child to a married adult my aspiration had always been to get married and be a Mommy! My husband and I married young and used birth control (with out any reservation) for 3 years while he finished College. Then, He felt ready and we began to try for children. I assumed we would conceive quickly. But, after 3 years of trying and buckets of tears shed, we still had not conceived. Through a couple different people God spoke to me and said "Joanna, can you be happy if I never do bless you with children?" Ughh. That was hard to hear but something I knew I had to do. I had to surrender what had become most important to me. I remember laying in bed one night crying and saying words to the affect of "God, whatever you want for my life - If that includes never blessing me with children I will accept that... I will choose to be happy and trust you... I've said the words... now Lord, help me to mean them." Those words were hard to say but my heart was flooded with peace once I said them! What I didn't know was the test that would come in response to "help me to mean them". Within a few weeks after I spoke those words of surrenderance we found out I was pregnant!! The joy and excitement was overflowing. Everyone was rejoicing with us. They knew the tears and struggle those 3years had been for me especially. However, one week after telling everyone I began to have a miscarriage. Many grieved for us. Many had known my strong desire to be a Mom and had cried out to God to answer my plea. God's grace swooped in and poured over me. I think others grieved much more than I did. I remember singing out "Praise the name of Jesus, He's my rock, He's my fortress, He's my deliverer. In HIM will I trust!" WHILE I was having the miscarriage. It was an amazing thing because I knew that peace was only possible because of the Holy Spirit. That day is not a sad memory for me but a special one! It confirmed what the Lord had done in my heart! God had brought me to that place of surrenderance; He tested and confirmed that I meant what I'd said! In response to that God then showered blessing on me. For what very quickly followed in the coming 4 years was three healthy pregnancies and the births of our 3 daughters! For those 3 years of tears God gave us 3 beautiful little girls! Those precious blessings are now 4, 6, and 8 years old!

Next post: Becoming Quiver-full ~ Our Story Part 2!