Good News

Zach and I went to Pittsburgh today for our level 2 ultrasound and received the wonderful news that our baby girl looks as healthy as can be! Her heart and lungs looked perfect from every angle, and she was doing lots of "practice breathing," which according to the perinatologist is a good sign.

We are so, so thankful to have this news. But I feel like the experience of the last five days was a valuable reminder that not every baby is healthy. When Zach and I chose to have a child, we were choosing to have whatever child God gave us. It now looks like He has given us another healthy child, but we could not fault Him if the outcome was different. God's goodness, mercy, and steadfastness have been so real to me this week. I want to close with Psalm 145, which I read this morning before we left. It showed me so many wonderful truths about who God is, and reminded me that His character is completely unchanged by my circumstances.

1I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. 2Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. 3Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable. 4One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. 5On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. 6Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness. 7They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. 8The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. 9The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. 10All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, And Your godly ones shall bless You. 11They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power; 12To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. 13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14The LORD sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down. 15The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time. 16You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17The LORD is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds. 18The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. 20The LORD keeps all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. 21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.