when in rome.

About four years ago I found this little baby shirt at a yard sale. It was around the time that I was thinking I might get pregnant with our second. I put it in my pajama drawer and thought that in the following year our next baby would wear this tiny blue "when in rome" t-shirt. Well, that little t-shirt sat in that drawer much longer than expected. It stayed in that drawer when the doctor told me there was no way I was going to be able to get pregnant again. It stayed there when I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and Premature Ovarian Failure. There were many times when I would come across this blue t-shirt and look at it and cry. But I just couldn't take it out of that drawer. I just couldn't give up the hope that we would have another baby whos pudgy arms would peek through those arms holes. I prayed and hoped and got angry and got sad and got depressed, all the while knowing that I was blessed with my family that I already had. A healthy and happy son, an amazing husband, my family and friends. But still, in my heart there was a place that was feeling a little empty and was just yearning to have another child.  I continued to pray that somehow our family could grow.
And then our life took us along a different path, one that included my crazy and sweet and generous and loud and beautiful and wild sister Kristina.
And so with hope I took out that tiny blue shirt and felt joy and excitement that perhaps I would get to squeeze a little being into it.  At first it didn't happen and that shirt caught some more of my tears. But I continued to hope and pray and folded it back up and placed it back in the drawer.
And it did. God had answered our prayers.With joy I took out that shirt and placed it on my growing belly, eagerly anticipating our baby's arrival knowing that whether it was a boy or a girl our baby would wear this funny little t-shirt reminding me of our unexpected journey.
And then sweet Vincent was born and that shirt was taken from my drawer and placed in the boys' dresser. A brother for George.
And now how appropriate that our Vincent is wearing this as we get packed and ready for our trip to Rome and Germany.
Life sure is an adventure, it presents us with unexpected challenges, it leads us down roads we never expected to travel upon. And along the way God presents us with some pretty amazing gifts and journeys. When I finally got to squeeze Vincent into this blue little t-shirt all those moments of waiting and longing we're remembered. Those moments made this moment that much sweeter. Life is an adventure! When in Rome!