Having a son

This year, Easter was a lot different for us. This year we have a beautiful baby niece, we spent the weekend at the lake, we are attending and loving our new church, The Austin Stone, and I am about 15-20lbs heavier than last year because I am growing our son. We've already experienced a few holidays while being pregnant and we are giddy with excitement thinking about having our boy with us next year. He'll be more interested in crunching wrapping paper between his pudgy little fingers at Christmas and our New Years Eve will probably end at 8pm. But there was something about Easter that really got to my (our hearts). Yes I cannot wait to dress him up in a little plaid bowtie, stick him in an Easter basket and take 4,000 pictures but I can whole heartedly say that after yesterdays beautiful celebrations, my heart is more humbled thinking about the boy inside of me. 
Over 2,000 years ago, our mighty God sent His perfect son from his kingdom in heaven to become fully man. It's easy to forget that Jesus was little one day. He grew inside Mary's belly, was swaddled just like baby Hart will be, and grew up playing games in the yard and getting his hands dirty in the field. He lived without sin but was 100% human. God knew from before Genesis was recorded that His son would die the most brutal of deaths and He sent him. I've been growing my son for 5 1/2 months and I hurt knowing that he will endure pain and suffering someday. There will be pain...heartache, bullying, broken bones, low self esteem....and nothing compares to the blood of Jesus being poured out on Mt Calvary. I am so attached to this boy and I've never even held him in my arms. How humble and gracious our God to give up His only son KNOWING he would die? 
I feel like God uses the 9 months of pregnancy not only to physically grow your baby but to prepare your heart and give you a deeper understanding of the seriousness, powerfulness, faithfulness of His love as our Father. I know that despite how much I love my son, or love Jon, there is someone who loves them stronger, deeper, more true and that someone is God. My short time here on earth I will get to experience just a fraction of the love God feels for us by loving my son. I am sure so many of you new parents, old parents, parents of 6 kiddos can attest to experiencing how God loves us at such a smaller multitude when you look at your babies, young and old. I know I will never love fully like Jesus and I will continue to live in sin but wow am I so grateful that through the journey of parenthood, I get the tiniest glimpse of our Father's great love for us. Jonn 15:13 says there is NO greater love than someone who lays their life down for their friends. I love my son but there is nothing greater than the love Jesus Christ pours out for me and for you. 
Death is broke, He is alive! And we are alive, amen!

I can't go without mentioning how this little guy has totally increased my capacity to love, and yes he is "just a dog". God has such creative ways in showing us how He loves us. 

Hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing, and blessed Easter!