A Baby Shower...

Digging into community in Madison has been really hard for Nick and I over the last seven months. Fortunately, we were blessed quickly with a small group through the church that our pastor in Roanoke recommended. Relationships have developed slowly as we are the only couple with a small child and our common times for being together do not overlap well. However...we are all transplants to Madison, experiencing a great deal of transition, and struggling through some events in the church that we were a part of that have been very painful for our pastor and community. That, in and of itself, has provided a mutual understanding of life that makes it worth it to persist in finding time together.

That said, it was more than a little amazing to me when they decided to throw a dinner party and couples baby shower for Nick and I. I know it isn't always common to have a shower for a second child, but I have very much missed having opportunities to really celebrate this little girl. This was an answer to a silent prayer of my heart!

Not so surprising was the wonderful time we shared together. Not everyone was able to make it, but for those of us gathered it was genuinely a wonderful celebration of friendship. Leaving that evening I felt a mixture of excitement and sadness, knowing that our group won't be together a whole lot longer.

Consequently, because it was a couples shower we had hoped to leave Noah with a babysitter and have the evening together. It did not work out, and I'm so glad. He slept 3 1/2 hours that afternoon, and was full of charm and delight long into the evening. We enjoyed celebrating with our son, as much as with our friends, and are so grateful for the way everyone pitched in to help keep him safe and entertained.