Face of Grace

A few weeks ago I was asked to take pictures for a birthday party. I'm not in the birthday party business of taking photos anymore but for this person, I was going to make an exception.

Lauren is someone I have known probably since middle school. We went to the same church for awhile and attended the yearly Gatlinburg youth retreats. She hosted several events at her house where I remember we were amazed she had a indoor tanning bed that everyone wanted! Through Facebook I've been able to keep up with Lauren, and more so since she got married and was pregnant with Fenley having more in common.

Last year I got a text from Lauren while I was at Northpark Mall letting the girls play and having lunch. I'm not a texter so I decided when I left I would just give her a call. Little did I know that phone call was going to have me back to praying for supernatural miracles.Through the tears, Lauren begins to tell me about her pregnancy with her precious son, Wills. My heart broke for her and all I think to do was to pray for her in that moment. So driving down the road with Natalie talking, I'm trying to muster up a prayer, the promises of God. One of the promises being, Malachi 3:10,11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field." "Casting your fruit before its time" refers, of course to a miscarriage. After we hung up all I could do was go home and remember God's word over this pregnancy for Lauren. I knew God didn't give Lauren my name as a contact about just photos, but God knows where my heart stands when having faith in an almighty God.

Lauren went on and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy! Praise the Lord! She did not cast her fruit before its time. I continued to pray for a supernatural miracle, for Wills to be made whole and healthy and to live a long life. Sadly Wills left this earth 15 days after entering. Lauren blogs about her walk with God through this at http://fourbowies.blogspot.com/ if you want to read her journey and read how God is continuing to walk her through this world with a different set of eyes.

So she turned 30 and wanted me to capture this 30th birthday. It was filled with the people she loved and knew her well. They gave wonderful toasts to Lauren's life and shared memories over the years with Lauren. It was wonderful to hear. Lauren thanked everyone and reminded everyone that when she was pregnant she was imaging having her Wills with her on this big 30th birthday. It struck a nerve with me as I was reminded of my lost the pregnancy before Natalie which ended after Christmas and just 2 days before my 26th bday. It is obvious that the joy of the Lord has been Lauren's strength through all of this. Happy 30th Lauren - to many more marvelous years!