Today is my granddaughter Jane's first birthday... this post is written especially for her, but anyone else that would like to, is welcome to read it.
In June of 1979, my dad went home to England for the first time since he'd come to America in June of 1962. At the time I was expecting my second baby... Jane's daddy. My mother had asked dad if he would buy a silver baby bracelet, or bangle as the British called it, just in case the baby was a girl. Dad fulfilled moms wishes and brought home a beautiful little bracelet... when my baby boy, Jeffrey, arrived in November, the little silver bracelet was tucked away for safe keeping.
Nearly four years after Jeffrey was born, my third son Jeremy was born, and the bracelet was still kept tucked away for another day.
There where more trips to Britain and more bracelets purchased for other baby girls, but still... my baby girls bracelet was safely kept.
At some point during the years between Jeff's and Jeremy's births, I started to pray for a baby girl. It wasn't in every single prayer, every single day... I just started to mention it. Some time after Jeremy was born, it became more frequent. I was only planning to have one more baby, so as I prayed I gave the Lord some very good reasons why he should send me a daughter. Now, I have to say right here that I.LOVE.MY.SONS but I also wanted the joy of raising a daughter. When I discovered that I was pregnant with my fourth child, I stopped praying for a girl, now I would have to wait and see.
A few months before the birth of the baby, my mother unexpectedly gave me the bracelet. I was caught off guard and it was kind of emotional for me. I took the bracelet home and placed it in a significant spot on my dresser, where it remained until the babies birth.
The night before I was to be induced, I took the bracelet and tucked it safely away. I explained to Mike that if the baby was a girl he was to bring it to the hospital, but if the baby was a boy... the bracelet would remain tucked away.
I will share the story of Ashleigh's birth in another post... but we all know that I took a beautiful baby girl, wearing a silver bracelet on her wrist, home from the hospital. She wore that bracelet almost every day until she grew out of it.
I have kept this bracelet safely tucked away for twenty-three years. I made a decision several years ago, that the bracelet would go to a granddaughter named after Ashleigh. Which brings me to August 2, 2010.
We knew that Jeff and Melissa were going to have a baby girl. They had two names picked out for quite some time, and not long before the birth, they had added a third name. I saw the baby within an hour after her birth, and they were back to the two original names and were un-decided.
I took Miss Avery home with me, and as soon as Mike got home from work we headed back to the hospital to see mommy and sister (as Avery calls her). I called Jeff to ask him what Melissa's room number was and he said, "do you want to know the baby's name?" Of course I did. He simply said, "Jane Ashleigh." I was speechless, in fact, when I finally did speak I said a dorky thing... "I haven't heard that one before." Meaning of course, that they had never mentioned it, and that is because the inspiration came to them after Jane was born. When I got off the phone and I told Mike the babies name... we cried all the way to the hospital.
It's a funny thing, that little silver bracelet. All those years, looking at it, tucking it away, wishing and hoping... and praying (I think it's interesting that the bracelet now belongs to the daughter of the baby it was originally intended for). It really is just a thing... but to me it is a symbol of a righteous desire of my heart, something I had fervently asked for, and that prayer was answered in the way I wanted, and I know it beyond any doubt.
Last year on Jane Ashleigh's blessing day, she was beautiful, dressed in the sweetest white dress with flecks of silver... and on her tiny wrist was the bracelet. My heart was overcome with emotion as I saw it. After she was given her name and a blessing, Melissa turned to me and placed Jane in my arms; as I held her my heart was filled with joy and gratitude... for this beautiful baby girl, and answers to prayers.
In June of 1979, my dad went home to England for the first time since he'd come to America in June of 1962. At the time I was expecting my second baby... Jane's daddy. My mother had asked dad if he would buy a silver baby bracelet, or bangle as the British called it, just in case the baby was a girl. Dad fulfilled moms wishes and brought home a beautiful little bracelet... when my baby boy, Jeffrey, arrived in November, the little silver bracelet was tucked away for safe keeping.
Nearly four years after Jeffrey was born, my third son Jeremy was born, and the bracelet was still kept tucked away for another day.
There where more trips to Britain and more bracelets purchased for other baby girls, but still... my baby girls bracelet was safely kept.
At some point during the years between Jeff's and Jeremy's births, I started to pray for a baby girl. It wasn't in every single prayer, every single day... I just started to mention it. Some time after Jeremy was born, it became more frequent. I was only planning to have one more baby, so as I prayed I gave the Lord some very good reasons why he should send me a daughter. Now, I have to say right here that I.LOVE.MY.SONS but I also wanted the joy of raising a daughter. When I discovered that I was pregnant with my fourth child, I stopped praying for a girl, now I would have to wait and see.
A few months before the birth of the baby, my mother unexpectedly gave me the bracelet. I was caught off guard and it was kind of emotional for me. I took the bracelet home and placed it in a significant spot on my dresser, where it remained until the babies birth.
The night before I was to be induced, I took the bracelet and tucked it safely away. I explained to Mike that if the baby was a girl he was to bring it to the hospital, but if the baby was a boy... the bracelet would remain tucked away.
I will share the story of Ashleigh's birth in another post... but we all know that I took a beautiful baby girl, wearing a silver bracelet on her wrist, home from the hospital. She wore that bracelet almost every day until she grew out of it.
I have kept this bracelet safely tucked away for twenty-three years. I made a decision several years ago, that the bracelet would go to a granddaughter named after Ashleigh. Which brings me to August 2, 2010.
We knew that Jeff and Melissa were going to have a baby girl. They had two names picked out for quite some time, and not long before the birth, they had added a third name. I saw the baby within an hour after her birth, and they were back to the two original names and were un-decided.
I took Miss Avery home with me, and as soon as Mike got home from work we headed back to the hospital to see mommy and sister (as Avery calls her). I called Jeff to ask him what Melissa's room number was and he said, "do you want to know the baby's name?" Of course I did. He simply said, "Jane Ashleigh." I was speechless, in fact, when I finally did speak I said a dorky thing... "I haven't heard that one before." Meaning of course, that they had never mentioned it, and that is because the inspiration came to them after Jane was born. When I got off the phone and I told Mike the babies name... we cried all the way to the hospital.
It's a funny thing, that little silver bracelet. All those years, looking at it, tucking it away, wishing and hoping... and praying (I think it's interesting that the bracelet now belongs to the daughter of the baby it was originally intended for). It really is just a thing... but to me it is a symbol of a righteous desire of my heart, something I had fervently asked for, and that prayer was answered in the way I wanted, and I know it beyond any doubt.
Last year on Jane Ashleigh's blessing day, she was beautiful, dressed in the sweetest white dress with flecks of silver... and on her tiny wrist was the bracelet. My heart was overcome with emotion as I saw it. After she was given her name and a blessing, Melissa turned to me and placed Jane in my arms; as I held her my heart was filled with joy and gratitude... for this beautiful baby girl, and answers to prayers.
Ashleigh Ann
Jane Ashleigh
5 comments:
Beautiful! Now I am speechless!
What a tender post Lesley. I don't know if I ever told you that I had a special feeling and got a little emotional when we discussed the name and knew that is what it was supposed to be. Thank you for that very special bracelet! It means a lot to us and I know Jane Ashleigh will always hold it as a precious treasure.
A very tender moment. :o)
All those memories, one bracelet, two precious girls.
You done good :o)
Very tender story.
I too have a bracelet. It has never been worn by one of my children. It's safely tucked away.
Someday...
I'm crying. I've heard your faith and prayers about praying for a little girl several times. Which is why you were able to give me such grand advice five years ago...
Post a Comment