You wouldn’t think that someone who paints the side of her car would hate to be the center of attention.

You wouldn’t think someone who loves thought-filled gifts would tremble at the word, “Shower.”

But the truth is, the idea of an all-out baby shower horrified me.

Although MANY of the dear women in my life made offers and suggestions to throw one in Scooter’s and my honor, I declined.  I did enjoy the SPRINKLE in our honor, last week, as Ellen, and Kelly kept it low-key and my girls so deeply enjoyed the festivities.

But things started to seem a bit weird around here this week.

My dear friend Emily had told me a few weeks back she wanted to take me out to dinner before the baby came.  That part isn’t weird.  She and I enjoy dinners, or desserts, out.  Or shopping evenings.  So her request wasn’t odd in itself.  What WAS a bit strange was her pronouncement that the ONLY good day between now and the due date was Saturday, May 8th.  Not some Tuesday or Wednesday, as we’d normally do.  But a SPECIFIC date. 

I had a dream during the week that she DIDN’T take me to dinner, but instead delivered me to the church where our homeschool group meets for many activities.   It was for a shower for me.  I didn’t like the dream at all.  I told her about the first part on the phone. 

As the week progressed, I admit I was suspicious.  But I didn’t have any GOOD reason, except the dream.  And this prickly feeling I had.  She said we’d go to Longhorn Steakhouse.  She needed red meat. 

Well, when I called her unit on Saturday she wasn’t there.  We both normally work Saturdays.  I found her at home and we chatted for a minute.  She said she’d see me later.  When I got home from work, she was already in my kitchen!  Wow… she’s hungry, I thought.  I received lots of great hugs from my kids.  They were dressed so sloppy.  They looked SO ROUGH!   Daddy lets them wear the WORST play clothes on Saturdays. 

Emily got a phone call and as I headed upstairs to change I thought, “This is so weird.  Could she REALLY be taking me somewhere else?”  I told myself I was mighty narcissistic and to get on with it.  When I got back downstairs, she said we had to stop somewhere for her husband.  What?  That sounds REALLY WEIRD.

We got in the car and I wasn’t at ease.  She seemed stiff.  I asked where we had to stop.  She said her husband left his wallet at church.  WHAT?  Since last Sunday????  No, she said.  He went to Spring Clean Up day at church that day.  “He did?”  I said.  She said so.  I was SO suspicious!!!  I wasn’t letting her off the hook!  I said, “I have a key to the church.  We can go after dinner.  Let’s go eat.”

“Oh.  Let’s just get it over with, now,” she replied.  I stared hard at her, but she didn’t even glance at me.  Part of me wanted to scream, “Let me out, let me out, now.”  The other part of me thought, “You narcissistic fool!”  I prayed, “God please let her just take me for steak.”

She turned toward the church and I couldn’t help but push harder.  It was all surreal but I wasn’t going to let it be painless!  “What did Matt do there?  I thought he laid tile in your bathroom all day.”

“He was only there for an hour or so; he painted a vent or something,” was her answer.  She even hand gestured painting.  A vent or something.

We made small talk.  For the life of me I can’t remember what was said.  My nerves were shot.  As we approached the church I started having palpitations.  I told her so.   As we pulled into the church, I noticed a car or two around the back.  Trying to hide.  She pulled up under the awning.  I grabbed her arm, “No.  I don’t want to do this.  No.  Let’s go.”  She was stiff and told me to get out of the car.  I started to cry.  “NO! NO!” I start mouthing to her as she went in and held the door.  I was still sitting in the car.  I somehow got out and walked in.  She looked as pale as a sheet.  I started really crying.  I saw some balloons up the stairs [the church is a split level] and I turned to her for a hug.  She kept saying, “It’s not what you think.  It’s okay.  It’s okay.”

Lo and behold, there were about 15 friends standing in the coat room, in the dark, waiting to sweetly surprise me.  I guess they did not get the reaction they so deserved.  They got me shaking and crying and wishing the ground would open up and eat me.

I am nuts.

It turned out to be one of THE MOST WONDEFUL EVENTS OF MY LIFE.

It was a PRAYER SHOWER!!!!!

My dear friends Sheri, Darci, and Emily had worked together to make it happen.  Sheri quickly explained it was a Prayer Shower.  That JB was on his way to pray for us for dinner.  Reality hit.  HARD.  “What about the kids?” I asked.  “He’s bringing them,” she replied.  Remember how they were dressed?  S-C-R-A-P-P-Y!  I was like, GOOD.GRIEF.

John and kids came.  And prayed.  His prayer was lovely.  Their appearance was not.  How a guy can be such a good dad and yet bring them out of the house like THAT is beyond me. 

We then dined on the MOST AMAZING MEAL.  My only regret of the whole evening was that I was too full/anxious to eat much. 

After a lovely meal, my friends gathered in a circle of chairs and Sheri explained that each person, and many, many others, had taken the time to prepare a card for a “recipe” book.  The friends there could share a recipe, a prayer, a Bible verse, or warm wishes.  One dear friend wrote a poem.  What was more, is that each person who WANTED to was offered the opportunity to pray for ME.  FOR ME!!!  ME!!!!  And my family and baby.   Each person did.  My friend Rebecca SANG.  Many laid their hands on me as they lifted up our family in prayer.

The truth is… I really haven’t processed the whole evening.

I am not sure I ever will.

I have decided my prayer now is that God would help me to remember and recall what He would have me hold onto, now.   And that He would bring back to me, in His time, that which He would have me recall later.

I know that ever prayer lifted last night went up to Him as incense, and filled His golden bowls.

I am beside myself in AWE that these women would pray for me that way.  That God would see fit to bless me in such an overwhelming way.

Oh boy.  Do I have more and more to say and share.

And I will. 

You have NO idea.

Sadly… almost all my photos are BLURRY.  The ones taken on my camera, I should say.  I didn’t have it together enough to take any myself.

This photo was taken by my friend, Evie, who was also there, but offered to take this shot.  Two other friends who had stopped by with their love and support also did not make the photo.

I was tickled when I got home and began to peruse the book.  There are almost as many cards from friends who could NOT attend, as from those who could.

. 

Aren’t these women BEAUTIFUL?

Aren’t I BLESSED?  BLESSED. BLESSED!

Cake from Coldstone Creamery in Pittsford Plaza. 
Isn’t it GORGEOUS?  See my kids on there?????? 
LOVE IT!!!