So I have something to say...

Yes, we are having another baby. Yes, really. Yes, we wanted it. No, we are not crazy. No, I am not being unfair or neglectful to my other children.
For the most part, from the people that really know us and have been involved in our lives, we have gotten some great encouragement...at least to our faces. But there seems to be a few sour apples that feel the need to tell me how wrong we are, and that they are "just concerned for the other children". Thank you for your concern. But since when did we become scared to give our children siblings? Since when did we start teaching our children that the world revolves on them alone and they can't share their airspace with another child?
Since when because we are a "blended" family did that ban us from procreating? Yes, I have two stepchildren. Yes, they have been harder to "learn to love" than my own. Yes, we are still fighting the "oven". Yes, we knew all this when we decided to try for one more. Oh wait, and YES we DID give this to the Lord for many many weeks, praying that if HE feels us fit to do this one more time that HE equip us to handle it in all aspects. and YES, specifically we have prayed for all children involved that this new one again, like Lou, will help us bond and complete our family....that God help them with any emotions they may have from the news. The two that we were concerned about, well their faces lit up and they started talking about what they wanted, a brother this time.
So, why do I feel the need to share this? Because I think it is a SHAME that people don't step out and do things more often that they know GOD has called you to do because "what will people say and/or think?". I don't mean in just having another baby, I mean in everything....telling someone about Jesus, standing up for what's right, homeschooling or not, maybe a big move to another state or country, serving Him no matter what people say. Believe me, we had those thoughts when we started considering another child....but guess what...we don't answer to those people who are trying to steal our joy. I answer to my God and Him alone. If God is for us who can be against us right? God is the Creator and Giver of Life (Gen 1, 2:7), and not surprisingly....the enemy hates life and seeks to destroy it, or stop it from happening. However, the Bible tells me that he made us one in marriage for one reason, "because He seeks Godly offspring". The Bible also tells me that "Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them (sons born in his youth)" and that "children are a REWARD from Him".. Psalm 127.
I strongly resent the implications that I don't take care of or love the children of my heart and that this will only hurt them. There are no favorites here, not in my eyes or my beloved's. Yes, we have all had stumbling blocks in our relationships with each other, and yes, we all have and will again make mistakes. But you please tell me who doesn't. Where are the perfect parents that have the perfect children? Where is the family that doesn't argue, have financial problems, hurt each other's feeling sometimes or step on one another's toes. It's called the real world, and we live in it everyday...problems and all...but the thing is we are not OF this world, we are set apart and try to live live's that honor Him. So when we do face those problems, we pray...we stand...we fight...TOGETHER. To have a victory, you first have to have a battle, and we've faced some doozies. Through them though, we know that God is for us...and we know that "this too shall pass".
So...I've said my peace. WE are HAPPY and YOU can't take that away!!!