Happy Birthday Hosanna!
Where do I even begin to describe Hosanna and what she brings to our family? Here in Senegal she is called Mymouna and she is quite the celebrity in Diouloulou. In the village most people know of our family, but everybody knows Mymouna. After all, it is not every day that a cute, blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl ditty-bops through a village in rural Africa.
Today we celebrate the sixth birthday of Hosanna. I remember well coming home from a short term mission trip to Senegal in December of 2006. The day after I returned Gayle sat me down and said, "I think that I might be pregnant." I thought, "No way. There is no way that you are pregnant." But the next day, after at least two pregnancy tests, this fact was confirmed: Gayle was indeed pregnant. She fell on the bed and began to cry and I began to laugh (I think in an attempt to keep from joining her in crying).
It wasn't that we were sad; it was more that we were shocked. We were not planning to have another child. Gayle was 41, we did not have maternity coverage on our insurance, and we were not sure that we were ready for an infant in the house. It was just not in our plan. But the shock was short lived as we began to get more and more excited about the thought of having another child.
We had never been very good at picking out and agreeing upon girl's names and we reached our usual baby naming gridlock until Thea (who was 4 at the time) suggested that we name her little sister Hosanna. And we loved the name. Hosanna means "God save us!" It is really a prayer and a plea for God to save and to rescue His people. We chose Grace for her middle name because at this time in our life and ministry God was teaching us a great deal about His abundant grace for His people.
I cannot even begin to express what joy Hosanna has brought to the life of our family and the heart of her father. We have often said, "What did we do for fun before God gave us Hosanna to entertain us?" Sometimes God's greatest gifts come at first as a shock, but soon after are seen as nothing more than pure grace. In this case, Hosanna Grace. Happy 6th birthday Hosanna!
Today we celebrate the sixth birthday of Hosanna. I remember well coming home from a short term mission trip to Senegal in December of 2006. The day after I returned Gayle sat me down and said, "I think that I might be pregnant." I thought, "No way. There is no way that you are pregnant." But the next day, after at least two pregnancy tests, this fact was confirmed: Gayle was indeed pregnant. She fell on the bed and began to cry and I began to laugh (I think in an attempt to keep from joining her in crying). 
We had never been very good at picking out and agreeing upon girl's names and we reached our usual baby naming gridlock until Thea (who was 4 at the time) suggested that we name her little sister Hosanna. And we loved the name. Hosanna means "God save us!" It is really a prayer and a plea for God to save and to rescue His people. We chose Grace for her middle name because at this time in our life and ministry God was teaching us a great deal about His abundant grace for His people. 
I cannot even begin to express what joy Hosanna has brought to the life of our family and the heart of her father. We have often said, "What did we do for fun before God gave us Hosanna to entertain us?" Sometimes God's greatest gifts come at first as a shock, but soon after are seen as nothing more than pure grace. In this case, Hosanna Grace. Happy 6th birthday Hosanna! 
Happy Birthday Hosanna. I remember when she was born. It was during the Jerome County Fair and we had been at the fair booth handing out bibles. We look at God's plan and think "really???". In the end, God's plans are ALWAYS best for his people. Love you all.
ReplyDeleteOh Thank you for such a beautiful post. I do not know your family but what a blessing to read of God's Saving Grace for not only your family but for the people of Senegal. I will left Hosanna and your family up before before the throne of the Almighty. Happy Birthday Hosanna.
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