the blog
Camille Liana
by kristen
May 6, 2010 | Life | 4 responses
It happened almost exactly as I hoped it would. At just after 11:00 pm on Monday, April 19, I got the call from my mom—my sister was in labor. An hour later, with a suitcase full of clothes I don’t remember packing, I hurried into my car and drove nine hours to Carmel, Indiana, high on adrenaline that would fail me just two hours into the trip. On the way, I called Southwest Airlines three times to change my flights for a work trip to Tampa, stopped four times for various kinds of caffeine, and blared the Glee soundtrack again and again when the 5-Hour Energy I had taken somewhere in central Missouri began to wear off as the sun came up.
Every hour or so, a member of my family called to update me and to be sure I stayed awake. I even got a call from my dear sister—the one in labor—who was worried about me driving all night.
In eastern Illinois, my oldest sister Tricia called me with an important update; the doctor had just gone into Staci’s room. My niece was coming. And I wasn’t even in Indiana yet. Heartbroken for just a moment, I knew I could do nothing but keep driving. Tricia stayed on the phone with me and updated me as best she could from her spot right outside Staci’s room. My heart pounded as I waited.
Finally, I heard, “Kristen, I hear her crying.” And my tears came instantly—and continued for several minutes—as my disappointment at not being there was replaced immediately by indescribable joy at this new life. After so much sorrow, my sister and brother-in-law had a daughter. My silent anxiety throughout my sister’s pregnancy had become peace.
I met and instantly loved Camille Liana (which in Hebrew means “my God has answered”), giving up sleep to hold her for hours as she slept peacefully in my arms.
God has truly “turned [our] wailing into dancing” (Psalm 30:11). How has God turned your sorrow into joy? Your hopelessness into happiness? Your anxiety into peace?
photo courtesy: http://lexiphoto.blogspot.com
I love it ! :0)
1. Beautiful blog. Absolutely well written. My heart FELT your words while I read them.
2. God has replaced my anxiety with peace as I trust Him in a dating relationship. It's been a serious overhaul when it comes to trusting His daily plans versus giving in to my own fears and emotions!
3. Sorrow to joy? Definitely experienced when I hold little Camille in my arms and look at that sweet little face. Oh how "God has answered." Mightily!
Beautiful! Love this post Auntie Kristen!
Kristin, you have such a gift with the written word. I had a rush of tears just reading it!!!