HOPE

He came five weeks early.

His lungs were not quite ready.

One week NICU.

One week regular hospital baby area.

24 hours to prove I could take care of him (feed him). He is my fourth thankfully, so I could.

Just about six pounds, he was "big" in the NICU.

We made notes we taped atound the inside of his little hospital bassinet the second week.

I had two blue receiving blankets that I kept one with him and one with me when I was not able to be at the hospital with him. Caught lots of tears and lots of prayers.

"You give and take away. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your Name"

Our nurse in NICU was a friend that was a huge comfort at 3/4am.

Our pastor was visiting the hospital and prayed with us.

Another pastor was Chaplain at the hospital and also a friend we knew.

Quite a few mamas shared similiar stories of their premie and how big they were now. No one would ever guess the beginning.

He's 6'2" now. All grown up.

Psalm 71:5-6 was picked out before we knew we were expecting him. In Colorado, before our move to Kansas, God gave two verses for "future Schott children." James and our daughter, Katie. God is faithful!

HOPE--placed in God is a sure thing. Not a wish or a maybe or a might be. Hope in God is an anchor all our life. Our perspective and focus is on God and eternal things. We know God sees from the beginning to the end and we are a part of His amazing plan.

Hope in God... Mama Says!

c. MamaSays 2025

Happy Birthday, James!

I love you!

🌸