25 years ago, my little helper, Sarah, (5 at the time) helped me rake for three hours, piling leaves into a huge leaf fort. I was hoping to jump start my labor- since I was 7 days overdue.  All I got were blisters and a backache. 🙂  Out came the heat pad for my back, my feet went up on our ottoman, and we crashed on the couch to watch  a movie. When Jeff got home, we ate dinner, stood up to go take a walk and “surprise”! my water broke!  Three and a half hours later, the Lord (not the stork 🙂 ) brought our third born child into this world.  Noah Jeffrey Barclay.  (gotta get that book of baby pictures back from Noah so I can post a baby pic 🙁 )

Noah means “God’s comfort” or “peace”  and Jeffrey means “good man”.  He was and is exactly that.  Kristin had died a year earlier, and our family felt strangely “off” or “empty” somehow.  Going from four to three is lonely.  And then came Noah.  He made our circle feel stronger somehow.  God knew exactly what we needed- a boy – snips and snails and puppy dog tails- coupled with precious, thoughtful insight, even as a toddler.  I can still see his little eyebrows knitting together trying to figure out the “big picture” in life. 

It was almost like we had two first borns since there was over 5 years between Sarah and Noah.  They got along great (ok- there was a time when maybe they didn’t 🙂 – so they tell me now- but I was joyfully oblivious) I loved how he intentionally organized everything- at Christmas he would line up his presents from biggest to smallest and then say “thank you” and take everything up to his room so nothing would get ruined.  I still remember him singing his favorite hymn with his “wittle” boy voice- When We All Get To Heaven-he’d get to- “what a day of rejoicing that will be- and his smile would only serve to deepen his two dimples .  He was a great big brother and a nurturer- especially to his little sisters- it seems to me the boys wrestled a lot and now Noah and Micah tell me they used to tell Josh he was adopted! Where was I when all these shenanigans were going on???  LOL  Another great memory we have is watching him play soccer and basketball- poetry in motion 🙂

 As I look back over the years, I celebrate God’s faithful work, building Noah into a man yielded to His will, hungry for the Truth, a pursuer of good, a man concerned with justice and mercy.  The Lord blessed him with an amazing life partner- his beautiful wife: Sarah Taylor Barclay. (ok- it does get a little confusing with two Sarah’s but we know who we mean 🙂 ) They serve in their church- Sarah is the worship leader and Noah teaches the Truth Project and they both help with the Youth Group and other outreaches.  He has decided to return to school to get his BS in Biblical Studies and they’re both praying the Lord will lead and guide them in their service to Him.

Recently, (3 months ago) Noah and Sarah became parents to the sweetest little grandbaby boy- Silas Paul-Jeffrey.   All you grandparents out there know what I mean when I say there’s no feeling on earth like this.  To see your children grow, serve God, love their partner, and begin to raise their own family to love and serve the Lord—– it doesn’t get any better than this.  My cup truly runneth over.

And so the family circle stretches and grows, ever increasing and growing to know our Creator and serve Him all of our days.

                                                                                                                                                   (Noah (top/left) Sarah (bottom/left) Silas (right)

Surprising Treasure:  That God would set up this whole parenting- grandparenting- marriage- pass the Truth on and love like you mean it while living authentically in the nitty gritty of life thing!  No paycheck, tons of hard work, but beyond this world rewards!