Back in 2013, I (Jen) was walking down our street; Avenida 5, in our neighborhood of Larapa, in Cusco, Peru. I can remember that it was sunny outside. I can remember that I was walking in the direction from our house, towards the shops and the main road. Our entire street was a steep decline, from the our house towards the main road. In Cusco, many of the “hills” seemed like mountains to walk up, especially when you are a beach native. I can remember dodging the holes and cracks in the sidewalk, stepping around trash and being careful where I planted my feet. I can also remember being newly pregnant, because the smell of empanadas and someone cooking lunch was overpowering. Then I felt like the small voice of the Holy Spirit say to me, “You will have sons.” “What?! Really? Ok. Wow.” God speaks on ordinary days. I can’t remember anything else out of the ordinary that happened that day, but I remember journaling those words. I hid those words for later.

We were so surprised in January 2014, when we found out Miriam was our first daughter! Now, don’t think for a minute that we were ever “disappointed” in her gender reveal. Years before, in 2010, David and I were newly engaged. God had spoken to both of us, through visions, prophetic words, through the gift of an art piece from a friend at Clemson DCF, and the general desire in our hearts for a daughter.  We just had no idea that God had saved all of those beautiful things for 2014! And He surprised us again in 2016 with Ellenor! He gave us not one, but TWO spectacular,  independent, beautiful daughters! That’s how good my God is…He gives out double portions when you ask!

So this pregnancy, we wanted to find out the baby’s gender, but also be surprised ourselves. At Ellenor’s gender reveal party, I let it slip to some of the guests early…hey, it’s really hard to not say “she” and “her” when you already know who that little person inside you is! So this time, we were sneaky.

The ultrasound tech in my OB’s office was very careful and changed up her wording of “he” and “she” during the scan. She told us to “not read into what she was saying, because she would do baby’s downstairs parts last.” We closed our eyes and she didn’t say anything. When she printed off the ultrasound pictures, she held back the ones that revealed the gender. Then, only Mrs. Beverly, the ultrasound technician, knew what we were having! She gave David the “secret envelope” and my good friend, Jen, met us in the parking lot to pass off the envelope. Then Jen Helmer was entrusted with the job to tell the Harris Teeter balloon guy to fill up the box we gave her with pink or blue balloons, depending on the contents of the envelope. Jen was gone for a few hours, she came back to our house and dropped off the box. We took the box over to my parent’s house and had dinner with them, my brothers and my future sister-in-law. After dinner, we FaceTimed David’s parents and did a Facebook Live video so that our other family members and friends could be a part of the action. Then, Team Carter, ripped into the box and were so surprised when BLUE balloons came out! WE ARE HAVING A BOY! It was such a surprise to not even know beforehand, but everyone, including our girls, are so excited about having a little boy in the house!

My mind went back to that day in Peru when God spoke to me in the quiet. I’m so glad that I can go back and read those words. It was a “future promise” to me and I had just stuck it in a box and put it away on a shelf and forgotten all about it. Until He reminded me that He really does deliver on what He promises. God doesn’t promise you something and take it back. He doesn’t taunt you with the desires of your heart and then snatch it away, leaving you feeling cheated and gullible. (*Sidenote: this is how I feel every time Ellenor offers me one of her Goldfish crackers and then she snatches it away right before I get to eat it out of her hand. She finds it hilarious. I am cheated out of tasty Goldfish.) But that is not Father God’s heart. He loves to give us gifts; gifts that are so unique to each of us, as individuals, because that’s how He created us to be.

It’s like that song, “Yes and Amen,” by Housefires:

“Father of kindness / You have poured out of grace / You brought me out of darkness

We are so thankful for this gift, of our son, who we are naming, Grady David Carter! Grady, is an old, family name from David’s side of the family. David, after his Daddy and his dad. His name means “noble, beloved.” He is going to be full of joy, a gentle warrior, and the perfect addition to Team Carter! We can’t wait to meet you, Grady!!