God Watches Over Baby Lawrence

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” ~ Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

“Our baby is due August 20^th,” Jenn and Brian told us last spring. We were excited, of course! We made plans to fly to Minnesota in mid-September to help them and meet our new, and eighth, grandchild.

Meanwhile, I was planning a trip to celebrate my sister Karen’s 70^th birthday. We agreed to celebrate three hours from Minneapolis so I could visit Jenn and her family, too. We settled on the weekend of July 28^th, my brother Jim’s 75^th birthday. I began coordinating with Jenn, Karen, and Jim while considering dates and flights. I chose a flight on July 17^th. And then Brian was invited to a July wedding in Florida. Even this fit the plans for when we would be together in Minnesota. We began counting the days.

In Proverbs 16:3 we read, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” That is, if we submit our plans to the Lord, we see God’s deeper purpose when these plans take a different turn.

On the evening of July 6^th, I felt achy. The next morning, I stared at a little red line. I had tested positive for my first case of COVID-19. Mike also caught it several days later. As my flight for the 17^th approached, I was still coughing, sneezing, and testing positive. I rescheduled for the 19^th. My symptoms were mild, but I didn’t want to be around Jenn with COVID while she was pregnant. I tested fine on the 18^th.

I was ready early the next day and checked the headlines: “Outage Knocks Out Systems for Airlines and Hospitals in Chaotic Day.” The airport wasn’t crazy like I thought it might be, and my flight left on time. In Baltimore, I checked my watch often as another hour added to my layover. God brought me through the tech storm. Jenn picked me up in Minneapolis. We went straight to her baby shower, arriving only 15 minutes late. Jenn’s friends remembered their Zoom COVID baby shower for Kent. They were determined to celebrate Jenn and her new baby. I enjoyed hearing how these women had met Jenn and how much they appreciated her.

Because Jenn and Brian needed to work, I had planned to help them prepare for their second child. I shopped and cleaned. On the weekends and at night, we relaxed and played with four-year-old Kent.

On the afternoon of July 23^rd, Jenn didn’t feel good. She thought she was having false labor.

I woke up when I heard Jenn at 3 AM. Brian and Jenn had trouble reaching the midwife. After 6:00, Brian was gathering things together to head to the hospital. Within 20 minutes of arriving, they welcomed Lawrence Henry into our world.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”~ Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV)

“Lawrence Henry” is named after my dad, Henry Larson. Lars is the Norwegian form of Lawrence. (Brian and Jenn found many other connections for his name. It would take another post to explain these.)

“The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” ~ Psalm 33:11 (ESV)

All our careful planning did not foresee the day Lawrence would be born and that I would be in Minnesota for ten days to help. His lungs were immature and needed the care of a dedicated medical team. Tubes brought oxygen to our little preemie’s lungs and breast milk to his tummy. Lawrence spent nine days in the NICU.

We marveled that God arranged for me to be in the right place at the right time. (This is also the first grandbaby where I could be at the birth!)

I could have celebrated Karen’s birthday in California in February. If so, I would not have even been in Minneapolis in July. In the final plan, I was supposed to join Jim and Karen on the afternoon of the 24^th. Brian was supposed to fly out for a wedding on the 27^th. If Lawrence had arrived three days later than he did, Brian and I would have been out of state. Early on July 24^th, Brian and I canceled our trips.

Lawrence came quickly, but Nana was there so Brian and Jenn could leave Kent with me and head to the hospital. When it was time for Kent to wake up, Brian came home and told Kent he was a big brother. Kent’s eyes grew wide.

“But it’s not August,” he puzzled. God had other plans.

The day before my flight home, my family drove six hours round trip so we could still celebrate birthdays. And we now had a third birthday to celebrate, too.

We still uncover little details that God foreknew for us. The hospital did not have any technical issues.

One of my possible itineraries was to fly home on the same day as Hurricane Debby’s landfall. I’m grateful I missed the airport delays that storm caused!

Mike and I look forward to our September trip to help in any way we can. Mike is eager to meet our new little grandson. We’re very grateful to God for His care for little Lawrence.

God showed up in so many ways. We wanted to share part of this remarkable story with you.

NOTES:

• Watch a Facebook video of Kent with Lawrence on the day Lawrence was coming home.
• Give securely to Mike and Sus at give.cru.org/0124650