"Excuse me if I get a little Giddy or maybe even strange"---- It's Father's Day

"Tomorrow is Father’s Day! I am so very happy because this Father’s Day is so much different than any I’ve experienced in the past for this in fact is my first Father’s Day as a real life dad. Yes, as a Pastor, I’ve always received messages, cards, and even gifts on Father’s Day simply because of the calling over my life, but this one is totally different since we are actual parents…Look where God has brought us from. So if I’m a little giddy, can’t stop smiling, or overwhelmingly emotional tomorrow, please let me have that time, because guess what…..my baby’s having a baby, and I’m a daddy!!!! ‪#‎BraylensDaddy‬"--- Facebook Status of Jarrett Washington

I read his status on last evening and my heart melted.  I recall Father's Day 2012 as if it were yesterday. My father was delivering the Father's Day message at the first church we were assigned to. As my husband got up to introduce him, he thanked my father for being an amazing father in love and a few other sentimental words. He then said words that I've never forgotten. He said, "I'm wishing the Ole Man and all the other father's an amazing Father's Day. I may not be one this Father's Day but next Father's Day I will be a father!"  That was four years ago. During our fertility journey my husband never gave up on remembering God's promise to him. 

For years I've seen him wear homemade Dr. Suess hats reading to kindergarten students, cheering at football games, helping with essays, teaching boys how to tie a tie and even allowing our godson to have our home as a haven with no rules... sliding down banisters and even saying yes to him when his parents said no. Last summer I witnessed him cry at the airport when he saw one of the youth from our church off to California not knowing when she would return. I've witnessed him stand with a little boy at Easter who forgot part of his speech to give him support. I've seen him hold my hands and felt him dry my tears as we waited for God to expand our family and I saw how he fell apart on April 17 and again on September 25 when we received the news that our fertility treatments didn't work. That was then..... This is now. If you TRULY knew our story you would understand our celebration and praise. 

A few weeks ago at one of our baby showers everyone witnessed the joy that he felt of being a dad when he promised to only open one of the many gifts we received because there was an abundance of gifts and blessings. Instead of opening one gift......let's just say my husband enjoyed himself and rightfully so. He opened every gift that was presented. 

I have a few tricks up my sleeves today as I celebrate my husband on his first of many Father's Day. As I turn 36 weeks today, time is winding down and he will have lots of work to put in.... lol! I'm so grateful that God has blessed my husband and I to truly celebrate our own Father's Day. He deserves it! He was faithful over the few things and God is blessing him with his own. This was no easy journey and the road was far from smooth and easy but look how God has moved. My husband is going to be a daddy............ He is a daddy. He's our furbaby Jaxson's human daddy and Braylen's daddy. If you see my husband is giddy today, please praise and celebrate with him!

Happy Father's Day Jarrett Britton Washington!

Scripture: Psalm 127: 3-5 "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court"

The Secret Is Out!

After waiting close to two months we couldn't wait to tell everyone we were pregnant. We found creative ways to tell everyone via Christmas shirts with their new names on the back, i.e. "Aunt Ty, Uncle CJ, Big Cousin, etc. We also called close family and friends telling them we had Christmas gifts for them but it wouldn't be ready until July. The stunned faces, the squeals over the phone, the tears, and even the speaking in tongues were priceless! We told mostly everyone the day after Christmas but we told our family on our Family Christmas cruise or in person before we left for the cruise. Many people on our annual Christmas Card list were texting and phoning us wondering had we forgotten about them. We were simply waiting until we were 3 months pregnant and the New Year to make an official surprise announcement. We sent out an "Extra Blessed in 2016" card to announce in the New Year that Baby Washington would be arriving.

The joy we felt telling people of our promise was indescribable. I surprised my husband one day at work by sending him a video that I had begun compiling of our story. I didn't realize how much I had "written" of our story via pictures and journaling until this time. I wasn't sure when or how I would release it to the masses but I was determined to not allow my fear to hinder my transparency. We just didn't get pregnant by accident or happenstance. God opened my womb to a blessing. After 3 failed fertility treatments used to build our testimony, God did what only He could.

After sharing our testimony with our family, friends and church family we were ready to tell others.

We released our video story on social media a few minutes after the New Year. (Shout out to Rev. Herbert and Kelli Jenkins for telling us they already knew but were waiting on us to tell them! Lol) I guess everyone was on FaceBook that night because between the hours of 1am and 2pm on January 1, the video received over a thousand likes and I received numerous inbox messages from people also experiencing difficulties expanding their families. I didn't realize what was created to announce our pregnancy would be so beneficial to others.  I never thought in a million years that us sharing our story would bless so many when I was simply writing to heal from the years of disappointment and hurt.

Click Picture below to view video of our story.

Click Picture below for Video of  Our Testimony shared with Hopewell AME Church

Well the Secret is out!!  No it's not that we are pregnant because you knew that before reading this blog. The secret is -----God Did it!! While we were crying, praying, fasting and waiting, God was weaving an intricate pattern so delicately like only He could. As I think about this story I have a better understanding of how good He is. The Secret is Out that we never lost our faith! The Secret Is Out of how God can do exceedingly above all that we ask or think. The Secret is Out that for the last 3 years Jarrett and Deronda Washington have been facing some challenges but they made it through. The Secret is Out that I am not ashamed of my testimony! There is nothing I would trade for my journey.  THE SECRET IS OUT!!