Like millions of women in my condition who have gone before, I detest waiting. The suspense, the unknown, the mystery is hard on a Type A personality who enjoys routine, a neat schedule, and babies who never spit up on the way out the door. My husband, however, says that the mystery is solved. When he saw me vacuuming the baseboards and windows, touching up the scuff marks on the walls with paint, and organizing the Legos today, he told me that the wait must be over. I’m obviously “nesting.”

Either that, or I’m obsessive compulsive. (Gulp.) I tried not to think about that as I vacuumed out the oven today and my four-year-old said, “Mom, I don’t think that’s how you’re supposed to do it.”

I even had my husband replace the batteries in the smoke detectors. While hanging and testing the alarms, he said in all seriousness, “Now kids, if you ever hear this loud noise at night [BEEEEEP], that means there’s a fire in the house. We have to get out!”

“Yeah,” I said, “But never mind if it’s during the day.” :eek_wp:

Yes, indeed, our house is almost ready—we can have company, a white-glove inspection… even the fire department can come on over. But Baby Cakes needs to hang on a few minutes, because we still don’t have any diapers—or a name. I try to prioritize, but I’m obviously not always successful.

In life, there are mysteries, hard providences, and unknowns. True, there are fun, hopeful mysteries—like waiting for a baby. Sometimes they are the kind that leave us in wonder of God’s faithfulness—especially when things produce in our favor, and sometimes they are the kind that leave us in awe of His sovereignty—like when we don’t understand His purposes when the way seems difficult. Either way, in joy or in trial, He is always just, always good.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
~Psalm 34:8-9