One beautiful nephew, and one amazing sister

Shelly, Isaac, David and new brother Luke Nathanael

Proud sister Abigail and Luke





I have had people tell me, "Amber, you don't have to 'be' Shelly. Be yourself.'" Even though they admire her, they have wanted to make sure I didn't feel pressured to "be" her.

Well, I halfway agree with that statement.

Let me explain.

Shelly is my beautiful, sweet, honest, strong, God-fearing, Proverbs 31 sister in law and sister in Christ.

Shelly and I have known each other for let's see...about four years now - about as long as Justin and I have known each other, because we met shortly after Justin and I met.

When I met her, I knew she was special. I had never met anyone quite like her. She didn't wear as much make up as me, and she was quiet, and sweet, and she wanted to have LOTS of children. That's about the extent of what I knew.

She had three children at the time - Isaac, Abigail, and Andrew. Andrew was the youngest, and I fell in love with him, because he looked just like Justin in all of his baby pictures! Abigail was a bit older, and the sweet, innocent girl of the family, and I immediately was drawn to her because of her sweetness. And Isaac was the oldest, and the funniest. He literally lives up to his name - it means, "laughter".

Shelly and I took a bit of time getting to know each other, - I think, simply because we're different in a lot of ways. And I think that she would agree with me on this one. She really was not so much of a diva as I am! She didn't take an hour in the morning to prep herself every day before she sees others. She didn't have the time! :) She didn't ever watch t.v. She preferred wearing brown over pink any day, and me? Well...I like bright colors.

Instead, she spent her days getting her children up out of bed, teaching them about the Lord along with their abc's, and making them a good dinner each night. She has a diabetic son, so she has to take extra care of him and make sure his bloodsugar is okay each day, as well.

And at the time, even though she only had three, she expressed a desire to have "as many children as the Lord would bless her with."

Well, I came into marriage with Justin feeling a bit differently about the whole children thing.
I wanted one, maybe two children, to "spoil" and to "give a good life to."

But I have grown to appreciate Shelly's view on childbearing more and more over time, because I have gotten to know Shelly more and more over time.

I feel now, like she is really my sister.

I can honestly say I have watched her get up every day, and give it her all, with four beautiful children. She's not a complainer. One by one all of the kids got the stomach bug this year right before she went into the hospital to deliver her fifth, and she didn't complain once.

I was in awe of her strength, too, when she asked me to come into the delivery room with her and be by her side for a while during labor, and she hardly made a sound.

Shelly had never even had any maternity pictures done until this fifth baby, while I took one of myself almost every week during my first pregnancy!

She's truly not high maintenance...unlike me!

But I think that's one of the reasons we get along so well.

And it's one of the reasons I admire her so much, and wouldn't mind being like her at all.

She gives life her all.

She's told me that each baby she has is for the glory of the Lord, and another person for the Lord's kingdom. I truly believe that I will see each of her children in heaven one day, as a result of Shelly's faith, and her love for the Lord.

So, I wouldn't mind being like my sister. In fact, I aspire to be like her.

Now, I'm not sure if my body is physically capable of producing five (or more) children at this point, seeing that I'll be 31 at the end of next month.

Stranger things have happened I guess.

But I want to be like my older sister.

I am in awe of her faith after seeing her live it out each day, with each child she has.

This last one, Luke Nathanael, is another beautiful gift from God, and I thank the Lord for him.

Thank you, Shelly, for allowing Jesus to use you. You amaze me, and I love you!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1