Our family "The Black Family" has changed dramatically in the last 3 years.
This change had nothing to do with Fred and I moving house or country or the children moving.
This change all took place here in Northern Ireland.
Our son Daniel told us he had met a girl.
Nothing unusual there as he has met and dated a few girls but usually we did not meet them within 4 months; if we met them at all.
He was telling us that Suzie was going to join us for lunch at the restaurant in Belfast where all of us were going to meet him.
Poor Suzie to have to meet us all together like that.
So that was the start of what we knew was likely to be a good relationship.
Then about a year later we were not surprised when Daniel came to tell Fred & I that he was going to get engaged on Suzie's birthday in April but we had to help him in the surprise.
We were delighted to help.
Suzie's parents were happy too.
Her dad had already named one of his lambs after Daniel.
So of course after an engagement we expected a wedding to be thought about and a date decided and plans started to be put together and well that could take a year or more depending on what type of wedding etc.
No!
One month later they tell us they want to get married at the end of October that same year - 5 months away.
Things are moving fast!
In the Run Up to the Wedding.
As October approaches everything is getting organised - even my problem of What will I wear???
Because they wanted to do a lot of the preparation themselves it became a very busy time for the excited couple.
And then the day had arrived and what a happy day it was.
This was so very true it was the best day of their lives - so far.
We had a newly married couple settling into a new home, starting a new life together and working hard at their jobs.
Over a year later Fred & I got a special visit and a present for each of us.
Now what special occasion is this one?
Not Christmas.
Not our wedding anniversary,
Not either of our birthdays.
But a very special occasion for all "The Black Family" again.
The announcement that we were going to become grandparents.
Then we had all those long months to wait to welcome our first grandchild
Matthew
into the world
on
Monday 2nd November 2015.
Now there is another beautiful addition to "The Black Family"
He is such a Blessing to have in our family.
Matthew is now 16 days old and one of the "Black Family Boys"
So from engagement to wedding and then a new baby means that the Black family went from 5 to 7 in less than 3 years and nothing but smiles on our faces.
What joy to have welcomed two new members of the family and happy days to be shared together.
We are thankful to God for these blessings.
We often only know how great things are as we experience them and that is another joy God has given us in our lives.
In October 2013 Daniel and Suzie thought their wedding Day was the "Best Day of their Big Black Lives".
Now in November 2015 they know that the miracle of the birth of their son was the
"Best Day of their Big Black Lives"
This is a great example of how God is never finished with our lives
and
even when we think we've had the biggest blessing
He can give us more!