Family Brand: Life!

Last week, I began a series on our Family Brand. It is all about the characteristics, or rather "building stones" our family will set its existence on. Granted, it's Jesus... but in Him there are callings to which He's called us to. And this is the journey to setting down the building blocks for our family...

Family Brand Attribute #1: Life

"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."

- Psalms 127:3-5

You know, ever since we announced this unexpected pregnancy, my eyes have been opened to the stand (or lack thereof) society takes on behalf of "big" families and children in general.

See, I have two girls and expecting our first boy.  Biologically, we have one of each, plus my covenant (alternative word for "step") daughter. In society's eyes, our family's complete.  So, the common statement I receive (because it's no longer a question) is, "Awe, your second pregnancy... so you have the pair, a girl and the boy... so that's it, right... You're done!"

Um. Wrong.

photo credit

Since our courtship, Caleb and I have discussed baby names, family ideals and many more foundational ideas for our family and our relationship, but the number of children has never come up.  We've toyed with a number here or there, but truthfully not for more than 15 seconds and not in any real way. My number always seems higher than his, but then again, I think the most serious comment I ever got out of him was... "I'm done at eight. If we're still going after the eighth, I'm closing up shop." [enter a funny sorta "haha" laugh here]

Ha. Ha. My husband's such a jokester.

In all reality though, our family will be done when the Lord decides we've had enough children. We don't know what that'll look like. Enough could very well be after Haven Justice makes his arrival late May/early June.  Then again, we could just be getting started.  At the end of the day, our family desires to be one that stands for life, no matter what it looks like. As we seek to establish values that will make up the "brand" of our family, life is at the very top because Jesus is life.  And He is life more abundantly.  He is the one that establishes the home and blesses the womb.  He is the one who breathes life into little children and brings them, as gifts, into this world.  Because He's very careful and very much aware and thoughtful of these little lives, we want to be to.  Whether we allow the Lord to grant to us a quiver-full-plus household by the very fruit of our womb, we will stand for life.  Whether it's by consistently praying for our friends who haven't been able to conceive life due to some unexplained medical reason, our family will stand for life.  Whether it's by making the statement that life begins at conception and any attempt to rid oneself of such life is murder-- we will stand for life. Whether it's by adopting and taking in a child whose parents chose life but are unable to care for them-- our family will choose life.

No matter what the circumstance, no matter the cost, the demand for the sacrifice... Our family will choose life. And by the leading of the Holy Spirit, this is the very first stone of our family's brand.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

- Jesus in John 10:10

Our Family Brand

I was sitting in the prayer room, in my very worn and very well-known chair. It wasn't my typical day to be there, but I needed to be there nonetheless. The prayer focus is on families, and I begin to really press into His presence and pray for the amazing little gift God has given to me-- these three little blessings and my insanely amazing husband.

Then, I begin to feel His Spirit speak to my heart and He starts to tell me all about our "Family Brand." A brand is a mark made by burning or otherwise to indicate kind, grade, make or ownership. Because of the amazing gift that my family has been to me, I am committed to ensuring that everything our family indicates points straight to the One who has made and who owns our family and everything it's about.  I want our family brand to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ and the order He has ordained perfectly for our family. I want the Arrazolo's way-of-life to show off who He is... And I want you to join me.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be on a journey to figure out exactly what our Family Brand is and I'll be sharing it with ya'll along the way. My prayer for you is that you will seek Him out too and that you will know what your Family Brand is and what it's all about...