The Arrival of Lily Grace

It is with great joy that we announce the birth of our daughter Lily Grace Shoemaker.  We welcomed her into our little family just over two weeks ago.  She weighed in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long.  Labor and delivery went smoothly, and both Laura and Lily are healthy and happy.  Laura did an incredible job and I am so proud of her.  We are thankful for God's blessings in all aspects of the process from pregnancy through birth and the precious days since.  He has given us a very wonderful gift!

I may be a biased father, but I think that our Lily is the most beautiful little thing I have ever seen.  We chose Lily's name because of Jesus's words in Matthew 6 which remind us that there is more to life than what we see in this world, that what he gives us is far greater and more valuable than what we can create ourselves, and of our need to trust in God for provision and seek him above all things.  Her middle name, Grace, is a reminder of how God demonstrates his love for us in such amazing ways.
    

Love, Andy, Laura, and Lily

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air:  they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, 
for tomorrow will be anxious for itself."

Matthew 6:25-34, ESV