REMI'S BIRTH STORY

Nine whole days of Remi Brooke (麗美). Today while it’s fresh on my mind and our dear friend is on a date with the older kids, I will share the beginning of her story. It begins where Ella’s birth story left off, the day after her birth when Aaron lightheartedly said “I want two more.” Growing up I had always said that if God wills it I’d love to have a little boy then two girls. However, throughout my second pregnancy, we spoke as if this was the last and I approached everything with that in mind. After a whirlwind of birth and bouts of postpartum depression and anxiety, I vowed I wouldn't ever do that again. Because if I did, would my body and mind crumble? Fast forward to the beginning of 2021, we were three months into settling into our new home in Japan and the conversation began again. What about having another? What if it would be different? So I pressed into the prodding from my husband and the Lord. My heart was challenged and the sacrifice it’d be physically, emotionally, and time-wise I knew would be A LOT, especially while in a new land. But then Jesus entered the conversation as He enjoys doing. He shared His thoughts and insights. In the famous Psalm 23, it says, “ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” He immediately reassured me that one, He makes me lie down in green pastures and beside quiet waters. And two, even WHEN I walk in the valley He will come in with comfort, sustenance to sustain me at His table, and my cup will pour out from His overflow. I knew at this moment, my fears had to bow to His truths. He asked me questions like “What if it’s different this time? What if your next child is peaceful and I’m leading you beside quiet waters? What if it’s not, would you still follow my lead and let me be present with you in the valley? What have you already overcome?” Even when I didn’t know who she was yet, I knew He was saying she’d be a person that embodies His peace and beauty. With this in mind, I gave Him my yes and we began trying. Three months into pregnancy after facing some of the hardest sickest weeks of my life, I finally felt well enough to get out of the house and have family time. During our outing we had another curve ball come when I began profusely bleeding in an arcade. I rushed to the nearest restroom as blood fell to the floor and ended up on the basement floor of a pachinko parlor filled with smoke and wept in the bathroom. Our team began praying and Liam looked at me as he accessed the situation and said, “I have an idea mom, what if Holy Spirit comes?!” and we prayed for Him to come. The time that followed felt like forever as we waited for an ambulance to make its way to Shibuya crossing to pick me up. Ella held my hand and was emotional and processed that moment for months after. Being in an ambulance alone with no idea what they were asking or saying in Japanese was scary. Once arriving at the dr we found her heartbeat and a blood clot in my uterus that had burst. Such relief rushed over me and Aaron soon arrived at the dr to meet me and hear the news. A few weeks later, before I found out her gender, I had a dream of Ella where she was older and was walking hand in hand with a little sister. I heard the phrase, “I’m giving you a bell.” In the highs and lows of pregnancy, His truth spoke of who He was creating in my womb. She will be a woman of peace, beauty, and will also boldly and loudly proclaim His freedom and truth across this land. Birthing her here in our new home feels incredibly significant and sacred. 

Nine whole days of Remi Brooke. Today we see her on the other side, one year later after His prodding and questions, after a sacrifice and scares in pregnancy and we have a healthy new life made in the image of Him. Remi (beauty) Brooke (peace), we have seen just the beginning of both of those things in my delivery and her.

February fifteenth of two thousand twenty-two she came in the peace of our Japanese home in Higashikurume, Tokyo, Japan. My contractions began at 2:30 am, on the day of hitting 38 weeks. Our Japanese midwife (助産師) figured with it being our third birth and the last being just 3 hours that I’d have her rather quickly. The weeks leading up we began praying and welcoming her to come with prophetic songs and dreaming with the Lord of what we wanted her birth to be. Ever since I was young I dreamt of supernatural birth. The two things I kept feeling was she’d come delivered by the Prince of Peace and in a place of worship. My delivery being my offering and sacrifice, my yes. Worshipping and thanking Him in each contraction and moments between. Around 3:45 am, my midwife came and the tatami room was set for her to arrive with our worship music playing softly in the background. My midwife checked my progress and I was at 5cm. Soon my contractions began to slow down and we just continued to rest and worship. I kept coming back to the song “Thank You” by Upperroom. 

“I thank you for all that You've done

I thank You for all that You do

I thank you for all that You've done

And all that is to come, all that is to come.”

I knew that this labor would be a time of surrender to what He had and my strength was going to be found in keeping thankfulness on my lips. With contractions now 10-15 minutes apart but still stronger pressure with each new one, I’d lean into my birth ball and in my mind thank Him for each new wave and her birth coming with peace. My midwife soon left being unsure if I was in active labor and things picked up again. Our kids woke up at 4:30 am probably aware that something significant was taking place and around 6 am our friend arrived to be with them. Ella, two years old, kept sharing with me the weeks leading up that “I will be by your side all night and take care of you. I promise.” but then the day before while sitting at the dinner table blurted out, “Mommy, birth is too scary for me. Daddy will be with and I will play with Mrs. Lorelei.” So playing is what they did and fun dates to the coffee and park. (If you read this Lorelei, thank you so much for caring for our kids during my birth and times after!!! So special having you there to pray during labor and be one of the first people to meet her!) Around 10 am we made the call to have everyone go home and labor alone for a while since my contractions weren't consistent enough but still confident she’d arrive at some point that day and right on time. While the kids rested Aaron led us in worship on the guitar (my favorite part!) By 1:30 pm the contractions were finally five minutes apart, about an hour later, my midwife decided to come again… and guess what.. they slowed down AGAIN back to 10-15 minutes apart. I couldn’t believe it but felt thankful for the breaks that allowed me to stay in a place of worship and peace in my mind. She checked and I was at 8-9cm but my body wasn't ready to push. Lorelei came back to be with the kids for the afternoon and on it went. Finally, around 6 pm they grew much stronger and the secondary midwife arrived along with the midwife from church who offered to translate. With every contraction, Aaron would speak God’s truth over me that He was delivering her in peace and my midwives would do counter pressure and massage me. The level of attentiveness was amazing. Somewhere around 7 pm (I wasn't looking at clocks!) my water broke and pushing began. By this point, my legs and hips felt weary from leaning on them and into Aaron. The pain began as I started to push but there were two pushes that I felt no pain in and I felt Jesus lock eyes on me and showed me leading her down. I won’t lie though, it got intense at the end and my body felt incredibly tired. While pushing I even yelled out accidentally in Japanese “痛いよう” meaning “this is painful” and we all laughed. Luckily in no time, with my midwife doing counter pressure, and a few pushes she came out, and WITH NO TEAR! This felt like a huge victory as in previous births I had longer recoveries from that area and in Ella’s labor, it was a huge fear point for me. At 7:10 pm on 2/15/2022 (Tokyo Time) out came Remi Brooke, 3,360grams (7.4lbs) and 49cm long! Moments after Aaron brought the kids down to meet her and the giddiness and uncertainty on their faces are looks I’ll never forget. Liam’s first words were “wow, she is so pretty” and Ella asks “Daddy, can I sit on your lap so I can see her?” because she wants to see her but not get too close. Watching the kids love on her has to be the best part. Her first week of life has been so peaceful and my body has felt incredible. She’s my first baby without colic or hours of screaming. He is so faithful and I can’t wait to see who she becomes as she shines His beauty and peace in Japan, our home, and family. 

Psalm 27:4 

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

(In Japanese the word for beauty here has the same れ as Remi) 

Remi when you read this one day I want you to know that we love you and we believe you will be a worshipper who gazes upon His beauty in the temple all the days of your life. You are a carrier of His peace and beauty and will be a bell of His truth in this nation you were delivered in and to the ends of the earth. You are worth every sacrifice and I’d give Jesus my yes all over again to get this time to know and love you. Love you much, Mama.