He Saw Us

6.12.2015


I'm going to tell you a story.

After reading this, some of you might be inclined to say something like, "Wow! That's such an awesome coincidence! What a small world, huh."

So I'll just put all my cards on the table now: there is nothing you could say that would convince me that what happened was not a real-life miracle from God. I realize that might sound insane, and I know not all of you are going to agree, but there it is.

Now then.

Last weekend, Jordan and I were in the Bahamas. Surprise! I told no one (at least not online) about this, so you might very well be shocked right now. Honestly, I am shocked as well. That place is unreal, and we spent most of our time wandering around going, "Is this real life?" Because Atlantis is kind of like a fairytale. I'll share a full recap with pictures (and a video!) later, but this story can't wait.

Our trip was very short. We arrived late Saturday night and left Tuesday mid-morning, so we really only had 3 nights and 2 days in Atlantis. I am 30 weeks pregnant, as you know, but I had a doctor's appointment the previous Thursday, and she cleared me to travel. It was reassuring to have that confirmation, but I won't lie: I felt pretty anxious about not only traveling but traveling outside the country.

In case you didn't know, it's hot in the Bahamas. 

I drink a ton of water usually, but with the cabin pressure changes from flying all day and being closer to the equator plus just the extreme amount of walking we did, I think I extended myself just a bit too far on Sunday.

We went back to our hotel room around 5:00 to lie down and get out of the sun for a bit. Around 5:45, I had a contraction. It wasn't a big deal, since I've been having Braxton Hicks since around week 23. But then I had another one not too far after the first, which had never happened before, so I asked Jordan to start timing.

I had 12 very hard contractions in one hour. They weren't exactly painful, but they were really uncomfortable, and they just kept coming. Needless to say, we were Freaking Out. We prayed about it and asked God to watch over us and protect us. 

Then we started Googling. Everything Jordan read online said anything more than 4-5 contractions an hour meant that you needed to call your doctor immediately. A call to the US costs like $4 a minute, so we sat there trying to decide if we should call a US hospital or just call a taxi from Atlantis and head to a Bahamian hospital. I wasn't having any fluids leaking or really a ton of actual pain, but still we were concerned and when it comes to pregnancy it's better to be safe than sorry.

Jordan kept Googling things, and we learned that contractions can be triggered by dehydration, so I started chugging water like I was in a desert and dying of thirst. I drank 4 20-oz water bottles over the next hour while Jordan and I kept timing contractions and freaking out. 

The second hour was better--only 5 contractions, and they were not quite as hard as the previous. We felt slightly better but still not awesome, and we felt very alone seeing as how we couldn't just call our moms (or anyone, for that matter) for advice.

After 2.5 hours, we decided we needed to get out of the hotel room for some air and to just get our mind off waiting for contractions to come. (Google also told us that perhaps it would help the contractions if I walked around.) It was 8:30 by this point, so we headed out to find something to eat. Before we left the hotel room, we prayed that everything would be okay and that we would know what we should do in the best interest of both Baby Bum and I.

We walked outside of the hotel to the marina (such a cool place; pictures to come!) and got in line for pizza. It was a fairly long line, and as we stood there, the guy behind us said, "They should have an express lane for pregnant women." We turned around to see a tall, friendly-looking man standing next to a young girl. "They do!" I said.

"Well don't worry," he said. "If you go into labor, I'm an OBGYN."

I'm pretty sure both our mouths dropped open.

"Well actually," I almost shouted, "we were just freaking out because a few hours ago I had like 12 contractions in an hour."

Then I launched into the whole thing about timing the contractions and how scared we were. He asked me how far along I was and specifics about what exactly I had been experiencing. All the while, we kept moving through the pizza line.

I won't rehash our entire conversation, but short story is that he is a current OBGYN from Alabama and was in Atlantis with his family. The girl next to him was one of his four daughters. He told us not to worry and that he really did think I was just dehydrated and needed to rest. He said it was probably fine but that if we got back to our room and something happened, we should call him, and then he gave us his phone number. I cannot express to you how relieved we felt after talking to an actual doctor. Weight lifted.

There is absolutely no way that we just "happened" to go get pizza at that particular time at that particular place and that an OBGYN visiting Atlantis from the United States with his family just "happened" to go get pizza at that particular time at that particular place.

Running into someone random you used to know on the street while you're visiting New York City? Sure. Chalk that up to a funny coincidence.

Meet a very nice American baby doctor in line for pizza in the Bahamas while we're freaking out about contractions at 3o weeks pregnant? 

NOT A COINCIDENCE. 

God.

Now the question becomes: would we have run into that doctor in the pizza line had we not prayed before we left our hotel room? We'll obviously never know, but I think we probably would have. The difference is that if we hadn't prayed first, it would have been much easier to call it just a lucky coincidence.

I'm not so much writing this blog post to convince you of the power of God or the existence of miracles as I am writing this so that I can always remember how it felt to get an instant and direct answer to prayer. I believe God shows up all around us every day, but we're not looking for him, so we miss it.

But in that moment in the pizza line, we both knew without any doubt that God heard us. He was watching over us. He saw us.

May I never witness the hand of God at work in my life in such an obvious way and mistake it for random chance.

Do I believe that God sees me and hears me and watches out for me? Absolutely I do. Do you?

P.S. I feel fine now. I kept myself VERY hydrated during the rest of our stay in the Bahamas, rested when I felt tired, and we thankfully had no more contraction-related episodes. Keep cooking, Baby Bum!
Betsy said...

oh my goodness, you needed comfort and it appeared! I'm so glad everything was (and is) okay :)

Cassie Lee @ Sage the Blog said...

This is soooo cool. God is always good, even when things get scary! So glad you had a nice time otherwise.

Kaity B. said...

Oh my goodness. thank you so much for sharing this! I got chills (and maybe even a little teary-eyed) reading. What an amazing God moment!

Kaity B. said...

Oh my goodness. thank you so much for sharing this! I got chills (and maybe even a little teary-eyed) reading. What an amazing God moment!

LeAnna said...

So awesome. I love how God works, and better yet, I love how it's our testimony that always speaks the loudest. Can't argue with what you KNOW beyond a doubt He's done for you.

Joy @ TheJoyOfHope21.blogpot.com said...

"I believe God shows up all around us every day, but we're not looking for him, so we miss it."

So powerful and great encouragement to how God hears and answers prayer and challenge to keep our eyes open to see Him at work in and around us.

Praying for the last few weeks of your pregnancy!

Ali said...

Oh my goodness! I shouldn't be reading this at work, because now I'm tearing up. I can imagine how scared I would be in the same situation, and I 100% agree that He heard you and answered your prayers. I'm glad you're ok - now let's keep that Bum in the oven for a bit longer!

Teh Wifey said...

While I am not religious, I am spiritual and believe in God (in some sort of sense, I'm not sure in what capacity) and stories like this are just so wonderful to read. Thank you for sharing!

I'm also glad to read everything is safe with you and the babe. It had to have been absolutely terrifying!

Unknown said...

Love this story and moments like this!

Robyn B said...

amazing!! "I believe God shows up all around us every day, but we're not looking for him, so we miss it." AMEN!

Unknown said...

Oh my gracious! I totally cried reading this. I love these kind of God miracle stories! Tyler and I have tried to write down moments like these in our life but it's hard sometimes. I hope I can look back on your post in the future to help me document our moments too. This is so rad!

Caroline @ In Due Time said...

Chills all over. He ALWAYS provides. He always protects. His divine appointments always amaze me! Seriously. God is good. There is never, ever, ever, ever, ever a coincidence. It's all ordained by Him. I love Godincidences! Praise Jesus you are ok!

Sarah @ Sometimes Photojenik said...

Oh.my.gosh. What a powerful powerful story! And so well written- I got anxious with you and teared up and got chills at the end. I am 100% with you that a lot of times we miss God at work but He was so gracious and showed himself in such a clear way to you guys! What a great story that you can tell for years to come! And I'm glad you're feeling ok! :)

Nicole said...

WOW. Just WOW!

Andrea H. said...

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story! I agree that God is always watching, always there...all too often we write it off as something else or sometimes we just miss Him altogether . SO glad to hear that you are feeling better. I can't imagine your stress and fears!!

lisa said...

Thanks for sharing! Love how you're giving God total credit for the situation instead of calling it a random coincidence :-) God is good!

Brittany Rasmussen said...

OMG thank you for sharing. I am so glad you and baby are both okay, and that she didn't try and make an early appearance out of the country. I traveled out of the country at 32 weeks too and was so nervous, so I can only imagine how stressful this whole experience must have been. I LOVE hearing stories about how tangibly God shows up in the times we call on Him. Such a heart warming story and I am so glad you guys are okay!!

Pamela said...

aww love this!!!

Julie @ Just the Joy's said...

Oh my goodness this gave me chills! I believe that was totally an act of God. I mean seriously... that couldn't be a coincidence! I'm glad everything was okay and that you enjoyed your vacation!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh! That is absolutely crazy! I love hearing stories like this that really show the power of God, and then to go on thinking that really that was nothing for God as His power is so much greater than a simple meeting of people like that. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

That was totally God. I've seen his miracles before. Awesome story! I'll be at Atlantis in September, after I stay at my private island. The Bahamas has stolen some of my heart. Estherdavison@gmaik.com

Amy @ A Desert Girl said...

I have tears in my eyes. Total God wink. He is amazing. I'm so glad that your prayer was answered so quickly and that you and Baby Bum are safe {and home ;-)}.

Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC said...

This is so good. Thanks for sharing. Love it. Way to be confident in your faith and in Him in a scary moment.

Erin LFF said...

I got total goosebumps reading this story. God was absolutely there with you guys! HOW AMAZING. I love when He does stuff like that- He's so awesome! :)

Laura said...

Love this! God is always at work, and this story proves it! So glad you're feeling better! I love Atlantis. We stopped by there after a week sailing the Exumas on a sailboat. I'll take the sailboat over a resort any day, but Atlantis was still awesome. Side note: the geography teacher in me has to point out that the Bahamas are still 1700 miles north of the Equator. OK is only 2400 miles north, so not enough of a difference to mean much in the big scheme of things. :)

Maria said...

This gives me so much joy! Happy you and the babe are okay :)

sarah e said...

What an amazing blessing! God really is so so good.

Michelle said...

LOVE THIS. God is good. So sovereign. I experienced that more in pregnancy than I ever did before. I am so glad you are all ok! I would've been absolutely terrified.

Unknown said...

CHills!! God is amazing!!!! The details He puts together in our lives right when we need them most is incredible!

Allison said...

I absolutely love this story 1.) Because you got to go to the Bahamas and 2.) God is so faithful and I love hearing stories about how big and awesome he truly is! Thanks for sharing friend! XO

Sarah said...

1. So glad you are okay and Baby Bum is still cooking!
2. This is amazing!! I LOVE these stories, the power and things happening for a reason

Kristin said...

WOW! So glad you and baby are okay!

Brittany said...

This is absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing and I'm so glad you're doing okay! Stories like this just reaffirm why I pray, even when I'm not actually noticing answers to specific prayers!

Rach said...

What a QUICK answer to prayer! Such a blessing! I'm so glad that doctor was there to reassure you guys. And I'm so glad you and baby girl are A-Okay!

Also... I'm super excited to see recap posts of the rest of your time there! I love the Bahamas!

Laura | Making Baby Provence said...

Well, I am covered in goosebumps, now. Thanks because I JUST shaved yesterday. ;-) I think this is just amazing. I see God written all over it, and I think it’s awesome that you do, too. So glad you’re both okay, too. Can’t wait to see these Bahama pictures. *Hugs*

The Lady Okie said...

Oh my gosh. Is that not just the most annoying this ever when you shave and then get goosebumps!? Sorry about that ;)

Amy said...

i have literal chills and tears.
how personable of God....how just....caring! <3
you have no idea how much I NEEDED to read this today.
to be reminded of God's faithfulness and His provision.
<3
thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing.
and i'm so glad He brought you that man, to help calm your fears!

Jenna Griffin | Gold & Bloom said...

I LOVE this post, Amanda! What an amazing way that God spoke to you..and so directly! He is here and He is taking care of you and hears your prayers. How comforting to know that. I'm so glad this happened, and I'm glad the doctor was there! So awesome.

Oh, and totally thankful you're feeling better! That must have been pretty scary!

Paige @ Reasons to Come Home said...

This gives me chills! What an amazing God we serve!

17 Perth said...

Girl yes---love how He works! Such an awesome story!!

Veronica Lee Burns said...

wow! so love it when God does wondrous things like that to really show you just how much he cares and hears us!

Kate said...

As someone who routinely leave sarcastic and/or ridiculous comments, I'm having a hard time formulating a response to this! I'm SO happy everything turned out to be ok, and I think you're absolutely correct - it was NOT just a lucky coincidence. Seriously amazing.

Cece @Mahogany Drive said...

Loved this story!

Anonymous said...

Scary--I would've been freaking out. So glad everything turned out okay, and that you received God-sent reassurance as well.

Torrie said...

Um, how have I missed this post? I thought I'd been a follower for this long definitely...anyway, loved this :) I personally think that there are little miracles all around--evidences of God's hand in our lives daily--but we often just don't have our eyes open to see them.

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