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Andrew’s mother would be thrilled Her own, too, of course, but her parents had plenty of grandchildren, while Shirley Lundberg impatiently waited for her first

Leah had had nairl her name would be either Sarah, Hannah, or Elizabeth A son would be nanificance or what had prompted her decision

The naood deal in common with the three women Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth had been barren too, but God had heard their prayers and answered them with the birth of their firstborn child As it happened, all three were boys, and those were the names she’d chosen for her own child, should she bear a son

Deep in her heart, Leah felt this child was a miracle He was a testaroeak and faltered, but God had listened He’d heard her cries Even when it seemed all that was returned to her was the echo of her own sobs, God had been faithful

Unable to leave the infant depart one s silver Christmas tree ornament for Andreith Baby’s First Christmas beautifully inscribed in the silver Technically she was a year early, but she was eager for Andrew’s reaction when he opened this gift By then he’d know for certain she was pregnant

As she suspected, her husband aiting for her when she arrived ho spree He trailed behind her frouest bedrooifts

"How’d the shopping go?" he asked, following close on her heels

Leah set her purchases on the bed and tossed him a saucy smile over her shoulder "Very well, thank you"

"Did you buyshe’d always loved about Andreas his childlike attitude toward Christmas He was like a little kid about presents He played silly guessing gaes under the tree as often as he dared, and shook his gifts until they were in danger of being broken

"I ," she answered cryptically, "and then again Iconfident He leaned against the doorway and cupped his hands behind his head, as if he had it all figured out His pose suggested that she needn’t wrap the gifts since he knew everything she’d bought anyway

"You were gone a long ti the Christo?"

"Andrew, honestly!"

"Did you know the golf store was having a sale?"

"That does it," Leah said, throwing her ar to wrap these and I can’t do it with you standing overevery reat moves"

"Andrew, please, I’m serious Scoot"

"Aha So you did buy " She walked over to the door and closed it The latch clicked softly into place

Andrew stood stubbornly on the other side, refusing to leave "You’ll call ht cordial

"In a heartbeat"

A er "Do you want so to drink?"

"No, thank you Andrehy don’t you go in and watch television for a while?"

"Nothing good’s on"

"What about football?"

"The ga to take you to finish?"

"I can’t rightly say" Was it any wonder fa efforts? She used ift without being hounded by her husband, who behaved more like a six-year-old than a , slow release of breath followed her announce toas if he’d lost his last friend

"Make two," she called out She’d finish up later By so she’d purchased for hiolf balls The ifts

Andreas carrying stea roo away They kicked off their shoes and snuggled up together on the sofa

"When’s your doctor’s appoint the side of her head Leah was convinced she’d told him no less than three ti for a couple of ?"

"Wonderful" Leah s a believer Bit by bit, little by little, as each day passed Like her, he was afraid to believe Like her, he couldn’t make hi this afternoon?" she said, tilting back her head so their eyes could ain"

"What brought this on?"

"I don’t know I realized it’s been , and you knohat? IChristmas carols," Andrew said wistfully

Leah nearly choked on her hot chocolate "You can’t sing"

"I know," he adhter, "but that never stopped me"