You know how they say cows calve in bad weather? I can now confirm the same is true for humans.

Like many farmers and ranchers, my husband, Dan, loves comparing my pregnancies to those of his livestock. I suppose being compared to a cow should offend me, but I actually find comfort in his abilities. It’s reassuring to know that if I were to go into labor at home, Dan has some experience safely delivering mammals.

“I’ve delivered hundreds of calves — it can’t be that different,” Dan says. And he might be right. But I don’t really want to find out. However, one downside of farm life is our hospital commute, since we live about 45 minutes from the hospital (in good weather).

Baby Stella

On Jan. 3, Dan and I made the trek to Springfield, Ill., for one of my weekly appointments. I had been showing signs of labor for about a week, but foolishly didn’t pack an overnight bag or car seat. I figured we’d be home that night.

Instead, the doctor insisted we head straight to the hospital, while a winter storm was headed straight for Springfield.

What a time to be in labor — the seven-day forecast said we were in for a polar vortex with a 40-degree-F temperature drop, plus a nice mixture of snow, ice and sleet.

But it was fine. Our sweet Stella Jane was born on Jan. 4 at 6:24 a.m., weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces and measuring 21 inches long.

Related:On the farm: A year of gratitude

The next day, we drove home in several inches of drifting snow, but were soon safe and warm, napping at the farm with our two little girls.

Both Stella and I are doing great. Safe, healthy, strong and so very blessed. Thank you, Lord.

Emotional roller coaster

It’s wild how much emotions change leading up to birth. I’ve felt about every emotion I thought humanly possible in the last month, plus a few others. For example:

Plus, we recently moved to the farm, which brings its own flood of emotions, like:

And who could forget the physical pain of growing new life?

But today, I feel yet another emotion — an odd sense of calm and a confidence in my body’s ability.

Do not worry

As I reflect on the weeks leading up to labor, they reveal the weakness in my human-ness (thanks, hormones) and my inability to trust in the Lord’s provisions.

Now more than ever, I’m reminded of Matthew 6:25-33:

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” 

Friend, whatever has you anxious in the new year, let me encourage you with Matthew 6:34: “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”