Two of my three sons have birthdays in the first week of December. Twice I have been pregnant and have given birth during the Advent season. Those December births impact my annual reflection on the wonder of Jesus and the wonderful news that "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

. . .This truth is more precious to me than ever before because this year I welcomed my first grandchild! Our family celebrated his sonogram picture and prayed for him daily as he grew and developed in his mother's womb. What joy we felt in September when we saw the face of this precious boy we had already loved for months!

There is more bad news. . .Among girls becoming pregnant at age 15 or younger, over 80% undergo abortion. . .America's 40 year wholesale denial of the value of life in the womb has resulted in 55 million missing people and left millions of women and men with guilt and grief over their abortions. Who can measure how that emotional and spiritual devastation affects relationships with spouses, children? Who can assess the negative effect of abortion on an individual's relationship with God?

It has always been the role of the church to teach her people what the Scripture says. The Bible is clear that God is our Maker (Job 10:8-12) and that it is God's hands that have made us. (Psalm 119:73).

"The time came when we might plan another pregnancy," Tara said of the summer of 2010. . . Their adoption story began in August 2010 with "lots of prayer." Little did they know that as little as one month later, in September 2010, an infant girl in China was born who would become their third daughter in less than two years.