I wrote this along time ago… Well not that long ago, but a while and I wanted to post it. Because of everything that has gone on with my precious daughter.
Seeing a new Life: From a father’s eyes
My name is Brock Eastman and I am a dad. My wife, Ashley, and I found out on January 19th, 2009 that we were given one of God’s greatest blessings on a man and woman, the blessing of a new Life.
I remember the excitement that rushed through my body as we waited for the pregnancy test results. Clearly printed on the little digital screen was the word Pregnant. My heart leapt and yet the weight of the world fell onto my shoulders. We were at that moment officially parents and this unborn child would look to us for all its needs. Were we ready?
My wife and I had just celebrated our one year anniversary on December 28th, 2008. We had seen a lot of change already in our lives. I graduated in May of 2007 and she was still finishing up her degree. We had accepted a position with Focus in March of 2008 and for us this meant a lot of change. We would both be leaving the place we called home for twenty three plus years and would be venturing out together, away from family and friends. It was exciting because for me I had never been very independent, and I now had the Love of my life to lean on and to set out on this adventure with. We felt this move would be an excellent way to start our marriage, as we would be encouraged to rely on each other for all of our needs. It was only five months into our marriage when we packed up all of our belongings and set out for Colorado.
Skip forward eight months. My wife and I were standing in the bathroom looking at a positive pregnancy test. Positive we were pregnant and a positive moment in our life. We embraced and I kissed the top of her head. “We’re going to be parents,” I said with smile.
Immediately, my wife began the search for an OBGYN and set up our first appointment. We knew our child was inside, but for many couples this first appointment can mean that they may never meet that child. We hoped and prayed for our baby that all was well and as it should be. If you think about the amount of things that have to happen just right, it can be scary. But the Truth is, our designer the creator of all, knew exactly what he was doing. He knew how every small piece would work together. He was in total control and Ashley and I had to remember, that all was for his purpose and glory.
At eight weeks we had the first chance to see and possibly hear our baby. When the sonographer wiped the jelly on my wife’s stomach, my heart skipped for a moment. This was the moment of truth, the moment we would know if this pregnancy would continue. Moments later, the sonographer had centered in on what she needed to find. Sure enough baby was right where it belonged. For my wife and I, there wasn’t much to see, but for the sonographer, she could collect some vital information that she needed at just eight weeks. The thought crossed my mind, how can anyone doubt that Life begins at conception. I thought this was a defining moment for me, but then the sonographer changed over to capture the heartbeat. I melted. At eight weeks we heard the thump, thump, thump of my baby’s heartbeat. It was so clear and crisp. I didn’t know, they didn’t teach me that in school. Our baby was the size of a kidney bean, but the beat, the beat of Life was in my child. The proof was there, I heard it with my own ears and I saw it with my own eyes.
Ashley and I left that appointment feeling pretty good. We were excited and now we had a picture of our baby, our first picture. We immediately sent it out to all we could to share the joy we were feeling inside. The joy that comes from knowing that with God, Life has been created. It is one of the most visual blessings God can bestow on us, because there it is, the proof of his providence: a child to hold, to listen to, to play with, to teach, to pray for, and to love.
We knew then that we had a lot to accomplish in seven months. It also hit us that we were so far away from our family. We wanted to share in the joy with them and to have them with us for the many milestones along the way, but they were over a thousand miles from us. We considered moving home, even looked into several job opportunities for me, but God wasn’t done with us out here. He provided for us in ways we weren’t expecting, but should we have been? He had just given us a miracle and yet our faith that he would provide seemed to be lacking. Our baby was a reminder for us; it was our little piece of heaven.
As we continued to have our appointments we watched as our baby developed further and further. We sat at one appointment and watched for ten minutes while the baby sat and stood, sat and stood, waving its arms all over and kicking its feet. In this sonogram at fifteen weeks, everything was so clear. The head, the spine, the arms and legs. Our baby was being very active and watching, I could picture baby in my arms or crawling across the floor. I saw our baby playing with other children, kneeling by the bed praying, kissing my cheek. This child was here and real.
I thought about all those who never experience the breath of fresh air. I thought about the battle raging over when Life begins, and I can say one hundred percent without a doubt it begins at conception. From that moment when the sperm finds the egg, the clock starts ticking and that little Life has started down a path. For without our intervention, God has provided a plan for that Life and it will grow and grow and grow.
At twenty eight weeks, Ashley and I were able to get a picture of what our baby will look like. With the new technology of 3D sonograms, we were able to see our baby’s nose, ears, lips, eyes, etc. I look back at that first sonogram picture, I listen to the heart beat on the little video I have. I see where baby was and where baby is. This is Life, this is one of God’s greatest blessings in my opinion.
It doesn’t matter to me what your position is, but if only you could hear that heartbeat. That moment at only eight weeks where you can see nothing more than a small spec the size of a kidney bean, but you hear the thump, thump, thump of the racing heartbeat is life changing. The moment when you can see the pictures of your baby’s face before they leave the womb, you know in your heart how that child started twenty weeks ago.
For my wife and I, our Life will never be the same. We’ve been asked by God to provide this child a safe and loving home: a place where baby can grow up knowing its Creator and knowing what God may have in store for its life. It’s a heavy responsibility, but again God provides all we need if only we have the slightest Faith in him. Look at the beauty around us of his Glorious creation.
Brock D. Eastman
Update:
Kinley Grace Eastman at almost 9 weeks:
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The Focus on the Family Super Bowl commercials featuring Tim Tebow and his mother Pam has been the subject of national attention for weeks. Below, LifeNews.com has obtained the video and text of the pre-game 30-second Super Bowl commercial with 
brockeastman.wordpress.com 
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