See Beyond – July 2019

July/August 2019 13

I’ve been told that it’s impossible to tackle college

and start a family at the same time. As my baby

bump began to grow, peers started looking at me

differently. Standing in line at the campus coffee

shop or sitting in class with my hand resting on

my stomach, I caught frequent sideways glances.

Some looks were full of pity; sad eyes and slight-

ly puckered lips appeared to offer condolences.

Others seemed to express compassionate curiosity,

perhaps wondering if I were okay. Regardless, I

always had a smile on my face, attempting to show

everyone that what was happening in my life—

although scary and different from their own—was

not a mistake.

As a Christian, I think everything has a purpose

whether it brings us joy, sadness or anything in

between. My body was in the midst of creating

a human with his/her own dreams, goals, fears,

quirks and potential. I know that God doesn’t

make mistakes, and I was honored to be chosen

to carry a baby, no matter how difficult or confus-

ing that may seem to others. Being a young mom

wasn’t a part of my plan, but I’m not being held

back. Instead, my life is being catapulted forward

into this new adventure. I am excited and I am not

alone.

On January 25, 2019, my boyfriend, Steven,

proposed to me on the beach. It was an unbeliv-

able moment. Our love story began as freshmen

in college when we were both chasing our love

for sailing. I had ambitiously started a sailing club

with the help of my friends and on the day of our

first meeting, I felt incredibly motivated and ex-

cited. That morning as usual, I was in the cafeteria

for breakfast, lost in thought, scooping granola

onto my yogurt. When I turned around, there

was someone standing in my way. He was tall and

ridiculously handsome. As he stood arms-length

away from me, I could see the desperation in his

eyes as he searched for words.

I waited, looking at him. He waited, looking at

me. It became apparent that we had stood there for

well over a minute simply looking at each other,

and then he walked away. Later that day, he rolled

up on his bike to my sailing meeting and our

friendship blossomed immediately. Now, two years

later, as Steven kneeled in the sand on Pensacola

Beach and asked for my hand in marriage, he told

me that he had intended to say hello to me—to

say anything at all—the morning we met. He said

he had lost all his words because he thought I was

so beautiful.

By Victoria Clark

Who am I to say that the baby growing inside me shouldn’t be born?

I don’t know God’s plans for his life.

Photo credit © Bastien Jaillot

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

By Victoria ClarkBy Victoria ClarkBy Victoria ClarkBy Victoria ClarkBy Victoria Clark

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2

And Baby Makes Three:

Part 2