A Sweet Momni Mama’s Experience

Our Momni team is always so honored to learn our Momni mamas’ stories and experiences with life, motherhood and Momni. With last week being World Down Syndrome Day , we wanted to share another story. This time, Cynthia Giles opened her heart to us and shared this beautiful blog that reminds us that peace and joy can overpower the unknown if we let it. Cynthia is an amazing Momni mom located in Utah .

We hope you enjoy her story! Cynthia’s Experience I am a wife as well as a mother to seven. My seventh pregnancy came as a surprise. We are thoughtful when it comes to adding children to our family.

Surprisingly, we felt no inclination at that point. In fact, when I learned that I was expecting it was at a very stressful time in our family life. My mother always taught, “In the midst of trial, God sends a baby.” Just as with all of my pregnancies, I trusted this to be God’s will. Finding Acceptance and Joy When we learned that our child would be a son, even when I had hoped for a girl (we had four boys and two girls), I felt immediate joy and acceptance.

I will never forget that moment. I soon after began to pray earnestly and search diligently for a name. His name came to me as I was waking from a peaceful rest. It was a name I had not considered.

I felt it was from God and moved forward in faith. I learned later that a name ending in ‘el’ means God. This became more meaningful to me when I held Samuel for the first time and looked into his eyes. He looked just like us yet there in that moment I could see what I felt sure to be Down syndrome.

I asked my doula to search for the markers. She hesitated but I reassured her that all was well. It’s sweet to me that besides the beautiful almond shaped eyes I nestled in close with this angel baby in my arms after one more revealed marker; a slight bend in the pinky finger. This simple idea was a token of my sincere desire to accept God’s gift.

The hours, days and months ahead were filled with beauty and peace. The experience felt big and powerful. It felt personal. I felt a deep connection to God.

I knew He was aware of me, that He loved me and that He does not make mistakes. Having lost my father just before I turned twenty and then my mother after my fourth child at 31, I knew very well pain and sorrow. I also knew very well God’s beautiful hand and healing power. I did not doubt that God once again had a plan for me.

Band of Mothers My husband was away on business when Samuel came two and half weeks early. I was strengthened by the small band of women I called to be at my side in my hour of need. It was a meaningful experience. We added a heavenly depth to our friendship that day.

Many came to our aid. God helps us rise to the occasion. Samuel is almost two years old. He is mine.

He is ours. I feel he belongs to all of us even the whole earth and has divine purpose. His presence has changed everything for us. He set us on course.

His presence in our lives healed the stress that we were experiencing. We felt a great let go and moved forward with great feelings of joy. There have been unknowns and worry when it comes to his health but we have felt peace. God has comforted me.

He has lifted me in my role as wife and mother. I felt Him tell me that above all Samuel, my seventh child, is my day of rest and an answer to a pray I would have asked for had I known it was possible.