I Missed You While You Were Sleeping

About this book

A PROMISE SPOKEN OVER A PRAYING MOTHEROne morning before church, a mother asked God for clear direction. Her family had big decisions to make, and with so many children who need a loving home, she wondered whether she and her husband should even consider having a baby of their own. That very day, a woman she had never met looked her in the eyes and boldly declared, "Your baby is on the way!" The stranger said the child would be a gift from God, sent to earth through her. She hid those words inside her heart, not knowing how much she would need them in the years ahead.A BABY LONG AWAITEDSeveral years passed, and doubt crept in. Then came the happy news that a little one was finally coming. She hoped for a strong, kind boy like his daddy, and his daddy dreamed the baby would bring her joy and always make her laugh. The gentle rhyming verses follow every stage of waiting: the first flutters of movement, elbows and knees pressing softly from the inside, and two proud parents with their hands on her belly, feeling hips and heels as their baby rolled from side to side.HELD CLOSE, LOVED DEEPLYWhen he was born, she held him close and thanked the Lord for her precious baby boy. She could not bear to lay him down. She had heard the old saying that holding a baby too much will spoil a child, but her own mama had taught her otherwise, and she knew her son simply needed her touch. So she held him while he slept, sowing love into the harvest she was reaping. Each tender scene returns to the same heartfelt refrain, a line every child can treasure: I missed you while you were sleeping.WHEN THE STORM CAMEOn the twenty-first day of his life, she could tell that something was different. Doctors discovered that his heart was enlarged and sent the family hurrying to Children's Hospital, where doctors and nurses gathered all around his tiny bed. Through that frightening season, the word spoken to her years before became a source of strength, reminding her that her son was a gift from God and helping her overcome her fears.INSIDE THIS BOOK- A true-to-life story told by a mother directly to her son- Warm, rhythmic verse written to be read aloud- A gentle way to talk with children about answered prayer, waiting, and trusting God in hard times- A recurring refrain that reassures little ones how deeply they are loved, even while they sleep- Scripture-rooted encouragement for families facing a newborn's health crisisWHO IT IS FORThis picture book is written for young children ages four to eight and the parents, grandparents, and caregivers who read to them. It is a meaningful keepsake for families who prayed and waited for a child, for parents who have sat beside a hospital bed, and for anyone who wants to tell a little one, "You were wanted, you were prayed for, and you are loved." It also makes a thoughtful gift for baby showers, dedications, and families walking through a medical journey with their newborn.A STORY OF FAITH THROUGH EVERY SEASONDana House shares her family's story with honesty and tenderness, showing how faith can hold a family together while storms blow around them. I Missed You While You Were Sleeping invites parents and children to curl up together and remember that God is with them, in seasons of joy and in seasons of fear.