Funny Baby! Jenny’s Arrival and Jonathan’s Response: Tales from the Mountaintops and Valleys Below

We named Jenny before we were married. When Bill and I first talked about marriage and family, we both thought that Jenny Lynn was a beautiful name for a girl. Even without ultrasounds back then, we felt that sure this was our girl and called her Jenny throughout the pregnancy. So it was no surprise that the first words out of Jonathan’s mouth when he met his new sister in the hospital were, “Funny baby! Funny Baby! Jenny come out of Mama’s tummy!”

From my journal: Nov 3, 1972: 

Jennifer Lynn Leal arrived on Wednesday, November 1st at 9:20, weighing 6 pounds and 11 ounces. She has a round face, black hair and a determined little jaw bone and flat nose ... and a very thankful mom and dad and delighted big brother and grandmother, for my mother had come for Jenny’s birth and to help afterwards. She was a real blessing in the hospital and at home.

For myself, the experience was strange. On the operating table, the anesthesiologist gave me ether, all the while telling me it was pure oxygen for the baby. Once they assumed I was put to sleep, they began procedures. The strange part was that I was totally awake and one eyelid was not fully closed and I could see and feel what was going on, but could not move or say anything--though I tried desperately. First the catheter went in, then they started preparing the stomach for cutting, while the anesthetist started to put a tube down my throat and cotton. At this point, I could no longer breathe, and asked the Lord to take me away from this scene. I surrendered myself up to death--or whatever His pleasure may have been. Then I remember no more. But death has never been more real, nor my acceptance of His Pleasure more definite: a strange but rewarding experience.

Jenny was not an easy-to-sleep baby like Jonathan was. He slept the night at one month, but she was colicky and slept very little, or so it seemed, until she was about two. It was during this time of little sleep that I learned the truth of John 15:4-5, that the only thing I needed to do is abide in Jesus. A man I knew long ago said that “It doesn't matter where you are or what you’re doing if you are with the Shepherd, abiding.” I was safe with Him.

Jenny was a big joy to our family and much loved by each of us. We loved to watch her faces and listen to her “talking” to us. From my journal when Jenny was six weeks old: “Jenny is now beginning to talk lots and lots. Strong as an ox, loves to stand. Hates to sleep. Charming and flirtatious. Yesterday Bill said, 'I’m sure glad you like them at this age.' Immediately Jenny looked at me, gave me several big smiles, nods and knowing glances, plus a few gurgles. All we could do was laugh. She seemed to understand it all. She’s a real sweetheart.”

Soon it was time to head back to the village, this time with two little ones. So three months after Jenny’s birth, we returned to our village home, with joy and gladness in our hearts. It turned out that Jenny was also our Tharu landlord’s wife’s name. And the Tharu people also had flat noses as did Jenny. So they said she had a Tharu name and nose and loved her!  She still cried at night, but we told the people she was singing and we all laughed! Father had again paved another way into the hearts of the people, first with Jonathan, now with Jenny.

And we soon began to see some healing flow deep in our lives and bodies. “Friday night Jon closed the bathroom door on his thumb and immediately it was red and swollen and black and blue. We prayed and within 5 minutes it was completely healed. To God be all Glory.”

John 15:4-5: Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Song: Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above! 

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne! 

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!