Inspired lyrics and delightful music with profound awareness of human longing and the preciousness of life. Very positive and uplifting.

I used to work in a Christian music/book store, and people used to come in and ask for a great gift for expectant parents. I would direct them to the Internet for this album, because we did not carry it in the store(we did carry the accompanying gift book). Too bad for us, because this collection captures so uniquely the giddy anticipation, breathless longing, exuberant hopefulness, and sheer, awesome power of both the expecting and arrival of a new life. No one songwriter that I can think of captures the holiness and extraordinariness that so often comes disguised as "everyday life" as well as Carolyn Arends. *** "Moving" is an anthem to those wonderful first squirms and wiggles in the belly that send a mama's heart soaring and fill a daddy's mind with awe. "Come Anyway" is an acknowledgement of how little we (and the world) deserve these tiny wonders, but how we can hardly wait for them to "come anyway." "The Thought of You" has some kick-butt trumpet action. "Don't Forget Where You Came From" is a reminder for all who have arrived covered in heaven's angel dust not to forget whence we came. *** My favorite song is track five, "Your Father in Heaven," which Carolyn wrote with her mom (how cool is that?!). I love these lines, "The greatest thing that we ever will do is kneel at your bedside and introduce you to the One who first thought of the wonder of you, your Father in heaven." *** "We've Been Waiting For You" is, of course, the title track. The journey through birth into this world is linked in a beautiful way to the ultimate journey of our lives, both of which end in the embrace of loving arms and a waiting room. "Like a Natural Woman" is an imaginative cover of the Carole King classic. "Even the Wallflowers" is a quirky, sweet song about not being heartbroken over peer cruelty -- that it is possible to "thrive even in the shadows." *** "Be God's" is a lovely, slightly haunting prayer for a child to remember that gentle counsel as his or her ultimate aim in life. "Forever Young" is another cover, this time a very melodic rendition of Bob Dylan's hit. *** There is no better gift for expectant or new parents that I can think of (or even for old hands at this parenting thing, since the wonder of the gift of children never really wears off). The kids will get the Wiggles and VeggieTales and lullabies, but "We've Been Waiting for You" is one for the parents.