Lily and Pa

I love this pic.  I was that little girl walking to the mailbox with grandpa hundreds of times. Now it is my little girl. Just a special moment.

A heart of compassion

Every night as I put Lily to bed I pray over her.  She has a little prayer bear that and we pray along with, "now I lay me down to sleep..."

By the way, I guess thinking of possible death before sleep was considered tramatic for this generation, the ending has changed now to, "your love be with me through the night and wake me with the morning light." I actually really like the new version, but it is funny that toy-makers would change the prayer.

Anyway, after we pray with the bear I pray, "God bless Lily. Give her sweet dreams, and a heart that loves you and cares for others."  Nothing eloquent about it and, of course, in my personal prayer time I pray many things over my baby girls heart. But, this morning she was carrying around her little baby doll which was unusual.  Lately, all she wants to carry around is "dog." (she has several dogs and doesn't care which one, but she will walk around the house calling "dog, dog, dog" until she finds one.

Again, I'm babbling.  I want to tell you that I burst into tears when she set her baby down and stuck her cereal up to its mouth to feed her.  I know that developmentally she is beginning to interact more with her toys and playmates, but it was so sweet to see her caring for her baby doll- I couldn't help it. 

I can't believe how fast she is growing up. I tell her every morning that she must have grown over night - I have to be careful not to catch her feet on the railing as I lift her out of bed. So, part of my tears were, like every mother, sorrowful that my baby is growing up so fast.  But, it was more than that.  They were also tears of gratitude, that God is at work teaching her to care for others- answering my prayer.

You may think I'm very silly to put so much thought into a simple and very
normal gesture.  But, I am going to claim it as a little sign God's faithfulness to answer prayer and I will be persistent and specific with my prayers over Lily.  I hope you will be encouraged to pray with persistence, speak goodness over your loved ones, and be watchful for little signs of God's faithfulness.

Snow days

February has brought ice snow and rest. Early Tuesday morning the a beautiful white blanket settled over North Tx and closed businesses and schools for the rest of the week.
Lily and Mommy stayed in and stayed warm while Daddy braved the weather and went to work -part of the blessing of self-employment.  We are very thankful that God has kept us safe and warm. 

March 23

She just looks so grown up today. We are back to school after a week off for spring break. For the first time in a very long time Lily cried a little when I dropped her off at daycare. Broke my heart, but I'm certain she got over it quickly and had a great time with her friends.  She is using the potty several times every day now and learning to eat with a spoon.  She loves music! And I don't know where she learned it but that little girl can boogie! When the music starts she shakes her little bootie side to side and claps her hands and grins.

She says "baby, ball, mama, daddy, duck, mmmm, DOG, Bible"
When we read Good Night Moon and get to the part when the old lady says "shh" Lily screams.  She also screams when we play little piggies with her toes- just in time for the little piggy to squeal wee wee wee. In fact, the bath tub is her favorite place to scream and shout.
She loves her daddy and she has just started putting together the phrase my daddy and my momma.
She says "Nanna, Papaw, Pappaw, Lala," and calls Bobbie "Bobboo" -we can't figure out why.

She loves to be tickled and LOVES to go outside.

She gives hugs and blows kisses.

She has daddy's curls buy they are blonde, and his blue eyes.

Long but lean she is in 12mth clothes but some 6-9 still fit her well.  Yes, she is 14 1/2 mths old. We just moved up to size 4 diapers and shoes. I haven't measured her lately but she is right about 1/2 my height.

Oh, and I forgot to mention she is running and climbing! She says roar-any time she sees a lion, tiger, bear, or monster, ooaa for monkeys, and meow for cats.

I really intended for this to be an update not a brag-fest LOL
All that she is does and will be is truly and completely the grace of God.  Joe and I do not push her to do new things we just play and snuggle and tickle and enjoy every minute.

We would love for you to join the fun sometime.
God bless you.