A motherly instinct is developed early in a little girl's heart.
In a pinch, a dryer sheet works quite well for a baby doll's blanket.
You are never to young to be "dolled up" with a smidgen of lip gloss.
A daughter's heart belongs to her daddy... forever.
Trucks, cars, and balls are not "boy" toys.
There's nothing as exciting as Daddy coming home.
There is always time to read. I have not once regretted letting Mackenna jump into my lap with a book and enjoying the story with her.
I throw just as many temper tantrums as my daughter, I just have slightly more self-control so they aren't as obvious.
Switching laundry, dusting, and emptying the dishwasher can be fun when my little helper is with me!
Just because there was no nap to be had doesn't mean the day is ruined. Sometimes the no-nap days are the most special because we end up snuggling up on the couch with a sippy cup of milk watching "Elmo" (aka Sesame Street).
Laughter is the best medicine and boy, do I have a little girl that likes to make her mommy laugh!
Dipping sauces make meal times more fun... and messy!
If I clap or cheer once, I better be ready to clap and cheer every time she does whatever it is I clapped and cheered for!
Just because she says, "OBEY!" with a smile and giggle doesn't mean she is actually excited about obeying. But, we're getting there!
It's the simple things in life that bring the most joy. Puppies, butterflies, flowers, and the wind sweeping across her face bring a bigger smile and wider eyes than any new toy ever would. Hands down!
And most importantly, love grows. Love grows every day. Little by little it grows. And some days your heart is so full that tears well up in your eyes and you find yourself in awe that God loves us even more than we could ever love our own children. And you marvel at the fact that He would willingingly send His Son, whom He loves more than we love our own children, to suffer and die for such wicked sinners as ourselves. And you are humbled, speechless, and overwhelmed with thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Immanuel, God with Us
One night last week my daughter, Mackenna, woke up after what appeared to be a nightmare. She awoke suddenly and her cry indicated that she was afraid, terrified even, and without hesitation Dustin rushed to her room. He soothed her, sang to her, and reassured her that everything was ok. After a few minutes he laid her back down, but within seconds her cries filled the air again. This time it was my turn.
While I held Mackenna, a memory was brought to my mind of the time that we spent with her in the NICU during her first few days of life. While I spent my days with her as she received antibiotics for the infection she was fighting, I wrote her a little lullaby that I would sing when she was hooked up to her IV's and I couldn't hold her. It goes something like this, "Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl." I would sing this little tune sometimes for twenty minutes. The message was clear, "I am here, you are mine, and you are ok."
After reliving this precious memory, I began to once again sing the song that I had sung to my darling daughter during her first few days of being in this world. And she calmed down. It was a special moment that we shared. I knew that she remembered the song. I could tell by the way she quieted down, her body relaxed, she snuggled closer into my arms, and she drifted back to sleep. She just needed to be reminded that I was there, she was mine, and she was ok.
And then God opened my eyes to see a truth that I so desperately needed last week. I have been pretty anxious about the upcoming delivery of our son, Sawyer. I am scheduled to have a cesarean next Thursday, December 1st. Facing surgery is a bit scary to me. Being awake during surgery is a bit scary to me. I have felt like a scared child the past few weeks. And I was keeping it all to myself. Sure, I would admit to family and close friends that I was a bit nervous. But I was more than a bit nervous, I was terrified. But then God, through this memory, shifted my focus. He convicted my heart and reminded me that when I am afraid I need to cry out to Him, just like Mackenna cries out for me and Dustin when she is afraid. And then He reminded me that He is with me and I am His. It was like He was singing me a lullaby and I quieted down, my body relaxed, I snuggled closer into His arms, and felt His peace.
Matthew 1:23 says, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')."
God is a personal God. He is not a distant father who shows up for birthdays or special occasions. He's sensitive to His children. He loves us. We know He loves us because He sent Jesus Christ to make it possible for our relationship with Him to be restored. Our sin makes us His enemy, but He wants to be with us, so He made a way for us to be at peace with Him. When we trust Christ as our Savior we become His children. He is with us and we are His. What peace and joy that brings. His wrath is no longer upon us. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The lullaby of the gospel soothes our souls and allows us to rest in the peace that only God can give, the peace that surpasses all understanding!
While I held Mackenna, a memory was brought to my mind of the time that we spent with her in the NICU during her first few days of life. While I spent my days with her as she received antibiotics for the infection she was fighting, I wrote her a little lullaby that I would sing when she was hooked up to her IV's and I couldn't hold her. It goes something like this, "Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl." I would sing this little tune sometimes for twenty minutes. The message was clear, "I am here, you are mine, and you are ok."
After reliving this precious memory, I began to once again sing the song that I had sung to my darling daughter during her first few days of being in this world. And she calmed down. It was a special moment that we shared. I knew that she remembered the song. I could tell by the way she quieted down, her body relaxed, she snuggled closer into my arms, and she drifted back to sleep. She just needed to be reminded that I was there, she was mine, and she was ok.
And then God opened my eyes to see a truth that I so desperately needed last week. I have been pretty anxious about the upcoming delivery of our son, Sawyer. I am scheduled to have a cesarean next Thursday, December 1st. Facing surgery is a bit scary to me. Being awake during surgery is a bit scary to me. I have felt like a scared child the past few weeks. And I was keeping it all to myself. Sure, I would admit to family and close friends that I was a bit nervous. But I was more than a bit nervous, I was terrified. But then God, through this memory, shifted my focus. He convicted my heart and reminded me that when I am afraid I need to cry out to Him, just like Mackenna cries out for me and Dustin when she is afraid. And then He reminded me that He is with me and I am His. It was like He was singing me a lullaby and I quieted down, my body relaxed, I snuggled closer into His arms, and felt His peace.
Matthew 1:23 says, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')."
God is a personal God. He is not a distant father who shows up for birthdays or special occasions. He's sensitive to His children. He loves us. We know He loves us because He sent Jesus Christ to make it possible for our relationship with Him to be restored. Our sin makes us His enemy, but He wants to be with us, so He made a way for us to be at peace with Him. When we trust Christ as our Savior we become His children. He is with us and we are His. What peace and joy that brings. His wrath is no longer upon us. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The lullaby of the gospel soothes our souls and allows us to rest in the peace that only God can give, the peace that surpasses all understanding!
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