Investing.

 

Life is moving so fast. I just can't believe how much Ady is growing and how stinkin' smart she is (I know, I know, every parent says this....). I'm amazed each day at how much she picks up on (and a little leery-yikes! Making sure every word and expression I say and make is "Ady appropriate"). I notice it in the little things. Like when I tell (more like yell....) at the dogs to jump down from trying to get her food off the table. Well....now Ady yells at them too. She mimmicks and copies each thing we do. But there's one thing I don't ever, ever want her to stop. And that's praying. 

I am humbled by the child-like faith that I see displayed in her. It doesn't matter how many toys she has in her hands (and believe me, she can hold plenty of Sesame Street characters), she will still find a way to fold her hands over them when we tell her it's time to say our prayer. She will even wait until we pray before eating. How precious is that? There are times I'm still trying to get everything on the table but she is sitting there with her plate, and she just sits and waits. Please don't think highly of this. It's just something I've always done. Praying before meals was our second nature growing up. It was a home where Jesus was very, very prevalent.  I don't remember eating a meal and not praying before it with my family. So, naturally, when Joseph and I got married we started the "tradition", and when Ady joined us she just picked right up along. 

I am working so hard on investing as much time in her spiritually because I already see how she is watching. When she looks in her Bible story, she always tries to find the pictures of Jesus on it. Why? Because she knows He made her. She knows every night before she goes to bed when Joseph reminds her that mommy and daddy and Jesus love her so much. She knows He made her absolutely perfect and blameless in His sight. And everyday I pray over her precious little body that she will make the decision to seek Him. I told her just the other day that I couldn't wait to see what He would do through her. I started counting her toes and fingers with her while she just giggled. Then we went and pointed to her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. I explained to her that our purpose in life is to glorify Him; to use our hands and feet for Him. She sweetly said, "mmm...hmmm..." I know she doesn't get it yet, but I'm still going to tell her.

I decided a couple weeks ago I was going to start getting her to memorize Scriptures. The Bible clearly commands that we are to study His word and know it. One of my favorite verses is Deuteronomy 6:6-7 "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." I don't want Ady to merely be a fan of Jesus, I want her to be a follower of Jesus. I really didn't know how it would go. I started with Matthew 28:20 that says "I am with you always". She would repeat it after me every time we would sit at the table for our meals. I went 3 or 4 days without saying anything. Things had been a little wild and we had been out of town. When I told her we were going to practice her verse I was absolutely floored when she began quoting it herself:

 

I am truly in the middle of the season of: "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." Tonight while she was getting a bath, I started a new one: "Be kind to one another"-Ephesians 4:32. It was so sweet hearing her say it. I hope when she goes to Preschool she can quote verses to her friends. I hope that when she is scared when she is away from me as she grows she will remember the very first one she ever learned; that God is with her always. I hope that when the pressures of this world fall on her shoulders, she will be reminded of multiple accounts in Scripture when He tells us to trust in Him and not to look to the world. 

My mom has always told me that I would never understand her love for me until I had a child. And that the decisions her and my dad stood by (that were never, ever popular), would one day be understood. Boy, was she right. (Moms are always right!). I see this so much today. I just want to keep her in this little bubble forever. I watch the world around me so filled with sin, so filled with material desires, so filled with lust and hatred, so filled with the desire to "live for the moment", and I want her to be different. I want her life to stand out. And I know we will not be popular. We will not support many things that parents will allow or support, but it is not our job to do that. We are to teach her and train her. I have already made so many mistakes, but I am fervently praying that Joseph and I will be equipped with the wisdom, discernment, and knowledge to handle the years ahead. And praying, too, that time would just slow down. 

In other news---I get to see little Henry tomorrow on ultrasound and see how much he has grown, especially from our last ultrasound!! 

This is the BIG one. They will look at every organ and see how everything is functioning. I can still remember just being in awe when she showed me everything on Ady. Praying for a healthy and strong little boy tomorrow. :) I still smile (and sometimes tear up), when I feel those kicks. Which, are often. He is very, very active and I love it. However, I am still in amazement. Still in awe that it is real. Ady talks about him all the time. Our lives are about to change (once again) forever, and I can't wait. The Lord has been so good to us. I do not deserve the abundance of blessings, but am so grateful for them.

In honor of Father's Day, let me just say-I hope Henry is just like Joseph. He is such a sweet and caring and compassionate person. I really don't know anyone else who could have loved me and stayed by me during some of the darkest times I've ever gone through. He is a wonderful, wonderful husband. And his love for Jesus has grown by leaps and bounds since we got married. I have watched him lead our family and watched how he loves and adores Ady (and how much she adores him!) 

 

So, for all those daddy's out there-Happy Father's Day! :) 

Thanks for following our blog. I don't get to blog nearly as often as I'd like. Ady keeps me so busy and on my toes, but I will miss this one day. I heard someone say the other day that our marriages and families are defined and written by the ordinary day to day moments, not the big ones. So true. Love this little family of mine :) 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Col 3:16