What a Joyful Day

Today while driving to a play date Kaitlyn was talking my ear off, as usual, and mentioned that Jesus always protects us. I said "yes, he does" and then she said something I will never forget. She said, with a rather worried tone of voice, "well I know He loves me but I just don't KNOW that he's really in my heart." This is not the first time this subject has come up, the previous time was also in the car and I felt ill equipped to handle something with such gravity. I wanted Ben with me to witness the moment and help us pray. But this time I knew I couldn't put it off again. My girl was aching at the core of her being to know with all certainty that what she was wishing so desperately could be true. I told her that in order for Him to live there that she has to invite Him in, and promise to follow Him forever. It was the best I could do in the moment and I was trying not to overwhelm my eager four year old with ramblings of adult theology. She simply wanted to know He was there, for sure. I told her I would pray a prayer of salvation with her and that Jesus would be in her heart if we prayed it together.

After a short lecture about how I should not close my eyes and pray while I drive because I "might bonk something with the car" and after I assured her I would keep my eyes open, we prayed. I said the words, and she repeated them carefully, word for word, head bowed, eyes closed. When we finished I assured her that Jesus had heard her prayer and that he now lived in her heart, forever. When I looked back the smile on her face was indescribable, so peaceful and joyful at the same time. Let me tell you, the rain had nothing to do with the blurred vision I was experiencing in that moment.

Then the day went on as usual. She played, laughed, sang songs and cried about losing a hand of Old Maid to her mom. But I couldn't help but wonder...does she really get it? Which immediately I answer myself in my head "do ANY of us REALLY get it?" My fear for her is that being so young she won't remember that moment, that somehow things will become stagnant, common and boring when it comes to her faith. What a huge weight it is to feel responsible for helping to guide her on this path and help keep her excited in it. Mostly today I feel grateful that God saw fit to come to earth, save me, and continue His legacy in my child. Her future was written before she was born, but today I got a small glimpse of what it could hold, and the possibilities truly are endless.

So this is her, as she is today, four years old and teaching me so much already. Part of me can't help but sigh in relief knowing that compared to her eternal fate, everything else is "easy" from here. :)

Comparison

I have had several people comment on how much my children look alike, and likewise, have had several people tell me they look nothing alike. So for comparison purposes I dug up pictures of my children at approximately the same age, doing the same thing. What do you think?

Summer Fun!

As a child summer was always such a fun time. The sound of the ice cream truck, the smell of chlorine and freshly cut grass. Riding bikes and watching my brothers play football in the front yard and then beat each other up when they disagreed on which down it was. And if they are reading this they are probably so proud I know what a down is, well, sort of. Anyhoo...



And the exhilaration of playing chicken with the waves at the beach.

This was the biggest "wave" we saw, but she still thought it was hilarious to crawl away from them. What a goofball.




Meet Sarah. My daughter's "sister from another mister." These girls were destined to be best friends before birth... mostly because we told them so. :) They don't seem to mind.





While vacationing in San Diego with the kids we were lucky enough to be let in on a little secret. There is a place at the beach on base (a place I lived just minutes from for 5 years and never knew about!) that has two very long jetties which makes the water virtually wave less.

How wonderful! The girls got to enjoy the water, and we got to go to the beach without wondering how many times they would be swept off their feet and into the foam. Though the lack of waves makes NO difference whatsoever that you always return with the entire beach in every crevice of the kids bodies, trust me on that.




This lack of waves gave me time to dig a hole in the sand and make it look like my son could sit up by himself. Which by the way, he can now.




And it gave my son time to explore the sand.





Translation...it gave him time to eat as much sand as humanly possible before I began to worry about his future diapers and put him on a blanket, which he screamed bloody murder about.




But then he got over it.

Kaitlyn felt the baby kick :)

So this morning the baby was very active and I decided to take a chance and try to have Kaitlyn feel the baby. I asked if she wanted to feel the baby and pressed her hand to my belly. It didn't take long, but I was impressed she held it there as long as she did. When it kicked I said "Kaitlyn, did you feel the baby kick your hand?" She looked at me, not with awe or amazement, but just a matter-of-fact look and said "It not kick me, it kick a soccer ball! It RUN RUN RUN in there!" :) I love this kid.

I'm the boss...right?

So lately I have been receiving a bit of backtalk from my daughter. I have recently started telling her "Kaitlyn, don't tell me no." Here's a conversation between Kaitlyn and I at the dinner table the other night...

Me: "Kaitlyn, no, don't do that with your fork."

K: "Mama, don't tell me no."

Me: "No, you don't tell me no."

K: "No YOU don't tell Meeee no."

Me: Kaitlyn, I am going to tell you no because I'm the Mom and I'm the boss."

K: "No, I'mmmm the boss! You not the boss!"

*Sigh*

Silly Saturday

Here are a few pictures from today. I think we all have pictures of ourselves with our shirts on our heads right? :) And the second one is my little woman's first attempt at putting on lipstick, not bad for the first time!

Kaitlyn's Second Birthday Party

A part of me cannot believe I am writing about my baby's second birthday, how does this happen? It is true what they say, the days go by slow but the years go by fast. Her party was a blast and there was no mistaking who it was all about. I think it is safe to say a good time was had by all. Kaitlyn was surrounded by her family and friends and most importantly, everything Dora! What could be better? Here are some pictures of my girl's special day. And the night before, her last night of being one...