Cutie Pie = Melting Heart

I was thinking the other day, that the Lord really knows what He's doing.

I know -- that's the understatement of the year, right?
(You were expecting deep, philosophical insights?)

Well, the thought hit me as I looked at this sweet face:

 

 

Yes -- that's the look she gives me when I ask her to pose for a photo! We'll work on "natural" with her one of these days.

You would think I'd do a post like this around her birthday time, but you never know when inspiration will hit. Six years ago, if you had asked us, we would have told you that our family was "finished". We'd had our kids. They were growing up, busy with school and friends and music and drama and sports, and our lives were full.

We certainly weren't thinking about having another baby. We totally had the "Robert Murtaugh"  [Danny Glover] thought: We're too old for this!

Young people have babies. Young people have the energy to handle this. People whose backs don't hurt. People who can survive on less sleep. (This was before I started teaching Early Morning Seminary) Young people who don't have gray hair. Young people who can chase after runaway toddlers, who can still fit in the kiddie car rides at the carnivals, and who can stand back up again after sitting on the floor.

Little did I know back then what an impact she would have on our family.

Sure, I knew our older kids would get the chance to learn about babies, firsthand, and on a daily basis. They'd learn to change diapers, and do all the baby care things. They'd have a ton of babysitting opportunities.

But I didn't foresee the deeper lessons.

Things like learning patience. Not just my kids, but all of us. Patience that I forgot I'd learned once before.

Learning to take a breath before I speak. Oh, wow -- is that ever a big one for me!

Learning to edit a bit more the kinds of things that are on TV. (We don't watch bad stuff on TV, but I am careful about potentially scary or violent scenes that an adult can understand, but could cause a child nightmares.)

With this little girl around, we are remembering the simple pleasures of life. Flying a kite, drawing with sidewalk chalk, blowing bubbles. Going for a walk can be an adventure. The best parks all have slides and swings. Friends are important. Getting out of the house is important. Learning scripture stories matters. Family Home Evenings matter. Pink frosting matters, too.

 

 

Heavenly Father sent us this little girl to teach us all this and more.

His Plan is something I've learned not to question, because He knows what He's doing.

 

I think the biggest thing that I've learned -- and am still learning -- is simply,

 

JOY.

 

She brings so much joy to us. She makes us smile at times when I know we would never have been smiling otherwise. I tiptoe into her bedroom in the mornings, and she turns to me and says, "Hi, Momma!" in the sweetest sleepy-voice ever and melts my heart.

 

When I see her again after a couple of hours away at preschool or Primary at church, she runs up to me, throws out her arms, and says, "Momma!! Oh, I've missed you SO much!" Like it's been for-ever. She will give this same reaction to any of us. It's pretty darn stinkin' cute! It's not that she's actually missed us that much, but it's her way of greeting us.

 

She's growing up so quickly, I feel like time is racing away from me. Wasn't she little just yesterday?

 

 

 

How can she be five years old already?

 

Bedtime snuggles are a moment in time that I enjoy -- when I'm not preparing for Seminary. So far, I've got her trained to brush my hair for me; of course, it' a tradeoff, because I get to brush her hair as well. It's a girl thing. The best part is when together, we review our day. I learn about what was important to her as we share with each other what our "happy time" and "sad time" were for

that day.

 

And that's when she takes my mind from "important" stuff, to show me things that are truly Important.

 

 

 

Thanks, Heavenly Father. I needed that.