Goodbye September

Where does the time go? She's a year old. Already a year. I'm getting more nostalgic as I get older. Her one-year birthday reminds me of Rent lyrics, days of being a Tri Delt, and the voice of Shawna singing:

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,

Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear,

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,

How do you measure, measure a year?

Getting her out of her crib is the best part of the day. She is standing up waiting, just giggling with glee. She LOVES Norman. She has a new passion for lima beans. She has severe food envy. Regardless of what you are eating, she wants a taste. And she will throw a tantrum until you share your plate with her. She's ticklish under her neck and on her feet. She walks with a wide stance, like a sumo wrestler. Funny, because her thighs look like a sumo wrestler's. She likes to kick her right foot while drinking and twirl her hair with her right hand. She's like a mermaid in the bath, flipping over and around, going under and not caring. She's got the best dimples and loves to laugh. She owns all our hearts.

{ keepsake prayer }

If you don't read Ann Voskamp's blog, you should. A couple of weeks ago she posted this prayer for a daughter. I have such dreams for Lucy and this prayer so perfectly expresses them. I'm writing these words down because as she grows, this will be my prayer for her.

God, clothe this girl in a gown of Grace,
the only dress that makes beautiful the style of Your spirit.
Nourish her on the comfort food of the Word,
Word, that makes her crave more of Christ, have hunger pains for Him.

Enclose her in communion with You
You, Love who makes her love, who folds her heart
into a roof that absorbs storms,
that makes her tongue speak only the words that make souls stronger.

May her vocation in this world simply be translation
Translating every enemy into esteemed guest,
Translating every countenance into the face of Christ,
Translating every burden into blessing

When it's hard to be patient...make her willing to suffer,
When it's ridiculous to be thankful...make her see all is grace,
When it's radical to forgive...make her live the foundation of faith,
And when it's time to work...make her a holy wonder.

May she be bread and feed many with her life and laughter,
May she be thread and mend brokeness and knit hearts,
May she be dead to all ladders and never go higher, only lower,
to the lonely, the least, and the longing
Her led of the Spirit to lead many to the Cross -
that leads to the tomb, wildly empty.

And raise me, Lord, from the deadness of my own sins
to love this beautiful girl like You do...

In the name of Christ who rose
and appeared first
to one of His daughters...
Amen

a boy and his boat

making a boat at homestead heritage

the maiden voyage

a good start

art project going downhill

point of no return - a water hose is now necessary

and when i check on him, what do i find? my guy and his beloved brown sailboat!