Gratitude: siblings

(He's reading to her.)

My sisters are a tremendous blessing in my life; they get my corny humor (ad inwardly think I'm hilarious, but are too cool to admit it), they relate to my overly-romantic sensibilities, they share faith in Jesus with me. I am spoiled to have the gorgeous, talented, interesting, deep wells of wisdom and character in the sisters I have. 

It gives me joy to see Ransom and Hosanna interact. Sure, I have to monitor to make sure he doesn't drop/throw something on her and I know she'll become savvy to the trick of shifting blame/getting sympathy by crying, but these kids are still blessings.  Oh, how Hosanna zeroes in on Ransom when he's around and how she smiles when he comes close to her. She looks up to him already. I feel so grateful every time Ransom asks to hold her or wants her near to him, or when he includes her in conversation. Or the time he was sitting in the cart in the store and reached back to hold her hand for several minutes to comfort her when she was crying. I am so looking forward to their future interactions and am praying for them to be best friends. Praying that he'll protect her and look after her. Praying that she'll encourage him and cheer him on. 

It goes without saying, but I am so thankful for these kids.

A letter to 5 month old Hosanna

Hosanna, you're 5 months old now! The sleepy newborn girl is gone. You're so animated and you love to try out your voice (and it's distinctly girly sounding)! You light up when we make eye contact and talk or sing to you. You are a daddy's girl, always have been. You also love your brother and like to touch his hair and coo at him! We love how cuddly you are and how you like to hold hands. You smile and sputter when we tickle you.

Your one-dimpled smile is so sweet; we're enjoying your toothless grin while we can because the way you put everything in your mouth lets us know you're teething. We just started putting you in a chair at the table with us and we love it. Soon you'll start eating solid food. 

Your hair is lighter, except for a dark patch at the nape of your neck. There's a blonde streak on top of your head, so Daddy's taken to calling you "Goldilock".

Rolling over is so easy to you but you're not a pro yet at getting where you want to go; you end up by the legos a lot. I suspect you already like Anne of Green Gables because you wouldn't sleep both times it was on, even though you couldn't see it. We'll watch it together soon enough, my kindred spirit!!!

Sometimes we call you Zanna. We are delighted with you. You are our little beauty. 

I had a baby girl

Lately I've been asking myself, "Is this really happening?" The reason is I feel so blessed, so rich, when I see my handsome husband and know I'm his and he's mine, when I observe Ransom playing King David or Mowgli or Joseph in Egypt, when I say "Hi Hosanna" and get a toothless grin in return. Oh the toothless grin, how it slays me! (In the best way.) 

Baby girl Hosanna is almost 4 months, she's a delight, loves & lives to cuddle, is enthralled with her big brother, and she lights up when you lock eyes with her and sing or talk to her. Ransom is a great big brother, always wanting to know where Hosanna is when she's not in the room, giving her a role like Baloo (Jungle Book) or Pooh/Roo (Hundred Acre Wood)*, even trying to comfort her when she's crying. I'm teaching him to pray for her too.

Time's going so fast and I needed to record a few of these things. They are important, and I don't want to forget what now feels like.

*In Jungle book play I'm usually Bagheera and AJ's Shere Khan; in the Hundred Acre Wood, AJ's Tigger & I'm Kanga.