The gift of interrupted plans

I am not always grateful when "my plans" are interrupted, but this moment in time is a gift for which I am thankful.  

My plan to take pictures of Lily on the beach at sunset were diverted by strong winds and a little girl who needed to find a bathroom. :))

The closest stop was my parent's church.  After we took care of business, I decided to swing around back to show Lily the flowers on my grandmother's grave.    

I have shared many stories about my Mimi with Lily and she knows how special she was to me growing up.  

What I thought was an inconvenience turned out to be a magical moment in time.  

The light was beaming down and my Mom was able to tell her about my sweet Mimi and the legacy she left our family.    

Today is my Mimi's birthday. 

I am reminded of her quiet gentle spirit...her creative talents...her humility...the times I would walk down to tell her goodnight and hear her praying for us by name...her love for the Lord...her servant heart...her gratitude to others.  

I wish she could have known Lily.  She would have loved Lily's laugh, her funny sense of humor, her smile and the songs she loves to sing.  

So grateful for diverted plans that remind me of God's desire to orchestrate even the smallest details to show me more about His unfailing love.  

    

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."  

Proverbs 16:9

  

   

Inaugural blueberry picking

Earlier this week Lily and I ventured out to the Golden Bell Blueberry Farm  to meet some friends from our adoption play group to pick blueberries. 

It was opening day at the farm so there were plenty blueberries for all.  

This was a first for both of us and Lily was hooked.  

We arrived a little early so we had fun exploring on our own before meeting up with our friends.  

What started out to be a cloudy morning turned out to be a beautiful day enjoying God's beauty.  

Lily wasted no time filling up her bucket even if she had to reach high to get the perfect blueberry...and taste test a few along the way :))  

She was very happy to see her friend "E" and meet some new friends from our group.   

She said over and over..."Mommy look how full my bucket is!!"  

Needless to say we don't have many left...another visit may be in order soon!

I think this may become an annual tradition.
Praying next year Lily can show her little sister how to fill her bucket full.  

Happy 4th!  

We are headed up to enjoy watching some fireworks on the lake.  

a miracle that never fades...

The colored eggs are in the attic...the baskets tucked away...the Easter meal shared among family is now a distant memory and yet the truth of Easter never fades.  

Every new day is a gift to celebrate our risen Lord.  

A reminder that I have been given life because of His grace.

I am forgiven.  

I am redeemed.  

I am a child of the King.  

Several times this week Lily has said "let's talk more about Jesus".  

  

I love that her heart desires to know more about our Savior.  

That her childlike faith strengthens mine.  

Right now we are reading The Story for Children.  

As timing would have it, this week we were reading all about the events that led up to the crucifixion of Jesus. 

The resurrection eggs we made together last week came full circle 

as she continued to ask questions and connect the dots.  

Every time we saw a cross this week (which was almost daily), she would say, 

"Mommy Jesus died on the cross so that I can have life!"  

Thank you Lord for using our daughter to remind me that your miracle never fades. 

You are waiting each day for me to run into your arms.  

No greater love

Lily and I spent most of our morning decorating eggs together.  She was in her element creating, painting, gluing and making a beautiful mess :))

She is a creative soul at heart and I love seeing her joy unfold when she is free to explore and do what  makes her heart sing.  I asked her tonight after reading our Bible story what was her favorite part of our day and she immediately said, "decorating eggs with you".  

 Last week while we were on a walk she found this stick and insisted that we make a cross out of it.  Then we talked about what Jesus did on the cross for us and she wanted to draw a picture of him to nail to the cross.  Today I received a gift in the mail from a dear friend with this love charm bracelet.  The timing was perfect as we reflect and remember the great sacrifice and love Christ poured out for us on the cross.  I am so undeserving and yet He loved me enough to bear my sin unto death so that I may have life.  

We also made some resurrection eggs today to help her better understand the meaning of Easter.  Here is a clip of Lily telling the story of God's love and redemption...

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lasts down his life for his friends."  John 15:13

May you reflect in the power of the cross this Easter.  

Magical Princess

Last weekend I walked by Lily's room and found her all dressed up in her
butterfly wing princess dress that her aunt and uncle gave her for her birthday.
 I decided to snap a few pictures to capture the moment (even her mischievous little grin).

The light pouring into her room was a welcome change to the rainy, cold weather we have had in recent days.  

She kept waving her wand around saying "magical princess...magical princess".  

I pray that she will always embrace this spirit of freedom and joy to be all that God has created her to be. 

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10

Forever Family Day...3 years later

When we met Lily on March 14, 2011 she held an apple tightly in one hand and a sucker in another. They were her sense of security when her world was changing upside down.

I ran across the sucker recently as I was looking for something in our attic. I was amazed to find it exactly as it was the day we met her. The wrapper slightly torn...half way open...covering the sweet treat hidden inside. An interesting analogy to the gift we were handed that special day. Our little girl...broken yet full of sweet joy beyond measure once we began to unwrap the layers of her personality over time.

These are the shoes she was wearing...in perfect condition...purchased just for her to wear to meet her forever family. An act of love and thoughtfulness on behalf of those who cared for her.

It is amazing how time heals and changes our perspective on life. As I reflect on this pivotal day, I am humbled by the beauty that continues to rise out of the brokenness...out of the hard places we have walked. So much joy...so much gratitude...so much hope fills my heart. Our daughter, chosen from the beginning of time, is a beautiful reflection of God's grace.

I love these words to Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Only One and Only You".  

 Happy forever family day Lily Grace! You are God's masterpiece and such a blessing to our family.

A little fedora love, smiles and a beats pill...

I am WAY behind on posting pictures to my blog and plan to catch up in the near future but for now, I wanted to share two of my favorite valentines with you.

These two certainly have enough love and joy to go around and their smiles can light up any room. A few weeks ago we got a break in the weather and headed out to have some fun with our Valentine props Lily helped me put together.

Spencer is always a good sport but I'm sure the fact that I promised to take some pics of him with his new beats pill (a portable speaker) was an added incentive :))

Spencer was playing his favorite songs (to which Lily knows most all of the words) and she had a ball dancing around to the music.

They both are looking so grown up in these pictures and it reminds me how quickly time passes.  

Spencer is counting down the days until he gets his driver's permit and Lily becomes more independent daily.   

My heart overflows with love and gratitude for these two blessings God has given us and we wait with expectation for the little one God has chosen for our family.  Wouldn't that be a great Valentine's gift to receive today?    

Earlier this week I was soaking up some quiet time studying God's word and writing in my journal.  

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."  Colossians 3:2

Easier said than done in this world where so many "things" can easily distract me and take my eyes off course.  Life has been a little crazy lately and it's been awhile since I have stopped to rest in God's word and let His truth wash over me. 

When I make time to silence the noise of life I am reminded that when I invest my heart and my time in eternal things, I experience more of the fullness of God.  

Our family verse for the month is a great reminder of this truth.  

Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."  Proverbs 4:23

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Love isn't love until you give it away...who will you show some love to today?