To Grace

Happy Birthday to our 3-year old blessing.

She didn't know that today was her birthday, because we didn't tell her (Are we awful?) We decided to do her bday party in a week or two, when the glitter of Christmas has faded and when I can plan something really special for her. This is girl who deserves a great party! (She wants a princess/pink puppy dog party. That will be fun!)

When Grace entered the world on a Monday morning, January 2, 2006, I became a mommy for the second time. I felt the same way I felt on the morning that Luke was born--excited out of my mind, terrified, and oh so very undeserving. Not much has changed over the years of parenting--I am still terrified, I still feel undeserving, and I love them both more than I ever thought possible.

Grace is beautiful. That fact is obvious when you look into those brown marble eyes and see her mischievously happy smile; in fact, she is one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever seen. One of my prayers for her is that God will always bless her with inner beauty, that she will be possessed by the qualities that are earned through sacrifice and service, rather than solely those qualities that are given at birth. God is already answering that prayer.

Precious Grace is a gift to our family. She has taught me about laughing out loud, about being flexible, and about embracing new things and new people, which she is very good about doing. She is loyal to her precious favorites: her bobo (brother Luke), her baby dolls, her burp cloth, her pacifiers (with whom she will have to part company this year), and her shoes.

Like her big brother, she loves, loves, loves to sing. She sings loudly and with enthusiasm, and I smile deep down inside when I hear her sing to Jesus at night before bedtime. She loves to perform, and in Shakespearean fashion, the world truly is her stage.

She likes to play "famiwee" (family); I am always the sister, and she is always the mother. When we play family, we usually have at least one tea party and one diaper change for a couple of baby dolls.

Grace loves animals, the great outdoors, and swinging for hours. She thinks reading books is great fun, and anything she can do to earn her brother's attention, she'll do. (She can hold her own with him, too. Let's just say the girl can wrestle!)

I never have enough time to spend with her, and I miss her during the hours we are apart; I wonder what she is doing, how she is doing, and when she is doing it. I wish I had a video camera to record her moments during the day; I am jealous of her babysitter. I am thankful for her babysitter.

Time goes by so quickly. I can't believe Grace is three today, and I pray that God will give us many, many, many happy days together in the coming year. Thank you, God, for this gift. You gave Grace to us, knowing our imperfections and our frailties. Blessed be your name. Thank you for this gift.

I love you, Grace.
Mommy