Isn't She Lovely....

16 years ago I laid eyes on the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen. I was already so in love with this little person before I'd seen her & when I finally did she took my breath away.

Last Saturday we celebrated the past 16 years we've been blessed with this wonderful princess. Let me tell you, it was no small event, it was quite a celebration!!
All the girls had lots of fun getting dolled up for the soiree...

My Princess wore a beautiful gown, tiara, & some homemade bling =) She was the star of the show & she looked amazing!!

The night's events started with our Pastor praying a blessing over our young lady & she then committed her purity to her father as he gave her a ring to signify that vow. My Princess then entered the hall with her court & they all performed a dance for us. Then her father & I exchanged her smaller tiara for a larger one & her slipper for a heeled shoe. Both of these traditions signify stepping into womanhood.

She then danced with her Daddy, oh...it was so beautiful, I felt like I was gonna just cry my heart out. I didn't of course because it was her day...their moment. But, here was my sweet little girl...all of a sudden this amazing woman & she was so happy & content in the arms of her Daddy.

It was beautiful.....
After all this it was time to party!
My little girl (not as little anymore) danced all night with all her friends & had a ball!!

We all stayed up til the wee hours of the night, well....some of us stayed up.....

We ate too much food, danced too silly, & laughed lots, it was a wonderful night!

One I know my Princess will remember for the rest of her life.
I love you, my Baby....

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Confetti Countdown Filmstrip New Year's

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OK, so I don't do New Years pics but if I did I would soooooo send this. Who knows? Maybe I will...God blessed me with some purdy babies =)

Unconditional Love

Groggily I get out of bed & stumble towards the bathroom....again. Many babies have....er...adjusted my inner workings so an uninterrupted nights sleep I shan't enjoy again. I take a detour towards the door to my left & listen, quiet...nothing. Yet, I can't help myself, I open the door & there they are....3 of my 4 Princesses, sleeping peacefully. I'm still not really awake & the moment's sweet but I have to get to bed before the baby stirs, but then I hear something. Quietly, she sings "who will love me for me, not for what I have done or what I'll become, who will love me for me, cause nobody has shown me what love really means"
The air sucks out of my lungs, I feel as though I'm sucker punched.
My girls sleep soundly as the singing comes from the radio & the words echo in the air. I begin crying, feeling convicted. Questioning, what did I do today to show Christ to my children?? How did I show them His unconditional love??
I begin to feel racked with guilt & shame, I'm thinking of every time I spoke harshly with them & they looked back with tears in their eyes. I remember when they wanted to play with Mommy but Mommy was too busy with something "important"
I'm crying so hard that I think I may wake them & then I hear more of the song that has moved me to tears....

I will love you for you Not for what you have done or what you will become I will love you for you I will give you the love The love that you never knew

This song is about the love God gives to the broken, abandoned, forgotten, confused & every body in between. It's more than that though, it's about redemption, restoration, & peace. He softly spoke to me that night, asking "are you loving my sheep?"
You see, God...the creator of the awesome heavens, the magnificent earth, the majestic mountains~He created these children. With His own hands, He wrapped them up in my womb as a gift to me. And now asks....are you cherishing your gift? Or have you begun to take your gift for granted? Are you loving this gift as you did when first received from me? Or have you begun to put conditions on these good gifts??
What my point is, what I felt so strongly that night, in the still darkness, as I sat alone with God was this. I have not loved my children as God loves me. I have loved them as best I could but I have put expectations on them & been unfair at times. I have wanted their forgiveness but have held sin against them. I have not treated them as God would want me to.
I'm not confessing that I'm a terrible woman & horrible mother.
I'm confessing that I'm a sinner. That I need to remember that my children are looking to me to see Christ's unconditional love. They are looking to me to see the example of who God is & how He cherishes & adores them.
I need to show them that no matter what happens, what they do or don't do, how they fail or disappoint, not for what they've done or what they'll become~that I will love and love
and LOVE.....
Just as Christ loves me...and you.

Princesses

OK, so many times I've referred to my girls as animals. My zoo. That's because ever since my oldest was a baby she's been Cow. So naturally the rest had animal names. But I also call them my Princesses. I want them to know they are blessed & highly favored (Luke 1:28).
And they are daughters of the King of Kings. I want them to understand that they are royalty.
Well, the other day for some reason I got to thinking about their personalities & what type of Princesses they are. Let me start with Cow,
I see her as the Medieval Princess....

She reminds me of this image above. The first thing you may notice is the dark colors, the turned & hidden face. And my Cow does have some of those qualities. She likes to wear black & isn't your average damsel in distress. However, what I see is so much more, I see the flowers reaching to her because she brings so much joy & life into this world. I see the sun reflecting God's glory on her. And just as the girl above is doing my Princess knows when to turn away (1st Timothy 6:11) & that makes me very proud.

Then I have my Bear, ya know it's funny I call her that because when you hear "Bear" I'm sure strong images come to mind. However, I also call her my gentle flower, she can be so soft & sweet. She is my girly girl, all sparkles & shimmers.
She is your average Fairy Tale Princess.....

When I look at her I see Cinderella. This sweet innocent girl has had it a bit too rough for her tender age. She's lived through more trials then I would of wanted but my princess doesn't have a"Fairy Godmother" instead she has someone better, her Abba Father. He is her King & he is enthralled by her beauty (Psalm 45:11) I know through Him she will live "happily ever after"

Now logically, I would come to my Monkey but I'm gonna save her for last. You'll see why in a minute =)
So here's my wee munchkin......

My newest Princess. I chose a simple silhouette to describe her because we have yet to see how God will use us to mold & shape her for His kingdom. We don't have a clear picture as to who she is yet but I am so excited to get to know her. To learn who she is, what will energize her, what will challenge her, & honestly...just to enjoy her. She is a blessing we've waited so long for.

And now we come to my Little Monkey....ah she is more than a handful. She keeps me on my toes & challenges me daily. Not with disrespect, she just has a way about her that makes your face twitch a lot!! So who best describes her??? Please click on the link below & you can have a small window into our world =)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNu_kqxqbew

Now why did I pick this video?? Because this is a new breed of Princess!! She is a little stick of dynamite!! Just as the video begins she is like most girls, dancing, singing, & a picture of tranquility. Then all of a sudden she is on "the attack" & can certainly knock you for a loop!! However, with my Monkey it's never intentional. She never hurts anyone because she can, she is a force & is still learning to contain it, her strength is not physical, it's deep within her. When I was pregnant with her a stranger came up to me & The Hubby & said "I just wanted to tell you, your child is going to be strong in the Lord" (Ephesians 6:10) Then he walked away, I believe these were prophetic words & I claim them for her. She says all sorts of "interesting" things that make me wonder. I believe God is going to use her mightily & right now I need to help her with all of those little bursts that go on inside of her. When she turns all that strength & energy towards God & His work for her....whew!! Watch out!!

So, these are my Princess, they're all very different & I love them for that. They don't fit any one type of mold, we don't serve a "cookie cutter" God. He is the master creator & makes no mistakes. My daughters are beautiful & amazing, I'm blessed & proud to call them mine. They are unique & special, fearfully & wonderfully made.

The Blessed Supermom~