Dear KB,

I have this fear. Funny, you don’t even know what a fear is! You are fearless in the way you live every waking moment. Still, your mommy has the fear that she will forget what you are like right now.

The fear is well founded. You are my third child and I have already forgotten so much about your brother’s and sister’s early years. It all goes so fast and while I try to take photos with my camera and my mind, it just seems to get blurry after time.

I want to remember:
Your smile and how you use it to melt hearts and con your parents.
The way you run: with your tummy poked out, hands flying, with purpose and speed. It is hilarious!
The way you yelled “Onanna” at Easter and waved a palm branch that was the same size as you.
Your obsession with shoes.
Your love of stuffed animals, especially your duck, and how you hug them tight and kiss them with a loud, “mmwah”.
The way you hate having a wet diaper and as soon as you wet one you set to taking off your pants, calling for me to take you to the potty so you can wipe your bottom and put on a clean diaper.
The way you would rather be naked anytime.
The way you imitate your sister – copycat!
Your growing love of music and books and how you bring a book to me, back into my lap, and just plop down. With you there is no question that mommy would LOVE to read to you at any given moment.
How you attempt to say every word you hear.
Your intense pointing; fist half open and smile on your face.
The way you bat your eyes – like you know something we don’t.
How you throw your arms out to grab our hands at dinner time. Prayer is a part of your life already and it makes me smile.

You are a climber who pushes the limits and I am concerned you’ll get hurt one day. Still, I love that you know what you want – I just pray that the Lord will bring your will into submission to his own. I pray that you will never know a day without Him and that your love for stuffed animals will be transformed into a love for people.

I can’t wait to see what God does with you and through you. Still, I don’t want to lose what you are right now.

I love you,
Mommy

My daddy has a gift – he finds the perfect card, perfect quote, perfect story at just the right time. I LOVE that about him.

My circumstances have been a little rough lately. My daddy’s have been too – he’s been real sick. I don’t know if he sent this quote to me because of shared tough circumstances or just because my mom is here and reported to him that my life is tough. Either way, it ministered to my heart and I thought it might touch one of you too.

“In the northeastern United States codfish are a big commercial business. Note the following facts: There is a market for eastern cod all over, especially in sections farthest removed from the northeast coastline. But the public demand posed a problem to the shippers. At first they froze the cod, then shipped them elsewhere, but the freeze took away much of the flavor. So they experimented with shipping them alive, in tanks of seawater, but that proved even worse. Not only was it more expensive, the cod still lost its flavor and, in addition, became soft and mushy. The texture was seriously affected.

“Finally, some creative person solved the problem in a most innovative manner. The codfish were placed in the tank of water along with their natural enemy–the catfish. From the time the cod left the East Coast until it arrived at its westernmost destination, those ornery catfish chased the cod all over the tank. And, you guessed it, when the cod arrived at the market, they were as fresh as when they were first caught. There was no loss of flavor nor was the texture affected. If anything, it was better than before.

“Each one of us is in a tank of particular and inescapable circumstances. It is painful enough to stay in the tank. But in addition to our situation, there are God-appointed “catfish” to bring sufficient tension that keeps us alive, alert, fresh and growing. It’s all part of God’s project to shape our character so we will be more like his Son. Understand why the catfish are in your tank. Understand they are part of God’s method of producing character in your life and mine.”
—Charles Swindoll

If you know me, then you know this cola is perfect for me. . .