I love the part of the “get ready for bed” routine where we sit down and read a book together and then all hold hands to pray. I love the calm interaction over the book and how my kids reach for my hand and hold tight as I pray for each of them by name. I read somewhere that it is important for your children to hear you pray for them personally so they hear that you are trusting God to do big things in and through them. I love that, so I have specific things I pray for each of them.

We ask God to loosen Bubba’s lips so that he can communicate with us. I pray that he will grow to be a strong man with a humble heart. And we ask that the Lord would draw him to Himself while he is still young and that Bubba would love God with his whole heart.

When I pray for Little I ask that the Lord would develop her mind and that she would be quick to learn, understand and remember; her body would be healthy and strong; and that she would have a heart to know Him.

We ask that the Lord would use KB’s strength of will for HIS glory and that He would protect her. I ask that He would use her for His kingdom in a mighty way. We pray KB would never know a day without Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

Often times, after we have prayed together and Bubba is snuggled under his covers, I will take his hand and whisper an additional prayer in his ear. I just can’t help it in the quiet moment where he is still and calm. I’ll pray while he sucks his thumb and then I kiss his chubby cheek and whisper how much his mommy loves him. He pulls his thumb out just long enough to give me a kiss and whisper “I luvyoo”. I usually leave his room on these nights with tears in my eyes.

Last night we had already prayed together as a family. KB was in bed and Little was reading on her bed waiting for me. I tucked Bubba in and kissed his cheek and as I stood to go he grabbed my two hands with his. I asked, “Oh, do you want to pray?” He let go of my hands and folded his in front of him and this is what a heard,

“Dear Jesus:
“gibberish-gibberish new hair, eyes, and mouth. more gibberish healthy gibberish KB. . . her full name. . . Sissy, Mommy, Daddy, and KB and Sissy. more unintelligible, yet purposeful, speech In your precious name I pray Amen.”

It was beautiful. I watched through squinted eyes the whole time and he was really saying something. He was concentrating on it and speaking it strongly. My heart longs to know what all he said, but I am so grateful that the Lord allowed me to hear him say his family’s names and understand enough words he said to KNOW he understands me when I pray for him. What a treasure.

“My Jesus, I love thee. I know thou art mine. To Thee all the follies of sin I resign. My gracious redeemer, my Savior, art Thou. If EVER I loved Thee my Jesus ‘tis NOW!”

Thank you, Lord

Yesterday was progressing just like any other day: KB was sick, Little was talking loudly, Bubba was running from room to room and bumping into things, I was emptying the dishwasher. (Honey had to be at orientation at 7:30AM on a Saturday, so he wasn’t at home.) The phone rang and it was our dear friends, David and Julia, wanting to know how I felt about them inviting Honey to the Cardinals/Braves game that afternoon. It was sweet of them to check with me first but there was NO WAY I would have said no to that.

Dave dropped off Julia to hang out with me and picked up Jeremy for the 3:00PM game. I got to spend 7+ hours with my friend and had such a good time. The guys got back around 8:00PM and we ate ice cream and laughed. It was just plain nice.

They left a little past 9:00PM and I tell you what – the last thing I remember is my clock reading 9:18PM as I laid my head on the pillow. What a day.