My Baby Is Four

My little sweat pea is four today! In some ways it feels like just yesterday that I was holding her in my arms at the hospital, learning her cries, smelling her sweet baby smell and waking up several times a night to soothe her.  In other ways it feels like it's been ages since she was little enough to fit in the crook of my arm.  

Four is still so little.  Little enough that I can carry her often.  Little enough I am still her super hero.  Little enough that she prefers baths over showers.  Little enough that the entire world is viewed through the lens of imagination.  Little enough that she could never get enough kisses or hugs. Little enough that she still loves to snuggle in my arms on the couch. 

But, four is so big!  Big enough that she can go potty almost all by herself.  Big enough to go to school and do SO well.  Big enough to get dressed, put on shoes and brush her teeth on her own.   Big enough to sing and dance along to her favorite songs.  Big enough to ride her scooter and her bike.  So big and so little all at once. 

I never thought that I would have only one child for as long as I have but, I can tell you that these four years one on one with my daughter, Daisy Love, have been an absolute treasure.  She is a priceless give from God.  My arrow.  {Psalm 127:4}

 "I'll love you forever.  I'll love you for always.  As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be." 

(roger knapp)

Happy Happy fourth Birthday my darling brown-eyed girl! 

Run To God

I heard a really moving story on the Christian radio station this morning on my way home from dropping my kiddo off at preschool.  A 13 year old boy called in to the station to share that one of his beloved farm animals broke its back and the only option his family had left was to put the animal down.  The responsibility fell to the boy by his choice and in tears the boy retells that after he put his special friend down he was crying out to God and asking why this animal had to break it's back and why did it have to die and he said that God lovingly told him, "My only son died."  It was a simple reply but, packed with a much deeper message.  The boy concluded his call (still in tears) by saying, "I just want people to know this.  It's so important that they know when they lose a loved one or a beloved pet that God understands.  He had to give up his only beloved son.  We can run to God with our hurts.  He understands better than anyone.  Run to God."  

What a wise boy!  I was seriously choked up listening to his call this morning.  It was powerful to hear a young boy share about how God spoke to Him in the midst of his brokenness and how God's simple words ministered to this boy's heart in a powerful way.  God is personal.  He will speak what we need to hear.  He knows how to comfort and encourage each of us perfectly because He alone knows our hearts.  

Sometimes we get angry and blame God when we are hurting or when we lose a loved one.  It's totally understandable to feel that way at times.  I think many of us have or will be there at some point in our lives.  But, I have learned that in this fallen world that we have no greater ally than God when we are broken.  He understands most profoundly what it means to endure it all.  Sometimes I think we forget just how great His sacrifice was.  I think we lose sight of what great lengths our Heavenly Father has gone to, to reach us, redeem us and set us free.  His love for us is immeasurable.  Run to God friends.  He will meet you in the midst of whatever you are going through.  His love heals.  

I know a lot of happy people, currently in thriving life seasons (yeah for the mountaintops!) but, I also meet hurting and broken people in the valley's of life every day.  People looking for hope.  People looking or encouragement.  People needing to be comforted.  People living defeated. People needing to know that they are not alone. 

God's arms are always open.  He will never leave you. 

"Then Jesus said, Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 

I shared this video a while back on Facebook but, it is seriously one of my favorites and is going to be on repeat in my house for a while.  I literally get chills every time I listen to it.  

"Hallelujah.  Thank you loving God for sending your son to teach us what perfect love looks like.  To teach us what true sacrifice means.  To teach us how to serve, forgive and surrender.  Thank you for His ultimate sacrifice..."that while we still sinners, Christ died for us!!"  Thank you for conquering death so that we have the hope of eternity with you in paradise.  Thank you God for leading us to victory!  You know our hearts and your love for us knows no bounds.  We never have to run from you God because your arms are always open. 

Romans 8:37-39  "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Capturing Her Essence

When I grew up, video cameras were the size of a small car and people would have to lug those suckers around for hours at the cost of severe shoulder cramps and stiff muscles for days just to capture special events.  Now we all have tiny, light weight cameras right at our fingertips (in our phones) and I have not captured even half as much as my family did before me.  I have no excuse.

 I got the urge this week to document through video and I carved out a little extra time to capture the essence of my kiddo who is almost four.  I wanted to capture her mannerisms and facial expressions, her conversational style, her vocabulary, her interests, her sweetness and silliness all at the same time.  She is changing so much every day it seems and this age really is so much fun.

Daisy is not great about carrying on as usual if she knows that I am recording her.  I have to make it appear as though the camera is sitting on the table away from me which is why she is off screen a bit in one of the videos.  

We had fun making coleslaw together or as she calls it Kholz.  I think she enjoyed making this "show" so much that we will be doing more of them in the future and maybe someday she will do a show all on her own:).  I hear that there happens to be another Daisy Martinez and she is a celebrity chef!  Maybe it has something to do with the name?  You never know...;)

 I am impressed that I am managing to pass on an interest in cooking in spite of the fact that I dislike it so much.  Maybe someday Daisy will love cooking so much that she will want to cook dinner for me every night.  Nah.  It never works out that way but, I'll keep telling myself that in the hope of keeping some wind in these sails of mine.  lol

  Oh and please excuse the ant that rudely video bombed us.  I noticed him after watching this video a handful of times and realized how gross it is to see a bug in a video revolving around food.  Sigh.  We have had a few of them marching around this winter but, I promise our house is not overrun with bugs and this food was eaten by our family...not guests. lol

 Daisy really wants to be "married."  She obviously has little to no idea what it means to be married but, she thinks it has something to do with wearing a white princess dress and that is enough to get her excited.  The boy she wants to marry is Vincent.  He is a sweet neighbor friend:).  

Daisy is such a mega girly girl but, she can also be wild and rough at times.  I'd say she's a good balance:).   I think this video captures so much of her personality.  Love my little peanut.

and here is a super short video of Daisy at her first ballet class. She loves ballet. The short 45 minute class can really wear her out because she strains so hard to do exactly what the teacher says and it doesn't always come easily for her.  She loves wearing her tutu and she loves wearing all pink.  It can be a challenge to get any color other than pink on her some days.  Little pink princess.