Dear Ansley,

You constantly amaze us with your "translation abilities"!!! We are constantly coming to you and asking what Zach has said because it is too hard to understand. Tonight you both had tried to sleep in the same room, but he was being too silly and we had to separate you. He went back to his room and was trying to tell me something and I just couldn't figure it out! I called daddy in and he couldn't either. So we knew we had to call in the professional-you!! You came in, Zach said it one time and you knew exactly what he was saying. He was trying to tell us that he wanted more light in his room, but that is definitely not how it sounded!

We are so thankful that you can understand him, or else we will be clueless a lot of the time :)

I love love love you!

Mama 

Dear Zachariah,

My funny little boy, you are so loved!

I am making a prediction right now. I think that you will either be a math whiz or your career will be math related. EVERYTHING you do somehow relates to numbers. It's crazy and I've never seen anything like it! You can already count and recognize your numbers, but what is the funniest thing is that when you see other shapes/letters/etc, they remind you of numbers. You love coming to me and telling me that "4+1=5" and I sure do love to hear it. You are so proud of yourself and I'm so proud of you too.

I am praying you do love math and that it comes easily because God knows that it doesn't come easily for me and I would never be able to help you with it :)

Last night when I put you to bed I said, "I love my boy". Your response was so perfect. You said, "I love my mommy." Be still my heart!!! I am so enjoying getting to spend "one on one" time with you now that Ansley is in school all day. I love you more than you will ever know!

I love love love you,
Mama

Dear Ansley

Your loving and sensitive heart never cease to amaze me. Today while we were driving home an "Amber Alert" came across the radio and my phone. You asked what it was so I explained that a child had been taken and no one knew where he/she was. I told you again that this is why we never want you to run away from us, because something like this could happen. I prayed right there in the car and I could tell your heart had been touched. I had asked you to get your laundry basket for me when you got home. But when we got home you said you would like to go in your room and pray first. I said that was fine :) I waited a few minutes and then went and stood outside your closed door. I began to weep as I heard you pray to the God of Heaven to protect this child and to help the child and the parents not be worried.  You were so sure that God would do it. You had so much faith. The kind of faith He tells us to have.

I've said before and I'll say again - your heart is a beautiful place. I know you are a sinner. I know that technically your heart is evil, but your heart is also full of love. I pray that never changes. Thank you for reminding me how to pray to my Father.

I love love love you,
Mama

Dear Ansley,

Your sweet and spontaneous prayers are such an encouragement and a challenge to me. I love hearing the prayer songs you learn, but more than anything I love to hear you "pour out your complaint before God." Sometimes they are simple "4 year old issues", but many times they are about things that I don't believe any 4 year old should have to even think about. I love your compassionate heart that would earnestly seek Jesus in all matters. When you wake in the middle of the night after having a nightmare, the first thing you ask me to do is pray for you. Baby girl, even I don't do that!!! I pray this never changes. I thank God for the blessing you are to me in so many ways.

I love love love you,
Mama

Dear Ansley and Zachariah,

Your Mimi loved Keith and Kristyn Getty's music. In fact it's almost all we listened to the last week of her life. Lyrics to one of their songs was also on the program for her memorial service. They write some of the most Spirit inspired music I've ever heard. I hope you both grow to love them as much as our family has.

That being said, Kristyn wrote a new song for her daughter called "A Mother's Prayer" and Poppy and I got to hear it live a few weeks ago. Beautiful music, amazing and heartfelt words. In fact, some of the words are things that Mimi prayed for you specifically even before you were born. Words that your daddy and I feel about you.

Before you close your eyes to sleep

I have a promise still to keep

As I hold you in my arms

I pray your little frame grows strong

And that faith takes hope while you are young

This is my prayer for you

Hold my hand, I'll teach you the way to go

Through the joys, through the years

The journey of these years

May you trust Him till the end

May you trust Him in the end

This world is not as it should be

But the Savior opens eyes to see

All that's beautiful and true

Oh may His light fill all you are

And the jewel of wisdom crown your heart

This is my prayer for you

Hold my hand, I'll teach you the way to go

Through the joys, through the tears

The journey of these years

He is with us till the end

He is faithful till the end

You'll travel where my arms won't reach

As the road will rise and lead your feet

On a journey of your own

May my mistakes not hinder you

But His grace remain and guide you through

This is my prayer for you

Take His hand and go where He calls you to

And whatever comes, seek Him

With all your heart

This will be my prayer for you

Father hear my ceaseless prayer

Oh keep her in your care

I love love love you, 

Mama

Dear Zachariah,

My little love, you made my day today!!

After getting disciplined for disobedience this morning I was able to reward you this afternoon for being super obedient. I love getting to reward you. It's just a reminder of how much our Father wants to reward us...and how much we must disappoint Him when we continue to go our own way. Anyway, after I told you about your reward you got so excited and started jumping up and down. Then you pointed your sweet finger at me and yelled, "that's my mommy!!" Little man, I gotta tell you...you have made my heart skip many beats in the past, but it was nothing like this. I know how it feels to be so unbelievably proud of your mom and that's what it felt like this morning...that you were proud I was your mommy. You made me feel so loved. I just can't even describe it. You do such a good job of making me feel loved, I pray I can do as good a job making you feel that way too.

I love love love you,

Mama


I have since realized that you were not saying "that's my mommy", but you were actually saying "yes ma'am mommy". That's ok though. I know you love me :) 2/26/13

Dear Zachariah,

You are the absolute light of my life little man. I wish I could put it into words. But it's just not possible. My heart is overflowing at the thought of you and your smile.

God has been showing me a lot right now through you and your sister. He taught me a lesson through her last week and through you this week.

Monday we were getting out of the car at Walmart. Like you ALWAYS do, you immediately reached up and took my hand so we could walk through the parking lot. You have no idea how much I love to hold your hand, but that's beside the point. As soon as you did it I thought, "why don't I do this with God every morning when I get up out of bed??" I would be so much safer and better off if I would just instantly take His hand that is reaching down to me. Thank you for being an example of complete trust. I pray that you will always trust me like that, but more importantly that you will trust your Father like that.

I love, love, love you.

Mama