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