Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Lullaby

For my precious, now 1-year old daughter...This song describes how I feel about you perfectly!!

"They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up"

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Such an honor...

Kevin and I have been asked to be godparents for our friends' 6-month old baby. Our soon-to-be goddaughter, Brooke, will be baptized on Christmas Eve. After getting off the phone with my best friend today, I was so honored that we were asked and chosen to serve in this very special role. It's a role that Kevin and I take very seriously as we are making a life-time commitment to Brooke that we will be there to help her grow her faith in the Lord.
-----
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
—John 8:31-32

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Christmastime, shopping and the making of Dummy Shoes

December is by far the best month of the year. Christmastime has always been my favorite time of the year. I love going shopping and working hard to pick out just the perfect gift for everyone on my list. I love anticipating their faces as they unwrap their present to see what they got this year. I'm like a little kid on Christmas morning, as I wake up around 5 a.m. wanting to get everyone up and together to start our day. It used to be about finding out what Santa got me, or what that special present under the tree that had my name on it was, but now it has turned into an excitement for the family time and getting to see those faces behind the wrapping paper that excites me the most.

This past weekend, I got a good portion of our shopping done and got some presents wrapped and under the tree. I love the way the lights on a Christmas tree twinkle at night, and how the bows from the presents glow under the tree. It's such a pretty sight. And, so far, Brooklyn is doing great at not bothering the presents, even though I know she has her eye of a couple!

We started out our shopping extravaganza on Saturday with taking Brooklyn to see Santa Claus. We got into the monster line that wound around Santa's Village in the mall. Brooklyn, who is learning to walk (she can walk about 6 feet and then she falls down), was really interested in the decorations that were along the path (reindeers, trees, lights and fake snow). I finally picked her up, to her dismay, and pointed through the trees to the man sitting in the sleigh all dressed up in a red suit. She pointed at him and said "Ohhh.." By the time it was her turn, and she got a better up-close view of the man she had been watching for the past 20 minutes, she was intrigued. But, the minute that Mommy sat her down on his lap and moved away, her intrigue turned to a scream followed by tears and a runny nose. She was completely terrified. She didn't not want this stranger holding her. She didn't understand what was going on, and even though she is pretty good with other people holding her, she didn't want to have any part of this at all. I immediately grabbed her and she grabbed ahold of me, and the photographer told Kevin and I to sit down next to Santa, and he would take our picture. Brooklyn was still very scared though as she didn't want to wave bye to Santa or even glance in his direction.

As I got in line to pay for the CD we had made with the photos, the man in front of me looked at her and how her face was tear-stained and her nose was red, and he said, "It's okay honey, in the next couple of years, you will like it so much better once you realize what Santa Claus does." But, I don't know. I was never too fond of sitting on Santa's lap and Kevin called Santa "Dummy Shoes." The day after Thanksgiving as my mother-in-law and I were shopping, she explained the meaning of Dummy Shoes. Kevin called anyone who wore a mask of any sort a Dummy. And, after reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and how the illustrations showed Santa standing in the fireplace, the phrase Dummy Shoes came about. So, if liking or not liking to sit on Santa's lap is in the genes, I will say that Brooklyn won't be too fond of him, even as she gets older. Only time will tell.

We got one really cute photo before she got really scared and started crying. We'll end up taking her back next year, I am sure... maybe she'll learn to like the guy.