You Now Have a DAUGHTER!

Twenty-five years ago today, we were blessed by God with a daughter!  Our sweet baby girl, Lauren, has been a lot of fun and it has been a joy to watch her grow up and mature.  She has kept us on our toes in a different way than her older brother but we have been (and are) deeply grateful for all the experiences we have had as her parents.  Memories are pouring forth today of the hours before she came into the world.  She kept us guessing whether she would actually show up at all. But by the end of the day, she quickly rushed into the world, barely giving  the midwife enough time to don her gloves!

Most parents think their children are smart, talented and good-looking.  I am no different from those parents.  My earnest prayer is not for more smarts, more talents and more looks to be heaped on but for her to grow in the Lord and know Him more and more.  That is my prayer for both my son and daughter.  It has taken me so very long to come to this level of maturity and I still have so very long  a way to go even still.  There are no shortcuts but I sure don't want them to be as thickheaded and stubborn as I have been in this walk in the Lord!

These children are not our own. They are God's and He gifted us with them to teach them His Word and to foster that love for Him and to personally know Him.  We didn't know this at the beginning of our parenting years, but we are thankful He has been patient with us and has given us many opportunities to restore those years in the wilderness.  Oh, how we wandered!  God is so good.  He is the Great Economist as He doesn't waste anything.  He uses everything in our lives for His purpose.  So we look forward to how God is going to work in the lives of our children.  Thank You, God, for the blessings of our children but most of all, thank You, Lord for Your Son, Jesus Christ, His sacrifice for us....the greatest gift of all.