Happy Birthday, Baby.

Keira,

Happy 1st Birthday, my dear girl.  I can't tell you how special it has been to have had this year with you - and I will only say that when you have your own little girl, you will better understand.

This year has been amazing.  When you were born - with your little cone head, I could hardly believe that you were finally here.  Your father and I had waited so long to meet you.  We were so excited to finally know the little girl we anticipated and planned for over the past months.  You were like my little chipmunk with your big ol' cheeks (and yes, I joked on many occasions that you were storing up for the winter).  But, you were so cute - and truly, still are.  You smiled from your first day, a smile that was indicative of the year ahead.

Even though you only have a few words, you and I have a special bond.  You are Mommy's special girl.  I know you.  You have the sweetest spirit - and while at times you're blatantly disobedient and rebellious (which you come by naturally, so we understand), you have a precious heart.  You hug Daddy and I all of the time - and even when you're sleeping, you pat our backs when we hold you...almost as if to say, "I love you too, Mama."  You are already so grown up, independent, strong, and willful...but so fun and caring towards others.  You have been a joy to our family and we don't hardly remember life without you.

God has used you to teach us much about His love for His children.  Daddy and I don't have it down yet, but even from the moment you were ours, we loved you in an overwhelming way.  Just by your position as our child, we love, and have loved, you.  The same way God loves us as His children.  As God has allowed Daddy and I to care for and raise you, He is teaching us much about HIs own plan for our lives, even though we're old, we still have much to learn.

Over these past months, the overwhelming thing that God has prompted me to pray for you is that He would direct you to become a women of integrity and character.  Honestly, I'm anxious to see how that will play out in your life - because I know it's from Jesus and He has something big planned for you.  As much as Daddy and I love you, Jesus loves you so much more (which we don't even understand, because we love you so much we hardly think there's room to love you more).  You are the special girl we prayed for - so we know God must have something really important for your life.

But, as it's your birthday, I've been remembering the events of last year, when you were born.  Many of our friends and family came to meet you at the hospital.  Our friend Mr. Erik gave you a lovely book that I read to you even last night.  When Mommy was a little girl, Grandpa listened to a song that was special to me - and something that Grandpa and I shared together...and the book that Mr. Erik gave you was the same song with pictures - so you and Mommy can share it together too!  I love you, Keira Shay.  May you stay forever young.


May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.


May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.


May you grow to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.


May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.


May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.


May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay...forever young.
                                -Bob Dylan

Updates

Well, it's been MONTHS since I've thrown out an update on our lives...OR shared my random thoughts.

To be honest, many days feel like there's nothing of significance (or interesting enough) to share.  But the truth is... this year has been a whirlwind.  Some good times, some hard times.  But full nonetheless.

Many people have commented about the lack of blogging, which I actually appreciate.  I will take it as kindness that you care enough about us to want to read about our lives.  Maybe you're just bored, but I'd like to take it as a compliment and expression of your care :)

But, I'm here now.  I do love writing and want to have some record of our lives through this time...so I'll review some events of these past months and try not to be too long winded or boring.  Share what we've learned and watched God do around us - and sometimes the silliness of our lives.


Hello, again, Chum.  I'm back.

Cabbage Patch Kids

Keira is growing a little out of the "Winston Churchill" stage...and moving on to the "Cabbage Patch Kids" stage.  I think it's a step up...but I also think she's the cutest thing ever (and has been since day one).

*Note the AMAZING photos from the AMAZING camera my AMAZING husband got me for Christmas. Thanks, Baby.  I love it!

2011.

2011 was a good year.  Some great things happened - and we are so thankful.  We had a nice Christmas and a fun New Years.  Generally, a really great holiday season.


It feels like the end of the year is a good time to be introspective, while you remember the past year and look forward to the next.  But, honestly, I haven't slowed down enough to really think through the year.  Literally, I sat at dinner a few nights ago with some friends trying to think of anything interesting that's happened this year...other than having a baby...and came up short.

Sincerely though - nothing interesting has to happen for it to be a great year.  Work is great.  Work has been great about having a baby.  Having Keira was and is great.  Transitioning into parenthood and being a working mom has been great.  We are blessed.

In many ways, it's been a hard year - as we have had changes and transitions.  But hard isn't bad.  Just hard.  We look forward to another great year ahead...as we grow together as a family, watch Keira grow a year older, and face the challenges day in and day out that come with life.  With this next year, we will continue (and hopefully grow) to love and trust Christ with our year.  He has been exceedingly good to us and we will remain thankful.

Why I Love the Doctors

I might be a horrible parent, but I love taking Keira to the doctors.  Even when she has to get shots.

The shot thing is a little weird, because I usually feel bad that I don't feel worst.  Don't get me wrong, it breaks my heart when she FREAKS out when they hold her down and get her in both legs a couple of times each...but I know it's the best thing for her, so it doesn't bother me that much.  Particularly the instant they're done.  I'm basically fine and don't mind the few seconds of her cuddling with me before she figures out she's fine too and there are interesting things on the wall to look at.


When I take Keira to the doctors office, for about an hour I have many people (whose opinion I value as I perceive them to be credible because they're in the medical profession) tell me how awesome my kid is.  How beautiful, healthy, smart, and big she is.  It's awesome.  I literally walk away struggling more than normal with PRIDE about my great kid.  Literally, I've had nurses walk into the room and say, "I heard there was a Gerber baby in here!  Oh my goodness!"  It feels good.


While I need to confess and repent of my pride of going to the doctors, we did have Keira's 6 month check-up a couple of weeks ago.  She weighed 19 lbs 7 ounces.  She's more than 28 inches long...that's off the charts for height (99% for weight).  She's so big, we've had MANY panicked moments of looking through her drawers thinking that she didn't have anything to wear...but Christmas and the generosity of family have gotten us through those bumps, so hopefully we won't struggle with the naked baby syndrome for a while.  Literally, when I do the laundry each week, I make different piles as I fold.  Jammers (yes, that's what we call pajamas at our house), play clothes, hang-ups, and too small to be packed up.  EVERY WEEK!!!

She finally cut teeth a couple of days ago - yes TEETH - 2 of them.  Limited rolling, but she's showing her stubbornness as she is clearly able to roll, just doesn't feel like it.  One day she'll get it.  One day.

Staff Christmas Party

I wish I had pictures - but will try to tell the story and post pictures as soon as I find them.

This past weekend we had our annual Staff Christmas Party.  For the sake of this story - I would like to remind you that I work at a church...an amazing church...but a church.  Part of the goal of the party is to bless our staff and take an opportunity to have some fun and relax.

Due to an unusual circumstances, we had some money invested in a large-scale game company that we were going to lose if we didn't use by the end of the year.  We use these large games and rides at Children's Ministry events a few times a year, but certainly we had no use for them (and were going to be out a bit of money) in November or December....

Until the Staff Christmas Party.


This year, we decided to have a lovely, beautifully decorated dinner in the Lobby of our church for the 65 staff people and their guests who were able to attend.  Midway through the evening, after the warm sentiments of our bosses, celebrating what we've seen God do this year, an announcement was made.

As a group, we walked into the Sanctuary.  The chairs had been cleared to house an adult moon bounce, an adult jousting inflatable station, and room for bachi balls and other games.  Yup.  We had a moon bounce in the Sanctuary.

So together, as a staff, we bounced and beat one another with giant foam Q-tips.  We were exhausted by the end (and I certainly felt both my age and the effects childbearing has on your body long-term).  But sincerely, it was the most creative grown-up party of all time.

I was the first one in the moon bounce - only to be followed in by our 60-something founding pastor.  The whole thing was amazing, and certainly something to write home about.  Rob took it easy on me when we jousted, but seriously, we had a blast.


So, next time you're throwing a party for a bunch of grown-up church workers....consider making a creative change!

Thanksgiving

Driving home from Thanksgiving dinner, I got really annoyed at a sign I read outside a church.

"Thanksgiving was never meant to be for one day."


Sometimes (let's face it, lots of times), little things like this really bother me.  I thought about the statement for a long time - mainly to try to figure out why it bothered me so much.  After some contemplation, I came to the conclusion, that while the words on that letterboard sign are correct, the idea is incomplete.  It seems unhelpful to me to nullify the value of a holiday on the holiday itself!!!  And while I strongly believe God's command to be thankful ALWAYS, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus, God also commands us to establish "ebenezers" in our lives...memorials to remind us of what God has done for us.  Knowing we are a forgetful people, God has called us to establish memorials as safeguards against our forgetfulness.  I believe, Thanksgiving is one such memorial.

Yes, in the beginning of America, we did essentially walk into someone else's house, eat their food, move in, and push them out.  But that aside, Thanksgiving can be a special time to come together with friends and family - and to set aside some focused time to give thanks to God for His unmerited grace and gifts to us.  I am so guilty of this human forgetfulness, that I am truly in need of this time of celebration and remembrance.

We did, in our family, have a great celebration of Thanksgiving...and we are thankful.