This is when you know...

This is when you know that your "baby" is indeed no baby at all. It started about four weeks ago when he moved from the the pre-toddler/baby room to the TODDLER room at the hourly childcare center. I wasn't happy about it at all, but recognized that he was, in fact at that 18-month age mark. Then this...

 

He's actually big enough to hold his nebulizer mask. He is no baby anymore, that's for sure. My sweet little guy is growing up way too fast. He's saying quite a few words now, has a big personality, blows lots of kisses, follows in Daddy's footsteps with every chance and is just as sweet as ever. I am trying to capture every moment and remember these precious days, but I can't help but be reminded that he is, in fact not a baby at all. He's a sweet little boy now, no matter how much Mommy doesn't want to admit it.

God is Stalking Us...

Do you remember when you were in high school and you overheard someone talking about a topic that you thought YOU were the only one who knew about? When you realized that they had somehow gotten your information - they knew your intentions, were you angry? Betrayed? Or did you feel more loved than you ever had in your life? I doubt it was the latter, but when it's Jesus doing the peeping, frankly, it's overwhelming.

We are currently reading Crazy Love by Pastor Francis Chan. It's a great book telling of how crazy God's love is for us and all the crazy things He's willing to do and HAS done for us. It's been a hot topic at home. Rob and I have talked about God's love a lot lately. I am grateful for the book that is leading us into these conversations. Chan mentions talking with God. When you KNOW that he's with you, he's listening and responding. He talks about how awesome that feels. Well, naturally (and sadly), Pastor Chan is probably more in tune with his relationship with Christ than I am, but I remember feeling very excited about the thought of being one-on-one with Jesus. I have felt that way a few times over the past few years, but it seems few and far between, that I allow myself to be open to that.

Sometimes, whether you are seeking Him or not, He's coming. That's what I love so much about Jesus. HE knows that I need him and that I want him, even when I am failing to realize it myself.

Sunday was a good day, overall, but we hit a couple rough patches. Rob and I found ourselves snapping at each other over petty things. I was grumbling about nonsense. He was responding with spite. It just wasn't cute, nor was it glorifying our creator, which we so happened to be on our way to do...headed to church. After going to church, then to bible study and staying a few hours at our friends, we finally made it home. We realized that we were both adding a little fire to our responses and decided to talk once the kids were in bed. So we began to discuss, i.e. point out the other's faults, then defend ourselves, discuss some more, defend some more. Of course it never crossed our minds to pray or to seek God's guidance in all of this. We resolved to suggest one thing for the other to work on for the week as our "goal" for the other. He suggested that I work on not being to uptight about what the kids wear (it's definitely a battle that I need to just let go, but haven't), and I suggested that he work on taking initiative. *Whew* that's done. Now let's watch some tv!

Ha! God wasn't having it. After getting online to check my e-mail and then facebook, I noticed a news feed for lifechurch.tv about Marriage Mentors. I am interested in pursuing that in our future, so I thought I'd just read what they posted. When I clicked, it took me to their website. Which had a banner at the top that said "Church Online - Experience starts in: LIVE". I really didn't think much of that and read on about their mentor program. Then I thought, I wonder if that means that church is live right now, so I clicked on it. It was live and the sermon had already started and was about half-way through. Here's what I heard: "Ladies, if you want your husband to sit in the driver's seat and take control, THEN YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF IT!"

Well, that got my attention, to say the least. So Rob heard it and started watching with me. Of course, he's thinking, Oh, this will be good, now she'll understand why I don't take initiative. Not long after that, the pastor said, "and husbands, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE WHEEL!" We sat and watched the remainder of the sermon, glued to the screen, partly in disbelief that this is seriously what we are watching, not 30 minutes after our own conversation about me being a control freak and him not taking control. The pastor goes on about how women take control because their husband doesn't. But that it's not a woman's place to. She should step back, pray for him to take control and let God take care of the rest.

Needless to say, we felt completely convicted...and silly, for not praying about it in the first place. But mostly, we felt STALKED! I mean, seriously, God was RIGHT THERE with us during that entire conversation. He knew exactly what we needed to hear and when we didn't turn to him with our problem, he jumped right in. God amazes me every day, but that just rocked my world.

Here's a link to the sermon series: http://www.lifechurch.tv/message-archive/watch/once-upon-a-marriage/1

There's good and bad in all of this. The good thing is, I felt God's love so strong Sunday night and I have no doubt in my mind, that his provision will carry us through anything, even something as small as bickering with my husband. But sadly, I needed to be reminded of that. I needed Him to come find me, rather than me turning immediately to Him. God's promises are so abundant. Why we ever doubt him, I'll never understand. Until I figure it out though, I am going to just keep stumbling along and being amazed by His grace.

All this reminded me of a Francesca Battistelli song called Beautiful, Beautiful.

Don’t know how it is You looked at me
And saw the person that I could be
Awakening my heart
Breaking through the dark
Suddenly Your grace

Like sunlight burning at midnight
Making my life something so
Beautiful, beautiful
Mercy reaching to save me
All that I need
You are so
Beautiful, beautiful

So so so underservingly saved by grace,
Delilah

Kreid's 18 Month Portraits

Jamie has worked her magic, AGAIN! Here are some of the shots from Kreid's 18 month portrait session. So cute!!!

Mommy-n-Zay's Day Out

Since Rob and Mekyla had their big event with the Purity Ball, I wanted to be sure that Xzayvier got his time too. The Purity Ball is such an important event and naturally, it was a pretty big deal here at home. Since I was working with the Hope Center and Mekyla was beyond excited, it was obvious that Zay was feeling left out. We realized that we could not expect him to just understand how important the ball was. To him, it was just a real big deal for Mekyla and not for him.

Originally, we planned to go on a "date" on Friday night while Rob and Mekyla were at the ball. Since I ended up having to work the event, we postponed it until Sunday afternoon. It was HIS day, we were going to do whatever he wanted. That put us at his new favorite restaurant, Blackhorse and then at Xtreme Laser Tag. Xzayvier LOVED laser tag, and that is frankly, the understatement of the year. I bought two games, because we were both going to play. When I saw how excited he was, I asked him if he preferred to play two games or if he preferred me to play as well. He preferred two games! It was okay with me though, because that meant I got to take lots of pictures. :)


All geared up for some laser tag.


Our waitress was nice enough to take a photo of us before we left.



Zay looooooves Blackhorse. I do too, though, so it was a perfect "date".

We had a great time running around town and enjoying some fun and I am so happy we did it.

A Princess and Her King

This weekend Rob took Mekyla to the Hope Pregnancy Center's annual Father-Daughter Purity Ball. What a sweet, sweet event. The funny thing is, they were not supposed to be there. Rob was scheduled to be away for work this week, but things fell right into place for them to attend. This has been a hot topic in our house for some time now. As soon as we found out that he would be here for the event, he and Mekyla were asked to do an interview with the local newspaper. Ever since the paper ran on January 16, Mekyla has has had her heart set on that ball.


Here's the article: http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20100116/COMMUNITY/1160311/Father-Daughter-ball-is-fun-with-a-purpose





Some excerpts from the article: "I like to dance on Daddy's feet, and I'm going to do it again," said Mekyla Smith, a first-grade student at Kenwood Elementary School.



As both fathers talked about their daughters' futures, it was like watching a determined security guard scan the horizon with one mission — protecting a treasure.

Smith is the man Mekyla loves to have tickle fights with: "I try to tickle him, but he doesn't have a tickle spot."

And the Army dad is the man Mekyla says she prays for when he is deployed.

"I always pray to God to please keep my daddy safe. Sometimes I cry because I miss him so much, but he always comes back," said Mekyla as she gently ran her fingers across her white dress for the ball. She looked up at her stepdad of four years and dipped her head onto his shoulder as he bounced Mekyla's toddler brother on his knee.

"You struggle on how to do the right things, but events like this matched with every day, go a long way, I think. It's not like Daddy's preaching, it's like what she grows up knowing from experience," Smith said.



I could not be more proud of Rob. What an amazing example of love. He has shown Mekyla that she is beautiful, valuable and that above all else, she is HIS Princess.

I had the privilege to work the event, although that was not planned. I knew this was their night and I didn't intend to be there. I was actually scheduled to help on Saturday night, during the 6th-12th grade event. Sadly, the Purity Education coordinator at Hope (who is also a dear friend of mine) watched one of her closest friends lose her long battle with cancer last week. This, of course, took her away from work and that, coupled with me working so closely with her to plan the event, meant I was running the show! I did my very best to keep my distance from them, so I didn't infringe on their special night.



The reason for it all, Mekyla's new purity ring.

I have to admit that I was wiping tears away during this part of the event. The fathers were asked to get on one knee, to put the ring on their daughters finger and to repeat this:

You are a princess. I don't deserve to be your father. But I thank God for giving you to me. I promise I will do my best to show you what true love is. I give you this ring as a reminder that you are special to me and deserve to always be treated like royalty. Please never settle for less than the best, because that's exactly what you are to me...the best! No matter where you are or what you do, you will always be "daddy's girl". I love you.

And the girls were to respond with this:

This ring will be a reminder of the special plans God has for me. I will do my best to make you proud and to live a pure life for God. Thank you for treating me like a princess tonight. I love you.

I don't think this event could have been more special. Mekyla felt like such a princess to be all dressed up with her daddy in his dress uniform. Rob could not have looked more handsome, and I, well I could not have been more proud.