The Father's Love

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Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  

Baby Love & Then Some

Gracie is vacationing with friends who love like family in Kentucky and Missouri while I prepare yet again for qualifying exams in a couple of weeks. She held her own for the first three days, keeping our conversations very brief and mostly on the topic of the care package. =) Last night, she called all weepy. She realizes now how much she misses me and promises that she does not want to leave me again. All future vacations will be together she declared. Also, she has lifted the ban on Baby Love, a pet name I swiped from Auntie Nae. On her 7th birthday she announced I could no longer call her Baby Love, nor could I sing the song that typically follows the sweet name calling. Devastation. Yes, I was devastated. Oh, and if I slipped up - she called me out on it. Sadness~ Well, happy days are here again because I can once again call her Baby Love. I sung her to sleep last night.  Tonight she called up with a request to read a book. She picked one and so did I.  She chose "Puppies, Puppies, Puppies," by Susan Meyers.  I picked "You Are My I Love You," by Maryann Cusimano.  Grace was enthralled with that sweet book and here is a bit of the why:

I am your parent; you are my child. I am your quiet place; you are my wild. 
I am your calm face; you are my giggle. I am your wait; you are my wiggle. 
I am your carriage ride; you are my queen.  I am your push; you are my swing.
I am you audience; you are my clown.  I am your London Bridge; you are my falling down.
I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice.  I am your dandelion; you are my first wish.
I am your water wings; you are my deep.  I am your open arms; you are my running leap.
I am your way home; you are my new path. I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath.
I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake. I am your bedtime; you are my wide awake.
I am your finish line; you are my race.  I am your praying hands; you are my saying grace.
I am your favorite book; you are my new lines.  I am your night-light; you are my starshine.
I am your lullaby; you are my peekaboo. I am your good-night kiss, you are my I love you. 

 Isn't that the sweetest book? Gracie added a couple more lines and then sang a song. I wish I could remember more of her sweet refrain.

You are my dream. I am your wish. You are the one I love most of all. We can always snuggle, both big and small.

Song: When I see you, you were there for me. I only look into you. You were always there for me. You were the one I trust the most. You were the one I loved because, you are loved so much. You were the one who made me. Say it together, you were the one that made my little body. You are the one who makes me come alive.

I have the sweetest girl EVER! Can't wait to hug that Baby Love!

I See No Stain On You, My Child

I woke up this morning singing a powerful line from a favorite song, My Beloved, by Kari Jobe. "I see no stain on you, my child." When He washes us, we are clean.  Simply put. I am clean. If only I could get it out of my head and into my heart. He has covered me, my mistakes and even my misgivings. I am clean. And then there's the singing over me. Isn't it a wonder, this love of our God? He sings over us with delight; with songs of peace. Peace. As I live and breath, I inhale His peace. I rest in Him. I rest in you, Lord. I am your beloved and you are mine.


You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me my love

Under my mercy come and wait
Till we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you my child

You're beautiful to me
So beautiful to me

I sing over you my song of peace
Cast all your care down at my feet
Come and find your rest in me

I'll breathe my life inside of you
I'll bear you up on eagle's wings
And hide you in the shadow of my strength

I'll take you to my quiet waters
I'll restore your soul
Come rest in me and be made whole

You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me my love


Kari Jobe - My Beloved

In loving memory

Grace & I had a moment this week - a definite must record moment. Wednesday was an exhausting day that began with a 2:30 AM study session for the neuro exam. So Wednesday really began Tuesday. Full day of work with a surprise eval that morning - yes, I was going to study that 2.5 hours, but sure - I'll work Thank God for the opportunity to work. I survived my 1st lab with the human brain. I did fairly well on the exam that followed- after the bonus questions, I squeaked an A. Whew - I headed over to pick Gracie up at the University play place - as we so fondly refer to it. Except she wasn't quite ready to go.

Sitting at the writing center with another youngster, Grace was preparing a note to me. She loves to write. She loves notes. Count yourself special if you've received one of these notes carefully composed by the Gracie girl. I realized there was no getting out of there until she finished. Taking a seat on the low wooden chair, I assisted with colored pencils, glue & feathers - of course, you can't just write a note - it must be embellished with all sorts of pretties (the beginnings of scrapbooking). Finally, she read it to me with a glorious voice & fine presentation. I will never forget this moment.

I love you. I love you. I looooooooove you. And when you get
sick, I will always love you & take care of you. And when you get mad,
I will still love you. I love for always. ~Grace

On the way home, we sang songs & throughout the rest of the week, we've been singing. Yesterday, we talked about our favorite songs. Grace sang her favorite song & it was about loving me. Then it was my turn to share my favorite. I sang Jesus Loves Me, recounting how I often comforted her as a baby with this song.

Without thought about the specific date, I told Grace how my mom sang that song with me when I was little. Gracie's always curious about what happened when I was a baby or a little girl. Then we talked about when Grandma was sick & we sang over her, wrapping her up tight in the arms of our song. It made her feel better. Our song helped her rest.

Here I am again a day later remembering how love sings...remembering He embraces us with song. He sings over us. Isn't that a lovely thought? He sings over us.

Zephaniah 3:17

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs

Nellie R. O'Neal

April 12, 1939 - October 10, 2005

Jesus Loves Me

Print by Kathryn Andrews Finch

Repost from June 2006:

This has been a big week for us - turning TWO is a BIG deal! Gracie never ceases to amaze me but this week I shed some tears. For weeks, Gracie's belted out "Deep & Wide" - there's a fountain flowing deep & wide; a song she learned in CLC KidsTown about the never ending fountain of God's love toward His children. This week as I was putting Gracie's shoes on & she started singing another familiar tune~

Jesus loves me this I know

for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong.

They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

Though she missed a few of the words, it was by far the sweetest melody. This child's song is powerful when you really think about those words. The declaration that Jesus, God almighty, creator of heaven and earth, loves ME. And I KNOW it! We, as His children, belong to Him; treasured and cherished of our Heavenly Father. Though we are weak, He is indeed strong; strong enough for whatever makes me afraid. To quote an old song, "His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He'll carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in His power the weak become strong. His strength is perfect. His strength is perfect."

Jesus loves me - it's been a favorite for a long time, holding special meaning for a number of reasons. One of mom's favorite stories to tell from when Tracy & I were kids was the one about Halloween when we were 2 & 3 years old. She took us trick or treating and our "trick" was singing Jesus Loves Me. One lady was so moved, she recorded the song to send to her son in Vietnam. I wonder if two giggly girls singing this Sunday School favorite brought a smile and perhaps reassurance that he was being held by the everlasting love of Jesus. I believe it did.

Jesus Loves Me comforts the soul. My mom was sick, sick, sick in the hospital - I had no idea it would be the last day she lived. While visiting her, Grace persisted in getting a book off mom's nightstand. Thinking it was a Bible, I told her "not for Grace" a dozen times. Finally, I decided we could look at the "book" together. Turned out it was a hymnal. Then I remembered my sister telling me that she & my cousin swiped one from the hospital chapel so they could sing for mom. Mom was a singer when she was younger - lovely, lovely voice. I treasure the memory of her singing to me, with me when I was little and then, mom singing to and with Grace. The words were sometimes jumbled, but charming still.

Mom affirmed she would enjoy it if we sang a bit. I went through the songbook, finding old favorites I hadn't sang in years...Standing on the Promises, What a Friend We Have In Jesus, Amazing Grace and finally, Jesus Loves Me - with all the verses. Mom enjoyed the others, moving her lips to sing as she was able, but when I began to sing Jesus Loves Me, she began to breathe deeply, relax & "rest" in the song. I remember all day mom looked very deeply at Grace & me, like she was drinking us in. I think mom knew that it was the end. This song gave her peace to rest eternally in the arms & love of Jesus.

So sing on Gracie! Sing it 'til that message is embedded in your little soul, because He does indeed love you! Sing it for others so they will know they are loved as well.

PS - the print above by Kathryn Andrews Finch hangs in Gracie's room as a reminder of this precious love. AND special thanks to Christian Life Center Kids Town Children's Program http://clctoday.org/children.htm for singing with my little Grace. You'll never know how far your efforts go!

Happy Valentines Day

Gracie celebrated her 1st Valentines Day in preschool with a party. Excited about all her "letters", we read her Valentines Day cards on the way home. The girl gets happy about mail addressed just to her, with or without candy hearts attached. :o)

We made pink ice cream last night with crushed cinnamon hearts in honor of this lovey dovey day. After her 2nd (little) bowl, she let me know she likes just vanilla. :o) We read love, hug & kisses books as we snuggled down for the night. Valentines Day is tomorrow and we are ready with our cutie red, white & black dress. We made our "You make my heart melt" valentines last week. Yes, we made them all by hand. DelightFULL Grace glitter glued each & every one of the 29+ Valentines.

Valentines morning, Grace was treated to heart shaped pancakes with candy heart sprinkles topped with chocolate sauce. Yummy love! Happy love day to you & yours, full of love & kisses! Here's a post from last year that I can't top~ For sure, I'm thankful for God's love & embrace today & every day.
Gracie & I have been reading love notes sent from our friends (WE LOVE Hoops & Yoyo!) as well as her little Valentine books. Our favorite is Mac Lucado's "God Thinks You're Wonderful!" Here's a bit of this love letter from the Savior~

God is fond of you. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. If He had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
1 Kings 10:9 Blessed be the Lord your God who has delighted in you...

It might be difficult for you to believe, but God knows your name. He has it written on His hand. Spoken by His mouth. Whispered by His lips.
Isaiah 49:16 I have written your name on my hand.

Never forget...that you aren't an accident or an incident...you are a gift to the world, a divine work of art signed by God.You were knit together. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth by the Master Craftsman.
Psalm 139:13 You knit me together in my mother's womb.

AND the following exerpt is originally from Pinch My Salt but I saw it on Singinole's site. Too good not to share~

And finally, I’d like to end this on a serious note. Today is a day when people who are in a relationship feel pressured to go overboard to prove their love through showerings of silly, and often ridiculously expensive, heart-shaped gifts while those who aren’t in a relationship feel shunned by a culture that still places so much importance on being part of a couple. Some couples will probably get in fights today because one of them didn’t do enough to prove their affection while some single people are sitting at home crying because today is nothing but one giant reminder that they are missing out on everything in life because they haven’t yet found Mr. or Ms. Right. And what I’m writing isn’t going to change any of it. But, for a minute, can we stop
and think about the fact that people all over the world, right now as you’re reading this, are dying. Women are losing their husbands, men are losing their wives, children are losing their parents and perhaps worst of all, parents are losing their children.

What is most important is not that you remember to buy big presents for the ones you love. What is important is that they know how you feel every day. Because in this world, you never know which day will be the last. We all have someone to love, whether it’s a parent, child, friend, or lover. Call them today and let them know.

Please, by all means, celebrate love. But remember to do it every day. Happy Valentine’s Day!

"Celebrate love. But remember to do it every day" ...Good advice~
Happy Valentine's Day~