a C or a P make all the difference!

Crack-up moment of the day:

Lily: Daddy you have to stop roughhousing with Mommy

Daddy: But Lily I am not roughhousing with Mommy

Lily: Yes you did

Daddy: Lily, where is the forgiveness, mercy, and grace

Lily: Walks over to her kitchen set and picks up a bunch of plastic grapes. Here are the grapes Daddy!

Oh, how one letter can make a difference!

Lily's tender heart

We have always known Lily to be a sweet girl. Always so sweet and kind to everyone. We went camping this weekend with several adoptive families and on the way home she asked a million questions about her birth mom. In very simplistic terms we explained that her birth mother was very poor and didn't have the money to give Lily clothing, toys, and food so she decided that it was in Lily's best interest to give her a different life.

So while we were crashed out from our camping trip, Lily came up to Daddy and gently nudged him on the shoulder holding some spare change in her hand. She whispered to Daddy, "I am going to give this to my birth mother". What a kind heart...

From to tomboy to princess overnight!

Lily has always been tomboyish. She never has liked anything in her hair. She often preferred to watch movies, read books, or even play with dinosaurs and trains...UNTIL she turned 4! Then she became a princess lover! Princess movies, princess dress up, headbands in hair! So funny!

Quotes from Lily

Kids do say the funniest things...here are some Lily quotes for the record:

1. Lily was telling Abuelita and me the story of Easter. When it came to Jesus' burial, Lily said that they took Jesus off the cross and wrapped him in wrapping paper.

2. Lily held out her two fingers to her daddy and she asked him to smell them. He asked, "Lily did you put them in your pompi," she innocently replied, "No I put them in my vagina." Great:)

3. Lily and I went car shopping on Monday since my 2D car died last week. While walking into the 1st car dealership Lily says, "Mommy, do I get my own door?"

The writing on the wall...literally

A few weeks ago I was lamenting that Lily has been learning to write her name and that I did not have any samples of it.

One night I was putting her to bed and I had to move the huge white unicorn her abuelita gave her...lo and behold behind the unicorn in big green crayon was her name!

Needless to say, I had to take a picture of it...and of course, she posed so proudly by it!

That's my girl!

God's great plans

I often sense that God has some amazing plans for Lily. She sparkles so much! Lately, she has taken to being a greeter at the church. She loves standing by the door and opening the door for people and either shaking their hand, saying hello, or hugging them. It is precious to watch.

I know everyone thinks their child is somebody special, but I often wonder if God has some special calling for her. From Satan's defeat in Guatemala to the amazing sense of God's protective hand on Lily to her sparkling personality that shines wherever we go. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

I pray that her little heart continues to grow in faith. I pray that she will come to know Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. I pray that she will be a light for Christ and that many will come to know him through her. Thank you Jesus for reminding me that I am not her Savior, but thank you so much for letting me be her parent. I am very blessed.

Finally ready to write about it!

Well, a few weeks ago we had the first major trauma that was on Mama's watch. Lily and I were sledding. Because the snow was too deep (almost 4 feet), Lily and I were sledding in the street. Anyway, I would pull her along and when the sled got too fast so that I couldn't hold on anymore without falling down I would let her go and meet her at the bottom of the hill. We live in a dead-end cul-da-sack. Anyway on her last run, the sled went under a four-wheeler, that must have come out of its driveway and into the street. Talk about terrifying! Of course, we called 911 and the paramedics and ambulances came to our home. Along with plow trucks to unstuck the ambulance. Miraculously Lily had no serious injuries. No concussion, no broken bones, only 10-15 stitches in her head. Some down deep and some on the surface. It took me days to forgive myself for allowing her to sled in the street. I kept saying to myself, "What kind of mother lets her child sled in the street". But by the graciousness of God and all my friends and even the doctors, I was able to let go of that guilt. Even Lily now will say, "Don't worry mama...accidents happen". Yes, that is so true...let's just hope no more accidents happen on my watch...or really anyone else's:)

Praise God that she is okay! He must have amazing plans for her!