Lily Sue

This girl turned 9 today...yesterday in the snow, today in the pool...how about that.


I will forever be thankful for the last few days with her...making me a huge renewed advocate for quality one-on-one time with your children.  She has really struggled this past few months, and as she has struggled, it has been easy for me to focus on the concerns I have, the frustration I have with some pre-teen-attitude emerging, the negatives.

But these past few days have totally renewed me on all the beauty of Lily, who is a sinner saved by grace just like me, imperfect and struggling at times and made in His image and beloved.

Lily is one of the most joyful people I know...quick and ready to laugh, quick and ready to talk to anyone and absolutely everyone, positive, optimistic, loyal and sensitive and compassionate.  When I knew we were going to miss our flight, she knew we weren't...and prayed about it in her next breath and had a happy heart.  When her daddy was terribly sick today, she didn't think anything for a moment about her birthday, but was anxious to care for him and check on him and pray for him.  And she loves her friends and sisters and family so fiercely.  

She's a thinker and thoughtful, unbiased and quick to explode with laughter and to grab the hand of someone who is hurting.  She's a planner and quick to forgive and true to apologize.  

I felt especially blessed today by the concrete reminders that God has also put and brought many people into our lives that know her and love her well.  Other godly women for her to consult with and grow from, other godly men for her to learn by, good friends from all over the world to our village for her to love deeply with.  When Ethan surprised her tonight by walking in the door after being gone the last 7 months, she was BESIDE herself.  

I feel so rich by His love for her, by His gift of her, and by His gift others for her.  

So many of you have prayed for Lily many times this past nine years, and I'm so grateful and rich by you tonight...thank you.  These precious gifts He gives us to give back and give back and give back.   

Keep on praying. She's taking on a new challenge next week of switching schools (yes, mid-year), by her own decision, and the mom in me has concerns for all new friends, all new teachers, all new all new for her.  Thank you.

When all five of us are ALL five healthy, I am going to take a picture and get it framed.

Matt's run a high fever with a bad cold the last 24 hours, and got quite dehydrated today while we were pool-partying.  Either He has a reason for this season of sickness in our lives, or He is more than able to be glorified through it, and either way we are going to persevere.  Those are both worthy of our faithfulness.  Thank you for your prayers.