Sweetheart, You've Got Your Girl!

Day 342 of Photo Inspirations -- Sweetheart, You've Got Your Girl
My obstetrician was going on a 2-week vacation right when my baby was due, and since he had been my "go-to" doc throughout my pregnancy, I didn't want to take a chance on him not being there for me.  Doc told me the baby was "fully cooked" so "Let's help her make her debut on Monday", and that's what we did.  Back in those days, most of us were "out" when the baby arrived, while the dads were in the Waiting Room.

When I woke up, my husband said, "Sweetheart, you've got your girl."  Oh, the inexpressible joy that I felt.  Of course, I would have had that joy if God had blessed us with another boy, but, I loved that God's plan was for this precious baby girl, born today, December 8th.....quite a few years ago.

I'm celebrating that precious girl today,  because I've seen God's purposes for her life being fulfilled in some of the most miraculous and tremendous ways.   For the first months of her life she was a sick little baby with having many bouts of pneumonia and was eventually diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.  Not only did the enemy lose that battle, but he lost it in trying to steal our faith.  She was ultimately healed, and my husband and I grew exponentially in our faith.  "What the enemy meant for evil, God turned it for good."  Genesis 50:20

She was a "Daddy's girl and she became his God-given "project".  He understood right from the beginning that she was special, and that God was going to use her life in many ways.   He was her sports, voice, stage and life coach.  You think a Stage Mom is something, you should have seen the likes of his training and coaching our girl.  So many times in tears, she'd come to me asking for my intervention with Daddy who was relentless in pulling out the best in her.  "Practice. Practice. Practice" was his philosophy.  He succeeded, and that little girl eventually knew no fear to be on the stage, to belt out another song on camera, to speak to huge audiences, and be with high profile people.  But more than all of that, her name Staci Michelle -- "resurrection life" and "be like God" have held true.   She has brought so much life to us and others.   She has led by example in integrity and character in business and life -- sincerely making a difference in so many people's lives.

As I'm typing this, I know I must sound like a bragadocious and proud Mom.  In a sense, I am, because our greatest investment paid off.  The time we invested into her -- through tears and time and finances -- paid off.  I tell you this story -- celebrating this day and the precious life God gave us, but mostly to tell you moms and dads out there -- "INVEST in your kids.  Take time to give them the best of you.  Cultivate their talents.  Speak into them that they can do and be anything that God wants them to be.  Teach them about God and His faithfulness and absolutely knowing that "nothing is impossible with Him".   What a pay-back for an investor!  The pay-back of years of growth, rich rewards, paying forward to the next generation (their children and grandchildren) is the greatest reward.  And the multiplied blessings of that investment goes way beyond our own family -- it spreads to others -- these seeds bear fruit in so many other people's lives.  I promise you....after many, many years of investing into what matters most, it is worth every effort.

Just imagine what your investment will reap in rewards.

Waiting, Anticipating, Preparing

Day 340 of Photo Inspirations -- Waiting, Anticipating, Preparing
The word "nesting" has frequently been on my mind over the last several days.  "Nesting" is that word used when a pregnant woman is close to that day when her baby will arrive.  She wakes up one morning feeling energetic and wanting to clean and organize her entire house.  It's that overwhelming desire to get her home ready for her new baby.  Often, that urge is from boredom or frustration from still being pregnant, as well as knowing that the baby’s care is going to take lots of time and energy, and she wants everything to be ready before the baby arrives.  Excitement and anticipation of that new bundle of joy, and the desire to have everything just right.

In this beautiful season of Advent, I've been "nesting" -- anticipating the birth-day of Christ.  Here's what that "nesting" looks like to me.   It's those times of sweet reflection, peace and quiet, and really pondering this miraculous birth.  It's quite easy for me to be in that place.....naturally.  As I was sitting in front of my fireplace and just meditating about the message I was going to give at an Advent by Candlelight, I started pondering about this time many years ago, and what it was like for me in anticipation of my little girl about to be born.  Back then, however, we didn't know that she would be a girl or boy.  We were prepared, either way.  If a boy, he'd be named Robert Anthony.  But if a little girl, she'd be named Staci Michelle -- which means "resurrection life" and "close to God".   I was thinking about how I was getting her nursery ready.  All the gifts of clothes, nighties, and underclothes were washed and folded in the little dresser drawers.  The hanging diaper holder was filled and all the little items were all organized for her soon arrival.  I would open those drawers and smell that sweet aroma of "baby".   My house was clean.  My bags, with her little outfit, was packed and ready to go.   The plans were all made for taking her big brother to Granny & Papa's to stay until we came home with the new baby. Everything was ready in preparation for her debut.    The excitement was building.

 Friday, I sent my daughter this little note:
"Hi Sweet Girl.  I know you're in a whirlwind of busy.  But I'm nesting.  I'm not only speaking tonight at an Advent By Candlelight, but I'm thinking about this day 46 years ago when I was just a few days away from seeing my little baby girl for the first time.  Though I didn't know you would be a girl, I certainly was in such a sweet nesting mode, so excited and waiting for you to be here.  I'm already celebrating you and want you to know how much I love you today.  You are a mighty woman of God and I know God's looking out for you.  Love you so much.  Happy early birthday!"

This beautiful season of Advent is about WAITING,  preparing our hearts and having our hearts transformed in anticipation of Christ's birthday!  Oh, we know He already abides in us, but taking this sweet season to refresh and revive our relationship with Him seems like the best thing we can do to celebrate His coming.  In this "nesting" time, we can sweep out all the clutter and get rid of all the excess stuff that's been accumulating in our hearts.  Of course we know He is no longer the baby in the manger but He is our risen Lord and King, so this celebration is for royalty.  

At my house, we love to celebrate birthdays.  We make a big deal of it.   And getting ready to celebrate the birthday of Christ, is also about the preparations for the party.  We want the house clean. We want to bring out the best china.  We want to put up the Happy Birthday signs.  We want to be sure we have candles.  Isn't that what we're doing in this season right now?  What better way to prepare for his birthday than thinking about what He means to us, what His arrival on this earth did to change everything and about Him being Emmanuel -- God with us -- now and forevermore.
Oh come. Oh come. Emmanuel.

Celebrating THE NAME

I'm so grateful to be with my girl this weekend before her birthday on Monday (tomorrow).  One day isn't enough to celebrate her -- I need several days.  What a precious treasure she has been to me.

We already had a beautiful son who was 2-1/2, then it was almost time for our 2nd child to be born. Back in those days, most of us didn't know ...boy or girl... until they were born.

Even though I knew I would be thrilled with either (it was going to be Robert David if he had been a boy), I had a glimmer of hope that a little girl would be born to us.  I'll never forget my husband exclaiming...."Sweetheart, you've got your girl!"   How grateful I was then, and how grateful I am today that God gave me her.

I'm remembering the anticipation we had for the day when she would be born.  Of all the names we thought about if we had a little girl.....we finally decided on Staci Michelle.  Staci means "resurrection life" and Michelle means "close to God".  WOW!  God certainly guided us to that name, because she has been true to those definitions.  In so many ways, she brings resurrection life to just about everyone she encounters --  helping people experience a fresh new life from one of rejection, defeat, depression, darkness, pain, and indifference .....because she is so "close to God" and that closeness magnetically draws them closer to HIM.

I don't tell you this to impress you, but to impress upon you how important it is to calculate, ponder, pray for and get God's vision for your children, AND the name you give them.  He had that vision for His Son that gives us a perfect  example to follow.  Staci,  being born in December, draws my attention to Gabriel's announcement to Mary in Luke 1:30 "And, behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and you will call his name Jesus."   I love that Isaiah 9:6 even gave definition to His name before He was born,  "And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

What we name our children shouldn't be a mere conglomeration of letters that we put together as a convenient way to refer to them.  God proved that when He named His son Jesus --  that name that is ABOVE all other names, that descibes His personality and gives  interpretation of His character traits. He has lived up to His name and it gives us hope, life, and blessing.  Indeed,  names are important!   How awesome that His name is THE ONE like no other!