Freedom to be!

Livy Brooke, These past 4 months have brought big changes to our lives. First of all, you turned 2!!! I still can't believe my sweet baby girl is 2 and I accidentally call you "baby girl" all the time...perhaps I'm living in denial that you are growing up to be a little lady faster than I'd like! Second, you became a big sister to baby Ethan (the "bruddah" -- you also call him "Eee-fan" which is super cute). I'm proud of the sister that you are to him -- you love to squeeze him, touch him and you already look out for him ("Eee-fan's crying!" "Eee-fan's awake!"). I know you two will be close, loving, playful siblings and that makes my heart happy...although you might need to learn how to share your Thomas the Trains with him :)

Today we went for a family walk. At one point during our walk you asked to get out of the stroller and "hop on the squares" --> you wanted to jump from one garden square stone to another. As you did, you let out beautiful squeals of delight -- full of glee, joy and life! There's such a beauty and innocence to the joy that you have. As I pushed you on the swings this evening, you let out a joyful "waaaahooooo" and even a "chugga chugga chooo choo" -- announcing to everyone in the world that you were loving that swing. My heart melted because you haven't felt the sting of rejection yet. Although your friends occasionally don't want to go on the playground when you *ask* them to, you are not personally offended or feeling downcast from rejection. Never once have you been told you are not good enough or not worthy of time and attention. You do not carry around the heavy weight of rejection and it is a beautiful thing. So precious, my eyes fill up with tears at what has been lost in my life and what I never want you to lose. So my dear, I will do everything in my power to protect you from hurtful people who may make you feel insignificant or who speak lies about your value. Do not believe these things if you do encounter them. Remember the joy you have for life...even if you continue to yell train noises in glee, do it as long as you are being yourself :)

In that same vein, I want to live out freedom in this area as an example to you. I do not want past rejections and hurts to prevent me from being who God created me to be. I want to have a restoration of my simple joy and laughter....without a care as to what people may think. So I pray that the Lord would restore me from hurts, failures and rejections so that I can freely live. You my dear may also walk in that freedom, knowing that God made you and loves you so deeply it hurts.

I posted these photos of you with your daddy because no one brings out the silly in you (and the giggles) like him. Love, your mommy