Experience Joy!

Emmalee Caroline,
Today I want to experience something that I could never explain to you with words - JOY!  Its what my heart swells with every time I look at you and every time I see that precious smile.  Its what I see when I look into your beautiful blue eyes. It is what brings tears to my eyes just thinking about you and how much love, and life, and laughter your have brought into our lives.
 

Joy is gladness, its hope, its delight, its fruit of the Spirit.  Its that overwhelming emotion that fills your soul when you hear your baby giggle, or smile for the first time, or taking a walk in the park.  Its when you have your first kiss, or fall in love for the first time, or when you say "I do" to your very best friend.

Joy is experiencing the birth of your child, its helping others, if giving selflessly, its giving a gift, its doing the right thing, its being with family.  Its eating chocolate, its a walk on the beach, its traveling to wonderful places, its coming back home.  Its reaching your goals, its being quiet, its laughing until you cry.  Joy is discovering that unconditional love just grows stronger with time, its knowing that nothing you do can ever separate you from the love of Christ, its watching your children fall in love with their Creator. 

There are two things that I wish for you:  1) that one day you might fully know how much joy you have brought into my life, and 2) that you would experience the same!  I pray that you will have an abundance of joy and experience great and wonderful things.  Know that even in the midst of loneliness and sadness, there can be joy if we allow the Lord to fill us with it.  Oh Emmalee, let the Lord fill your heart with joy.  Joy brings strength, and power, and gladness.

Claim this verse:  Romans 15:13 over you - that "that the God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust Him..."

Oh sweet baby, experience {His} JOY!

Enjoy Innocence

Sweet Emmalee,

I'm not quite sure why time goes by so quickly, but it does.  It seems like just a week ago I found out I was pregnant with you, and a few days ago I gave birth to you and held you in my arms for the first time, then yesterday was your first birthday.  I remember it all, but it all seems to be going by too quickly.  I find myself trying to savor every moment I am with because I know that as soon as I blink you will be a young woman, experiencing life all on your own.

So slow down, baby girl, and don't grow up too fast.  Slow down, baby girl, and enjoy innocence.  

My hope for you is that you would always see the beauty in things, get excited when you see an ice cream truck, run and play in fields of flowers, go play in the rain, jump up and down when you go to the zoo, see the good in people, love with all your heart and always have that beautiful smile on your face.

I love watching you.  You get so excited about the simple joys in life.  You love just sitting in your room and playing with blocks or rocking your baby dolls.  You are content to sit in my lap and read every book on the shelf.  Your heart is full of love for everyone around you and you wave "hello" to everyone you see.  You, my sweet child, are the purest form of innocence.  Hold fast to this, love.  

Trust me, sweet baby, there will be a day when the world seems like it is caving in and everything around you is in ruin.  There will be days when you face peer pressure, and bullies, and doubt, and heartache, and evil and disappointment.  But for now, do not the ways of this world overcome you and force you to grow up too fast.

Grow slowly, my little love.  5 is not the new 10, and 10 is not the new 30.  Be young.  You are only a child once.  So enjoy innocence. 

A Letter from Daddy

Hi Daugther,
I'm your dad.

 Momma wanted me to tell you a little bit about me so you will know more about your dad.  I, like your mom, grew up in a Christian home in Garland, Texas.  I "grew up" when I was 18 because your Nana and Grandbob moved away to Arkansas, but I wanted to stay in Texas.  So I got my own apartment and lived by myself when they moved. 

Here are some of my favorite things:

• My favorite color is blue.
• My favorite animal is a cat...but its 51% cat and 49% dog....we have both so I like both but the whole reason we got Dax is because you're mother begged for a dog! But now I'm glad we have him.
• My favorite food - this is tough. I really like everything, except olives, mushrooms and big chunks of tomatoes (your mother likes all 3, yuck). 
• My favorite candy is Reeces Pieces.
• My favorite sport is baseball (we actually tried to plan your birth around baseball season - it didn't work).

Some important things to know about me:

• In high school is really when I learned how to have a relationship with Jesus.  If I had to tell you one thing that Jesus has been for me it would be that He is my Prince of Peace.  I'm not sure if we will ever fully know what peace if truly like until we meet Him - I don't think our minds can fully comprehend it.  But when I'm sad or having a bad day, He always provides me peace and I know it will all be ok. 
• I learned what prayer was really all about right before I met your mom.  I had made some mistakes and I started praying for forgiveness, but for God to provide me a Godly woman to marry.  I met your mother shortly thereafter.  Then we had you.  It all started with prayer.  So know that prayer is a powerful thing.
• I love nature.  There is something very special about being outside with God's creation.  I hope that one day I can take you to the ocean and to the mountains so you can truly experience how magnificent His creation is and stand in awe of its beauty.
• If there is one thing I want you to always remember it is that you are good enough. Don't ever let anyone tell you "you're stupid" or "you're not good enough" because you ARE! You are my daughter and you were created by the King, and the King, my daughter, does not make mistakes! You are good enough, you are great enough, and you are perfect in my eyes. 

Your momma and I love you so very much, and I am proud to be your daddy.

I love you daughter,
Daddy