A Time to Embrace

The last of my babies is going to turn one in a little over 2 weeks.

If you know me well, you know I am not a "baby" person. I enjoy watching my kids grow to a more playful age. But that came to a screeching halt when I met this sweet thang:

This is Miss Josie Baker, my precious new niece, who we came so close to losing. As her life hung in the balance, God whipped my prayer life into a new state of intensity. I had one of those "I didn't realize I needed to work on this part of my life" moments as I prayed like I never had before.

And He worked a miracle in her life. He didn't just save her. He moved her out of that NICU faster than expected and home to her waiting family (and providentially, she went home on the same day as our other new niece, Ava! He is perfect!) Each new peek that modern medicine takes at Josie's brain shows more improvements, more reasons to praise God!

So the last 6 weeks of Josie's life have had me thinking: the Word of God tells me that there is a time to embrace. And embrace we shall!

Today when they ask for a PEZ before dinner... the answer is yes.


While many parents sit on the sidelines and observe, we will join in!


When they want to run around sans clothes after their bath, screaming and jumping on the beds, we will grab the camera. :)


When my sweet girl wants to wear her tutu to the mall, this mom who once swore her daughter would not wear costumes or characters in public will grin widely and comply:


And that prayer life? God has taught me to ask with boldness and watch him work. As I sat feeling forlorn that my baby, soon to be toddler, would not cuddle with me even for a moment, my Father spoke to my heart. Have you shared your desires with me, child? So I did. And little by little, wouldn't you know that this sweet boy now lays his head on his mommy and rests for a few moments before drifting off to dreamland? You better believe it. Because my God, He just loves me that much.