Moments Worth Remembering...

A couple of nights ago as I was laying beside E.,  who was trying to fall asleep, she reached over and put her hand on my face and said, "Mommy, I just love you so much..." Long pause and then, still with her hand on my face and tears in my eyes she said, "You make me soooo happy" I feel so lucky to be her mommy - this sweet little girl has willingly opened her heart to me....I feel so grateful. I was reminded of my first trip to Vladimir, my referral trip. At the end of our third visit together she touched my face in the same way. She had no English words at the time, but her eyes said it all. Here is where I posted about it.

Yesterday morning, on the way to Emily's house, E. asked me where she could see Jesus? Ummmm that's a pretty tough question to answer to a four year old - I would have no problem responding to an adult who asked that question, but how do I give an answer a four year could understand? So I said a quick prayer and then stammered and stuttered my way through an answer.
Me: "well, He is everywhere, but you can't really see Him with your eyes, you can feel Him in your heart"
E: "But I want to see Him, where is He?"
Me: "Well you can feel Him in your heart. Jesus can live in your heart and then you can feel Him. Do you want to ask Him to live in your heart?"
E: "Later, when I get bigger"
Me: "Well, did you know you don't have to wait until you get bigger. You can ask Him right now. Do you want to ask Jesus to live in your heart?"
E: "Yes"
Me: (in tears now) "You can just say Jesus, will you live in my heart"
E: "Jesus, will You live in my heart?"
Me: "Amen. Now He will always live in your heart and you will feel Him"
Now, I know this wasn't the most detailed theological discussion, but I truly believe something happened in my car that morning - life changing, powerful, the beginning of a lifelong relationship. I was humbled beyond belief, overwhelmed by His goodness and thrilled to have been there when it all started for E. I'm praying that the Lord would make Him self real to her all the days of her life. That she would know Jesus in a deeper way each day.
Today was also my dad's 72nd birthday. We had him over for taco dinner tonight - one of his favorites. It is such a delight to watch E. giggle and hug and snuggle with him. I feel so grateful that she gets to see him often.

More Fun...

Notice the matching converse :) Syd picked them out for both of them.

Ready to head out for some candy!

My little flower

 Halloween was a fun day.....Syd was on Fall break last week so she came over and spent the day with E. and I. It is so fun to watch those two play. Syd likes to dress E. up like her personal dolly. E. tolerates this....sometimes :) The weather was amazing. Often the weather is snowy on Halloween, but not this year it was close to balmy....over 50 degrees even after sunset. It was a busy trick or treat night....we had loads of fun gathering candy from the neighbors.

This past weekend E. and I were out on the deck and I happened to look up to see this beautiful creature in our Aspen tree.....it was amazing. I don't think I had ever seen an  owl this close up - outside of the zoo.

He was sitting there so peacefully.

I snapped pictures and he just sat there blinking and winking at us. E. was just as captivated as I was.

We have been going through lots of changes lately at our house. Changes that leave me stressed and sweet E. is feeling the effects of it. She is so clearly impacted by changes no matter how small. Even something as small as the end of daylight savings - driving home from Emiliy's tonight in the dark at 5pm was hard for her. She is - easily stressed - easily overwhelmed. Her little brain doesn't have ability to regulate quickly...it will come with time and more healing, but right now she is just a pile of tears often. It's exhausting, but I know she has been through far too much for a 4 1/2 year old and it will just take more and more love and prayers to overcome it. But overcome we will! With the Lord's help and healing.