What a wonderful birthday celebration we enjoyed with Emma last Tuesday! After hearing rumors of snow coming, we woke up January 20 to a beautiful blanket of white flakes covering our yard. I know, I know, many of you northern folks have had your fill of snow this winter, but for us, snow on the ground was a breathtaking sight. Micah and Emma couldn’t gulp down their breakfast fast enough, as Geoff and I hurried up to the attic to see if possibly had any snow-appropriate coats or boots for them (and us) to wear! We hardly ever get snow here…and if we do, it just might be an inch or two. But as as the day progressed, we ended up with around 7 inches!
So, ALL four of us could be home ALL day to not only enjoy a leisurely celebration of Emma’s special day, but romp in the snow. Schools were closed and even Caterpillar was shut-down for the day!
What a precious treasure the Lord chose to give us in our little Emma. As I sit here reflecting on all that she means to our family, my mind wanders to the passage we chose as her “life verse” when she was born. Matthew 5:16 reads, “…Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” We chose this verse based on the meanings of her name…Emma (my mom’s middle name) means “caring” and Laine (short for Elaine – Geoff’s mom’s middle name) means “light.” Our prayer for her has always been that she will follow the legacy of her two grandmothers, being a girl who truly shines for the Lord, through the care and joy that she brings to others. On April 22 this past year, a huge prayer request on our hearts was answered when Emma came to understand her need for Jesus, and prayed to accept Him as her Savior.
So often we are humbled by her sensitivity to the moods and feelings of others. And in her world, “others” is not limited to people, but includes animals also. She has a deep caring love for all creatures, great or small. As I watch her interact with her friends who have been hurt, or comfortably approaching any (and I mean any) animal we may see outside, or the care she gives to her stuffed animal friends, I can’t help but wonder how God will use this little girl one day...and even right now, while she is so young.
Her creative “bent” really began to shine through this year…expressing herself through anything artistic…with drawing being at the top of her list, and dancing a close second. Give Emma a stack of blank white paper and a box of sharpened colored pencils, and she will happily amuse herself for literally hours. She loves to create stories on stacks of stapled index cards. She illustrates and then tell me what to write on each page. We already have several unpublished manuscripts stacked away in her closet...Although she keeps asking when she can give them to the library for other kids to read!
Happy Birthday, our sweet girl. We love you BUNCHES, and are excited to see what is in store for you this year as you grow!
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