This is Why

Some sweet friends from Rapid City are coming today. Their daughter will come and play with our girls, while they are away- at a funeral. A funeral for a lovely young wife and mother, a teacher, a friend, a daughter. Someone exactly my age. You can read her story here. Pray for her family today. Pray that the power of the truth of Jesus Christ would make beauty out of tragedy.

For my babies when you are older-

I want you to know our hearts for you. This is why. This is why your dad and I won't make more than two commitments away from home each week. This is why we stay home and laugh and play and learn together, and only set apart two days a week to go out and run errands- to keep from being too busy. This is why you are not in soccer, ballet, violin, tap, and swimming lessons, so we do not run you or ourselves ragged. This is why Mommy has a to do list for every day- to make the most of it. This is why Daddy loves to carry you around on his back, and why he hurries home first thing when work is done for the day. This is why we take naps and rest every afternoon- so we are rested and focused. This is why we read our devotions every morning and talk about Jesus all day long. This is why we read our Bible and pray every night- so every single day of your life is full of Truth and the Love of God. This is why we almost never watch TV, so we don't waste a single minute of our time together. This is why we don't eat too much junk food- so we are healthy. This is why we all sit together at church, and we read snuggled up together every afternoon. This is why I lovingly brush and make your hair beautiful, even if we aren't going anywhere. This is why we turn iTunes up and dance like crazy just before Daddy comes home. This is why we play that extra game of Boggle, and why my heart aches when you struggle to obey or get along with one another. This is why we eat dinner around our table together every night, and we don't go to bed angry. This is why we forgive one another and hold each other up. This is why we give, this is why we share. This is why we live our lives the way we do. Because you are precious, because the love your Dad and I have is precious. We will not waste a day. Because the God of eternity has set before us the gift of now, we choose to embrace it. We will make choices for you that might not seem fair, might not be what the other kids get to do. With fresh perspective today our resolve is even more firm- our family is priceless and no more than the moment we are in right now is promised us. We will love you and fight for the life of this family to be abundant- because we only have today to live it.

Love,

Mom and Dad