Mother's Day and Baby Dedication

May 2013 Mothers Day/Baby Dedication - slideshows

I love Mother's Day more than my birthday hands down! What joy to get to celebrate with your family! I have 2 little ones who call me "Mommy" (one day Joel will say it) and it's said in many different tones, decibels, and with different emphases...the one that screams, "Mommy!" (pain) "Mommy!" (I don't want to brush my teeth@) "Mommy!" (Thank you!) "Mommy!" (Watch me!)...it goes on and on and the joy in my soul does too! I was treated to some time alone on the Sat before Mother's day to take a jog, get "all the way dressed" (You know, blow dry hair, lotion on legs, put on all your make up, hair not in a ponytail, and maybe an accessory besides those little loops you wear everyday!) and a few hours of shopping for mommy clothes! Nice! I got very sweet and encouraging cards from my kids, my husband and inlaws. It was a double blessing because we would dedicate Joel at our church on Mother's day! We had lots of family in to celebrate with us and commit to raise him to know and love Christ and grow in his faith. Thanks mom for the outfits for them to wear on their special day. Joel's name was chosen because we knew we wanted to give him Jeff's middle name, Clark...and give him Jeff's initials. (Claire has my middle name and after we decided on her name, we realized she carries my initials!) After searching all the "J" names, we landed on Joel for it's meaning ("The Lord is God") and it's strength and masculinity to carry across the decades...and it's normal and not too trendy! His verse is: "To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him." Deuteronomy 4:35. Our prayer for Joel is that he would come to know the one true God and Savior Jesus Christ; there is no other besides Him! By the way, it's so hard to get both kids in a photo!!!