My Brown Eyed Lucy

This past Saturday, July 9, was the anniversary of Jesus scooping up my Lucy, back into His arms. And when I think back on that day, it was actually a calm, peaceful, hymns playing, her gazing at the sky and then at us and then back to the sky. It was easily the most peaceful day of her life. We were seeing all signs of her body “letting go,” but she must have been waiting for my brother to come visit, and for my mom to take her out for their daily front porch time. (only God knows the timing-I am not God-this time was just bittersweet) Because as soon as her woodland friends came to see her, she simply let go and was free. Her eyes still so big and brown and WIDE open!

Those big brown eyes taught me so many things, as her Mommy. I’d like to share a few today.

1. Moments. Be there. You never know when it may be a first, only, or last.
2. There is never too many pictures, videos, journaling, one liner memories. I promise you want regret it! It can be as simple as making a jar, and writing them down on scrap paper, and placing them in the jar to compile later.
3. Forget what works for other families. Do what works for YOUR family. If it takes you holding, rocking, co-sleeping, singing, dancing, for everyone to get sleep, do it! Your health depends on it. Even if it means crying with them and carrying them in a carrier, do it! No two people are the same, accept it, and decide what works for your family. Sleep, Food, Activities, School, Church, Rules, Values, define, clarify and stick to it. (or if you have a baby like Lucy, she could give me a look, and I knew right away, It’s bedtime! that’s healthy too) Trust your gut!
4. There is no doubt for me, that the moment I met Lucy, the bond began. It had already began.
5. Patience. I learned to have patience in more ways than I ever knew possible. Before her arrival, paperwork, doctor appointments/vaccines/reports/tests, legal documents, fingerprints, a lot of doing and then waiting on others to do. After her arrival, NICU days, oxygen levels, bilirubin levels, more paperwork waiting. Medical Insurance, ah they gave me a fit! But thankful I did have something in place. And sweet girl had a “hurting tummy” (aka colic) most everyday! This tore me up, I would carry her in an ergo and I could feel her tummy roll. We ran a lot of water, cried at the same time, and found that sweet Lucy liked taking her bottles while being propped up on the back of the couch. Again, do what works! 😊
6. The moment I held Lucy, all the sweat and tears of the paper trail to her faded. She was in my arms, the five years seemed to disappear.
7. No detail is too small, and all are important. Write it down.
8. God has known every single detail of His plan for each of us since before the first day of Creation. Read this a couple of times. Let it sink in.
9. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14. As Lucy’s Mommy this has always been a scripture that I prayed that I would not only say but do, that I would live it out. Only God knew how “for real” this verse would become in my life. Lucy came. And she brought with her some HUGE lessons and messages. She left with her eyes on Jesus. And she taught this mom of hers, that I must run quicker, lean more often on God increasingly more and more everyday! There’s NO other way!
10. Lucy’s life and continuing story, is in me and with me every minute of everyday. Because of Lucy’s life, I find myself noticing more quickly the little and big blessings, and I am incredibly grateful for each one.

Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, sibling, babysitter, nanny… let me leave you with this: if you have a little one(s) in your life, and you are able, get down on the floor, spend 30 minutes being completely present with them, observe them, enter their world, learn something from them… It’s amazing what they can teach us, especially when we are the silent ones… let them come and lead for a little while…

Life Book of the Week: “The Princess Problem” Rebecca C. Hains, PhD. For those who know me, princesses are not my expertise. I just didn’t care for them as a child, honestly was a bit freaked out by them. I still have not watched Beauty and the Beast, I have seen the play, but the movie, scares the poo out of me! But as I started keeping kids, and when I was no longer the only girl cousin in the family, I thought I should educate myself a little. Unfortunately, in my “research” I only became, shall I say, disturbed?! I have nothing against princesses, disney, etc. I love movies, especially children’s movies and musicals! But this book is eye-opening to the commercialism behind princesses and so many other things that kids are presented with. If you are at all interested or concerned about the way our world uses advertisements, previews, promotions, etc for profit, consider this book.