JOY

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." -3 John 1:4

After a bible study two days ago, Dakota accepted Jesus. I asked her if she would like to pray a prayer of forgiveness and ask Him into her heart. She said "Yes" and I lead her in the sinners prayer. Then I asked her if she wanted to get baptized. (Her and I had watched a group get baptized at church last month. She was very interested and asked lots of questions.)

She said "Yes". Only if I could go with her ;) I told her I would ask Paster Clark, and that I think he would be more than happy for me to go with her.

My God is an AWESOME God.

Speaking of Dakota, I love the conversation her and I had last night at bedtime. This is my favorite time to talk to her, when she's all tucked in her bed and ready to go to sleep. For some reason, she always really opens up at that time and I get to know a lot about her day and how she's doing/feeling etc.

Anyway, I put my hands on her cheeks and told her that I was so grateful that God had given her to me, and that she was such a wonderful blessing. She said, "I was the first, then Levi, then Kaden. Hey, that's three. And if we have another baby, then there will be four!"

I asked her, "Would you like us to have another baby?"

She said, "Ummmm...YES! But I want you to pray about it first."

What a wise 5 year old I have!

I told her that I would of course pray about it, when the time is right, and that Kaden is still little and needs me all to himself for a little while longer.

Davey and I would love to have another baby. I've actually wanted another since Kaden was basically a newborn. That's a first. Usually I don't get that feeling until after my kids first birthdays.

Our life is CRAZY busy with three kids. I mean, seriously busy. And it only gets more busy as they get older and school takes over, and activities and personalities blossom! But somehow that doesn't seem to dissuade us from feeling like a good part of our purpose in life is to grow this big, beautiful family. It's all over the Bible, written into God's word, His purpose for us, to be blessed by the struggles and hardships that a growing family entails. Lord knows, it is HARD. Raising kids is enough to turn a person's hair silver overnight. But through all of it, we've become such drastically different people than we were just a short 5 year ago (definitely for the better, only through Christ, not ourselves, just to be sure and give credit to the One who deserves it.) And I think that's what God really means when He says, "Children are blessings." It's not that they themselves are wonderful all the time and just shower your day with peace and tranquility (HA! Yah right! Oh my gosh, if anyone could actually see what my days look like, they would instantly know this is usually not the case!) because as humans, we're born into sin. All you have to do is have a two year old to know that! Or even a talking infant. One of their firsts words to learn is "NO!" And it takes very little time before they're able to form little white lies all on their own as well. It's just innate in us as humans. But, I think where the blessing lies is in the growth that takes place when a family multiplies. All the lives that shift, the love that manifests, the unity between the husband and the wife (although VERY tested by children), eventually, through a right relationship with the Father, is always strengthened.

But, Kaden is still very small, and of course we'll wait at least another year to start thinking and praying for another baby.

But, that doesn't mean I'm not already going over names in my head! Haha.