First Things First

I love firsts in life. I love the first time you visit somewhere, the first time to eat a food and the first time to experience a new adventure. I especially love experiencing firsts with children. I love when their eyes light up, all the ooh's and ahh's, and even the questions that come with firsts and I love doing this with Izzie.

Some of you may think I'm terrible but I don't really remember the first time Izzie walked or even the first time she said a word (even though her first word was Dada). However the things I do remember are the things that are important to me. Her first trip to the zoo, her first Happy Meal, her first time to Disney, even her very first trip to Target (yes, her first trip to Target was a milestone for me...she was 1 week old) and the first time she looked in my eyes and said I love you Mommy this much (with her arms opened as wide as she could get them). (And yes, I cried during all these things)

This weekend Izzie got to experience more firsts. We took a quick trip to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge with some of our best friends and had a wonderful time. Izzie has been to Chattanooga before but I was hoping she would be even more amazed by the beauty of these mountains - funny thing is the whole time we were there she kept asking when we would be to the mountains - oh, children and their honesty. However my firsts quest was not compromised. She got to have her first Krispy Kreme donut, rode on her first chair lift, rode the Alpine Slide for the first time and even did a rock climb and ropes course for the first time. The laughter, yums and wonder that accompanied these "events" are some that I will always remember and I hope she does. ( I guess that is why I take hundreds of pictures too.)

I never want to pass on a moment for a first. In my opinion, the wonderment of children is fleeting and I long to capture as much as I can while Izzie still has it. I want to capture it all and while doing so maybe even open her eyes to something she grows to love. I pray that these firsts she has may tap in to the gifts and talents God has equipped her with and that one day she will use them for His glory. Whose to say that rock climbing with her dad doesn't open a love for nature and God's creation? I can't say that it will or won't - I'm not to decide - but as a parent I want to give my child opportunity to try things that may potentially open doors for her. (For any critics out there please don't jump to conclusions, I don't push my child to do anything though - I just give her options to do so.)

I can't wait for the firsts we'll experience with our new baby. While I may miss out on the first time she crawls and maybe even talks or walks, I will be able to experience the firsts I love....the first Happy Meal, the first zoo trip and yes, even the first trip to Target.

The one first I long for though for both of our girls (and any other children we may have) is the first time they realize the love of our Heavenly Father. The first time they accept the love of Christ and understand their lost-ness without it. This first is one that I can't create but one I pray will occur in the life of my children. As parents, with all the opportunities we give our children, this is the one first we should pray for, encourage and talk through and then leave in the Father's hands to let it happen....for it was He who loved us First......

Izzie and Epeopa

In my last post I really didn't mention a lot about what Izzie thought about her new sister that would soon be adopted from Ethiopia - so I thought I would give a little insight to her view of this journey.

When Jonathan and I started talking about adding to our family Izzie had a lot of insight. One conversation in particular sticks out in my head of her view of having a sibling.

Me: "Iz, do you want a little brother or sister"

Izzie: "Maybe. Would you have to go to the hospital and have needles in you?"

Me: "If momma has a baby in my tummy then yes, I would go to the hospital."
Izzie: "Then no momma I don't want a brother or sister. Can't we just go get one like in Haiti?"

(You see when the earthquake hit Haiti Izzie was extremely disturbed by the hurt children. We prayed nightly for the children there. She asked where their mommas and daddies were and we were honest with her in our answers.)

Me "So Iz, you want a brother or sister from somewhere else? You know they'll look different than you right?

Izzie: "Yes, momma I want a brown sister"

That is just a sample one of the many conversation we've had.

You see children have it right. They don't see the color, the socio-economic status, or even nationality. They see a child - just like Jesus does. My 4 year old gets it better than most adults. She sees a child that needs a momma and daddy, and she thinks her parents are pretty good so we should bring them in our home. She understands the need and gets that we can possibly fulfill that need.

When we told Izzie we had decided on Ethiopia she wanted to know so much about the country.

-Where is it?

-What do they do there?

-What do they eat?

-How long does it take to get there?

And then she wanted to know how to pray for them. We told her the best thing she could do is pray for her sister and nightly she does. She prays for what has fondly become known as Epeopa around our house (her way of saying Ethiopia).

One night while praying she said "God, protect our little baby in Epeopa and help the babies in the world that don't have a momma and daddy, come to our house." I couldn't believe it! At 4 years old she understands that there are children with no parents. She understands that we need to care for them. What took me almost 32 to grasp, she is understanding at 4!

I don't write all these things to pat ourselves on the back to say look what a good job we've done in raising Izzie but yet to show He has had this plan for our family since the beginning and has prepared not just our hearts as parents but Izzie as a big sister.

Since we have started this journey I have already seen God's hand at work, I have been more amazed by what He has done in Izzie's heart than anything. Only God could give Jonthan and I a child that would be as open and understanding as Izzie has been about having a black sister. Only God could give her the tender heart needed to accept that not all children have the fortune that she does and not to boast in those things, but hurt for the children that don't have that same fortune.

God has had His hands in this from the beginning....he began Building Castles long before we did........