Okay, so I've been MIA

It's amazing how time goes quickly when you're really not doing anything exciting at all. I could kick myself for missing some interesting opportunities to reflect, but when you're chasing a toddler, those opportunities are few and far between. And over quickly.

Emily has now turned two, and somehow she got the memo. Look, I'm familiar enough with toddler behavior to realize that she's REALLY on the mild side compared to just about every child out there... but it's hard to see my generally sweet-tempered, compliant little one throw a fit about something. It's really quite shocking! Where did my baby go? It's hard to keep it in perspective, but other moms usually look at me like I've been smoking something when I talk about her being crabby.

Much as I hate the quick passing of time with my daughter, I really do love this age. I miss the "baby" season and already ache for more little ones (but as long as she's not sleeping, that's not practical), but it's such an adventure to hear her forming words and learning what's going on in that curly little head of hers. She tenderly covers a doll--or the cat--with a blanket, "sings" along with me or any other music going on, and is enchanted by the light-up angel just outside her bedroom window. She incessantly repeats "stars, angel; stars, angel" to explain that there are stars in the angel. Hey, who am I to explain astronomy to a toddler?

I'm so grateful for the privilege of caring for one of God's children. How awesome is it that He gave His Son in such a way that we could all understand? Now that I've held and loved a precious child of my own, it's brought home this powerful gift and God's incomparable love in a way that I feel in my gut. What a merry Christmas.