Our youngest, Sami, has accumulated a small menagerie of stuffed animals and other friends that live on her bed with her at night. Included are the entire cast of Little Dogs on the Prairie, Baby I, Baby II, Reindeer, and in particular, there's Fish and Blue. The former joined our family when Sami had to overnight at Children's Hospital during the TB scare (see below) and Blue has been around for some time. These last two are what you would call special friends. They get mentioned during prayer time; they rank right up there will Mommy and food!
At night the rountine is probably not unlike many other households: at around 6:45pm, Sami enjoys a bath by Mommy or Daddy, says good-night to the others of the family and then heads to bed for the ritual. Before lights out there is the obligtory 'read book', and 'lets pray', and finally 'music'. That's when we turn on the CD on really quiet so Sami can enjoy her lullabye until sleep. Don't ever let anyone tell you kids don't like or need routine. If any of these even just gets out of order we hear about it. It's very cool to experience.
The time I spend with Sami has really taken me close to God at times. In my mind even though Sami can barely formulate even a two words cohesive phrase, I know she is praying to God, she knows it, and I know He hears her and smiles every night right about her bed time.
For me, with Sami, we begin our time by asking: 'Sami, who do you want to pray for tonight'? She pauses for a second. Then without hesitation, and withoug missing a beat, she says, 'food'. That's how I know it's all real.
You have to know Sami. She has a close, almost personal relationship with food, except for perhaps certain types of funguses. Food gets her through the day, through her time-outs, her naps, her play time, and all the in-between. Sami has taught me anew what it means to live to eat. I thought I knew what that meant - shame on me. But I digress; this is not about me, it's about prayer.
Back to the list we are building - Sami usually includes all of her mainstays: food, Mommy, Laura, Daddy, Guinness, and then moves on to her other friends she wanted to pray for: Fish, Blue and Baby and woth encouragement will even mention school and her friends. She loves school becasue the first thing they do is....FEED HER!
And then we pray, Sami and I. Eyes closed. Hands crossed. In the dark. This little bundle of joy begins to talk to God...blah blah blah food blah Mommy blah blah Fish blah blah food blah blah Daddy blah blah Laura blsh blah blah food blah blah Guinness blah blah Sami food amen. And she is serious and means every word of it.
I tell you there is a reason we are taught not to get in the way and hinder a little child from getting to know Jesus, and I think this is why. He wants them like this. Simple, full of love and possibilities. No pressure, no pretenses. I have this strong suspicion that Sami is going to grow up to be a really stong Woman of God, maybe a preacher, certainly a Prayer Warrior!
I am blessed, I am.
At night the rountine is probably not unlike many other households: at around 6:45pm, Sami enjoys a bath by Mommy or Daddy, says good-night to the others of the family and then heads to bed for the ritual. Before lights out there is the obligtory 'read book', and 'lets pray', and finally 'music'. That's when we turn on the CD on really quiet so Sami can enjoy her lullabye until sleep. Don't ever let anyone tell you kids don't like or need routine. If any of these even just gets out of order we hear about it. It's very cool to experience.
The time I spend with Sami has really taken me close to God at times. In my mind even though Sami can barely formulate even a two words cohesive phrase, I know she is praying to God, she knows it, and I know He hears her and smiles every night right about her bed time.
For me, with Sami, we begin our time by asking: 'Sami, who do you want to pray for tonight'? She pauses for a second. Then without hesitation, and withoug missing a beat, she says, 'food'. That's how I know it's all real.
You have to know Sami. She has a close, almost personal relationship with food, except for perhaps certain types of funguses. Food gets her through the day, through her time-outs, her naps, her play time, and all the in-between. Sami has taught me anew what it means to live to eat. I thought I knew what that meant - shame on me. But I digress; this is not about me, it's about prayer.
Back to the list we are building - Sami usually includes all of her mainstays: food, Mommy, Laura, Daddy, Guinness, and then moves on to her other friends she wanted to pray for: Fish, Blue and Baby and woth encouragement will even mention school and her friends. She loves school becasue the first thing they do is....FEED HER!
And then we pray, Sami and I. Eyes closed. Hands crossed. In the dark. This little bundle of joy begins to talk to God...blah blah blah food blah Mommy blah blah Fish blah blah food blah blah Daddy blah blah Laura blsh blah blah food blah blah Guinness blah blah Sami food amen. And she is serious and means every word of it.
I tell you there is a reason we are taught not to get in the way and hinder a little child from getting to know Jesus, and I think this is why. He wants them like this. Simple, full of love and possibilities. No pressure, no pretenses. I have this strong suspicion that Sami is going to grow up to be a really stong Woman of God, maybe a preacher, certainly a Prayer Warrior!
I am blessed, I am.
Comments
We just looked at all your pictures and read about how you are doing! We will send some pictures to you of our faily s you can see your Korea cousins! Wow Laura, our grades are so good! You are a good student.
We love you!!
Aunt Jennie, Uncle Bryan, Rachel, Hannah, and Nathan