Joy

I just wanted to take a second to write about this because Kaelyn has brought so much Joy into my life recently. Of course, since the day she was born she has been such a blessing and Joy in our lives, but sometimes it just seems more abundant and I am more aware of it. It is so amazing to watch a baby as they grow and learn and try new things. My baby started walking this past week, and it has been so much fun to watch her work so hard to master this new skill. (Check out her walking on our other blog!)

I think that babies can teach us so much about living life, because they live with so much Joy and passion. They get very excited about small things. And they don't take those small things for granted. They love to laugh and explore and try new things. They love to be close and connected to others in their world. Even if they are having a bad day, they still smile, and giggle, and generally have a good attitude about things. My daughter loves her life, she is so full of Joy and that Joy overflows into my life.

I love it when Kaelyn smiles, just a simple smile when she is looking me in the eyes, and I know that she is smiling for me. I love it when she laughs, the little giggles when I am tickling her and the deeper laughing when she thinks something is really funny. I love that she pants (yes, like a dog) when she gets really excited about something. I love that she loves our dogs and loves animals in general and pants every time she shes an animal, even if it is just a picture in a book. I love the way her hair blows straight up in the wind when I am taking her for a walk or run in the stroller. I love carrying her, either in the sling or in the mei tei, and having her close to me and getting her involved in the everyday things that I am doing. I love her when she is sleeping, of course I love it when she is sleeping and I get to get some sleep too, but I love rocking her, and rubbing her back and watching her peaceful face as she sleeps. I love watching her with her daddy, the way he cares for her and the way she adores him.

And I love getting a small glimpse of the love that my Heavenly Father has for me and the Joy that I as His child bring to Him. There is nothing in this world that has given me a better understanding of God's love for us than the love of my own child. Kaelyn is a reminder of God's love for me each and every day, and that fills me with Joy.