BETTY BEATRICE

It was one of the most vivid dreams I can remember

as I drift off to sleep, I have my hands propping up the pillow so they are kind of crossed up in front of me..face down..hands up

it seemed like I was wide awake when I felt something kind of heavy be placed in them

The next morning I said to Grace

you're pregnant

Today she turns 5

it's like my life has always had her in it, as I cannot imagine anything else

I love my children so stinkin much

I never thought I could love someone more

but my friends assured me

you can

it's a different kind of love

you will

just wait and see

these are a few of my favorite photos of Betty

in a most random order

to capture just who this wonderful precious little soul is

and the gold thread she is

 that is woven in my life

in our family

my dad, my mom,  my brother and me are left handed

so is she

she's not afraid of the cold

or bugs

or snakes

she's a tomboy

and Repunzel in her tower on a daily basis

she looks like her mother

and her dad all at the same time

such a miracle for that to be

that face that face that glorious face

I think she must be 1000 years old

Miss Betty Bubble Hat

(we still call her that)

She is a child of the Most High God

and she fills our lives with joy

and a daily reminder of God's gifts

and my friends were right

you can

you can love someone more than your kids

because Betty is Grace

I will never forget when I realized that I would never hold Grace again

and I thought...

if I knew the last time I held her would be the last time I'd hold her

I would have held her so much longer and so much tighter and so much better 

and then

I had Betty

and now, I get to hold Grace all over again

she needs a cousin

she is 5