My daughter.

I haven’t actually said those words out loud yet. Just typing them for the first time feels like a slice of Heaven.

I’m a mom.

I haven’t said those words out loud yet either. Just typing them for the first time makes me feel immense gratitude. Oh Lord, I thank you for my life!

Being your mom is the best gift. A new life. It’s funny - when you have a baby there are parts of you that have to mourn the death of your old life and your old self. There are stretch marks and getting eight straight hours of sleep is gone and you no longer feel like you can just go anywhere at a moment’s notice. There are lots of tears. There is a lot of letting go. More than anyone could prepare you for. But, that is part of the gift. You realize - when you see an electric smile like yours (Oh, melt my heart!!!) - that your body is not your own - just a temporary home, God will give you deeper rest and that there are great blessings in the new pace of life that you could never have known before. You feel in those first few traumatic sleepless nights that life as you knew it is over. And yes, it is. The old self dies so the new self can be born. We were both created new that day, sweet baby. I’m learning in every moment and I don’t have it all figured out but just these simple words…

My daughter.
Your mom.

…make the whole world feel right. A new life. A new love. A new joy. Amazing Grace. Oh, Gracie, could you be any cuter?! Thank you for loving me. I feel it. And I’m so grateful. I love you so. Love, Mom

P.S. thank you to our sweet friend Pastor Mitch for sending us this verse - John 12:24-25 - this morning. Perfect.