One

Dear Madison,

One year ago I was looking into your tiny brand new little face and marveling at the way God works out His plan for our lives. We had barely started praying for another baby when we found out you were on the way. After what seemed to be a very short 9 months, you had joined our little family.



I remember when the doctor told us “It’s a girl!” I closed my eyes and cried. I knew the joy of having a daughter and to have another one was a blessing beyond comprehension. Your Daddy stayed with you, taking pictures and watching them weigh and measure you. We were both so very happy you had safely arrived and were a healthy, little girl.



I was sitting in bed in our room a few days after you were born. I was ready to go to sleep and the nurse was on her way to come get you. But she was busy helping another Mom so I waited. As I held you and snuggled you and nursed you I knew you were going to be different than my first experience with a newborn. Weeks passed and we praised God that you were not colicky. In fact, you were the opposite – happy, pleasant, sleepy…even easy. I spent lots of time just enjoying you.



Your big sister was delighted with you the moment she met you, just a few hours after you were born. Reagan has fallen head over heels for you over this last year. She loves to make you laugh, to play with you, to watch over you, and to help you. Rarely have the two of you ever not gotten along. She has such a tender heart for you and is constantly aware of your needs and wants.





Oh Maddie girl, you came into our family and changed it immensely. All for the better. I wasted way too much time before you were born worrying that I wouldn’t love you enough, that I would not enjoy staying home fulltime, that the adjustment would be difficult and frustrating. It’s been so much better than I ever could have dreamed. Having you here with us has been like finding a piece of a puzzle we didn’t know we were missing.





Your spunk and love for laughter is such a fun quality about you. You are endlessly curious and always have a need to be involved. You were and are a beautiful part of my life. Your name was aptly chosen, Madison Grace. You were unexpected and wonderful – a true gift to us, just as God’s grace has been. Undeserved, but so very welcome.






I have claimed Psalm 139 as my verse for you: O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24)





He is always with you, Maddie. And my deepest prayer is that you will stay close to His side all of your ordained days. He will never fail you. He will always know you. And He will lead you in the way everlasting.


I love you so much, my sweet Madison Grace. Oh so much more than I can say in a letter. You are so deeply loved and cherished. Happy Birthday little one! We love you so.




Love,

~Mommy