What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. ~ Martin Luther

Monday, April 02, 2007

This is the Day that the Lord has made...


(Here is our Andrew just a week old...)

Let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it!


And we Newmans are doing a grand job of it today.

One year ago today the Lord gave to us a child. A boy child. Head full of black, as soft as the thread that floats the seeds of milkweed heavenward. (Now that I recall-there was a bit of black EVERYwhere on you-the back of your ears, your arms, your back...you were covered in little black fuzz!) Eyes, dark as night-though you wouldn't have known it, for it was far too comfortable to keep them closed. Skin as soft and wrinkly as that of a newborn kitten with voice sounding much the same.

You were called Peanut for 9 months before we met you, and while you were far from it when you were born (nearly 9 pounds!), the nickname lingered on until a more suitable one was found. Andrew Leigh: A strong name. A name with heritage. My Panda: a name of adoration and love.

Now-you are a year old and 364 times more loved than the day you were born, with that many more reasons to love you too. You are a bundle of sweetness...with a toothy grin that brightens my entire day, with babbles that have a much deeper meaning to me than any words ever could, and with a temper and stubbornness that can be most challenging at times. Good and bad, I love every little piece of you.

You show me you love me by crawling to me at lightening speed and, without slowing down, plowing into me and keeping your head laid upon my legs for an entire minute before lifting up your head with a big grin. You will never realize how special that is to me. When you are all grown, even then, will I remember those 'kamikazi crawls' (as I call them).

I can't vaccuum with you in the same room because you will crawl to it-and corner me. TIME after TIME after TIME. No matter which way I turn-you are faster and you are ALWAYS there.

You challenge me unapologetically, with your insistence and temper. Whether it is that you don't want to sit still...or more often the case you want food and NOW...your wails can be most infuriating.

With only one year under your belt, I have already offered up many a prayer for patience and endurance, wisdom and fortitude. I wonder how many prayers will be offered up in your lifetime?!?

I pray that your Father and I will be given grace sufficient enough to train you to be an obedient and respectful boy that will one day become a good steward of God our Father, a wise man, a hard worker, a devoted husband, a loving father and teacher, and a good example.

It is an adventure everyday with you-and it will be an adventure to see all the wonderful things the Lord has in store for your life. I do so love adventures!

Happy Birthday, my dear childling. My sweet Panda.



(and here he is today...on his first birthday!)



(I had to include this picture for you, Nanny and Poppy! Thank's so much for his birthday outfit! It suits him, wouldn't you say?!?!)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a sweetie! I hope he is having a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Gena said...

Such a sweet post for a darling boy. I hope he has a wonderful birthday.

Full of Grace said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW- You are such a doll! We Love You, From Auntie Beth, Uncle Bob, Samantha, Wayne, and Samuel :)

Carmichael Family said...

And what a precious boy you are, Andrew! Many happy returns of the day!

Abigail said...

Happy belated to a beautiful boy!