Journal Entry from our first visit with you

Wednesday - November 29th, 2017

I started this prayer journal today because my heart is full of thanks from our trip to Texas to see Andy and "the girls".  Rachel is amazing and totally organized.  She is so loving and kind, a wonderful mother and wife.  Thank you Lord for the 5 years she has been a part of our life.  What a blessing.

Sassy little Miss Lyra is cute, adorable, smart and already knows "how to work a room."  She reminds me of her daddy at that age.  I love her cute smile, blonde hair, and the fact she calls her daddy "Babe".

Lucy Mae is the happiest baby ever.  Her bright eyes and smile light up the room.  She is very "laid back" and not much makes her unhappy.  However, when she does cry, it breaks your heart and you instantly want to fix it.


Andy is the best daddy ever!  He is sensitive to Rachel's need "for a kid break and quick to take the girls outside for a walk.  He is a good provider and a hard worker.  We are especially glad that he is studying Scripture and actively involved in a good church.

My most favorite Lucy!

Well, you aren't surprised at my choice are you, Lucy Mae?  We have been waiting for your arrival for a long time.  All of us are so thankful that you are here and perfect in every way.

It is probably a good thing that Diva and Poppa live far away cause you would have chapped cheeks from all their kisses. 



Mommy kisses are the very best!  Diva will tell you a secret...you have the very best Mommy and Daddy ever.  They will love you and play with you and protect you your whole life long.  Your Daddy is big and strong and will make you laugh.  He gives great hugs and will show you all his toys.  He loves to wear costumes for Halloween so I am sure he will be thinking of a costume for you too.

You also have a big sister to laugh and giggle with, share secrets and help you with things you can't reach yet.  She is your built-in friend, protector, and playmate.  

You are growing so fast.  We are so thankful that your Mommy keeps us posted with new pictures of you and Lyra.  It is not as good as being with you but know we will be there as soon as Diva can travel.

We love you little Miss....get lots of sleep so Mommy and Daddy can too.

We love you and pray for you daily.

Your Proud Poppa and Darling Diva

Xena, Warrior Princess

 Ok sweetie, by now you are probably thinking "poor Diva, she is really losing it.  What does Xena, Warrior Princess have to do with Lucys?"

Years ago, when your Daddy was in college he used to tease me because I enjoyed watching Xena.  She was a "kick butt and take names" kind of woman in a land where most women were victims.  She was strong, could fight like a man, and had a weapon.  Xena was everything that your sweet, silver hair diva is not...my alter-ego, my opposite. 

 One thing you should know about Diva is that I can appreciate and get excited about seeing a person using their talents.  I can watch Ninja Warrior, Project Runway, Top Chef, or Top Shot and get just as enthralled because these are talents that are unique and special. I envy anyone who has perfected their special ability.

 Xena, Warrior Princess was played by  Lucy Lawless from New Zealand.  

So what can you learn from Xena....strength, empathy for those less fortunate, justice, and wisdom.  I pray you keep your body strong and physically fit (unlike your marshmallow shaped Diva) and that you will lend a helping hand to those around you.

So, my adorable baby girl,  I hope when you look for a superhero you will remember my girl Xena, Warrior Princess.


Your soft and fluffy Diva

Coming to see you soon

 

We are very pleased and blessed to welcome a new grandchild.  Lucy Mae was born April 29th to our son and daughter in law Rachel and big sister Lyra.  Lyra is excited to have everyone look at her baby and has been very sweet and gentle with her.  We are planning on taking a road trip to Fort Worth to go visit them and meet little Lucy and marvel at how much Lyra has changed over the last year.  To say that we are excited would definitely be an understatement.  Please keep us in your prayers as we start our grand adventure soon.  Be on the lookout for blog posts along the way and lots of pictures of our Texans.

A favorite author

Beloved Lucy,

One author of the Anne of Green Gables books is Lucy Maud Montgomery.  She lived in Canada over 140 years ago. This Canadian writer published 20 novels, many of which are still read around the world. But while her most popular creation, Anne (with an 'e') Shirley, finds love and happiness, Montgomery herself wasn’t so lucky. Her life was full of loneliness, suffering, and disappointment. 

She remains one of Canada’s most beloved authors. Montgomery published 20 novels, over 500 short stories, 30 essays, an autobiography, and a book of poetry. Anne of Green Gables has been translated into 25 languages and has been made into movies, plays, musicals, cartoons, miniseries, and radio shows. The book put Prince Edward Island on the map, and the historic site of her birth is a park that sees over 125,000 visitors each year.

       So my darling girl,  what can you learn about this famous Lucy?  You can learn from her character Anne that, despite your circumstances, you can make life better for those around you.  I hope you always have a vivid imagination and imagine great adventure stories where you find yourself the heroine.  I pray that you will love to read and gain knowledge from what you read.  I pray that your life will be rich and full and you will be a hard worker.

Poppa thinks I may be asking too much from you.  I want the best life has for you and I want you to make good, honorable, and kind decisions.  I want you to be the best you that you can be.

Regardless of what happens in life or who you become know that you were always loved and prayed for every day of your life.

Your Diva and Poppa

Good Grief Lucy

Dear Sweet Lucy,

   According to Newton's 3rd law of motion: (ask Poppa) for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  So for every kind and sweet and wonderful Lucy, there is a very outspoken and very critical Lucy.  Lucy is my favorite cartoon character from the comic strip Peanuts.  The main characters are Good 'ole Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy.  

" Known around the neighborhood (and by her little brother, Linus) for being crabby and bossy, Lucy can often be found dispensing advice from her 5-cent psychiatrist’s booth, yanking away Linus’ security blanket or humiliating Charlie Brown. Lucy’s only weakness? Her unrequited love for the piano-playing Schroeder."

 Your adorable Diva can identify with Lucy.  I often think about making a stand and offering 5-cent advice myself.  I can also be very crabby and bossy.  Your Poppa's grandmother (your great-great-grandmother Penni ) used to call your Poppa " Charlie Brown"   They say opposites attract so I am Lucy to Poppa's Charlie Brown.

So my darling girl, what can you learn from the cartoon, Lucy?   You can learn to laugh at yourself and not to take everything so seriously.  You can decide to be crabby and hard to live with or you can decide to make the situation better.  You can learn to smile and be happy knowing your family adores you and you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.

Your (oftentimes Crabby) Diva

The Lucy that is Valiant

Dearest Lucy,

   The next Lucy I love is from literature.  Lucy Pevensie, one of the main characters in the 7 volumes of "The Chronicles of Narnia" written by C.S. Lewis.  The author is a famous Christian writer and the Narnia books are Christian allegories ( a writer tells a fictional story where everything and everyone in it is supposed to represent a deeper meaning. )   I read these books to your Daddy and your Auntie Becky and Auntie Suzy when they were children.

  

    During a game of Hiding and Seek, Lucy, the youngest, hides in a wardrobe     ( something like a closet for coats) and discovers a mystical land called Narnia.  She tells her brothers and sister and no one believes her. Eventually, all of the children enter the wardrobe and enter Narnia where they are told that the White Witch has control over Narnia and "where it is always winter and never Christmas."  All the creatures and animals in Narnia can talk and everyone is waiting for Aslan the Lion to return.

 Of all the Pevensie children, Lucy is the closest to Aslan. Also, of all the humans who have visited Narnia, Lucy is perhaps the one that believes in Narnia the most. She is ultimately crowned Queen Lucy the Valiant, co-ruler of Narnia along with her two brothers and her sister. Lucy is the central character of the four siblings in the novels. Lucy is a principal character in three of the seven books (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader), and a minor character in two others (The Horse and His Boy and The Last Battle).

  My prayer for you my darling Lucy is that you will always stay close to Jesus and never be swayed by those around you that will try to get you to go along with them.  I pray that you will love with your whole heart and have a strong sense of right and wrong.  I pray that you will also become Queen Lucy the Valiant (acting with bravery, courage, or determination).

    I know your Mommy and Daddy will read you these books when you are older and I hope you fall in love with your namesake .  I love you and pray for you every day.

Your Diva and Poppa