One Short Year

A year ago today, this is what I was doing. Eighteen hours after going into the hospital for a labor that was sure to be "quick and easy," my littlest lady was born. A year ago, I wondered why it was taking her so long to make an appearance. Now I know that she does everything in her own time, not a bit sooner.

She is, without a doubt, one of the greatest joys in my life. My favorite moments of every day are the quiet minutes after she and her sister first wake up. We all pile up in the bed and snuggle together for a few short minutes before the day begins. Kendall lays her little head down on my chest and lets me cuddle with her. Then she demands breakfast.

The years are short, but the days are long. One short year later, and my itty bitty newborn isn't so little anymore. We have some loooooong days. Sometimes I think they're never going to end, but they inevitably do, and here I am after 365 of them, wondering how it all passed so quickly. Crazy, I know.

At any rate, this little girl is one of a kind. Unless it involves eating, she's not in a hurry to do anything. With a big sister and four adults at her beck and call, she has no incentive to crawl, much less walk. She'll get there eventually...just not yet.

She is so, so, sweet, and I'm so grateful that God chose me to be her mommy. My prayer for her today and every day is that she will become a young woman who loves and serves the Lord with all her heart. That He would protect and preserve that tender little heart for the man she will eventually marry. That she would share an unbreakable bond with her sister. And of course, that by some miracle of God, we'll be able to do this parenting thing without totally screwing her up.

That's the goal, isn't it?

We're celebrating my sweet girl's birthday with family and friends this weekend. Expect to be inundated with pictures later.

Until next time, grace and peace.

Minted: 'Oh What Fun' Holiday Photo Card Challenge

I've been getting into the holiday spirit over the past few weeks, working on designs for minted's annual holiday card challenge. I know, it sounds crazy to be thinking about Christmas in the middle of June, but trust me when I say that it's always Christmas in the stationery world. Designers submitted 3,348 truly spectacular designs to the challenge, and now it's up to you to select the designs that minted will sell. I've linked to a few of my designs below to give you a little sampling, but you can see the entire collection on the Felicity Paper facebook page.

* * *

Simply Rejoice - Christmas Photo Cards

Simply Rejoice is hands down my favorite Christmas card this year. I love the gilded type and simple reminder to rejoice during one of the most hectic times of year. It's classic and beautiful, and I hope to use it for our cards this year (yes, I've already decided).

Bright Type - Holiday Photo Cards

Bright Type is a simple and clean Christmas card that highlights the customer's name with alternating colors. It's modern and fun and has just the right touch of whimsy.

Gilded Type Newlywed Christmas Cards

Gilded Type is the perfect card for newly married (and merry) couples. Its claim to fame is gorgeous faux gold foil in an elegant script.

Piled Presents - Holiday Photo Cards

Piled Presents features a brightly colored pile of presents and a large photo. It would make a perfect holiday card for anyone who loves gifts, and seriously, who doesn't love a nicely wrapped present?

Wishful Thinking - Holiday Photo Cards

And finally, Wishful Thinking is a perfect card for all those parents of newborns who are praying for a good night's sleep. Anyone who has had a baby can relate to this tongue-in-cheek birth announcement Christmas card that's sure to draw a chuckle.

* * *

I don't want to bombard you with all 11 of my designs, but if you're interested, check out all of my submissions on Felicity Paper's facebook page.

If you have some free time over the next few days, please rate my designs by clicking on the images above, then, to be fair, spend a few minutes rating some of the other designs you see (your votes won’t count if you only vote for me). Voting closes Monday morning (June 24), so head on over and rate away!

Thanks for your support!

Until next time, grace and peace.

He Was Always There

Gotta love being a child of the eighties. I have no idea what made me make that face - probably the visor that my mom shoved on my head, but whatever. This was a position that was quite familiar in my childhood. Propped up on my Daddy's knee while he watched the Bulldogs play.

So today, on Father's Day, I wanted to thank my Daddy for the countless things he's done for me over the past 30 years. Our family wasn't perfect by any means, but now that I'm all grown up, I appreciate what we had all the more. He held it all together.

He used to work full days, come home long enough to change clothes, and then take me out to the softball fields, where he would hit hundreds of ground balls for me to practice fielding. He worked and traveled a lot, but he was always there to watch my games. Whether it was a volleyball game or a choir concert at church, he was there. Every time. For that, I'm grateful.

Thanks, Dad, for being my biggest fan and my strongest advocate. I love you and can't imagine who I would be without you.

"It's only when you grow up, and step back from him, or leave him for your own career and your own home—it's only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. Pride reinforces love."

—Margaret Truman

Love you, Daddy.