Guardian Angel...

Guardian Angel pure and bright
guard me while I sleep tonight.



Little Miss Mackenzie, your room is just precious. I started to say as precious as you, but have decided there is nothing that precious.

Mommy and Daddy have done such a good job at creating a beautiful, sweet reflection of the peaceful world they intend to provide for you.

There were many "big" jobs before you arrived, like LOTS of painting, putting up beadboard and trim and hours of dreaming of how to make it perfect for you.

Mommy and Daddy finished your nursery just before you were born...and here are just a few of the details...







cozy, comfy, beautiful changing station (great lamp, Endie!)...



lots of friends always waiting...



a sweet, musical mobile...hearts (of course!)



and "i" want to thank Mommy and Daddy for letting Lolli add a little something to your room...





love to think that God's word is always near...





Maybe someday Lolli will post something that is not so mushy...(maybe not)!

You have changed our world, our family and taught us so much about love in just the few weeks you have been here.

We love you...and pray for you daily little love. I can't wait to hold you again (soon)...

Lucky Charm

MAY THE SUN SHINE
WARM UPON YOUR FACE,
AND THE ROAD RISE
GENTLY TO YOUR PACE.
-old Irish lyric-

Lucky for us...




Lucky for you...



Happy first St. Patrick's Day, Miss Mackenzie.

You are definitely like warm sunshine on our faces.

Love and prayers...Lolli



(PS...Pops got to hold you today...lucky Pops!)

first

You are one week old!

When I say it like that, it "sounds" so short. But when Lolli and Pops haven't seen you for a whole week...it "sounds" like a looonnnggg time.

There are so many people that love you and praying for you. We are blessed to have friends that remember to go to God in praise, not just in the difficult times of life. So, when God hears your name each day, he then hears thank you.

Mommy and Daddy are just so good with you. Their confidence astounds me, and it is a powerful, comforting sight to see them working as a "team" to care for your every need. You are blessed that God has loaned you to such a good Mommy and Daddy.

You're getting extra feedings right now, you are so sweet to watch. Within just a few minutes your eyes begin to close...you'll pop them open to try to stay awake...but then you just drift back off.



(by the way, you are yawning here...no crying allowed when Lolli and Pops are in the house) ;p

Your eyes are captivating, so big, so beautiful...



I know you must be tired of hearing the camera click...you must feel like a movie star! In the reality of our world, you are much more important than any movie star! And Pops would add more beautiful, too.







Lolli and Pops both said as we walked out of your pretty little house, "it's so much harder to leave now." And it is.

You change so much from week to week. You continue to be a little miracle for this family. It's true, the angels danced the day you were born.




Lolli and Pops can't wait to see you in a few more days. Keep growin' little one.

The Minute

He said, "I didn't think I would get teary eyed."


"But the minute I held her I did."




Day two he said, "I got teary eyed again. Every time I hold her, I tear up."


As we closed our eyes tonight, Lolli prayed and gave thanks.

And Pops said (he said), "Life is changed forever."

Amen

Welcome to our world...


Mackenzie Lynne
02.27.10
7 lbs. 10 oz.
19-1/2"







Yes...life IS changed forever.



Amen

Lil' Miss M...it's almost time!

Lil' Miss M,

We are thinking that the time is near that we will get to meet you. Mommy is SOOO ready.



Another party was held in your honor this weekend, this one was hosted by Mommy's friends. They are a precious group, that love Mommy deeply - and you will be spoiled by all of them!



Nana was so gracious to be the host home...and everything was perfect!



Another beautiful cake



LOTS of precious gifts





Here is your first outfit that Lolli bought (Lolli - who may need a part time job to support her buying for Mackenzie habit). I can't wait to see you in it! It has the cutest little hat with a GREAT BIG flower...sugarpie...you should see all the bows that Lisa made for you! You are set!



And, the first thing I painted for your room...



(photo will enlarge if you click on it)

Mommy and Daddy picked out all the scripture to coordinate with each letter of your name. It was such a blessing and honor to do this for you (and Mommy & Daddy).

Perfect love sometimes does not come until grandchildren are born. Welsh Proverb



Endie and I spoke this morning, we are doing our best to be patient grandmothers. (I'm not sure either of your grandmothers received many of those "patience" blessings...) Mommy, Daddy and God are all taking really good care of you. We are all so lucky to have each other.

Lolli prays for your daily, I'm so ready for you to come out and play!

Little Valentine

Mackenzie, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Lolli and Pops have invited the entire family over to celebrate with all our LOVEs and the February birthdays.

We will have a big old lunch after church. Lunch after church is a valued tradition of some "mature" Southern women , we look forward to when it is our turn. Whether the "tradition" of Sunday lunch began as a gaurantee to get your family to go to church together, or whether the family begged the Mom or Grandmother to cook - who cares, both are great ideas! It is something I have looked forward to all my life, and I'm glad it's finally my turn. The only thing that will make it better - when you and your brothers, sisters and cousins fill the house.

Wow...Sunday morning, church, lunch and everyone together...it will be a precious time for my heart.

"From the heart of a godly grandmother,
Living water flows...
Refreshing the lives of her family." Unknown

Your Mommy's birthday will be celebrated tomorrow, she asked for Mummy's strawberry cake, and she shall receive. That was one of Mummy's special gifts to the family - you got to pick out your cake and she would make it from one of her yummy recipes. Your Pops loves Mummy's strawberry cake, too, it may be his favorite!

As badly as we all want to hold you, I must admit it's a little unsettling to see your own children become parents. Where did the time go, in the blink of an eye, they were grown...









And I LOVE this one of Mommy with Grumps...the perfect Valentine photo.



Your Mommy is beautiful as a woman, but as a little girl, doesn't she just knock your socks off! And look at that charm...bet she could bat those big eyes and have the world at her fingertips.

We are all fairly confident you will have those same abilities. Yes, you undoubtedly will be precious - but I'll tell you right now, you've got a fairly easy group to control...we will be putty in your sweet little hands.

Life does teach us to treasure our time together.

Next month will be your birthday. And I have a feeling that this little family, as deeply as we love one another, have not a clue about the love to come. That Mackenzie kind of love...can't wait!

I've got to get busy making the cake now. Today, I'll be thinking about when we can bake together...we should get matching aprons!

Lolli and Pops love you sweet Mackenzie. We pray daily, God hears your name each day. The days are close when we can pray for you, as we hold you.

Cake, Tutus & Baby Shoes

Here I am...did you miss me?

We are getting so excited, you are growing SO fast...we are thinking we may get to see you a little early. We will be ready when you are!



Aunt Nicole and Uncle John threw a party in your honor. It was called a baby shower, and they really did a beautiful job. Look at them with Mommy and Daddy, and look at that beautiful diaper cake and the "real" cake!







You received LOTS of presents...





Mommy and Daddy opened them for you, with the assistance of your sweet cousin Aiden. She is going to LOVE you, she will feel like the big girl when you are born.







Twin brother Brayden was way more interested in Thomas the Train and coloring, than in pink tutus and precious shoes (BTW...a girl can NEVER have enough of either)!





Everyone is excited you are arriving soon.

I've got tons of photos from the shower, we'll look at them in a few years and Lolli will tell you all about it.

Auntie Nicole gave me a cute button that says "Future Grandma." I keep it attached to my purse, just in hopes that someone will ask me about it!

Mommy and Daddy gave me a precious book at the shower entitled "Words to Warm a Grandmother's Heart." I love it! It is full of sweet quotations and scripture, all about appreciating the blessing of grandchildren.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Amy Carmichael. I am unfamiliar with her works, but I do love these words...

"Let us give all that lies within us...to pure praise, to pure loving adoration and to worship from a grateful heart - a heart that is trained to look up."

And listen to these words from Gracie Faulkenberry (age 5).

"I love to open my door and see my Granny standing there. It's like opening up a gift from God."

Well Miss Mackenzie, let me tell you...I would like to borrow those words from Gracie, but the gift from God (the way I see it) is you.

I want you to know that I feel about you the way she feels about her Granny. I do think my heart skips a beat when I speak of you. I am going to do my best to never make God regret allowing me to be your Lolli.

I have so many examples of incredible grandmothers in my life, including your great-grandmother, Mummy. She has set the standards high, and we are all blessed for it.

I'll be back soon...we are going to look at your nursery together. It is precious, Mommy and Daddy have had great ideas and have done a beautiful job. You are just going to love it.

Until I return, remember Lolli loves and prays for you daily. This is one of my daily prayers...

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

I love you little lady... ;p