Sing Your Praise To the Lord

Charlotte,

This morning was one that I never want to forget.

It started out with a fitful morning of sleep for you.  You are normally a solid sleeper from the time we put you into bed until around 7:30 but you stay happily in your crib until 8.  This morning we woke up to some serious cries from you around 6 but you weren't moving and before we could even get out of bed you had stopped.  I don't know if you were having a bad dream or what, but I don't think you slept great after that. 

We woke you up and you were a happy camper immediately showing us your bear and getting really excited about the dress that I picked out for you to wear to church.  You got even happier when you saw that it had monkey's (or "Ah Ah's" as you call them) on it.  You immediately grabbed at your pj top that had puppy dogs on it and said "Ruff Ruff off!"  You loved getting your dress on and were even excited about your tights.  You then astounded us when I started to put your shoes on by saying nonchalantly, "Brown shoes."  Why yes Charlotte, your shoes are brown, good job!  (Until now the only color you've recognized was purple and you've only been correctly pointing it out for about a week.  Green is a 50/50 identification.)

Then Daddy made the mistake of telling you we were going to church.  You immediately got a panicked look in your eyes and said "No church!"  It seems that this ongoing ear infection has left you disliking to be left anywhere but at school these days and you usually cry when we leave you.  It seemed like church was no exception.  By the time breakfast was over you had quit saying "No church!" and when it came time to actually put on your coat for church you got excited and said "Church! Sing!"  The past few times we've been we've taken you to big church with us and apparently the singing has made an impact on you!

You cried again when we left you in the nursery but Daddy explained that you would go to Sunday School and then we would come and get you for big church to go sing and with tears streaming down your face you sadly nodded and said, "Sing."  Before we could walk down the hall though you were happily playing so we didn't feel too bad!

When we went to pick you up after Sunday School you quickly said "Sing!" when you saw me and were so excited to get into big church.  For the first time you decided you wanted to sit in your own seat instead of our laps and when I sat down with you you pointed to it and said, "Sit.  Sing."  So I sat you down and you sat on the edge of the chair (their like movie theater seats and when she tried to sit on the back it started to close up on her) just looking around.  Every once in a while you would point to the front and say "Sing" to me and I would reassure you that we would sing soon.

When the service finally started you were so excited.  We stood up to sing but you didn't want me to pick  you up and you didn't want to stand up.  You sat happily in your chair clapping and moving to the music.  It melted my heart seeing the joy in your face as we praised Jesus.  I pray that your enthusiasm for him never wavers as your grow older and that you continue to be so passionate about singing and music!  It was just so sweet to see you clapping along to the music and enjoying it so much! You also looked SO BIG sitting in the chair by yourself!

You were pretty good during the sermon too thanks to the children's Bible's that the let the kids use, a sippy of water, and some snacks.  We ran into a little bit of problems when you thought we should be singing again and preaching was still going on but all in all you were very good, especially for a 21 month old!  The only problem that arose was when it was time to leave and the band was playing us out of the church.  At that point you did not want to leave and wanted to stay and sing.  So much so that you started to cry while wailing "Siiiiiiinnnnnngggg!"  So, yes, we were the parents dragging their child OUT of church this morning.  The irony that you initially didn't want to go and then didn't want to leave was not lost on me!

You didn't give up your quest to continue singing when we got in the car and made Daddy and I sing continually "Deep and Wide" the entire ride home.  Any time we would stop even just to take a breath you would say "More wide!"  You are quite persistent when you want to be!

I hope that I never lose the image of you sitting in that chair clapping along to the music at big church.  I so much wanted to remember it that I really wanted to grab my phone and take some pictures of you doing it, but, don't worry, I refrained.  You don't have to be embarrassed of your mom yet!  You are a precious girl and we love you so much.  Your sweet and kind and enthusiastic heart makes me stand in awe at the glory of our God that he gave us such a precious gift in you. 

We love you!
Mommy

PS Here are some pictures of you in your monkey dress before we left for church!