To Kate

Kate,
I'm only 3 months late on writing a letter to you (I'm trying to write one annually). As I reflect on the past year of your life, I am amazed at a few things. My love for you has increased beyond anything I could have imagined. Our LORD has blessed you more than you may ever understand, and my daily hope is that we will see ongoing evidence of the Holy Spirit's working in your life. As we teach you to pray and worship our LORD, my prayer is that these will not be rote activities, but rather that the Holy Spirit will use these activities to transform you into a new creature.

You love to dance on my feet (your mother mentioned this in her monthly letter), and I cannot explain how fun that is. To you, it is simply another game we play (which by the way, you HATE the snicker doodle!), but to me, it brings unexplainable joy (and sadness when I consider that we will not do this foever!).

As for games, you love the "Jumping Bean" which is where I lift you off the bed three times (bouncing you on your feet), and then on the 3rd "bounce" I "drop" you in a free fall on your back (of course I hold your head to keep you safe). The "Snicker Doodle" is where I hold you tight and spin around real quick while jumping...Apparently, that wasn't fun for you OR Claire! You love to march in a circle singing, "Go Go Joshua, lead your army go..." That is a song from Miss PattyCake. I'm always having to come up with new games to keep you laughing. I remember one Sunday night after church you were doing "Flips" off the stage (I flipped you over my head to the ground). You love to sit on me while I lay on my back on the floor. You gave me a birthday party like mommy's, BUT i must say, it sounds like mommy's party was much better than mine!

Another game you absolutely love is when I tell you, "Don't touch the alarm clock," and you climb on the bed and touch it. I then pick you up really high, squeal really loud, and drop you on the bed and begin tickling you....You LOVE that one. You keep us busy, but I often wonder what we did before you came into our lives. Everytime we get in the car you ask, "can we listen to my music," and mommy always lets you, but I often compromise to let you listen to a song and then I listen to one of my songs. You've begun to play along with that one, but you used to not be too happy about that! As for songs, at least once per week since Christmas, you've asked me to sing, "Away in a Manger" to you before you go to sleep. That has slowed a little since you got your hands on Henry's Glow worm that plays songs to you, but you really don't like it when the glow worm light stays lit during the whole song it plays. There are two modes, and if it is in the wrong mode, it really bothers you.

I tell you all these things for a few reasons. One because they will be great memories for me. Another reason is so you'll see how everyday with a child is an adventure. We are always creating new games, latching on to new toys, and coming up with new quirks which are really sweet and fun. You keep us on our toes as you want nothing more than to grow and learn about this amazing world. God's creation is amazing, and I look forward to teaching you more about it everday. One last thing, there is a country song out that makes me a little sad. The title is "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks. The lyrics are below, and the chorus is what makes me sad. It will be a great joy to see you grow up, but I will always remember these days we are living now, and will, I'm sure, look back with fondness and sadness.

I hope you are able to grasp how much I love you.

I came to see her daddy for sit down man to man
It wasn't any secret i'd be asking for her hand
I guess that's why he left me waiting in the living room by myself
with at least a dozen pictures of her sitting on a shelf

[Chorus;] She was playing Cinderella
She was riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes i'm Prince Charming
But to him i'm just some fella riding in and stealing Cinderella

I leaned in towards those pictures to get a better look at one
When I heard a voice behind me say "Now, ain't she something, son?"
I said "Yes, she quite a woman" and he just stared at me
Then I realized that in his eyes she would always be

Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes i'm Prince Charming
But to him i'm just some fella riding in and stealing Cinderella

He slapped me on the shoulder
Then he called her in the room
When she threw her arms around him
That's when I could see it too

She was Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
If he gives me a hard time I can't blame the fella
I'm the one who's stealing Cinderella