To My Dear Child

Dear Baby,

Once again I find myself wanting to talk with you. There is so much that I want to share with you, and someday maybe you will read all of these letters, and you will get a glimpse of how much you are loved. Not only by your Mom and Dad, but your heavenly Father loves you more than even we can.

I have so many prayers and dreams for you. I hope that you inherit your Dad's immune system. As much as I battle my RA and my almost defenseless immune system, I am comforted knowing that most likely your Dad won't catch whatever bug of the month I have.

I also pray that you grow up to be kind, meek and gentle. This doesn't mean that you are a doormat. It means that you have a quiet strength. It takes more strength and courage to turn away from a fight than it does to let your fists do the talking. Kindness to all is very courageous.

The journey that your Dad and I took to meet each other was a long and windy one. I pray that your journey is full of just as many life lessons, but that they are easier learned than ours. Listen to your elders and learn from the mistakes of others so that you don't have to experience the same pain. Trust me, you will make enough of your own!

Most of all I hope that you develop a heart that loves the Lord. Our God is amazing. His love is infectious, His mercies are new every day, and His forgiveness is quick and all encompassing. But just as wonderful as all that is, so too is His righteousness and judgement. He did the hard work by dying on the cross, now it is up to each of us to accept His gift. If we don't, we are guaranteed an eternity in Hell, and Baby- choose eternal life, not eternal death.

There is so much more to share. I have the stories that I grew up on, the stories of your great-granny Burton, the stories of Mama Kremensek, and my story. Your Dad has just as many from his family to share. We want you to grow up to be proud of who you are, proud of where you came from.

Remember this one last piece of advice. There are 2 types of people in this world. There are honest people who understand that God expects us to work and earn our keep, and there are dishonest people who expect to be given everything. Valor, respect and character come from being the first.

I love you my child. Take care and grow healthy these next 18 weeks. We can't wait to meet you, to hold you, to love you, but for now I leave that to God as HE continues to knit you and form you within my womb.

Love much,
Your Mom

Dear Child

Dear Child,

Hi! Right now you are resting in my womb as Christ is busy knitting you together. You are growing and while we are not quite to the half-way point yet you are almost there. So far a lot of growing and forming has taken place. Not only for you, for your parents as well.

In the past 17 weeks we have been busy preparing ourselves for your arrival. We can't wait to meet you and hold you, to kiss you, hug you, count your fingers and toes, and take care of all your needs. You are our first, and a joy.

I do feel like I should warn you of some things. As overjoyed and in love with you as we already are, we can't protect you from everything. We will do our best with the resources God gives us each day to provide for you what we can. We can promise to smother you in love! You will not want for affection! Eventually you will probably get tired of us telling you we love you, hugging you and kissing you.

We are trusting God to provide what we can't. We are trusting God even now to provide a medical provider, to help you grow healthy and whole in my womb, to knit a baby that will grow up to love and serve Him.

On that end, we are dedicated to reading to you from HIS word, to praying for and with you, to raising you in a church that loves and serves our Lord, that will help us to raise you to know HIM.

In the end it will be your decision to choose or reject Him. It will be your decision to choose your attitude each day, to be obedient, respectful and loving. It will be your choice what you make of yourself. Life is full of responsibility, full of choices. Life can be a struggle. It isn't easy.

Life is also amazingly wonderful! There are so many little joys to be found, you just have to choose to find them. Life is full of big joys as well. You will learn to read, write, do math, play sports, you will pick a career, you will meet someone, and hopefully like us, you will chose to have a child.

But that is all FAR in the future! For now, we are just anxious to meet you. To lavish on you the love that we already have. Oh, and what goes on during LABOR is normal, so just hurry up through the birth canal please!! I'm just glad that while I'll probably remember the experience, you won't have to!

All my love,
Your Mom