Lily Faith Turns One

The "baby" of our family turned one yesterday. It has been bittersweet for me at times, knowing this is probably our last child and the first year went so quickly, as it always does. But I also love, love, love this age and every day holds a mini-adventure as Lily discovers new things and develops and changes so quickly. Lily turning one also means we've been living in our home for over a year and it feels so good to look around and see all the memories this house already holds and how we have made it very much our home. And the backyard is full of new baby-green colors, flowers, birds singing, and the roses are getting ready to bloom: spring. We named Lily for the season we were coming out of last year and the one that God was faithfully leading us into. The beginning of Song of Songs 2 says: "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens." The name Lily represents for us Song of Songs chapter 2, specifically verses 11-12: "See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come..." With Lily came a season of singing, a picture of God's faithfulness and healing in a time of grieving and sorrow. Lily has brought us so much joy and laughter from the day she came home and smiled her first knowing, sparkly-eyed smile: she belonged with us, to us. We love you sweet Lily, happy birthday...to you.