We Have A New Baby In The Family

This isn't going to be about quilts or recipes. There are more important things going on this week . I will warn you ahead of time, this is going to be a sentimental mushy post. We have a new baby in the family. My nephew and his wife had their first child on Tuesday, February  25 at 6:40AM. At that exact moment these two young people became parents and realized a deeper love than they could have never imagined. When my daughter was born many years ago on a beautiful sunny Monday afternoon in November I fell instantly in love with the deepest and purest love that you cannot possibly know until you experience it. At that moment I also realized how much my momma and daddy loved me. It was such a humbling feeling.  When one thinks about this kind of love words that may come to mind are unconditional, unending, everlasting, amazing and as my nephew the new daddy dscribed it incredible.  On occasions like this I am also known to cry a few happy tears. This was no exception. As soon as I saw the photo he texted to me the flood gates opened. My sweet two and a half year old grandson was asking me what's wrong mamaw? Don't cry, stop it! Of course I told him I was fine. At that moment though I couldn't stop the tears. I cried with mixed emotions, those of happiness for this precious miracle that will be called Claire Lucille and tears of sadness because this  new baby's daddy is my younger sisters son and Claire would have been her third grandchild. She didn't get to hold any of her precious grand children. My sister passed away in 1985 a week before her toddler sons 4th birthday.  She would have been 28 on her next birthday in March. I never second guess why God took her so unexpectantly and even though she missed seeing her precious children grow up into wonderful loving adults she would be proud of, I know she is in Heaven at this very moment. This makes me cherish the time I spend with my children, loved ones and my precious grandson knowing we are not promised another breath.

When I think about the birth of a new baby I also think about the birth of Christ. I am sure God and  Mary and Joseph  (his earthly mother and father) felt that same pure love that night when Jesus was born in that stable in Bethlehem. Thinking of this unbelievable bond of love and then knowing God loves us so much that he let his son, this precious baby Jesus be born to live a sinless life and then be tortured and hung on the cross to die for our pitiful sinful souls is gracious beyond measure.  I love my grandson and my children more than I can even describe. I could not imagine allowing one of them to endure the torture and painful death so that murderers, thieves, liars, and all sinners would have an opportunity to seek forgiveness for their sins and inherit their place in Heaven. God did though. You see We are ALL his children and he loves us all just like we love our children.

 Since that cold but beautiful sunny day in January 1985 I have believed that you should always make sure the people you love and appreciate know it. Don't hold grudges. Forgive and forget. Pick your battles carefully and then think of the results before you decide to go forward. It may not be worth the end result. We are to love everyone. Although sometimes it's hard for us because we may not agree with another persons actions or beliefs, we can still love one another and pray for each other. We have all sinned and come short daily. Yet God loves each one of us and desires that we seek him. We are given free will to make that choice.

I said this wouldn't be about quilts or recipes but I do want to share our newest member of the family and she happens to be showing off a quilt I made for her baby shower before we knew what she was. I tried to make her quilt unisex but somehow she looks so feminine for the little lions, tigers, giraffes and monkeys. Meet Claire Lucille.