"I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened."

- Mark Twain

Little Children Who Hadn't Been Loved Enough

"The gentleness of Jesus with sinners flowed from His ability to read their hearts.  Behind people's grumpiest poses and most puzzling defense mechanisms, behind their arrogance and airs, behind their silence, sneers and causes, Jesus saw little children who hadn't been loved enough and who had ceased growing because someone had ceased believing in them."

From "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning

When the craving for reassurances is stifled, trust happens.
- Brennan manning, from the ragamuffin gospel

Feeling really good about the 24 piece set.

I am thankful for my growing awareness of God's nearness.

I am thankful for my beautiful wife and how good of a mom she is.

I am thankful for Max and Lydia and every single smile they've ever had.

"The truth will set you free, but at first it will really hack you off." ~Michael Hyatt

children: more work than you want, more rewarding than you deserve

One thing that has fascinated about having kids is the immediate bond I felt with both Max and Lydia.  It's not like I needed to get to know them first, or they needed to get comfortable with me before it happened.  I would even say I felt this bond before they were born.  I remember thinking while they were only a few days old, "Wow, I am surprised by how much I love these two little snotty, poopy, crying, needy, slimy alien-like creatures.  I don't even know them yet I already love them more than almost everybody else I know."

I have also been surprised by how excited I am when they grow older and bigger.  Carrie is always saying how sad she is that her "babies" are not as small as they used to be.  All I can think is that I can't wait until they can crawl, talk, walk and someday learn to intentionally scare mom.  I have very minimal nostalgia for their previous phases.

Just my thoughts.  Anybody else have a similar experience?