My baby girl~

This girl is one official "Mama's Girl." Maybe she is just going "through a stage" but it seems like none of the other kiddos were this attached to me. Ever. I enjoy it simply because I get to spend tons of time with her...holding her, snuggling with her and playing with her.

The pregnancy I had with her was by far the hardest. I never really had a single day of feeling absolutely great and once the second trimester hit I was waiting to get my energy back only to find that it never really came! I completely struggled through it praying to God for grace and sometimes feeling so burned out that I felt like He wasn't really hearing me or providing for me in that area of my life.

I became a little hard hearted... OK, VERY hard hearted.

My prayers began to focus more on labor and delivery and I have written and shared many times of how miraculous that day was. A day that I will never forget. He gave me such peace. A peace that passes all understanding. I often think back to my pregnancy and delivery day and I stand in awe. I stand in awe of what He chose to do. I walked through a VERY difficult time in my life but found the hand of GOd on me in a way I have never experienced before. I look at her many days with such joy and I feel myself wanting to cherish every moment and every day with her. Now don't get me wrong I love, LOVE my other kiddos but there is something so special about how God USED her little life to teach me, to soften my heart.

It was a deep struggle within me that brought me to a place with my Savior that I had never been.

I just didn't have to rely on Him quite as much with the other pregnancies! Cassidy's was the first official "tough one" but nothing in comparison to Dakota's.

Every time I look at her smile I am reminded of His AMAZING grace.

Mother's Day was such a blessing. Greg took us out to eat for breakfast at Mimi's Cafe and the kids had so much fun AND they were incredibly patient waiting to be seated. We never really eat out like that with the kids so it was a fUn treat.

We got a few comments on "how well-behaved" our kids were.

Please don't think we get those often.

There are plenty of days when we have everyone giving us the stare down.

Yesterday though as the waitress complimented our kids it was clear to me that how they act has absolutely NOTHING to do with me but has everything to do with our Father who graces us in every moment we have with them.

AND there are plenty of days that I am still learning how to be a Mother and lean on Him~

"How deep the Father's love for us,

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection"