Valentine's Day for the Single Girl

As a single girl who belongs to a group of people "without a significant other" to celebrate this romantic holiday with (and I promise, I'm not bitter), I always look forward to how my friends will make this day special for me knowing that I don't have anyone of the opposite gender to cozy up with. My friends are always so faithful to think of me. My various kids mail, call, and/or email me to express their love and I always look forward to those.

Yesterday, I received two that took the award for most creative...

First runner-up is . . . (not from one of my children but still funny)

"I wanted to send you something amazing, sexy and hot for Valentine's Day but the mailman said I had to get my butt out of the mailbox." I was driving when I received this text Valentine's wish and I thought I was going to drive off the road laughing.

And the winner is . . . (and you need to understand that this message on my voicemail came from a 5-year-old)

"Well, hello beautiful. I just called to wish you Happy Valentine's Day. Ok. Well. Here's my mom." The child's mom promises she did not prompt him to call or what to say. She was driving when he left the message and she almost drove off the road laughing.

Ya gotta appreciate the emotions that this holiday brings out in people!!

When You Walked Into My Life

How is it that someone so tiny, so petite... someone so limited on communcation skills... someone who's only needs in life are a warm bed, warm nourishment, and a clean diaper... someone who, in the world's standards, really has very little to offer our way of life... how is it that this little one could walk into my life and demand my complete and abandoned love? And I, without a thought whatsoever, willingly gave it to her never to be the same again. This describes what the rest of my life will be like now that Kayla is here.

I caught an early morning flight home. I arrived at the airport at 9:30am. My Aunt Bernie picked me up at the airport. I tried to hold a conversation but all I could think was, "Woman, I love you but if you don't drive faster to get me home, I'm going to have a stroke right here on your nice Toyato Camry front seat." Then I get a phone call from Kim. "Um, where are you? I'm trying to keep her awake for you." I almost pushed Bernie out of the car to drive myself. But alas, my sweet aunt obeyed the speed limit and we arrived home in due time. We pulled into the driveway and my stomach was turning upside down like I was about to meet President Bush himself. I didn't stop to get my bags out of the trunk. I didn't pass "go" to collect $200. I even took my coat off in the car so I wouldn't have to deal with it once in the house. I was on a mission with one objective. Kayla needed to meet her Awa now.

For the two weeks that she was here but I hadn't met her yet, I tried to imagine what that first moment would be like. I assumed I would cry. Please. I cry at everything. Bud even knew I would cry. He was napping when I got home. And the first thing he said to me when he saw me later was not "hello" or "welcome home" or "what do you think". But, "well, Quelle, did ya cry?" Of course, I cried. Are you kidding?

What I couldn't figure out was what would I be thinking at that moment of meeting our sweet girl. I've been through this moment many times. See there's something quite freakish about me and babies being born. Would you like me to list all the births that I have somehow managed to miss? Cody and Chad had already been born when I became a part of their lives. I was on a plane for all of 30 mins when Blake, Tanner and McKenna made their hasty entrance into our world. I was in the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving when Eli came. 4 years later, same story when his brother Josiah arrived. Dalton and Bryce were already born when God crossed my path with their family. I went to FL for a couple days and Tyson arrived. I was in Nashville when Corban arrived... but, of course, they were in FL. And the list goes on. It's a running joke. One of my couple friends actually told me they were pregnant by asking me if I would be going out of town on a specific time period.

Anyway, as I've said, I've been through this many times. I almost always am never around for the birth. God's made that special for me. I always get my own personal, private introduction. And as it should be for an Awa. And I love each of these children as if I had birthed them myself. But nothing could have prepared me for the moment when Kayla walked into my life.

I don't know that I can even explain it. Each of "my" children have touched my life in a unique way since they walked into my life. God has allowed each one to engrave their names in my heart. Kayla is no different and she doesn't even realize it yet.

I heard a favorite song yesterday and the words hit me in a new and wonderful way. I've sung this song in church and the "you" was Jesus. I've sung in it a wedding and the "you" was the husband and wife speaking to each other. Yesterday, the "you" became Kayla.

We've waited all this time, counting minutes as they pass.
Searching for a sign and wishing for the best.
And just when I thought my chance was gone,
You came to me with open arms.
Like a miracle out of the blue, you rescued me when I turned to you
You shook the heavens and cracked the sky when you walked into my life.
("When You Walked Into My Life", Natalie Grant)

Heavenly Father, thank you for this miracle that You allowed to walk into my family's life. To watch my brother be a Dad, I see Your grace. To hear my Dad talk about the revelations You've shown him when she arrived, I see Your goodness. To see my Mom be the grandmother she has so longed to be for so long, I see Your faithfulness. To watch Kim as she watches this life you have given her, I see Your mercy. To know that my life has been changed yet again with another child in my life, I see Your sovereignty. Help us to raise this little one in the path of righteousness for Your glory. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for allowing me the honor of loving her.