So that they won't be lost to me

Elisabeth Elliot, referring to her daughter, Valerie, as a child:
She thought much about God and heaven (which was to her not only the Father's house but her daddy's as well). I sometimes wrote down her prayers after I had kissed her goodnight. I did this not because I feared they would otherwise be lost (the great angel with the golden censer will see that they are not lost) but because I knew that they would be lost to me. I would forget. [Italics mine]
I love this quote. I have often felt this way as a mama: I don't want to forget any of this. I want to hold on to this moment, tuck that one away in my memory, remember my childrens' words, the way they say those words, their expressions, their drawings, their interests at each age.

I want to remember someday that when Isaac was four he play-acted Knights and Cowboys or "Football Player". I want to remember that he says "bemagined" instead of imagined. (And still adds that "be" at the beginning of several words.) And the way Isaias, at three, speaks so sweetly to Addie, or the way he sprawls out across his bed as he sleeps. Or how Ella, six, pulls up her socks like they're knee-highs, even when they're not, and wants to wear tennis shoes with her dresses and tights. Or how she tucks herself alongside of me in my bed when she wakes up in the morning. And the way Addie, at 2 months, smiles brightly and coos, especially when she first wakes up. And how she hangs on tightly to my necklace when she's cuddled up in my arms.

It's why we do a yearly Birthday Letter for each child, and it's why every so often in my journal there are little notations. So that I will remember.

And every once in awhile I remember to transcribe the prayers of my children. Here's one from today:

[Prayer by Isaac, age 4]

Dear God,

Make Talia to have her baby and make us love you, Jesus and make us to go to heaven and thank you that your Son died on the cross and make daddy to work hard today. I love you, God.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

13 comments:

  1. So sweet! I love your birthday letters.

    I have been keeping a journal for each of our kids, so we don't forget. The kids love hearing about what they did at different ages and I love reading them even now, I can't believe how fast I can forget and mix up who did what.

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  2. A long time ago I was kissing Michael (my 2nd) and he was sound asleep. Up from under the covers came his little hand around my neck as he held me against his little face for a long time. I never want to forget yummy moments like that. I try to journal, but have a hard time keeping up with it.

    That's why I blog! :)

    I think your birthday letters are a great idea. I am sure your kiddos will love reading them when they are older.

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  3. What a sweet thankful mama you are Stacy and the prayer must have so blessed the Father's heart.

    Kimmie
    mama to 6
    one homemade and 5 adopted

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  4. Hi Stacy :) What a lovely prayer! I feel the same way about those wonderful memories. I can't believe what I am able to forget these days - lol. Love you! Q

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  5. Thanks for this reminder, Stacy! I find that all the things I file somewhere mentally just fall out when I tip my head to the side... so I'm trying to write them down.
    Blessings,
    Annie

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  6. Hi Stacy,

    I see you are a committed practicing Christian. May the Good Lord bless you and your family.

    Thanks for leaving a comment in my post What to do when you can't see post editor toolbar, etc.. I have responded to your comment.

    Peter @ enviromanBlog*Star
    Environmental blog: Enviroman Says
    (floods in England, polar ice and ice caps at moutain peaks melting, I think more severe and frequent hurricanes in US, rain when it is supposed to be a dry season in my country, someone from Queensland recently contacted me if I noticed the weather changing. I replied when I was young I had to sleep under the blanket, but now I sleep topless. If I remembered, he said it is freezing in tropical Queensland and now he has to sleep under a blanket. Please folks, take good care of our one and only Spaceship Earth which have no lifeboat. It may not affect us severely now, but it has every chance of severely affecting our future generations. Then they will have lots to be "thankful to us)

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  7. So sweet. Treasure those four year old words, friend. Four goes by too fast. :)

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  8. I love you writing out their prayers. Our family has a tradition... we have lots of slips of green and red paper iin a basket and throught out the year we write down God stories when they happen... Like when someone saw my husband left his cell phone on his seat at the airport and told him. That was a thank you God story. Or when some one provided a beach house for our family for a week, or when God laid it on someones heart to fly my missionry sister and brother in law to visit us or when I fell but nothing broke,etc... from the big to the little. And then on Thanksgiving we sit and read them with all our company and then we take the slips and make them into a paper chain to put on our Christmas tree as a tribute of praise to God! It is so awesome to reflect on the things of God!

    Psalm 145 : 1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. 5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. 7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

    Tami R.

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  9. I know exactly what you mean! These moments are flying by way to quickly and want to remember these precious times. I also write a birthday letter every year and their baby books are quickly filling up with the silly or cleaver things they have said.

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  10. Stacy,
    I just want to remember it all. I write down alot of what they do for the same reason. You are such a sweet and loving mama. God bless you. Love, Tami

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  11. Hi Stacy,

    Glad to see you bringing up your kid the way you are and also glad you solved this problem of the missing EDIT HTML or COMPOSE tabs or the post editor toolbar. Anyway, regarding your comment in What to do when you cannot see the EDIT HTML or COMPOSE tabs or the post editor toolbar, I have responded with a long comment which I do not know if you would still be interested in reading since your problem is solved. But I would if it was me.

    RELUCTANT "PROTEST" BLOGGER
    Blog for positive changes
    Digital Candlelight Vigil
    (not my main blogs)

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  12. I love that you do this!!

    If I email you the prayers and cute quotes of my children, would you PLEEEEASE put them a cute little scrapbook for me?? Because I have SO intended to do this!!


    :)
    Michelle

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  13. So sweet. I too record Ella's conversations in my journal and most recently on a Word document if I'm at the computer at the time of the cute saying. :-)

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