Cassie Girl

If you've followed my blog since its upstart (actually @ xanga), you know that I fondly called my baby girl Cassie Girl from the moment we found out that we were indeed having a girl.  She is most definitely still my sweet Cassie Girl and I just love her sweet little heart.  She is QUITE strong-willed and stubborn, but we're working on that.

Anyway, I had a few stories that I wanted to share about her.  She is too, too much for me and I kinda worry about the future!  :)  She has been blessed with an ability to learn things very quickly and vocabulary seems to be one of her strong points. 

At church Sunday, I gave her a $5 bill to put in the collection plate. I explained that Abraham Lincoln was a president a long time ago. I then got out a penny and showed her that it was the same. She looked at the penny and said, "OH! I always thought that was GOD! Hmmmm...." Too funny, but made this mommy proud that she knows where the money comes from and who it belongs to! :)
That same day, she said it was a beautiful day to play outside. I agreed. I then said to Mark, "I'm thinking about the P-A-R-K."

She said, "What did that spell?"

I said, "I wouldn't have spelled it if I had wanted you to know!"

Mark said, "I bet you can figure it out."

She was back there in her carseat going, "P-P-P--ah-ah-ah...Pah...rrr..rrr.rr..k.k.k.....Pa---rk. Pa---rk. Pa-rk. Pa-rk. PARK! I wanna go to the park!!!"

Later, when we were AT the park, she comes over to me and says, "It is a lovely day indeed."

Seriously.  Where does she get this stuff?!?  She is too much.
 
She is sounding things out everywhere.  She read an exit sign yesterday and then asked what "exit" meant.  We have been talking about logic, things "making sense," and doing things in the proper order.  As I am clipping her toenails tonight, she says, "Remember how we were talking about doing things so that they make sense?  Well, it wouldn't make sense for me to put socks on right before you're ready to clip my toenails."
 
Final story: We work on the concept of grace a lot.  I think that it is huge to grasp the concept so that as her faith develops, she understands what an amazing gift grace is.  Yesterday when I did her hair, I put some clips in and she didn't like them.  So, I changed them to what she thought that she wanted.  I went to dress Keaton and she decided that the ones I put in originally were better.  Well, I wasn't playing switch the clips and told her so.  Typically at this point, she would throw herself on the ground and start to throw a fit.  We've been struggling with this recently.  Anyway, I quickly reminded her that consequences are no fun.  She gave a disgruntled grunty noise and left the room.  I would later discover that she went and put the clips back where they belong.  So, I took them into the bathroom to brush teeth and as she is brushing her teeth, I told her that sometimes when you make a good choice, there are GOOD consequences (not always, but sometimes).  I switched her hair clips to the one she wanted and she had a huge grin on her face.  She said, "Momma?  Is that kinda like grace?"  My heart leapt for joy. 
 
It is not even remotely close to understanding the grace of God, but she understood the concept in a small, simple example.  To me, God's grace is one of the greatest examples that He loves me unconditionally.  While we were still sinners, Christ DIED for us...for me.  He is perfectly just and therefore, I deserve nothing but death.  However, because of His grace I have hope.  I know that I am going to screw up no matter how hard I try.  I know that I'm going to lose my temper and yell at my children.  I know that I'm going to let people down.  However, I know that God knows my heart and His grace is sufficient for even me.
 
My prayer for my sweet Cassie Girl is 2-fold.  First, I pray that she understands that nothing...NOTHING can separate her from the love of her mommy and daddy OR from the love of God.  Secondly, I pray that she understands the principle of extending grace to others.  I pray that she looks at situations objectively so that she can be graceful to others...especially this mommy who will fail her more than I can bear to think.  Those are the concepts that I am currently working on with her...trying to show her in everyday life and everyday situations. 
 
I pray that as Cassie understands grace a little more each time we talk about it, that her understanding of God deepens and roots a little deeper in her sweet little heart. 
 
That is what this motherhood thing is all about...making sure that those roots are nice and deep!