I can't believe she's almost 2.5 and this is the first blog entry with her as the subject! She calls me Bess and I love it! She can totally say my full name correctly, but this has been her choice, I've even chuckled when she's corrected her Daddy, when he says, Mary Beth, she says, "No, Bess!"
Over the summer I was visiting these cutest kids in the world (I'm NOT biased, I'm very well traveled & seen thousands of kids therefore this is a statement based on much research and therefore fact) I stepped off a curb and before my foot ever hit the ground something popped and waves of pain and nausea swept over me! Niah was on one side and her cousin Kyah was on the other so I was trying NOT to cry or teach either of the lil parrots any new words and trying NOT to throw up! Niah began to cry because she knew I was hurt and Kyah just kept saying, "Be careful! Be careful! and patting my back!" Niah is super sensitive to other people's feelings so she was a bit frantic and kept saying, "Daddy pray!" Matthew said, "Niah pray!" And then they did. Her prayer went a little something like this, "Jesus, Bess foot, amen."
I have to say it STILL hurt, but Bess was brave and we went on about our business. The next morning Niah's great G'ma Chickie asked me at church how my foot was, before I could answer, Niah said, "It's okay, Niah pray!" I mouthed silently, "It still hurts a little!"
I drove back to Springfield went to a Cardinals game with my roommate all the while walking on the foot which by this time was twice the size and a nice purple color, but it didn't hurt. My boss told me I needed to go to the doctor, so I did, after doing tests he tells me I've ruptured my Achilles and torn a couple of ligaments and wants to know what kind of pain medicine I want. I said, "It doesn't hurt!" He said, "Yes it does!" I said, "No it doesn't." He said, "It has to, what do you want?" I said, "My two year old niece prayed for it, so I'm guessing that's why it doesn't hurt!" He snarkily replied, "Whatever helps you sleep at night," and handed me a script for pain meds, which I never had filled, and fitted me for a brace, which I think I wore twice, it didn't really go with any of my sandals!
If you asked me the hardest thing about being a missionary, for the past 2.5 years it's been being away from Miss Sassy Pants and now her chunky lil brother Malachi who pretty much just smiles all the time! Before they were born, I guess my answer would've been not being a good squatter and bed bugs!
As much as I'd love to head home and open up my own private therapy practice in Niah's new play house, I rest easy knowing that's not where I'm needed at all. Jesus is the center of their home and she gets it! Her first instinct in time of trouble and fear was to pray! When Niah isn't excitedly telling me about her day, or sticking both fingers in her nose, or showing me her shoes, (I'm confident this happens EVERY Face Time conversation we have!), or telling me what her lil brother is doing, she's quoting her most recently memorized scriptures or telling me how much fun she had with her "friens" at church! She's safe, loved, very well fed (just ask her what she had for breakfast when you see her IF you have time for her very detailed list! "Umm.. I have pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, some of daddy's chocolate chip pancakes!" and her play house may or may not have more square footage than my current dwelling! But best of all Jesus is the center of her lil world, half the places I've been since she & her brother were born lacked all the things she has; safety, love, food, and the knowledge of where to turn in times of trouble or fear! Where I currently dwell Jesus not only isn't the center, but He's practically unknown. So, for now, we'll face time and talk about boogers and shoes and breakfast and bows! And laugh! My luggage will be filled with gifts for her and her brother and my heart will be filled with peace that while I'm sharing Jesus here, she's surrounded by Jesus there!
If you asked me the hardest thing about being a missionary, for the past 2.5 years it's been being away from Miss Sassy Pants and now her chunky lil brother Malachi who pretty much just smiles all the time! Before they were born, I guess my answer would've been not being a good squatter and bed bugs!
As much as I'd love to head home and open up my own private therapy practice in Niah's new play house, I rest easy knowing that's not where I'm needed at all. Jesus is the center of their home and she gets it! Her first instinct in time of trouble and fear was to pray! When Niah isn't excitedly telling me about her day, or sticking both fingers in her nose, or showing me her shoes, (I'm confident this happens EVERY Face Time conversation we have!), or telling me what her lil brother is doing, she's quoting her most recently memorized scriptures or telling me how much fun she had with her "friens" at church! She's safe, loved, very well fed (just ask her what she had for breakfast when you see her IF you have time for her very detailed list! "Umm.. I have pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, some of daddy's chocolate chip pancakes!" and her play house may or may not have more square footage than my current dwelling! But best of all Jesus is the center of her lil world, half the places I've been since she & her brother were born lacked all the things she has; safety, love, food, and the knowledge of where to turn in times of trouble or fear! Where I currently dwell Jesus not only isn't the center, but He's practically unknown. So, for now, we'll face time and talk about boogers and shoes and breakfast and bows! And laugh! My luggage will be filled with gifts for her and her brother and my heart will be filled with peace that while I'm sharing Jesus here, she's surrounded by Jesus there!
Bess loves you Niah!
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