Dedication of Reese!

Dear darling girl,

Even before you were born your name was whispered and shouted and sung into the beams of every room in our home. It was whispered in excited anticipation when your foot would stick so far out of my tummy. Reese. It was shouted by your sisters during playtime while they danced with their dolls. Georgia Reese! Your name was even sung at bedtime, by your family who longed to see you. Sweet, sweet Georgia Reese! We knew your name even before we saw you, and believe it was God who gave us your name.

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your might." Deuteronomy 6:5. Is this our prayer for a little girl whose name means enthusiastic? We prayed so. We prayed and still pray that your life would be a passionate exclamation for Jesus and for all you do in His name. And now that you are in our arms, we see how perfect the name Reese is for you, as you interact with us in smiles and shouts. Even in mid-cry, you are unable to resist a reciprocating smile to any who offers one.

Dedicating you to God last Sunday, as it has been with your sisters before you, is a very heartfelt experience--cozy and warm almost--as if we are inviting God to stay and work in your heart and soul--and we are. And only God knows what your life will become, sweet child, but we can and do pray that your heart will reflect your Maker in every beat.

Matthew Henry says about Deuteronomy 6:5: Happy those who have this one Lord for their God. It is better to have one fountain than a thousand cisterns; one all-sufficient God than a thousand insufficient friends. This is the first and great commandment of God's law, that we love him; and that we do all parts of our duty to him from a principle of love;...we are to love God with all our heart, and soul, and might....with a sincere love...in truth...with a strong love; He is our ALL, must have our all, and none but He....with a superalitive love...above any creature whatever...with an intelligent love...to love him with all understanding, we must see good cause to love him....with an entire love, He is ONE...oh that this love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts!

And as we do pray for these things in your life, we also pray for ourselves--that our entire family would join in this giving of mind, body, and spirit, to the Lord. In doing so, that our dedication to God over you would be sincere and whole.

You bring abundant joy to our lives and the four walls in which we live, sweet girl. Our prayer is that you would whole-heartedly have the joy only He can give, in your heart, and that the wanderings of your heart and soul would always find their way to Him.

I love you, Reesie-girl,

xxoo Mom

Our Pastor (aka Uncle Troy) , who also happens to be Reese's godfather, was able to dedicate her. He is the new pastor at Calvary Chapel Middleton. We were extremely blessed to have him pray over her.


First, daddy prays for Reese, beginning with, "Thank you Lord for my three little girls..."


Then Pastor Troy prays...


...while the girls peek. They look so tired. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the sleepover they had with Papa and Nanette at their hotel. Nah. Couldn't be. I'm sure.


And as if on cue, Reese gives a big--enthusiastic--smile.


Here Reese sits on daddy's lap, after the dedication. I may be going out on a limb here, but I'd say she looks...dedicated.


Family photo after church:

My dad and mom (aka Papa Snail and Nanette) were able to come up and join us for the occasion. And they played and tickled and giggled with our two oldest girls into the wee hours of the morning at their hotel. Oh...did I say that out loud?

Happy Dedication Day, Reesie-girl!