The McKeevers: Our Growing Family: April 2012

As Zachary's first Easter is almost here... It's been an amazing time to reflect on the blessing of our son, and more so - the gift of God's son.

Zachary is starting to become a little boy. He's very quickly growing out of being a baby. His personality is so obvious. He's a little ornery, he's kind, and (just a little) dramatic. :) He can also melt your heart with one toothless little grin.

Putting Zach down to sleep is a special time for me. He's getting to the point where when I rock him to sleep he starts to squirm after 10 minutes or so. Before, he could just fall asleep on my shoulder and snooze for as long as I let him. He's getting too big for that. He'll let me cuddle for a little bit, but after a few minutes he wrestles around, and he's ready for me to lay him down in his crib, kiss his head, I love you, and leave him be. I feel he's getting a little more independent each day.

Just tonight as I was rocking him to sleep... I laid him in his crib as I always do, and he woke just for a minute like he always does. Just long enough to look at me to make sure I kiss him, and tell him I love him. Then he quickly snuggled up to his blanket, and I sneak out of his room and quietly shut the door. About 10 minutes later... he cries. Which is pretty unusual. Little man usually goes to sleep between 7-8, and will sleep until 5-6 the next morning. I figured he needed a diaper change, or something... so I quickly went in - inspected the britches, and he was clear! So I sat back down in his chair with him. He just looked up at me and smiled, and chattered away. I know how this goes. If you act as though you're entertaining the conversation... he'll keep it up, and think it's time to get up and play. Then I thought - well, he might be overtired. He did play hard at Grandma & Grandpa O's this morning? If he's overtired, I'll lay him flat on my chest - which usually brings the fussy tired cries... and then about 5 minutes later he'll zonk out. I determined that must be what it was, so onto the chest he goes. No fight, no whimpers, no squirmy overtired little boy. Instead he wraps his arms around me, and snuggles in tight. This is the first time he's ever done this. He woke up, decided he wasn't ready to sleep without just a few more minutes of mommy time. I just patted his back, and rubbed his little head... and moments later he was sleeping. As his busy little day melts away with his eyes shutting tight, he melts every little ounce of my heart.

While my heart got a little warmer with every rock of the chair... I thought, this is what God wants for us. He wants us to enjoy every little moment. Just. Like. This. I could have thought, "Little Stinker!" when I heard Zach's cry over the monitor. I could have let him cry himself to sleep. But - I would have missed out on this. How many times do we think, "Oh No!", when it's actually a blessing in disguise?

As this Easter season has arrived - it really sinks in that Jesus died on the the cross - for us to have this. Our Life. He wanted us to have our lives, and to enjoy them. We may never get the exact cards in life that we want dealt to us. But, he does give us these moments. Where all is right in the world, and by just the smallest little blessings... you can feel God's love.

God blesses us each day. It may not be something we notice, nothing big and flashy... but he's blessing us with the little things. Zachary has reminded me to slow down, soak it up, and live life for today. None of us are promised tomorrow. We are promised that if we accept Him, and let Him love us... He will take care of us. He is the giver of peace. Now that's reassuring. As I hold Zach every night... rock him to sleep, I know that my God has His arms wrapped around me too. And I know, He'll never let go.

Thank You Jesus for Zachary. He's exactly what you knew we needed. Thank you for your son. That he died for us, and someday we'll all be together. Amen, and goodnight.

Happy Easter to You & Yours!