Dear Mary,
There is nothing more comforting and peaceful to me than to be the only one awake in this house and listen to you breathe softly and steadily while you sleep. Soaking in the quiet and stillness of this evening, the very sound of you stays with me. I’m looking at the Christmas tree and all the decorations and I am just beside myself, wondering what you make of all this. I see the wonder in your eyes (and by the way,
your eyes reveal a lot!) so I know that this first experience of Christmas has gone beyond amusing you…..
it has captured your heart.
So now, as your mother, I have to be open and listen (carefully) to how God wants me to lead you beyond the symbolisms, traditions and commercial eye candy – to the real magic. The miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Your Savior! The only plan that would reveal God on a level that His creation (us, the world) could relate to…..God in the person of Jesus Christ. Yeah, it’s a lot for me to take in still but, I promise you that it’s not only true, its plan is a foundation for freedom on every level – especially as a woman. (We’ll get into THAT good stuff, later! ☺) Look, the older you get and the more you get into HIM, you’ll know what I mean. Once you understand how it all began with Jesus, you WILL know what the true spirit of Christmas really means and as a Christian - you
will know why Christmas can be a very powerful and special time of intimacy with God. For now though, I’m keeping myself in check, realizing you can only take in so much as a toddler, a toddler who has only been with her forever family just over 6 months. I’ll go with His flow and commit myself to the task of making sure your first Christmas will be rockin’!
In the meantime, I’ve thought long and hard of what I want you (Hope for you) to experience in this life within a relationship with Jesus as your Savior. I have made that list available to you in a separate letter, one of many which I will write to you through the years; I have found that when I can claim some uninterrupted, ‘quiet’ time and I write, it helps me articulate my thoughts and heart more concisely, with focus and a truthfulness and transparency that can sometimes otherwise get ‘diluted’ or distracted by the noise and whatever else is going on in the immediate world. You will read my thoughts, my heart, prayers and input uninterrupted, uncensored and laid out for your eyes only to process in your heart. I am hopeful that as you grow and find some of this precious kind of time that you will find the rewards of writing and journaling or whatever it is that God lays on your heart to do to grow stronger and wiser in Him.
I love you so much, and as a mother – I truly get the heartache and longing to want the very best for you, but most importantly, knowing that the
very best for you has already been delivered to you through Jesus Christ. He is the best gift you will ever receive and he is presented to you from God the Father with a love for you that surpasses all understanding, full of peace and endearment. Merry Christmas, my sweet baby girl – and know that
YOU are an answer to my and Dada’s prayer!
We love you!
I had just given Mary this Curious George Doll, so I was able to get closer to her!
Mary (MeiMei) with her JeiJei (big sister) Jennifer at Opryland Hotel, November 2008
Mary and big brother, Brian in May of 2008 
Our first family vacation in Destin Florida, October of 2008
Mary, Robert and I before our lunch arrives at Opryland Hotel, November 2008 
Mary's first Rocking Pony, given by Grandpa on her first Christmas 2008!
