From Baby to Big Boy

For the world, tomorrow is July 30th; for the Divinos, tomorrow is Evan's 1st birthday! I'm at a lack of words to describe the last year of our lives adequately, but I'll try.

As a mother, when I first looked at that chubby little cherub face, I felt a rush of emotion unlike ever before. I've never felt more thankful to my God in all my 29 years. I've never been more in awe of God and His mastery in all my 29 years.

I've learned that the true beauty of raising a child is giving of yourself and having a physical reminder in front of you every day of God's love and His sacrifice for us. Evan humbles me and when I'm at my most humble (read - when I'm at my wits end), God takes over. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians 12:9. When I fail because I'm tired, sick, or even ignorant, I can give it to God.

Evan is our motivation and inspiration. We seek to be better so that he will learn truth, faithfulness, and integrity. We contemplate our example on a daily basis. We realize that we cannot depend on a Christian school, a Bible class, a teacher, or anyone else as his sole source of values; he watches us first.

I have re-evaluated my priorities because of Evan. Our house doesn't have to be the largest, the most attractive, or the cleanest. (Though fairly clean makes me a happier Mommy. *wink*)

We don't have as much free money or free time. We don't buy new clothes for ourselves as often or go on as many dates. But you know what? We are happy, truly happy.

Evan is our joy. That cackle of his when Daddy is tickling him sends my spirits soaring. His little words fill me with pride. I make an idiot of myself in the grocery store with this child, just to get him to wave bye bye to the cashiers, say "uh oh" or "boat", or clap his hands and show off his four little teeth.

There's not enough time or space here to relay all of my lessons, stories, or thoughts. These are a few I'm thinking of in preparation for the big day tomorrow and looking back to July 30th, 2007. In the history of JR and Hilari Divino, that was one important day.

Pictures to follow in the next post.