I'm loving this light

When we named Stella, we were very intentional to seek God in what her name should be.  Stella means a star, which we knew she'd be our bright light -- in our family, our home, our community and the world.  Mae means loving or lovable, and well, she is.  Stella Mae is our lovable, loving light!!

As I get to do life with Stella, everyday it becomes more and more apparent to me that she is a light and love to so many people.  If you know me, you know that I take great delight in the things of the Lord.  I love getting to celebrate His creation through me and others.  Like, for instance, I am consistently in awe of the things that He creates through me.  I can't recall the number of times I've stumbled upon a note I've written to someone and read it thinking, "Wow...I wrote that?  That's good!".  Or, there's the times that after I've frantically whipped some meal together in the kitchen I'm authentically impressed with how good it tastes -- for a moment forgetting that I made it.  And then there's the countless events that I've put on and really been shocked out how good they turn out!

Now, I know myself well enough to be aware that this part of me that gets so excited about these things is the way God created me to celebrate...Him.  I just love Him so much....oh, my heart sighs just thinking about it.  I cry as I even type it.....He is SO GOOD...to all of us!  I can see that my amazement in the things I do and create is really just the realization that He is the one creating through me -- and I'm legitimately impressed.  I love watching what God can do through me and through His kiddos.  One of my favorite things is to see others come alive in their gifts and creativity.  This is the part of me that loved my career as a dance and art teacher to so many little lives!  It truly makes me smile to just watch people create and be who they were made to be.

That said, I think that's why I just love watching Stella Mae be the lovable, loving light that she is.  I am so impressed with how God made her...and this is only the beginning.  Everywhere we go, I see her bring light into the room.  When we're out and about I see people literally stop in their tracks and come over to meet Stella; and then she stares them in the eyes and gives them a very intentional, bright smile.  It's like she's shining love straight into their hearts!  Total strangers come alive by just being around her - I love watching it!  And it's not just strangers, she does it to Troy and I all the time, too.

You know, sometimes I teeter on the line of fear that I'm going to be too biased because I think that my kid is so cool.   Then I realize that I am created to do just that -- God has created me to celebrate His creation.  I do think Stella is the coolest.  I just feel so honored to get to watch her up close and get to know this little light of mine (yes, pun intended!).