You know, I have to bring this special little girl, Elise, into my blog. God gives us what we need when we need it, not before.
I have made no secret that, for a lack of a better way to say it, I am not a baby person. Although I love children and have always wanted a bunch, which is different since they don't all come at once like you have in a nursery... (most of the time), I have never volunteered to work in the nursery at church in my life. When we had Samuel, all the parents had to take turns in the nursery and I had no choice, but Lowell had to do it with me which made it easier for some reason. I love babies, don't get me wrong, I just don't enjoy a setting like a nursery where there are multiple babies all needing attention now. Not my cup of tea. Give me my fifth, sixth, or seventh graders ANY day, they're more my speed. They fuss too, but you know exactly what they want. :P I remember my first year teaching, I got a lovely kindergarten class and about went crazy even with that age. I remember begging God to open up other positions, and He did with 5th and 6th graders after that. Yay! I have never babysat for anyone as an adult on a regular basis and only have babysat a handful of times for a friend here or there.
I say all that to say this... A sweet young couple at church asked me to babysit their little Elise this semester while mom's getting her nursing degree. So, I thought, I'm staying home now, she will break us back into the feeling of what it will be like having a baby in the house, it would be a little extra money, and it would help them, so I said sure. It was only for 2 days a week. She was about 10 months old when we started. Could not tell you the last time I changed a diaper. Too be completely honest, I was a little nervous. Samuel's not had much interaction with babies either, but I thought this would be great for him too.
Well, the first day Elise arrived, Jan. 10th, we only had her an hour, but that's all it took. Samuel and I were under her spell and wrapped completely around her little finger from that day on. Her bright smile and laugh are so sweet! She's so good and easily amused which is good since I don't have a lot of things for a baby to do around here. At one point, I was sitting on the floor with her in my lap, and Samuel walked by. He stopped, looked at me, looked at Elise, looked back at me and then her again. I said, "Just think! This will be us a year from now!" We both laughed and shook our heads at the crazy reality of this! I remember asking him to pick her up for me, and he looked at me and said, "How?" After I had my chuckle, I told him to just put his hands under her arms and lift her up. So he did and they ended up face to face about 3 inches apart and he said, "What do I do now?" After another chuckle, I told him just to say something to her and talk to her. On occasion now, I have to tell him to get back to his school work. But all she has to do is flash that million dollar smile and how can you resist??? There was one day after we had the news about Cayla and her uncertain future, that Elise was sound asleep on the couch with her hands above her head looking like she was being arrested, and I caught Samuel watching her. I said, "She's sweet, isn't she?" and he looked a little emotional and said something to the effect of, "Yeah, I'm just praying I get to see Cayla laying there someday." I shed a few tears then, and I am shedding a few now as I type. I am just so thankful that God saw fit to bring Elise into our lives at this moment when we really seem to need this little presence more than we realize.
I know I've kind of gone on and on, but I remember thinking at the time that I hope I don't forget these little things that were said and feelings that we've had. So, now that I've started the blog, I have to write them down. Having a baby in the house after all these years, has been a great preparation for our future - to kind of get me back in the swing of things. I know I call her a baby even though she's about to turn one now, which I guess makes her not quite in the baby category anymore, but she's still been a huge blessing to us at this perfect time when God knew we needed her. Thanks to her mom and dad for entrusting her to us! And thanks to God for providing for our needs, even emotional ones. Love you Elise!
