My truth.

I am adopted by God. He loved me, and He died for me, and He sought after me, and He saved me. And isn't that where the story stops a lot of the time? But that isn't where it stops. HE ADOPTED ME. He could have forgiven me, and pardoned me, and I would have been worthy of none of that. But HE saw fit to go even beyond that. He welcomed me into His family, He made me His child.

And while I have known that for a long time. I have really reflected on that recently. I am adopted. I was fatherless and without hope, and God took me into His family.

Galatians 4:5-7

To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Isn't that beautiful? I am an heir. An heir to the Creator.

And while when I think about adoption, I will probably always first think of my son, that isn't at all where adoption started for me. And I am so thankful for that.

Cates is Two!!

My sweet girl turned two today. There is so much I want to remember about this time. So I am going to make a list here :)

* You kiss everybody. And it makes their day.
* You speak so well! You have a huge vocabulary. No one can believe you aren't older than you are.
* You love to read, and you make up the words as you go.
* You stand on our kitchen table and pretend you are leading singing. :)
* You know where everyone is during the day.. Daddy at Work! Andrew at School!
* You love to go to Walmart, but you won't sit up top. You have to ride in the bottom with the groceries.
* You love church! You love your class. You love Ms. Betsy and Ms. Alice.
* You love going to Bop and Yayas and Paw Daddy and Na's.
* You are outspoken and strong willed. A lot of times when you are in a bad mood you say.. "Mama, I not be sweet!!"
* Andrew is your best friend. You do everything with him. Love and fuss. And I am thankful you have each other.
* A lot of people have told me you are the prettiest baby they have ever seen :) (and partial or not.. they said it!)
* Almost daily you ask us if we can go to a ballgame. You love football! You love to say Roll Tide! And sing "Hey, Alabama!"
* You are a good eater! You love broccoli, and bananas.. and poptarts.
* Every night when you lay down you say "Cover me up!" and before we leave the room you always want us to one more time.
* Some of your favorite phrases: "One more time.." "I promise!" "I go to Yayas" "I Cates Croley" "Andrew, Stop it!" "Daddy, hold me!"
"Moooommmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy" "Gimme a kiss" "Listen to me!" "Not talk to me right now"
* You are a wonderful prayer. You are always very thankful in your prayers. I hope it lasts.
* You are always calling Grandmama and Granddaddy on your play phone. I love how much you think about them.
* I guess what I mostly want you to know is you are so loved. A love I cannot explain to you. A love that I know you feel.

Thank you to each of you who love her. Her life is blessed because so many people treat us with such love and kindness.

Here's to the terrible twos!!! :)