Excited for the Challenge

Do you ever start out on a project, maybe for school or work, that you know will be challenging but that you are also excited about, because you know it will strengthen and stretch you? That's kind of how I feel about parenting and raising a child. 

I know that child rearing isn't always snuggles and kisses. Things with Addy are pretty easy for us right now, we only have one child to tend to and for the most part, she is pretty well behaved. I realize that things will get harder and as parents, we'll face many challenges but I am so excited and I feel so honored to have the responsibility of raising Addy. 

The part I am looking forward to the most is teaching her and telling her about my savior; about her savior. I want to raise her in an environment, in a home, where Christ is the center. I want to raise a child who grows up to love the Lord and although I know it won't be easy, I know that through Christ, it is definitely possible.

I'm going to mess up. I'll make mistakes, in fact I already have. Last night, she almost went to bed without a diaper on under here PJ's. But, God is mighty to save. Thank goodness it's not all up to me!

I am writing this now, not to brag about my confidence in child rearing, because I definitely have my times of doubt, but as a reminder to myself. A year from now when we are entering into the "Terrible Two's" and it seems that she won't listen to anything I say and even 10 years from now when she enters the awkward years of puberty, I want to remember that being a Mom and a parent is a privilege and an honor and something I was once very excited about.

This is my prayer for my child:

 "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and earth derives it's name. I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his spirit in you inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to this love that surpasses all knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." 
Ephesians 3:14-19