Ray of Sunshine

Because my last post was so gloomy, I wanted to share some wonderful news with everyone. In the midst of our hardship, the Lord has blessed us again. On Friday, June 6th, Lauren asked Jesus into her heart!!

We had been reading in our devotions that morning about our need for a Savior, about heaven and hell, and that the punishment for sin is death. She has heard the story of Calvary many times and understood what the cross meant, but this time when we talked, I could really see the wheels in her head turning. At the end of the devotional, it asked if she wanted to invite Jesus into her heart. She said that she did, but that she wasn't ready yet. So, I left it at that and said a prayer that the seed had truly been planted.

Later that day, after we had eaten lunch and I had just finished changing Nolan's diaper, she came up to me and said, "I'm ready to ask Jesus into my heart now, Mommy." I was shocked. I said, "Are you sure? Right now?" She said, "Yeah, let's go sit on the couch and pray." So, I had her repeat after me and pray. Right after we said "Amen", she said "Mommy, now Jesus is in my heart and I can hear Him talk to me!" It was the most special moment of my life as a mother - I was crying uncontrollably and here's my little girl, dancing around the room because she's so excited to be saved.

We proceeded to call our family members back home and I let her share the good news with each of them. During her nap that day, I set up our dining room table for a fancy dinner - I gave Lauren the "You are Special today" plate and had a birthday cake for dessert. I explained to her that every year on June 6th, she will get a birthday cake and we will celebrate the day she became a Christian. As I prayed with Lauren before bed, I asked the Lord to "comfort her when she is sad or lonely, convict her when she is wrong, and bless her socks off!" We are so thrilled for her and can't wait to see what God is going to do in and through her in the years to come. :)