When we decorated Elsie's nursery, we knew we wanted a few phrases on her walls. One that was particularly important to us was a modified version of a question from the Westminster shorter Catechism:
"Why did God make you? For His own Glory"
Having it on her wall was not only so that Elsie would LEARN, but so that WE could be reminded that all of our lives are to be for the glory of the Father.
On May 18th, 2014, we came before our church family to make a public declaration of our commitment to raise Elsie in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our families and church, in turn, declared their commitment to help us in that effort and to pray for us.
We chose a passage from Colossians as our prayer for Elsie:
Colossians 1:9-14
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
below: Now before you start thinking Clayton looks completely disinterested, I must tell you that he had an emergency appendectomy two days before the dedication service! Poor guy was just trying to stay upright! I'm not sure what my excuse is...I probably had two hours of sleep the night before!
below: I think it's so special that Elsie's pastor is also her grandfather!
below: We were so grateful that Clayton's parents could be with us that day. Grandpa Lee is also a pastor and he prayed a prayer of blessing over his first grandbaby.
below: We had a makeshift photo shoot afterward. Clayton wasn't allowed to hold Elsie for 4 weeks following his surgery. Poor daddy....and mommy!!
below: My sweet girl!
below: Poppi and Nana
Poppi & Nana and Grandma & Grandpa. Elsie is loved very much!
So glad Grandma and Grandpa could make the trip from Birmingham.
