i pray.

recently as i've been praying for scarlett this verse has come to mind...

"[your beauty].... should be that of your inner self, 

the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

1 peter 3:3-4

scarlett has such a sweet spirit. she is calm and already so affectionate. my guess is she is going to be all about touch like her momma :) i look at her as she sleeps so soundly and sweetly (alright sometimes it's not so sound so then i pray for that too! ;) and i imagine her growing up in this world and being hurt, i think about how while i will never intend to, somehow, some way i will be the one to hurt her. and my heart breaks. 

and i cry. i want so much to protect her from everything. but i know i can't.

so i pray.

 i pray hard. more than anything i want her to know Jesus.

 i want her to experience His love. His grace. His mercy. His protection. because tho i have fought it in the past--only with Jesus am i completely free. so i pray. i pray that i will be the mom God has called me to be...one of grace and forgiveness.