When I First Met You

Dear Matt and Jenna,

I can't believe you're both already five (and a half!) and this was the first time I met you.  Matt, you gave me a ready hug, totally comfortable with your Aunt Christine and Uncle Fernando being there in your home.  Jenna, you ran and hid around the corner in the kitchen by the oven, peeking out to smile but not coming out until you were ready.  I was happy to wait for you to get comfortable, which you did fairly quickly.  You both quickly found treasured places in my heart!

The first pictures I took of you, Jenna, were of you and Uncle Fernando coloring.

He drew you a shark, and you both colored the picture together.  He gave you goofy looks every now and then to get you smiling.  He's such a goofy guy, and easy to like, isn't he?

I love how you smiled at the camera, while Uncle Fernando has the silliest expression on his face!  I wonder what he was thinking at that moment...

Thank you for posing with your uncle with your beautiful picture!  He drew a shark, and you decorated it.  Just lovely!

When I suggested we go outside--it was beautifully warm and almost the perfect time of day for portraits and wouldn't it be great to surprise your parents with some pictures--you both came, and I got some great pictures.

Although this portrait is a little out of focus, I love it, Matt!  You are a sweetheart, even if you have that crazy little-boy heart inside!

Jenna, your tender heart shines through your beautiful blue eyes.  You are truly a precious flower, love.

What better way to capture your personalities than on a swing??  The pure child-delight radiates from your faces, and I loved photographing that.

You two are precious blessings, you know that?  I hope I get to see you again soon, and I hope you remember me throughout the years, for you will always have a precious piece of my heart.


Love always,
Auntie Christine

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Read to Me, Daddy!

 A word of explanation regarding my blog.  :)

"Indeed My Heritage" encompasses more than just my own heritage--the treasures of wisdom, learning, and life that my parents have passed down to me.  It also reflects my passion to impart a beautiful heritage to my own sons.  Here is the full Bible verse:

The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You support my lot.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

Psalm 16:5-6

Looking back, my heritage from my parents is indeed beautiful.  Looking forward, I know that my true inheritance is the Lord.  In Ephesians 1:18, Paul prays that the believers' heart-eyes would be enlightened so that they would know "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."  My chief desire is that His inheritance would also pass to my sons.  And thus the title of my blog.

Therefore--meaning because of all I've just written--I'm so thankful for my dear husband, who has led the way in creating a heritage of love for our sons.  He has lavished boundless love on his children from the very minute each one was born.  This wonderful papa even delivered his third son into this world!  (Not that we planned it that way...)  He cuddled them, slept with them snuggled in his side, played with them, rocked them, read to them.

Here is Fernando reading together with another friend's son.  He's still reading, even to other people's children!  His heart is always open and available to his children.  And I love him for it.

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Paper Doll Memories

In perusing others' blogs today, I came across this link to Noble Rose Press.  They are offering paper doll collections for sale.  I know I don't have daughters.  I know I'm too old!  But, I just had to check it out!  Sweet memories returned of my own paper dolls.  I distinctly remember cutting them out and carefully folding the tabs on the dresses. 

I love the fact that some children today still have an imagination, and that the t.v./video age hasn't destroyed their minds to the point they wouldn't know what to do with this 2-D pastime.  When my own were little boys, a box was enough to engage them.

Okay, high-tech plastic thingies worked, too!  Today, these same boys, as teenagers, aren't afraid to get down on the floor with the younger ones and play their hearts out with swords, blocks, or story-telling.  Little boys, get out those blocks!  Little girls, play with those dolls--and help take care of mama's babies!!

By the way, I still pray for daughters!  Who knows?  :)    And soon enough, I may have daughters-in-law, and the dream of granddaughters.