One-half of a year already!

Today was Hannah Mai's 6 month check up. To think, 6 months have already flown by. Wow! Well, for all of you who are dying to know the latest, here's the scoop on her visit.

Hannah is now weighing in at a whopping 15lbs and 5 oz. She feels 20 to me! She's 26 inches long. Let me reword that. My daughter is 2 feet and 2 inches tall. Whoa. Her height and weight are very average for her age: both around the 50th percentile. Her precious little big noggin is 95% bigger than all other kids her age. My sweet girl must have a big ol' brain.

She's responding beautifully to her physical therapy. She still has a ways to go but she really is doing better. This week she FINALLY started rolling from back to front regularly. That was a problem because of her lack of neck strength. She's sitting very well (even by herself). Her head is not as flat as it was now that she's moving around and the doc said she will not need a helmet! ;) Yay!

Some other random notes are as follows. Hannah has sensitive skin. You may have noticed her rosy red cheeks or occasional rashes. However, nothing is required to treat it. She still hates her formula but it makes her feel much better. She has started eating solids. So far, she enjoys bananas but does not like her (soy-free) rice cereal. As far as we know, her allergies (dairy and soy) remain but will likely dissipate in the future. We're still working on getting her to sleep through the night but I trust the Lord will help her there. :)

Overall, I think that's a good summary of where she is. My beautiful baby girl is growing up fast. It's hard to believe how big she is. I pray God leads us as Christian parents and role models in her life.

Until next time...
Terra Santos

Bring the Rain

It never ceases to amaze me that when things go wrong (or at least not our way), it seems it happens all at once. It’s like rain in that sense. There are never just one or two drops, they come in great number. Today and yesterday have been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride in my life. It’s not that there are great life-altering things happening. Instead, it’s a lot of little things (and a few big ones) that are just not going as I had hoped. One right after the other, they crash into me like waves. I keep trying to stand on my own and I keep falling. Sometimes it’s even overwhelming. Why do I keep it up?

It is during these times that I cling to the only support I can trust: Jesus Christ. Regardless of what may be happening in my life, the rock of Christ will never fail me. It seems that God works best in my life when He brings me to my knees begging for His help. It’s only when I realize I am not in control of my life that I can trust in Him to lead me. Mercy Me (a contemporary Christian band for those of you who are unfamiliar with the group), has an amazing song that deals with this phenomena. Please read the lyrics below (italics were added by me for emphasis) to better understand where I’m at.

Bring the Rain
By Mercy Me

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain you who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me what’s a little rain

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
is the lord God almighty
is the lord God almighty
I'm forever singing

everybody singing
Holy holy holy
you are holy
you are holy

I do not write this blog asking for pity. I write this blog as a reminder to myself and to others of the benefits of “rain.” I write this blog as a reminder that we must cling to Christ during trials. I write this blog as a reminder that God may have a great purpose in “bringing the rain” in my life right now. And I do write this blog asking for your prayers. I do not necessarily pray for God to take away the rain, instead that He’ll grow me in the process.

Grace to you,
Terra Santos

Rock-a-Bye Baby?

Whenever I put Hannah Mai to bed, I sing her a song. After the fourth stanza, whether or not she is sleeping, I lay her down and let her go to sleep on her own. I sing her the same song every single time. Do I sing “Rock-a-Bye Baby,” “Hush, Little Baby,” or any other common lullabies? Not exactly. Actually I sing “In Christ Alone,” by Getty & Townend. Sound odd? Let me explain.

When Hannah was first born, I tried to sing “Rock-a-Bye Baby” to her. However, when I got to the end and sang, “When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all,” I cringed. Why in the world am I singing my child a song that insinuates her death?! Okay…so that’s just one song. What’s wrong with “Hush Little Baby?” My problem with that one is that you’re pretty much singing a bribe to your child. In essence, you’re saying “Pleeeeease go to sleep and I’ll get you whatever you want.” I’m sure that song was written by a desperate mother and I’ve felt her pain. :) Yet it still does not sit well with me.

So what about “In Christ Alone” is so attractive to me? I will say it’s definitely the lyrics, though I also enjoy the tune. The lyrics lay out the gospel so clearly and beautifully. What a great way to share the gospel with my child, even long before she’ll understand. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (ESV) This passage more or less encourages us to talk about the Lord and His laws in every thing that we do. Singing her the gospel as a lullaby is just one small way I can do this with Hannah Mai.

In case you’re not familiar with the song here are the full lyrics. I pray they bless you as they have me for such a long time.

"In Christ Alone"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

In Christ alone my hope is
found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this
solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights
of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless
babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came
to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was
satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I
live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by
darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave
He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its
grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood
of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of
Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my
destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His
hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll
stand.

Grace to you,
Terra Santos