OK, with COVID and hard family things and well, life, I stopped doing these family updates. Then I got so far behind that I assumed I’d never pick them back up. Then my family started missing them and the scrolling and reminiscing, so I thought, “What the heck? Let’s just do the most ridiculous photo dump of all time.” So here you go. More than two years and 500+ pictures.
Heaven’s 15th Birthday
Dear Heaven,
Something about waking up today realizing it was your birthday just made me smile big. This will be the 8th birthday we’ve celebrated with you, and I can truly say I don’t even recognize the little six-year-old girl who walked into our lives all that time ago. That cute child was confused, felt like an outsider, lonely, desperate, and knew little of true love. This young woman before me today is filled with compassion, a faithful sister, radiates the beauty of Christ, has a passion for books, has no problem holding her own in her place in the family, is relaxed, incredibly smart with an astonishing memory, and has this glorious joy that sparkles out of her eyes. You are a delight, and boy am I thankful for how God rocked our world almost a decade ago.
I feel like I’m supposed to give you all this wisdom in your letter, but honestly all I can think about is you. Just you. And how rich my life is partly because of you in it. I have seen a bigger God through you than through any other experience or person in my life thus far. And I’m somewhat speechless just laughing at how big and kind he is. Especially in times I’m lonely or feel as though he’s absent, I’m reminded he’s there and working when I look at his work in your life.
But as we all know, I don’t stay speechless for long. Whether we can call what I’m about to write “wisdom” or not remains to be seen. Heaven means “God’s dwelling place,” and if anyone doubts that to be true, they’re walking around with their eyes closed and big knots on their heads from bumping into things continually. Your middle name, however, means “brave as a lion.” Though I’m sure the phrase is gender neutral, I wish it was actually “brave as a lioness” because that’s far more fitting for you. The lion sits and waits for his food and pleasure to be brought to him. The lioness is really the brave and strong one. She doesn’t sit around watching for her man to provide for her. She runs after what she wants, risking all and expending whatever energy is needed. She doesn’t look to the man for approval or guidance. She’s wise and acts on her own, sometimes working with other lionesses for better strategy. I see her in you, and it’s her I want to focus on.
You’re already well on your way, but this year, start to pay attention to who you’re called to be, what God has called you to delight in. Don’t look to us for approval. Go. Hunt. Discover who you are at your strongest. And come to your sisters and me when you need help getting there. Yes, it’s OK if you receive some protection and affection from your dad (sorry, other boys are totally off limits for AT LEAST another 14 years and probably not even then!), but push the limits on what you think you’re capable of. I’m not telling you to be independent of others. This would contradict God’s plan. But I am telling you to become your own unique individual, apart from who others think you should be. I see many glimpses of her, but I am stoked to watch her emerge fully in the next several years.
I say this because if your life is defined by becoming what someone else wants you to be, you’ll never have a fulfilled relationship. God designed you to be only you, and he defined others you’ll be in relationship with to be only them. He shines in you the most when you’re her. Otherwise you’ll attempt to find all your joy by demanding someone else be who you want them to be. You’ll be miserable. They’ll be miserable. And God will be duller to those who know you. Those of us who know and love you best will feel robbed not to have seen a brighter Moses. He got to see part of God’s face, but he didn’t have God living inside him. Don’t veil it, even when stupid Israelites (aka any human) complains that you hurt their eyes. Blind them with who Jesus is so that they can truly see for the first time.
I encourage you in this, but I have no worries this isn’t who you’re becoming. You have this gift of resting in what it is you enjoy, not swayed by the opinions, or even sometimes the ridicules, of others. Even, and this is HUGE, I notice less and less you looking at my face for approval. It’s a testament of you living out of your heart of Christ, resting in his family, and a joy I want more of. It’s simply peace. The gentleness and quiet of a sheep, and the bravery, wisdom, and strength of a lioness. Truly a creation only possible because of a powerful God. And I have the fine privilege of spending time with that lovely creation almost daily. Thanks be to God!!!
I love you,
Mom and Dad
Bell Family Update–September 2020
Beautiful month full of soccer, choir, school, soccer, choir, and school. And also soccer, choir, and school.
Bell Family Update–August 2020
If I wanted to complain about being bored, this month would shut me up. Whew!! Everything our family does and loves is in full swing now. Sweet to see others’ faces (even if masked) and to return to something that feels at least a bit normal.
Bell Family Update–July 2020
Fun July filled with LOTS of friends!!
Bell Family Update–June 2020
This month almost felt normal! With COVID still going strong, life is still a bit different, but it’s been sweet that some restrictions have begun to be lifted.
Bell Family Update–May 2020
What do you do on month three of quarantine? According to these pictures, you make lots of weird faces.
Bell Family Update–April 2020
Such a weird time in our history where we’re mandated by government to be quarantined. Probably the fewest pictures we’ve ever had in one of our monthly blog posts, but these pics reflect joy in togetherness. Oh so ready to be with friends and family again, but thankful to God for sweet time with my people and growth in him.
Bell Family Update–March 2020
As with the rest of the world, COVID19 has seriously changed the way we thought this month was going to turn out! Our hearts have been in much prayer for our friends who have compromised immune systems and for our friends in health care. God has been kind to keep us healthy, and we’re incredibly grateful for weather that’s allowed us to be outside and for social media so we can still be connected to others, even if not face-to-face. As with all things broken, God still is working things for good, and the amount of time we’ve had to slow down and simply be together as a family has been a gift indeed!
Bell Family Update–November, December, January, February 2019-2020
Clearly, I’ve not stayed on top of these… So here goes! Four months of pictures of our crazy lives.